Inferno - by Dan Brown

Christopher Frydenborg
Mrs. Arnold
H. English 10
2/25/15

Inferno

For my independent reading book, I read Inferno by Dan Brown. This book is more of an action/adventure novel, but also has a historical aspect due to the high amount of use of historical artwork and figures. The book starts with a Harvard professor named Robert Langdon waking up in a hospital, with a bad head wound and zero short term memory along with some very strange dreams. A few minutes after he wakes up, a woman comes into the room, shoots the doctor, and Langdon narrowly escapes with the doctors assistant, Sienna. This woman is an agent for an NGO called the Consortium.  Afterward Sienna and Robert try to determine what is happening around them, with the help of some clues along the way. They also learn that the woman that try to kill him is being supported by the Italian police, a brigade of special forces soldiers, and the U.S. government, who are all trying to track him down as he desperately tries to find answers. Meanwhile an unidentified man meets with a woman from the WHO and tries to convince her of a plan to fix the number one threat to humanity, overpopulation. She wants to hear none of his plan and is later kidnapped by him. The rest must be found out by a reader. 

The novel was certainly, thought provoking, to say the least. Although I 100% do not agree with his plan, the man trying to fix this problem, has a point. The way the earth is right now, civilization as we know it will not survive another century, which is terrifying to say the least. If we are going to survive, serious changes must be made, soon.

I liked almost everything about this book. The characters were all very realistic, and very understandable, their emotions made sense. The plot was great, I love deep thinking stories. Last, the use of historical context was awesome, Dan Brown fits it in very effectively. The only thing I wasn't crazy about, were the insane twists at the end where the whole plot was basically turned upside down. One or two of those is fine, but at the end of the book, they just keep coming, but I won't spoil what happens.

Dan Brown's style isn't really graspable, at least to me. He does write in a very matter-of-fact way, and there isn't anything in the plot that isn't important later. There also isn't really a theme, except for, change is necessary, which in context is extremely dark and unsettling. There also relatively isn't much dialogue in the book, it's mostly thoughts of the characters themselves. Last, character development isn't apparent. The main character, Robert Langdon, has been in four books and hasn't changed a bit, which is very strange, and it doesn't see to be one of Dan Brown's focus points.

It is very interesting to read from the point of view of someone who is just a genius. Watching Robert work all these things out in his head, and makes references to these certain artworks, and people, and symbols is truly amazing. The best part of reading these books is tracking Robert's thoughts

This book is very much worth reading to anyone who likes action, plot twists, and thriller novels. Anyone who likes to think deeply and have a relatable villain should also give this book a try. The book's historical context also makes it appeal to people who like art, symbols, and history. It is one of the greatest books I've ever read.

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rHL7H8WW2A (Interview with Dan Brown)

http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2013/05/26/book-review-inferno-dan-brown/TPxCswZpdIqLrkZHarRcYM/story.html (Boston Globe Review)