Kwe's Reads

My second attempt to read

That first time? My head processed absolutely nothing. It was just a random edition I found in National Bookstore. I've been wanting to read Dante for a long time now because I've read 2 books heavily referencing it in high school (Dan Brown's Inferno and Jodi Picoult's The Tenth Circle). And later when I discovered bookish communities online, Dante is still a name I often hear talked about.

Which is why I am glad to have seen a tiktok talking about this specific translation. More than the accessible language it has:

1. A long introduction that I probably enjoyed more than the actual Inferno 🤡 (I was so hyped up)
2. A short summary before every canto
3. Notes per canto
4. A glossary at end of the book (that I found out too late)

7sins by FELIP

One more thing that pushed me to try Dante's Inferno again was Felip's album 7sins. It was such an amazing concept and brilliantly executed. FELIP explored what it is to be human. I wanted to do an exploring of my own too.

What facinates me with poetry, other than the meaning, is the technicality of it. There’s so much numbers in it and I am here for it (Math girl for life 🫶🏼). In another life I grew up being well versed in poems like this.

It's funny how I relate to every circle in hell (at least the first ones). I keep thinking "Ahh, this is where I belong." And then come to the same conclusion on the next one. So what happens if you've committed more than 1 sin in life?

Okay 3 more points

1. For a book about Christianity, this has so many greek/roman mythology in it

I don't know why but this feels like a big deal to me. Maybe I was expecting a more full/concrete world building? I was kinda looking forward into being introduced to a new world. More of angel Michael and less of Zeus. Even Lucifer had little presence when we're literally in his turf.

2. So many Italian references (places, people, groups)

This is where the book lost me. There's a new historical someone introduced in every canto and forgotten the next. I can't even fault Dante for this, as he has every right.

At this point, I believe that this is the equivalent of modern books' nonstop mention of pop culture. This might probably be what they mean by "never meet your heroes." Dante even got some things wrong and I am thankful to the notes at the end of the chapters for pointing these out. Was Dante wrong because he was ignorant? Or because there's limited access to knowledge during his time? Or were these details considered true at his time (e.g the sun revolving around the earth)?

3. Most of the sinners have high positions in church

This is the highlight for me. And learning there's already so many tyrants during Dante's time, which was a very long time ago.