Tag Archives: Inferno

When I was Sixteen…

Image November 12, 2013 jcisnowjs 4 Comments

I am almost regretting my decision of picking up this title for my post. “When I was Sixteen”. It’s kind of making me look old, very old. Feeling like its been a very long time since I was sixteen. I am not old, not at all. I am just sixteen plus five years and few more just here and there. Not more than that.

So, now that I have clarified that the above title has nothing to do with my current age, I would like to go ahead on my post.

The reason that I am going all nostalgic about being sixteen is a book. “Lamb in Love” by Carrie Brown. I picked up Lamb in Love after my read of Dan Brown’s Inferno.

Brown (Dan) – Brown (Carrie) sitting next to each other – in the Library. Funny 🙂

If you, by any chance go by the list of books that I have read, you will notice that I have seldom read love stories. I don’t even remember the last time I have picked one. So, I was very enthusiastic about reading a love story after such a long time. But, man it was slow.

It was so slow. that I have never felt the urge to use my book as pillow to sleep before. It was a love story between Norris and Vida, both in their late years, around forty. They and their cute love of just waiting and looking at the other one through the corners. Shy and coy love, oh I am so over it now. So over, that I just couldn’t finish it. Just can’t.

That’s when I realized, that I am no longer that sixteen year old, who used to love this type of slow and romantic love stories. I have so much outgrown this lovey dovey stuff, it startled me a little. :O

How I used to think of a prince charming, riding on an ultra white horse? I used to think of the, first sight love, butterflies in stomach and tinkling of bells.

Saw your prince and fall in love at the same moment. I used to think of that slow pacing introductory love, which used to take months to say hello, to love of your life. How stupid I was to think of finding ones soul-mate in that first sight. That blush of cheeks and stammering of words when you saw them. Cupid struck!!!

It was damn cute, but very funny, now to think of it. I see now some of these fifteen and sixteen years old, but I don’t see that innocence or say stupidity. I see love but no love birds. Maybe a few, but rare species now, almost extinct.

I don’t miss that period of my life, it was silly and adorable at the same time. Now, I have my soul mate. Bells don’t ring in my ears but birds do sing and sometimes I blush too 🙂

On that note, maybe I’ll try reading another love story, pretty soon…..

9 Famous Quotes About Soul Mates (acharlotterose.com)
Why Believing In The Concept Of A Soul Mate Is Crazy (elitedaily.com)

Books

My take on Inferno – book by Dan Brown

Image November 5, 2013 jcisnowjs 3 Comments

Inferno – Book by Dan Brown

I can proudly say that I have read all the books by Dan Brown. Yes, all of them. Journey started from “The Da Vinci Code”. I liked that book and then started reading every other book coming out of Brown’s closet, but never find the passion that first love (first book) had.

Inferno, like all other Brown’s work, has so much to offer in terms of art and cultural details from the eyes of Robert Langdon. Oh Mr. Langdon, I love you. I love you for the pure genius that you are. Although, I do not believe that you would be as athletic or as charming (looks wise) as depicted in the book. But, still I love you. Love you for the sheer knowledge explosion that you are. Love you for the company that you can give while visiting breathtaking arts exotica.

This time also Langdon got a beautiful travel companion, Sienna. What is different is, his journey. Journey to hell, Inferno. Book is a downright dedication to Dante’s Inferno the Divine Comedy. The way story unfolds it makes you wonder if you are really going to hell and going to meet the three-headed monster called Satan. It’s an amazing journey when you are running through the magnificent museums in Florence, that too with Mr. Langdon.

Journey started with the projector that Robert found, showing Map of Hell. An altered map of hell, giving clues to where to go next. As in most of Langdon adventures this too has lots of clues and secrets hidden in plain sight, secrets leading to the amazing journey of investigating masterpieces of art through the streets of Florence and later to Istanbul.

Mostly what I like in Brown’s book is the information about some secret societies and cult sciences that he offer. This book also has that but it’s not that intriguing as in earlier books. However, I like the burning idea of growing human population as the basic theme of book shown in contrast to Dante’s hell and Black Death. The way past integrated so beautifully in modern times of medicines and WHO is wonderful.

Problem that I had while reading the book was, in the end it became very repetitive. It looked like author wanted to convince everyone with Zoborist’s point of view and to put forward a horrifying picture of our future. Done well, but way too much, according to my reading style.

Next thing that I am waiting now is to see this one also as a movie (hopefully coming in 2015). Actually to see the handsome Tom Hanks playing – The Robert Langdon. 🙂

Books, Life

Dante’s Inferno or my Hell-licious

October 27, 2013 jcisnowjs 4 Comments

Hell-licious

Dante’s Hell or Dante‘s Inferno. Hell glorified or shall I say Hell demystified. Reason why I came to know of it, is obviously my new read – Dan Brown‘s Inferno.

Inferno means Hell in Italian. Dante’s poem “Divine Comedy” popularly knows as Dante’s Inferno, showcases the journey of Dante along with poet Virgil, through the Hell.

Its one of the classic and masterpieces of poetry in terms of its elaborate and horrendous depiction of the underworld. Journey is depicted through nine layers of hell, where each circle denotes a dissimilar nature of punishment for every sin. The greedy have to push heavy weighed bags of money with their chest and the adulterous blown away with heavy storms.

Concept of hell is in itself quite mesmerizing and to think of it structured through various layers, each guarded by fallen angels and mystic figures like Cerberus the “great worm“, is quite stirring.

Most contradicting thing that I have noticed is, Satan shown as a mere prey of his own hell, receiving punishment for his deeds (Personal treachery against God). He is a beast in captivity, having no control of surroundings. This is bizarre as mostly Satan is shown the creator and regulator of Hell, controlling every life/death around it.

I must say that the words in poem puts a very horrifying picture of hell and the punishment for sins. But, I have no recent plans to enjoy that experience, so why talk about it.

Coming out of it, I remembered how we were told in our childhood that the Hell is just down below the earth. So if you dug up the earth and go at the opposite end, you will land in the Hell. To my amazement, I have heard so many times that, since America is directly below where we are (India), so technically America is hell. Interesting J

It was also called “Pataal Lok” in Hindi, meaning the land of ghosts or dead souls.

I am not a child anymore ( maybe from the heart, still ) and now when I am writing this, I am laughing in my mind. What the Hell we used to think?

Now, I am sitting in this Pataal Lok – America, and smiling.

If this is hell, I would say it’s hell-licious. I would definitely not mind much, if after death I would be awarded hell for all the sins that I have done (Confession – I have not done any single one of them, and I will go to heaven for sure. But, just in case J )

It’s a long wait till then…. will sure update you, from heaven or from The Inferno.