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maxrkik's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
caityfalcon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rnaddystarr's review against another edition
3.0
I loved it and couldn't put it down, but it was slow sometimes and Da Vinci Code was way better. The only real reason I read it was because it wanted to read it before the movie came out.
cornpoppy's review against another edition
4.0
بخش زیادی از دوران نوجوانی من به خوندن کتابای دن براون و دنبال کردن دنیایی بود که نویسنده تصویر کرده، حالا بعد از پونزده سال دوباره این کتاب رو خوندم و باز هم از وارد شدن به دنیای رازهای واتیکان لذت بردم. بعضی از کتابا سن ندارن، تو هر سنی میتونن خوشایند باشن برات.
pluviosity's review against another edition
2.0
Hm.. just a little tiny bit better than Da Vinci Code, I guess.
Some people said Dan Brown still writing novel with a poor research background, I won't agree or disagree with it.
For sure, I know that Dan Brown knows more about Illuminati and Rome Catholic Church than I do.
Yet, after Da Vinci Code and this, even I know that more than halves of the 'fact' can't be true, just another hoo-haa conspiracy theory; and *that* is where Dan Brown failed. He didn't mix fact and fiction good enough to make people like me believe.
I have to say Brown did a good job in describing the personal conflict of Carmalengo, Mortati, and even Sylvia the CERN secretary; but not Robert Langdon, I still can't like this character, I don't know why.
Although, even it's off the topic I still have to say this:
I like the film better.
At least it got Ewan McGregor (on cloak!) in it.
And at least, Ron Howard is smart enough to not force asex romance scene in it.
Some people said Dan Brown still writing novel with a poor research background, I won't agree or disagree with it.
For sure, I know that Dan Brown knows more about Illuminati and Rome Catholic Church than I do.
Yet, after Da Vinci Code and this, even I know that more than halves of the 'fact' can't be true, just another hoo-haa conspiracy theory; and *that* is where Dan Brown failed. He didn't mix fact and fiction good enough to make people like me believe.
I have to say Brown did a good job in describing the personal conflict of Carmalengo, Mortati, and even Sylvia the CERN secretary; but not Robert Langdon, I still can't like this character, I don't know why.
Although, even it's off the topic I still have to say this:
I like the film better.
At least it got Ewan McGregor (on cloak!) in it.
And at least, Ron Howard is smart enough to not force a
dmcke013's review against another edition
2.0
First published back at the turn of the century (in the year 2000), this - while the second of the two Tom Hanks starring Robert Langdon movies, after [b:The Da Vinci Code|968|The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)|Dan Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579621267l/968._SY75_.jpg|2982101] - is actually the first book in that particular series, albeit less well known than its sequel (the aforementioned [b:The Da Vinci Code|968|The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)|Dan Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579621267l/968._SY75_.jpg|2982101]).
And, like, I'm sure, many others, I actually read that sequel first, only later discovering it was such (although, admittedly, not a direct sequel) and going back to read the first on the series.
This is the one largely set in and around Rome, with a high-tech ticking time-bomb counting down in Vatican City as the Cardinals all meet to elect a new Pope following the death of the previous incumbent of that role. It also makes lots of the (supposed?) divide between religion and science, drawing on lots of conspiracy theories and bringing back into the realms of popular culture that old secret society, the illuminati.
I have no problem with any of that, and I do like a bit of derring-do, mystery and romance, but even I found it hard at times to swallow some of the outlandish scenarios and set pieces of this novel - I think, for me, the icing on the cake was the surviving-a-jump-out-of-a-helicopter-without-a-parachute bit towards the end!
And, like, I'm sure, many others, I actually read that sequel first, only later discovering it was such (although, admittedly, not a direct sequel) and going back to read the first on the series.
This is the one largely set in and around Rome, with a high-tech ticking time-bomb counting down in Vatican City as the Cardinals all meet to elect a new Pope following the death of the previous incumbent of that role. It also makes lots of the (supposed?) divide between religion and science, drawing on lots of conspiracy theories and bringing back into the realms of popular culture that old secret society, the illuminati.
I have no problem with any of that, and I do like a bit of derring-do, mystery and romance, but even I found it hard at times to swallow some of the outlandish scenarios and set pieces of this novel - I think, for me, the icing on the cake was the surviving-a-jump-out-of-a-helicopter-without-a-parachute bit towards the end!
oclay98's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5