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gemrox's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sj_books's review against another edition
4.0
This is my favourite Dan Brown book, a good cyber mystery
rymrgard's review against another edition
1.0
Back when I first read Illuminati (= Angels and Demons) — being a young teenager, impressionable and very new in the field of what I considered to be „adult books“ — I thought of myself as a Dan Brown fan. A feeling very short lived, however, lasting for only two of his books (the aforementioned Illuminati and Meteor (Deception Point)), before I discovered that they are… well… not very good.
Still, disbelieving, I continued on. Read two more (Digital Fortress and Da Vinci Code) before I was forced to accept the facts. I never read more of him and never will.
Back then I had just heard of the famous CERN for the first time and desperately wanted to go there. I had a fable for renaissance art and everything concerning Da Vinci and Michelangelo I was bound to pick up and devour. Both Illuminati and Meteor hit the spot for me back then. I remember them more fondly than I‘m now convinced they deserve — hence the 3 star rating.
I have never reread them and never will. But I will also not lower my rating to what I would surely think of them now, maybe as a sign to myself that I take the judgements of my past self seriously, even if they were misguided.
If you find yourself enjoying these novels: That is absolutely fine. Different tastes for different people. I‘m sure there are books I love that you would never read voluntarily.
If you find yourself having liked them in the past, looking back now, questioning the sanity of your past self: That‘s absolutely fine too and nothing to be ashamed of. I also really liked Twilight once.
Still, disbelieving, I continued on. Read two more (Digital Fortress and Da Vinci Code) before I was forced to accept the facts. I never read more of him and never will.
Back then I had just heard of the famous CERN for the first time and desperately wanted to go there. I had a fable for renaissance art and everything concerning Da Vinci and Michelangelo I was bound to pick up and devour. Both Illuminati and Meteor hit the spot for me back then. I remember them more fondly than I‘m now convinced they deserve — hence the 3 star rating.
I have never reread them and never will. But I will also not lower my rating to what I would surely think of them now, maybe as a sign to myself that I take the judgements of my past self seriously, even if they were misguided.
If you find yourself enjoying these novels: That is absolutely fine. Different tastes for different people. I‘m sure there are books I love that you would never read voluntarily.
If you find yourself having liked them in the past, looking back now, questioning the sanity of your past self: That‘s absolutely fine too and nothing to be ashamed of. I also really liked Twilight once.
heyryan's review against another edition
4.0
The book had a great plot and a fast pace, but I was let down by Dan Brown's writing style. I find myself wishing this book was written by someone else. He often points out to obvious and acts as if the read needs everything spelt out in order to them to understand. Felt as if it was a childish book. It did keep my interest, however, and I finished it in a matter of days.
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite of Brown's books so far, because I've always held an interest in cybercrime and intelligence agencies. I could literally sit there all day wondering about the terrorist activities that have been averted because of our intelligence agencies, and how much information the general public is simply oblivious to.
Although it definitely romanticised my ideals about the NSA, which is not entirely a good thing ;P
Although it definitely romanticised my ideals about the NSA, which is not entirely a good thing ;P
its_hanya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
matt_taff's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
davechua's review against another edition
1.0
Picked this up at the hotel book dump, and boy this makes Da Vinci Code look like a masterpiece. The stilted dialogue; stock characters (female heroine with 170 IQ and a perfect body urgh) and drawn out scenes, all in a story riddled with plot holes and utterly unbelievable. Pretty much uses the sme formula as in DVC; including disabled super assassin. Can see why it was left in the book dump.