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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I had heard only bad things about this book, but I really still wanted to read it, as I've read the rest of Dan Brown's books. I was quite pleasantly surprised when I started reading it and became really interested. I didn't want to stop reading it. It took me forever to read because I read it mostly in the hour at lunch at work. I would recommend reading this book. Just ignore what you've heard. I tend to find that with low expectations I like a book all the more.
Of the three Robert Langdon books, I believe this one is my least favorite. That is not to say that I did not enjoy the book or think it was entertaining, but to me it seemed to be lacking in that extra something that made Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code so thrilling. I never felt like I was really on "the edge of my seat and I have to know what happens next" in this book. It was more of a "Yeah, I'm intrigued I guess."
This book follows the basic formula of any Dan Brown book: some big event occurs, a friend of the hero's is harmed in some way, the hero teams up with another person or two to solve this big mystery, the bad guy has his own agenda that is revealed sporadically through the book, the hero and accomplices have to go on a series of "quests" almost to solve everything, the person you think is the bad guy is actually trying to help the hero, the bad guy turns out to be an unsuspected person and then there's a big climatic final scene where all is resolved.
The most interesting part of this book is the fact that it took place in the United States. The mystery and intrigue of secret societies and cover ups was brought to our home. I think Dan Brown did a fantastic job of showing how much there is to learn in our own country if we truly take the time to look around see the beauty. He shows the reader that you don't have to be in Europe (although it is quite nice) to view a magnificent painting or witness gorgeous architecture. This appreciation for culture is, in my opinion, Dan Brown's strongest attribute.
This book follows the basic formula of any Dan Brown book: some big event occurs, a friend of the hero's is harmed in some way, the hero teams up with another person or two to solve this big mystery, the bad guy has his own agenda that is revealed sporadically through the book, the hero and accomplices have to go on a series of "quests" almost to solve everything, the person you think is the bad guy is actually trying to help the hero, the bad guy turns out to be an unsuspected person and then there's a big climatic final scene where all is resolved.
The most interesting part of this book is the fact that it took place in the United States. The mystery and intrigue of secret societies and cover ups was brought to our home. I think Dan Brown did a fantastic job of showing how much there is to learn in our own country if we truly take the time to look around see the beauty. He shows the reader that you don't have to be in Europe (although it is quite nice) to view a magnificent painting or witness gorgeous architecture. This appreciation for culture is, in my opinion, Dan Brown's strongest attribute.
Dan Brown's pretentiousness has reached a new level, it's insulting. Every character talks the same, so mechanical that you start feeling like you're being led through the book by a bunch of overstuffed tour guides. Pass. Every mini chapter ends in a mini cliffhanger. Roll eyes. And everyone cries, "Dear God!" or "Good God!" and "My God!" every time they walk into a room then, pause, CLIFFHANGER. Slap forehead. Such are his narrative tools of suspense.
P.S. How is it possible that Robert Langdon was able to uncover the centuries-old, centuries-hidden secret of Mary Magdalene bearing Jesus' children, a secret that shakes the foundation of an entire religious community, NOT to mention that the cryptographer woman he'd been spending time with is thefracking DESCENDANT of CHRIST...but he can't believe that a stupid stone box could be a map?
Really?
The only reason this is getting a two is because the writing, though suffocating, wasn't awful. It wasn't unreadable, just, unlikable. Also, I feel bad because this sounds like it took a lot of research. Why, oh why, am I so considerate?
P.S. How is it possible that Robert Langdon was able to uncover the centuries-old, centuries-hidden secret of Mary Magdalene bearing Jesus' children, a secret that shakes the foundation of an entire religious community, NOT to mention that the cryptographer woman he'd been spending time with is the
Really?
The only reason this is getting a two is because the writing, though suffocating, wasn't awful. It wasn't unreadable, just, unlikable. Also, I feel bad because this sounds like it took a lot of research. Why, oh why, am I so considerate?
I'd forgotten how sloppy Dan Brown's writing style is, but I really liked the book nevertheless. He uses too many flashbacks to tell stories for my taste, but he really knows how to set a cliffhanger in just about every chapter, and the subject matter is guaranteed to be really interesting and thought-provoking. I always end up pausing and Wikipedia-ing things mid-read when I'm reading one of his books.
I really liked the twist at the end where Mal'akh was the sacrifice, not Peter, although I sort of had half-formed thoughts of suspicion as I was reading. It's a creepy thing to think about though, offering yourself up as a human sacrifice. I'm glad it turned out the way it did, and I always love a good conspiracy theory.
I really liked the twist at the end where Mal'akh was the sacrifice, not Peter, although I sort of had half-formed thoughts of suspicion as I was reading. It's a creepy thing to think about though, offering yourself up as a human sacrifice. I'm glad it turned out the way it did, and I always love a good conspiracy theory.
Genial llibre amb la Masoneria d'una banda i la fundació dels EUA de l'altra com a transfons. Com sempre Dan Brown sap mantenir la tensió i l'atenció del lector. Crec que és millor que el Codi Da Vinci tot i no tenir una acció tant trepidant com aquest últim; el trobo més madurat i escrit amb més calma, no sé si en realitat és així, però ja sigui per la temàtica o per la narrativa, El Símbol Perdut és el perfecte company per les tardes d'estiu i relax! Recomanable!!
Was pretty satisfied with the book until the end, which seemed to be a letdown for all of the buildup.
despite my initial stubbornness, insisting that I would hate it because it's not my type, I actually really liked it. Kept me going.
To me, one of the most frustrating books that I have ever read. It didn't seem to have any proper pacing in it. To me, it seemed as if it had 75 pages of introduction, 50 pages of the middle, and then 400 pages of the conclusion, which doesn't lead itself to a book that is comfortable to read. Although it was fairly interesting, and I will admit that I didn't want to put it down, I didn't feel entirely comfortable reading it.
As other reviewers have mentioned, there were various bits in it that were difficult to comprehend, such as the lack of back-up by the scientist, and the way that Robert Langdon never got things right the first time.
I don't think that it is a book I would recommend - I found it far too frustrating.
As other reviewers have mentioned, there were various bits in it that were difficult to comprehend, such as the lack of back-up by the scientist, and the way that Robert Langdon never got things right the first time.
I don't think that it is a book I would recommend - I found it far too frustrating.
Overall I'm glad I read this book, but I did have a few problems with it. Though some of the chapters were extremely nervewracking and well-written, the book in general didn't do it for me. It wasn't quite as much of a pageturner as some of Dan Browns previous books. I felt like he kept repeating himself, and the historical/mysterious-secrets-and-symbols-and-ancient-stuff part of it wasn't interesting enough and it didn't work very well, whereas the science-stuff was awesome. Also, the plot twist was a little easy to guess. But It did manage to get catch my attention to some degree and some of the chapters were really golden. Also the characters that acted as Robert's sidekicks were more interesting and well-written than in his other books, though perhaps sometimes stereotypical.
The plot, villain, and reveal were all lacking for me. I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, it was fast paced and interesting where this one seemed to drag and not be well thought out. It wasn't so bad that I regret reading it but if I wasn't listening to it on audio I wouldn't have finished it.
My favorite part of the book was
My favorite part of the book was