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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This suddenly showed up at the library after a very long wait so I stopped my other books midway and picked this one up!
I really enjoyed it. I really enjoy the main character Robert Langdon, and all his crazy adventures.
This story didn't quite pull me in like the others before it, but that may be timing and nothing wrong with the story.
I really enjoyed it. I really enjoy the main character Robert Langdon, and all his crazy adventures.
This story didn't quite pull me in like the others before it, but that may be timing and nothing wrong with the story.
**slight spoilers**
Zero literary value whatsoever. This book plays out as a fantasy more than a dramatic thriller. Why? You have to suspend disbelief at every page. The book moves quickly enough, but it's a far cry from Angels & Demons or even The Da Vinci Code. The same plot elements as the other two books are present here: unexpected mystery, cute but tough and nerdy damsel, shadowy villain...except the villain is just about as terrifying as the Easter bunny. And the plot twist at the end of the book? The secret that threatens to overturn the entire world? Highly outrageous. Can't believe Dan Brown spent over two years researching and writing this. He tries to throw in so much Masonic lore that it overpowers the text almost instantly and becomes more of a puzzle game and primer on the Freemasons rather than a taut thriller where the Masons are part of the backdrop. Brown succeeded much better with this concept of a shadowy organization bent on taking over the world in Angels & Demons. Can't wait to read his next book, if only to see just how much farther his writing's regressed.
Zero literary value whatsoever. This book plays out as a fantasy more than a dramatic thriller. Why? You have to suspend disbelief at every page. The book moves quickly enough, but it's a far cry from Angels & Demons or even The Da Vinci Code. The same plot elements as the other two books are present here: unexpected mystery, cute but tough and nerdy damsel, shadowy villain...except the villain is just about as terrifying as the Easter bunny. And the plot twist at the end of the book? The secret that threatens to overturn the entire world? Highly outrageous. Can't believe Dan Brown spent over two years researching and writing this. He tries to throw in so much Masonic lore that it overpowers the text almost instantly and becomes more of a puzzle game and primer on the Freemasons rather than a taut thriller where the Masons are part of the backdrop. Brown succeeded much better with this concept of a shadowy organization bent on taking over the world in Angels & Demons. Can't wait to read his next book, if only to see just how much farther his writing's regressed.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Same old stuff but a different cover - 3*
When everyone thinks of Dan Brown, they think of the Da Vinci Code, which in the Robert Langdon series was off the scale! I'm still so surprised that it is a sequel and better than the first book in the series. It's something that many authors dream of. The Da Vinci Code was exciting and different and I loved it. Whereas, Angels and Demons was an intriguing start to the series, it got you interested into the life and times of Robert Langdon. I appreciate that.
Now, The Lost Symbol offers deja vu. I think that's the only word I can use to explain it because honestly the plot is beginning to get a little repetitive. In each novel, there is Robert Langdon (with that goddamn Mickey Mouse watch), an attractive female (who it takes the whole book to realise they feel romantic attractions towards each other), a cult/force/ideology/religion (Illuminati/Catholic Church/Freemasons) and a crazy person (who is intent on taking over the world but you've probably met them in an earlier chapter). I can't help but reflect cynically on this series because of the parallels in each of the stories. I have a huge sense of deja vu. I may as well have read Angels and Demons again but just changed the names of the characters. I only continue to persevere and read this series as Inferno (Robert Langdon, #4) is getting turned into a Hollywood movie this year. I haven't seen any of the films and I really want to see what they've done with these stories...
I know Brown must be fully aware of the repetitive nature of his plots. He's writing them so I hope so. I wonder if he sits on his typewriter (for some reason I can't imagine him with a laptop) and starts to think... Hmm, maybe there's ideology that people have heard of and they're going to take over the world but it's got to involve some sort of coding cause we've got to make Langdon the star of the show. But wait, there's got to be some way, it relates back to the power and strength of Christianity and the power of science cause we've got to make everyone happy. Then Langdon will save the day cause he's solved all of the codes but people die. The attractive female never dies cause God forbid if CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT could happen. Then Langdon will have the secret revealed to him by his friend/guy who employed him (cause that can't be a female either) and Langdon will keep this from the world but then will write a book. Then Brown must think its a genius idea (because it's worked for him BEFORE) and sends it off to the publisher. That's how I imagine it to happen...
Okay. Back to my review, I got carried away:
The CIA thing Brown tried to do to spice up the plot did not work AT ALL. It just made the plot stilted and infuriating. Really, they waited until 80% of the book to reveal that? Yes, it threatened national security but it also threatened my sanity. I did consider giving it up but I promised myself that I will make it to Inferno.
Robert Langdon needs some character development (for God sake!). He is the same person in the Angels and Demons story. It's probably why Hollywood is able to manipulate the order of these stories to suit their needs (or pick out the best stories, which will actually appeal to audiences). There is nothing new about him. He occasionally reflects on the previous stories, just to remind the reader that these stories are actually connected in any way.
I will excuse that in this book that Robert Langdon at some points in the story was pretty slow. I mean I worked out some of the clues before he did. Is that Brown's point that we can all be like Langdon? I don't want to be like Langdon. That's why I read... I want to escape and be with characters that are beyond amazing. I mean I idolise Sherlock Holmes because of how brilliant his mind is. I know Langdon is human and in no way a comparison to Holmes' ability but I expect him to be extremely good (at least). He is called on across the world and still I can pick up things faster than he can... I don't want that. Sort it out, Brown.
There is a new female in every story and again, he reflects on the previous girl with a sentence. Possibly two if she's lucky. This trait reminds me of the psychopathic element of James Bond's personality. Perhaps, it also reminds me a little of Indiana Jones. (Apart from the fact that Indy's 4th Hollywood outing changed all that.) I understand that he's a very successful Harvard professor and loves his symbols but surely he wants a life? His friends have kids - can't he at least have some form of commitment? A dog... You'd think after all these near-death experiences that he'd want someone who's not a one night fling and could possibly extend over two books. Imagine that, Brown and then we could have something called CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!
To be fair, I don't mind the recycled plot structure. It's familiar and I can usually guess who the evil bad guy is, which boosts my ego (slightly). I like reading about the latest cult/religion/ideology that Langdon has got himself tangled in with. I really don't mind. I know from review it doesn't seem like it but I'm just frustrated. The Da Vinci Code was so amazing and so I know Brown can write well but he just can't be consistent. I'm only ranting because I've been showing a great Langdon novel and now I want it again... Is that too much to ask?
I will now start Inferno.
BROWN, DON'T LET ME DOWN!
When everyone thinks of Dan Brown, they think of the Da Vinci Code, which in the Robert Langdon series was off the scale! I'm still so surprised that it is a sequel and better than the first book in the series. It's something that many authors dream of. The Da Vinci Code was exciting and different and I loved it. Whereas, Angels and Demons was an intriguing start to the series, it got you interested into the life and times of Robert Langdon. I appreciate that.
Now, The Lost Symbol offers deja vu. I think that's the only word I can use to explain it because honestly the plot is beginning to get a little repetitive. In each novel, there is Robert Langdon (with that goddamn Mickey Mouse watch), an attractive female (who it takes the whole book to realise they feel romantic attractions towards each other), a cult/force/ideology/religion (Illuminati/Catholic Church/Freemasons) and a crazy person (who is intent on taking over the world but you've probably met them in an earlier chapter). I can't help but reflect cynically on this series because of the parallels in each of the stories. I have a huge sense of deja vu. I may as well have read Angels and Demons again but just changed the names of the characters. I only continue to persevere and read this series as Inferno (Robert Langdon, #4) is getting turned into a Hollywood movie this year. I haven't seen any of the films and I really want to see what they've done with these stories...
I know Brown must be fully aware of the repetitive nature of his plots. He's writing them so I hope so. I wonder if he sits on his typewriter (for some reason I can't imagine him with a laptop) and starts to think... Hmm, maybe there's ideology that people have heard of and they're going to take over the world but it's got to involve some sort of coding cause we've got to make Langdon the star of the show. But wait, there's got to be some way, it relates back to the power and strength of Christianity and the power of science cause we've got to make everyone happy. Then Langdon will save the day cause he's solved all of the codes but people die. The attractive female never dies cause God forbid if CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT could happen. Then Langdon will have the secret revealed to him by his friend/guy who employed him (cause that can't be a female either) and Langdon will keep this from the world but then will write a book. Then Brown must think its a genius idea (because it's worked for him BEFORE) and sends it off to the publisher. That's how I imagine it to happen...
Okay. Back to my review, I got carried away:
The CIA thing Brown tried to do to spice up the plot did not work AT ALL. It just made the plot stilted and infuriating. Really, they waited until 80% of the book to reveal that? Yes, it threatened national security but it also threatened my sanity. I did consider giving it up but I promised myself that I will make it to Inferno.
Robert Langdon needs some character development (for God sake!). He is the same person in the Angels and Demons story. It's probably why Hollywood is able to manipulate the order of these stories to suit their needs (or pick out the best stories, which will actually appeal to audiences). There is nothing new about him. He occasionally reflects on the previous stories, just to remind the reader that these stories are actually connected in any way.
I will excuse that in this book that Robert Langdon at some points in the story was pretty slow. I mean I worked out some of the clues before he did. Is that Brown's point that we can all be like Langdon? I don't want to be like Langdon. That's why I read... I want to escape and be with characters that are beyond amazing. I mean I idolise Sherlock Holmes because of how brilliant his mind is. I know Langdon is human and in no way a comparison to Holmes' ability but I expect him to be extremely good (at least). He is called on across the world and still I can pick up things faster than he can... I don't want that. Sort it out, Brown.
There is a new female in every story and again, he reflects on the previous girl with a sentence. Possibly two if she's lucky. This trait reminds me of the psychopathic element of James Bond's personality. Perhaps, it also reminds me a little of Indiana Jones. (Apart from the fact that Indy's 4th Hollywood outing changed all that.) I understand that he's a very successful Harvard professor and loves his symbols but surely he wants a life? His friends have kids - can't he at least have some form of commitment? A dog... You'd think after all these near-death experiences that he'd want someone who's not a one night fling and could possibly extend over two books. Imagine that, Brown and then we could have something called CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!
To be fair, I don't mind the recycled plot structure. It's familiar and I can usually guess who the evil bad guy is, which boosts my ego (slightly). I like reading about the latest cult/religion/ideology that Langdon has got himself tangled in with. I really don't mind. I know from review it doesn't seem like it but I'm just frustrated. The Da Vinci Code was so amazing and so I know Brown can write well but he just can't be consistent. I'm only ranting because I've been showing a great Langdon novel and now I want it again... Is that too much to ask?
I will now start Inferno.
BROWN, DON'T LET ME DOWN!
Red Dragon + American Psycho + National Treasure + a doctoral thesis.
Yeah, the DB formula has always been action, action, educational exposition, wash rinse repeat, but this one is real heavy on the lecture. Guess that’s what happens when the need to travel gets replaced by Google Earth. Anyway, here’s an excerpt:
They stumble across a modern room with light and glass. Robert instantly smells Macedonian clay.
“(paragraph directly from an academic paper) But it can’t be, because...,” Langdon pauses, then smirks.
Associate of high regard: “Robert, what are you saying – that ketchup is the protoplasmic ooze which catalyzed the genesis of carbon-based life? But it’s just ketchup!”
Langdon smiled again before turning an onyx scepter head located at the base of four ionic spires. A small crease appeared in the floor, opening to a series of holographic Masonic US Presidents engaged in alchemical treason.
“Or maybe,” he pauses again, smiles one more time even though absolutely nothing is funny - ever - indicating he’s just a smug ahole, “maybe it’s something more.”
Antagonist, from a dark corner: “Thanks for solving all the puzzles, sucker!”
Yeah, the DB formula has always been action, action, educational exposition, wash rinse repeat, but this one is real heavy on the lecture. Guess that’s what happens when the need to travel gets replaced by Google Earth. Anyway, here’s an excerpt:
They stumble across a modern room with light and glass. Robert instantly smells Macedonian clay.
“(paragraph directly from an academic paper) But it can’t be, because...,” Langdon pauses, then smirks.
Associate of high regard: “Robert, what are you saying – that ketchup is the protoplasmic ooze which catalyzed the genesis of carbon-based life? But it’s just ketchup!”
Langdon smiled again before turning an onyx scepter head located at the base of four ionic spires. A small crease appeared in the floor, opening to a series of holographic Masonic US Presidents engaged in alchemical treason.
“Or maybe,” he pauses again, smiles one more time even though absolutely nothing is funny - ever - indicating he’s just a smug ahole, “maybe it’s something more.”
Antagonist, from a dark corner: “Thanks for solving all the puzzles, sucker!”
I enjoyed it the same way I enjoy most Dan Brown novels, wanting to read just one more chapter and get just one more clue to figure out the whole puzzle, enjoying the way he works real-world objects and existing myths into his fiction. Too bad the characters in his books are so flat. Langdon is especially dense in this one.
Not much of a spoiler; early in the book you find out that a major thematic element is Noetic Science. I don't know about 'less controversial than The DaVinci Code,' because this book is pretty heretical. If you liked The Secret, no problem. If you're a conservative Christian concerned with avoiding that sort of New Age, we-are-all-gods / god-is-in-us sort of thing then I don't recommend this book.
Not much of a spoiler; early in the book you find out that a major thematic element is Noetic Science. I don't know about 'less controversial than The DaVinci Code,' because this book is pretty heretical. If you liked The Secret, no problem. If you're a conservative Christian concerned with avoiding that sort of New Age, we-are-all-gods / god-is-in-us sort of thing then I don't recommend this book.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Oh je
Immer wieder das selbe Buch und jedes Mal wird es schlechter. Hab bei 60% schon bisschen was dazu gesagt aber bitte … wie oft kann man die selben Charakter und handlung auslutschen? We get it, Wir sind Gott und das göttlich weibliche und was weiß ich. Aber bitte 250 Seiten weniger und dann wäre dich alles gucci. Kämpfe mich auch nur ein schlechtes Buch, scheinbar sogar mehrmals
Immer wieder das selbe Buch und jedes Mal wird es schlechter. Hab bei 60% schon bisschen was dazu gesagt aber bitte … wie oft kann man die selben Charakter und handlung auslutschen? We get it, Wir sind Gott und das göttlich weibliche und was weiß ich. Aber bitte 250 Seiten weniger und dann wäre dich alles gucci. Kämpfe mich auch nur ein schlechtes Buch, scheinbar sogar mehrmals
After the climax with Mal'akh, the remaining fifty pages were overly drawn out. I realize that the overall conflict was bigger than just that person v. person part, but that was more interesting to me that the lost word business.
Alright Dan Brown we need to talk... I know that your schtick is NOT realistic, slow-burn storytelling, but my goodness; even for you this book was insanity. Don't get me wrong, it was a wild ride and I did enjoy it, but there were some moments that *so* defied belief that it really just took me out of the story completely. Which is saying something, since I already suspend my disbelief to some level at the start of a Dan Brown book. Another frustration was the number of characters with competing motives, keeping secrets from one another that, if shared, could actually have prevented much of the mess they were in.
That said, some of the twists (especially the big one at the end) were jaw-dropping and well executed. The joy of flying through a mystery is one of the primary reasons to read Dan Brown, so on that point I was not disappointed.
Probably the thing I love most about his books is his ability to weave seemingly random artifacts, rumors, and famous places and faces into a narrative that just flies by. I often find myself Googling the artworks/churches/pick-your-secret-keeping-vessel that come up throughout the book, and in this way I'm constantly learning something new and interesting. For this, Dan Brown, I thank you. And know that I will continue reading your series, even when it gets completely batsh*t, just because it's so much fun.
That said, some of the twists (especially the big one at the end) were jaw-dropping and well executed. The joy of flying through a mystery is one of the primary reasons to read Dan Brown, so on that point I was not disappointed.
Probably the thing I love most about his books is his ability to weave seemingly random artifacts, rumors, and famous places and faces into a narrative that just flies by. I often find myself Googling the artworks/churches/pick-your-secret-keeping-vessel that come up throughout the book, and in this way I'm constantly learning something new and interesting. For this, Dan Brown, I thank you. And know that I will continue reading your series, even when it gets completely batsh*t, just because it's so much fun.