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trilled_meow's review
3.0
“Substantiate or suffocate, Ms. Vetra. Mickey’s ticking.”
This was a decent but sometimes frustrating read. Frustrating because of transparent and repetitive attempts to create suspense. It would be fun to read before a trip to Italy, or if you are interested in Rome or Vatican City, the Catholic Church or the Illuminati, or art history.
I didn't care for the last 10% or so; it felt predicated on an entirely unrealistic interaction/reaction and massacred a character in a way that didn't really satisfy me because of how stupid it was. I liked the ending but not the unwarranted reason for it.
o88's review
5.0
Dan Brown gets a bad rep but this book helped me adjust to a big move in my life in the middle of high school so i'll always have fond feelings toward this book. It continues to be my favourite Robert Langdon entry as well. Highly recommended if you're looking for a fun page turner.
ceeceerose's review
3.0
Brown’s first book featuring The Da Vinci Code character Robert Langdon is truly a page-turner. A stylish story, filled with religious and scientific facts and tales, keeps the reader enthralled; and a perfectly placed cliffhanger at the end of each chapter keeps the suspense high. Like James Patterson perfected in his books, short chapters cater to the audience being able to read a chapter in five minutes or so and then stop, not having to break between pages. With this book, though, readers might not want to stop once they get into this very fast-paced story, which involves the re-birth of a secret society from long ago that included famous sciences, popes, and others in high power among its members. The thrills come at a quick pace and the story is not too complicated to hinder the reader’s ability to keep up with the action. Of course, there are a few major plot twists in the end, but the final surprise is one that will shock everyone. A good read for anyone, but a great read if you love thrillers.
katieisallbooked's review
3.0
Several people told me that they enjoyed this Dan Brown work more than The Da Vinci Code (which I adored) so I was excited to read it. However, I must say that I didn't like it nearly as well. I couldn't put The Da Vinci Code down while Angels & Demons seemed to drag on and on without nearly as much suspense. I figured out some of the major plot twists early on which made "discovering" them later on much less shocking.
I also really disliked the relationship between Vittoria and Robert. Yes, she was given credit for being very smart, but I felt like that took a backseat to her looks and I found the whole thing to be quite trite and annoying.
Overall, it was a good book and I probably would have rated it better had I not already read The Da Vinci Code.
I also really disliked the relationship between Vittoria and Robert. Yes, she was given credit for being very smart, but I felt like that took a backseat to her looks and I found the whole thing to be quite trite and annoying.
Overall, it was a good book and I probably would have rated it better had I not already read The Da Vinci Code.
stephanie_happylibrarian's review
3.0
If I were to choose to read only one book from Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code would be the choice. Angels and Demons is a prequel, introducing us to Langdon, the star of Da Vinci Code. The reader does learn background information about him that is not presented in The Da Vinci Code.
It is not a bad book, just seemed very drawn out to me. The mystery surrounding the Illuminati is well developed except the resolution at the end of the book seemed a bit too tidy. The version I read, is 710 pages, which to me the story could have been shorter.
This being said, I will be looking to read the next installment, The Lost Symbol due out this fall.
It is not a bad book, just seemed very drawn out to me. The mystery surrounding the Illuminati is well developed except the resolution at the end of the book seemed a bit too tidy. The version I read, is 710 pages, which to me the story could have been shorter.
This being said, I will be looking to read the next installment, The Lost Symbol due out this fall.
juice's review
4.0
I have mixed feelings about these series. For the most part I enjoyed them, though many tell me the writing is bad (currently writing this review years after reading, I was 16 when I read this), and I don't plan on reading them again to find out. What bothers me the most about this series is the conviction that the conspiracies/facts that the main character is listing are true when many are not, and the continual use of new sexy woman with a PHD trope for every book.
That being said, I like the escapism of this series. Solving crimes based on the fact that both the perpetrator and the hero are obsessed with history and art is incredibly fun. Conspiracy theories are enjoyable to tangle with because it encourages us to question what we perceive versus the pursuit of truth (they are also a little thrilling), but I like to keep them in fiction. It also is a nice introduction to a lot of the information, so I was more engaged when learning about them in college. While in college, I also had the luxury to travel to some of these locations and I felt a personal attachment to them despite never seeing them before. I think Brown's series are wonderful reads for tourists who are in the area. Similar to James Joyce's Ulysses and Dublin, but with more accessible content. (Okay so more like the movie National Treasure with Nicolas Cage)
That being said, I like the escapism of this series. Solving crimes based on the fact that both the perpetrator and the hero are obsessed with history and art is incredibly fun. Conspiracy theories are enjoyable to tangle with because it encourages us to question what we perceive versus the pursuit of truth (they are also a little thrilling), but I like to keep them in fiction. It also is a nice introduction to a lot of the information, so I was more engaged when learning about them in college. While in college, I also had the luxury to travel to some of these locations and I felt a personal attachment to them despite never seeing them before. I think Brown's series are wonderful reads for tourists who are in the area. Similar to James Joyce's Ulysses and Dublin, but with more accessible content. (Okay so more like the movie National Treasure with Nicolas Cage)