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rachelditty's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I wanted to reread The Da Vinci Code but decided to read the first of the Robert Langdon series before getting to the second book again. Angels and Demons was a fine enough read, definitely wasn't as pulling for me as I was hoping. I didn't love that the villain of the first three-quarters of the story was a stereotype, and I also disliked the insta-love between Langdon and Vitoria.
What I did like about the story was how Langdon just seemed to be Some Guy for the first two and a half hours of the audiobook--he had no idea why he was there an neither did anyone else; he was just the first person they found who was a professor of religion when they googled it, which I find so funny. He was basically useless for three hours and just acted as a walking purse for Vitoria. I thought it was hilarious.
I also think a lot of male authors try to make good female characters and fail horribly. Dan Brown, however, seemed like he was trying to make a cookie-cutter female support character and accidentally made a pretty cool woman. I really liked Vitoria. Again, thought her relationship with Langdon was pretty rushed and didn't feel right, but I liked their friendship, it was fun. Plus, their final interaction where Vitoria said Langdon only wasn't religious because he hadn't let her fuck him yet was. Pretty great, I'm not going to lie. It was fun.
I also liked the balance that seemed to iron out by the end of the story between religion and science. Learning about the Pope and his own utilization of both polarized opposites was interesting, and I thought it was cool.
Didn't love this book, and it wasn't as fun as I was expecting, but I appreciated the twist at the end, and I like that Robert Langdon was kind of pathetic. Love that for him.
What I did like about the story was how Langdon just seemed to be Some Guy for the first two and a half hours of the audiobook--he had no idea why he was there an neither did anyone else; he was just the first person they found who was a professor of religion when they googled it, which I find so funny. He was basically useless for three hours and just acted as a walking purse for Vitoria. I thought it was hilarious.
I also think a lot of male authors try to make good female characters and fail horribly. Dan Brown, however, seemed like he was trying to make a cookie-cutter female support character and accidentally made a pretty cool woman. I really liked Vitoria. Again, thought her relationship with Langdon was pretty rushed and didn't feel right, but I liked their friendship, it was fun. Plus, their final interaction where Vitoria said Langdon only wasn't religious because he hadn't let her fuck him yet was. Pretty great, I'm not going to lie. It was fun.
I also liked the balance that seemed to iron out by the end of the story between religion and science. Learning about the Pope and his own utilization of both polarized opposites was interesting, and I thought it was cool.
Didn't love this book, and it wasn't as fun as I was expecting, but I appreciated the twist at the end, and I like that Robert Langdon was kind of pathetic. Love that for him.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Murder, and Death
greek_book_wanderer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
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
4.0
Στο βιβλίο “Illuminati - Οι Πεφωτισμένοι”, γνωριζόμαστε με τον καθηγητή Ρόμπερτ Λάνγκτον, τον κύριο πρωταγωνιστή των βιβλίων του συγγραφέα. Τα γεγονότα λαμβάνουν χώρα στο Βατικανό, όπου ο Λάνγκτον καλείται να εμποδίσει τα καταστροφικά σχέδια της αρχαίας μυστικής αδελφότητας που ακούει στο όνομα Illuminati.
Από άποψη γραφής θύμιζε πολύ το προηγούμενο βιβλίο του Brown, τον Κώδικα Ντα Βίντσι το οποίο είχα διαβάσει πριν από αυτό. Η αφήγηση ήταν ίδια, τριτοπρόσωπη, δίνοντας μία εικόνα για τις σκέψεις διαφόρων χαρακτήρων, βοηθώντας έτσι τον αναγνώστη να τους γνωρίσει καλύτερα. Η γραφή ήταν απλή, περιγραφική εκεί που έπρεπε και τα κεφάλαια ήταν μικρά και περνούσαν γρήγορα.
Κάτι το οποίο είδα να επαναλαμβάνεται, είναι η αδυναμία του συγγραφέα να δώσει περισσότερη «προσωπικότητα» στους πρωταγωνιστές. Τόσο ο Λάνγκτον, όσο και η σύμμαχος του, Βικτόρια Βέτρα ήταν αρκετά βαρετοί σε ορισμένα σημεία και δεν ένιωθα δέσιμο μαζί τους. Εξαιτίας του μεγάλου όγκου πληροφοριών και συμβολισμών που υπάρχουν στο βιβλίο, θεωρώ ότι εμποδίζεται η εξέλιξη των χαρακτήρων, οι οποίοι ήταν σαν ρομπότ. Για ακόμη μία φορά, το ενδιαφέρον μου στράφηκε στους δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες, από τους οποίους μερικοί ήταν πιο περίπλοκοι και (κατά εμέ) καλογραμμένοι.
Η πλοκή ήταν ενδιαφέρουσα και εκτυλισσόταν γρήγορα ενώ προσωπικά τη βρήκα περισσότερο ενδιαφέρουσα σε σχέση με το προηγούμενο βιβλίο. Υπήρχε παραπάνω δράση και η μάχη μεταξύ επιστήμης και θρησκείας μού κέντρισε περισσότερο το ενδιαφέρον. Η εξέλιξη των γεγονότων κινεί την περιέργεια του αναγνώστη, καθώς και τα cliffhangers σε ορισμένα κεφάλαια και οι ανατροπές αποτελούν την κορύφωση.
Είναι ένα ωραίο αστυνομικό θρίλερ, με το οποίο μπορεί να περάσει ευχάριστα η ώρα. Μην το αντιμετωπίσετε σαν ένα βιβλίο που θα σας ανοίξει τα μάτια, παρά σαν ένα ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα. Αν δεν έχετε διαβάσει βιβλία του Dan Brown, είναι ένας ωραίος τρόπος να ξεκινήσετε.
Από άποψη γραφής θύμιζε πολύ το προηγούμενο βιβλίο του Brown, τον Κώδικα Ντα Βίντσι το οποίο είχα διαβάσει πριν από αυτό. Η αφήγηση ήταν ίδια, τριτοπρόσωπη, δίνοντας μία εικόνα για τις σκέψεις διαφόρων χαρακτήρων, βοηθώντας έτσι τον αναγνώστη να τους γνωρίσει καλύτερα. Η γραφή ήταν απλή, περιγραφική εκεί που έπρεπε και τα κεφάλαια ήταν μικρά και περνούσαν γρήγορα.
Κάτι το οποίο είδα να επαναλαμβάνεται, είναι η αδυναμία του συγγραφέα να δώσει περισσότερη «προσωπικότητα» στους πρωταγωνιστές. Τόσο ο Λάνγκτον, όσο και η σύμμαχος του, Βικτόρια Βέτρα ήταν αρκετά βαρετοί σε ορισμένα σημεία και δεν ένιωθα δέσιμο μαζί τους. Εξαιτίας του μεγάλου όγκου πληροφοριών και συμβολισμών που υπάρχουν στο βιβλίο, θεωρώ ότι εμποδίζεται η εξέλιξη των χαρακτήρων, οι οποίοι ήταν σαν ρομπότ. Για ακόμη μία φορά, το ενδιαφέρον μου στράφηκε στους δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες, από τους οποίους μερικοί ήταν πιο περίπλοκοι και (κατά εμέ) καλογραμμένοι.
Η πλοκή ήταν ενδιαφέρουσα και εκτυλισσόταν γρήγορα ενώ προσωπικά τη βρήκα περισσότερο ενδιαφέρουσα σε σχέση με το προηγούμενο βιβλίο. Υπήρχε παραπάνω δράση και η μάχη μεταξύ επιστήμης και θρησκείας μού κέντρισε περισσότερο το ενδιαφέρον. Η εξέλιξη των γεγονότων κινεί την περιέργεια του αναγνώστη, καθώς και τα cliffhangers σε ορισμένα κεφάλαια και οι ανατροπές αποτελούν την κορύφωση.
Είναι ένα ωραίο αστυνομικό θρίλερ, με το οποίο μπορεί να περάσει ευχάριστα η ώρα. Μην το αντιμετωπίσετε σαν ένα βιβλίο που θα σας ανοίξει τα μάτια, παρά σαν ένα ευχάριστο ανάγνωσμα. Αν δεν έχετε διαβάσει βιβλία του Dan Brown, είναι ένας ωραίος τρόπος να ξεκινήσετε.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Gore, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual violence
alexandramrtin's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
only thing to say is that the antagonist was deliciously crafted and led to (a) nice plot twist(s)
obviously long but an enjoyable read, especially once things start coming together in the second half of the book
obviously long but an enjoyable read, especially once things start coming together in the second half of the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Blood, Death, Murder, and Violence
nicole_rietveld's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment
m4rtt4's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I admire Dan Brown for his ability to create these kinds of page-turners full of interesting facts. I'm not a huge fan of action books or movies where everything is centered around villains and violence, but all the nerdy stuff in this book surely made up for it :)
On the other hand, I really dislike Brown's way of writing characters, everything from creating backstories interesting enough to describing them in present day and action. I mean, of course Robert Langdon is as perfect as Brown's wanted him to be (bet he created him as a perfect version of his own self), but oh god, ARE THERE MORE TO FEMALE CHARACTERS THAN THEIR BODIES? Obviously there should be, but I wouldn't recommend using Brown's books as a guide to writing women. Or, tbh, any other characters either, so very one-dimensional, stereotypical, (and even racist) he made them all (apart from Langdon ofc). Especially the assassin — his actions and overall villain-ness didn't frustrate me nowhere near as his personality was written to be.
So, overall the story was adventurous and entertaining if you just treat most of the chacters as "necessary implementers to the required actions" and ignore their personal traits. Wouldn't recommend if you dislike science and/or history.
On the other hand, I really dislike Brown's way of writing characters, everything from creating backstories interesting enough to describing them in present day and action. I mean, of course Robert Langdon is as perfect as Brown's wanted him to be (bet he created him as a perfect version of his own self), but oh god, ARE THERE MORE TO FEMALE CHARACTERS THAN THEIR BODIES? Obviously there should be, but I wouldn't recommend using Brown's books as a guide to writing women. Or, tbh, any other characters either, so very one-dimensional, stereotypical, (and even racist) he made them all (apart from Langdon ofc). Especially the assassin — his actions and overall villain-ness didn't frustrate me nowhere near as his personality was written to be.
So, overall the story was adventurous and entertaining if you just treat most of the chacters as "necessary implementers to the required actions" and ignore their personal traits. Wouldn't recommend if you dislike science and/or history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Torture
Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Sexism, and Suicide
gundegaaa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
gurkanwal27's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Torture, Rape, Death of parent, Death, Chronic illness, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Hate crime
Moderate: Emotional abuse
hollyrooker's review
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Hate crime, and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence
thewordsdevourer's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
a pulse-racing, unstoppable page-turner filled w/ twists and turns, interesting historical facts, info, speculation, and thought-provoking debate on science and religion and their roles in modern society, though its writing abt women does turn me off quite a bit. 620 pages of this felt like a short novella tbh; thats how engrossing the book was. i havent read a lot of thrillers to make an adequate compariaon, and idk how historically and factually accurate this book is, but as a casual reader it was pretty damn good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
caro221's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Im Not Sure, I really Like it the First half but Then Well what
The only poc were a camera Woman who got talked down to by a Rookie News Guy and a murderer/almost-rapist.....
Victoria lost her dad, got almost Killed, knocked Out almost raped and then she Just jumps Landon....
Landon got almost crushed, Shot, drowned, knocked Out, Fell from the Sky and then drowned almost again....
The plottwists Well I think at 2/3 that I suspect the CERN Guy, and the bretrayl from the guard came Out of nowhere
And Then Just everybody dies...nice
The only poc were a camera Woman who got talked down to by a Rookie News Guy and a murderer/almost-rapist.....
Victoria lost her dad, got almost Killed, knocked Out almost raped and then she Just jumps Landon....
Landon got almost crushed, Shot, drowned, knocked Out, Fell from the Sky and then drowned almost again....
The plottwists Well I think at 2/3 that I suspect the CERN Guy, and the bretrayl from the guard came Out of nowhere
And Then Just everybody dies...nice
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Death, Kidnapping, Rape, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, and Torture