Rating: 
Summary: a prequel disappointment
Review: How great was Rocky? Then Rocky 2 came out and it wasn't quite the same. Isn't that true for the most part? Nothing's like the original. Well, its reverse for the Dan Brown novel Angels and Demons. It actually precludes his best selling and very enjoyable Da Vinci Code (see my review). The Da Vinci Code had a great fast paced plot as well as historical tidbits that made me want to do some research. Angels and Demons has a weak plot and lags in many places. His "historical items" center around the Illuminati, a scientific anti-Church group. They rise again to attack the Church in the setting of modern Rome Brown could have had some great science vs. religion debate included in his novel but the dialogue falls short.
Brown's novel is plagued with "Harry Potter virus". Like Potter's author Rowlings, Brown had one great book but his other works hasn't been able to capture the success of the best seller.
Rating: 
Summary: Running around Rome with Col. Mustard
Review: I work at one of the big chain bookstores, and literally every other customer who comes to the register nowadays has a Dan Brown book in his or her hands. It's almost rediculous. I think we've sold more copies of THE DA VINCI CODE this last month than Taco Bell has sold tacos.So I found myself wanting to see what all the fuss was about. From all of the enthusiastic customers talking about the books at the register, I knew that ANGELS & DEMONS is the Robert Langdon novel that comes before DA VINCI (and since it's already in paperback, I decided to start with it). So, now that I've finally read a Dan Brown book, do I know what all the fuss is about? Yes and no. ANGELS & DEMONS is a fun read. It's fast-paced, and highly cinematic in terms of plot and structure. It touches superficially on some compelling science vs. religion themes, but it ultimately doesn't demand much emotional or intellectual involvement from the reader. It's kind like a roller-coaster where all you have to do is sit down and strap yourself in and the ride takes care of the rest. The weakness of Brown's characters was probably the most disappointing part for me. I'm willing to suspend my disbelief quite a ways as long as I feel real human eyes when I'm doing it. ANGELS & DEMONS is light on nuance and subtlety of character and heavy on stereotypes and broad exaggerations. Brown made it just about impossible for me to like his protagonist somewhere near the beginning of the book when he described Robert Langdon point blank as a smart, handsome, athletic, well-liked guy. Whenever a writer tells you should like his character, rather than drawing you into making that conclusion on your own, you know you're in trouble. But, still, despite the fact that I found most of the characters highly annoying, there was so little character work in the book, that I was able to just think of them as game pieces and enjoy the ride. It doesn't make Clue any less fun, for instance, because you're not emotionally attached to Col. Mustard. But I guess with a book, you tend to expect more. That's why I feel conflicted about ANGELS & DEMONS. It's fun, but it's not much more.
Rating: 
Summary: A Nonstop Action Work of FICTION!!!
Review: World renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is laying in his bed early one morning when his world is shattered at 5:18 AM by a phone call from a mysterious Maximilian Kohler, head of an ultrasecret Swiss science organization who needs his services ASAP! And when we mean right away, we mean RIGHT AWAY; Kohler is sending his private jet, which will bring Langdon to Switzerland to start the longest day and the most intense journey of his life. You see, a scientist working on a project to discover the secrets of antimatter has been Murdered, apparently by an ancient cult called The Illuminati, who seared their special brand into the dead man's forehead. Langdon soon learns that the killer or killers intend to revive the longstanding quest of this secret society by placing this antimatter bomb somewhere in the Vatican; their goal is nothing less than the destruction of the entire Catholic church!! Along the way, he encounters Vittoria, the ultrasexy, ultrasmart daughter of the dead scientist, and her aide is enlisted in the quest. Symbols, symbols abound, ancient scripts, cryptic messages, all of which must be solved by our intrepid duo before midnight when the Vatican goes Kaboom! Oh, and have I mentioned that there is a conclave of cardinals (not the birds, silly!) esconced in the Vatican, preparing to elect a new Pope? How remiss of me! Well, it seems that the killers also intend to gruesomely dispatch one of the cardinals per hour, and there is nothing Langdon, Vittoria, and the entire Swiss Guard can do about it, is there? Wrong! Enter the camerlingo, the Pope's personal chamberlain, whose services are also enlisted in the quest. All in all, it's a madcap romp through 500+ pages and the longest day of everyone's life. Part James Bond and/or Indiana Jones adventure, part Umberto Eco symbology quest, all spellbinding, all guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat, all FUN!! However, a few cautions. First, if you are overly squeamish and cannot handle gruesome and macabre deaths graphically depicted, you might want to stay away from this book. Also if you are an overly critical type and love to look for all the factual flaws and inaccuracies of a work of FICTION (Isn't that a contradiction?? Think about it!), this book may not be for you as well. Still, if nonstop action and literary puzzles are what really grab your attention, then I would suggest grabbing a copy of this book right away and be prepared for the ride of your life. Quick before it's too late! The clock is ticking!!!
Rating:
Summary: Check your brain out before your read this!
Review: I bought Angels and Demons after reading The Da Vinci Code. I thought the plot in The Da Vince Code was a little unbelievable but I could live with it. Angels and Demons though is like check your brain out as you read it. I can't believe his publisher or Mr. Brown himself would think his readers are this brain dead. Fiction has to be somewhat believable at least for me especially when he begins with this is fact... Buy the book but if you find yourself saying give me a break as you flip the pages especially at the end, remember I told you so.
Rating:
Summary: His best effort
Review: While ANGELS & DEMONS is so much like THE DA VINCI CODE that it's not funny, (both start with a murder; both wrestle with science vs. religion; both have Langdon trying to solve a murder; both are fast-paced thrillers; etc) I found the writing and overall effectiveness of A&D to be far above the other novels Brown has written. If you have to choose a Dan Brown novel, folks, this is the one to pick. Also recommended: McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD and Brown's DECEPTION POINT
Rating:
Summary: Check your brain out before your read this!
Review: I gave Angels and Demons 2 stars. I bought this book after reading The Da Vinci Code. I thought The Da Vinci Code was a good read. The plot in Angels and Demons is just too unbelievable. Mr. Brown should consider adding some other people to his review committee. I can't believe the publisher thought his readers were this brain dead. This book given some revisions could have been awesome. If you buy the book, be prepared to check your brain out as the story unfolds.
Rating:
Summary: Dan Brown scores again (The Da Vinci Code guy)
Review: Dan Brown scores again with his novel "ANGELS AND DEMONS. The Book starring Robert Langdon (the character in THE DA VINCI CODE) discusses the everlasting struggle between Science and Religon, and even suggests a direct connection between the two extremes of the spectrum. The book begins with the murder of world renowed scientist Leonardo Vetra. The director of the facility that Vetra worked in calls in Langdon to decrypt the mysterious message branded into Vetra's chest by the killer. The brand leads Langdon to believe a bomb has been placed in the Vatican set to explode during the papal elections as to murder all the cardinals. Langdon and Vittiora Vetra (leonardo's daughter) embark on a quest along an anchient path to save the cardinals and the catholic relgion from damnation by a force as old as religon itself. Together they follow the path through catacombs, forgotten churches and secret lairs of the Brotherhood of the illuminati cult.
The characters have depth as well as the plot. ANGELS AND DEMONS follows along the same token as THE DA VINCI CODE and is a very fast paced, exciting, thriller not to missed by anyone, religous or not.
1.All referances to works of art, tombs, tunnels, and architechture in Rome is factual.
2. The Brotherhood of the illuminati is also factual.
3. Other Books by Dan Brown include THE DA VINCI CODE, DECEPTION POINT, AND DIGITAL FORTRESS.
Rating:
Summary: Petty reviews
Review: I couldn't believe the petty little criticisms on the part of the "reviewers" below. Let's don't say "reviewers", let's say "hacks". I think these goofballs have their own agenda -"'dissing" authors they don't like for reasons other than a book review. If you are going to discredit an author, pick something better to critize than verb usage, et al.
This book may have some sloppy mistakes; it is a long book and must have had some sloppy editing and proof readers. However, the mistakes do NOT detract from the story as the "reviewers" below inaccurately accuse. The book is FICTION, knuckleheads. Fiction means NOT TRUE. Get it? NOT true. I'd bet a lot of money that there are other reasons for their criticism. Catholic, anyone?
Rating: 
Summary: best selling, but why?
Review: A hideous, godawful, video game masquerading as a novel. There is not one single character to care about and all the frenetic plotting just exaggerates this deficiency. I never even found out if they saved the Vatican cause I couldn't be bothered. I will avoid Dan Brown's work like it has Anthrax in it.
Rating: 
Summary: Page-turning Disappointment
Review: I gladly admit I couldn't put this book down. It is tremendously suspenseful and carefully crafted. This is must reading for those who have lost faith with fiction. There are several errors, though: A double noun gets a singular verb, Sunday School is erroneously imputed to Roman Catholics, misunderstanding of the immaculate conception for the virgin birth, the difference between the resurrection of Jesus and his ascension, and a helicopter that races up without our knowing what happened to it -- minor annoyances considering the otherwise painful attention to detail. Readers looking for prosaic style of a James, Nabokov, McCarthy, etc., will not find it here. The syntax is simple and the semantics should be discernable to anyone with a ninth grade education. While the writing is not erudite, the subject matter often is. When the novel stumbles on a subject that the general reader might not know, Brown provides a definition. The story is flawed by being uneven; much too much detail is spent on the minutae of clues, and little effort goes into the furtherance of the plot. After spending 400 pages of chasing one clue after another, it would have been nice to have more detail spent on plot development. The begiing and ending seemed hurriedly piecemeal and disappointing. All in all, the book is a satisfying experience. Conspiracy theorist will have a heyday. I doubt anyone will fail to have some fun.
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