Rating: 
Summary: What a page turner!
Review: I could not put this book down. Ended up reading it in a couple of days. There were so many twists in this book, just when I thought I knew what was going on, I was wrong and there was never any dull moments during the entire read. I definitely reading Davinci code next!
Rating:
Summary: Great Thriller and a Dash of History
Review: I suspect everyone else is rediscovering Dan Brown about now for the same reason I am; The DaVinci Code. That thriller was so interesting and compelling that I was moved to go back and read his earlier works. Like this one, Angels & Demons, a thriller about the Brotherhood of the Illuminati resurfacing in the modern day to destroy the Catholic Church by blowing up Vatican City during the papal elections.The detailed historical context, the scientific research and information and breakneck pace made this a truly satisfying book for me. The writing itself was somewhat pedestrian and forced, especially through the endless scenes of expositional dialog ("Antimatter? I don't understand. What's that?") that allow certain characters to ramble for pages, delivering vital, and interesting, but less than natural speeches. For the villain, blowing up the Batican is not enough. Dan Brown has made serial killers from secret societies seem a little fresher through the use of ambigrams - pictures of word that say the same thing upside-down and rightside-up - which have been turned into brands representing the four elements, and which are used to burn the symbols into the flesh of the four papal candidates who have been kidnaped. So, much of the suspense comes not from wondering whether they'll catch the bad guy, but whether they'll be able to save the poor cardinals before they are dispatched. One standout piece of good writing was the characterization of the young papal secretary whose faith, courage and strength serve as a call to the Catholic faithful and an example to the world of what a pope could be. I found myself moved by this character's speeches and actions, even though I am far from Catholic, or even religious. The main character, John Langon, is impossibly smart and improbably employed as a symbologist at Yale University. He is a sort of geeky version of the macho Dirk Pitt archetype, tireless, strong and resourceful. But his background serves to make this a thriller more cerebral than simply raising the Titanic or some fanciful lost city. Improbable is a good word for this novel. Almost none of it is believable or possible, but Dan Brown weaves a fascinating world in which he is, at least, consistent and faithful to his own ideas. It's interesting, it's exciting and it's a good precursor or followup to The DaVinci Code, which is, laughably, almost the exact same book, with precisley the same flaws and draws.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Angels & Demons is an easy read with plenty of action, suspense and even a great history lesson. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly Bad Writing
Review: Last week, I read "The Da Vinci Code" because I was curious about its sudden jump to the status of Number One Bestseller. It turned out to be an awkwardly written rehash of ideas covered many times over by much better writers as varied as Robert Anton Wilson and the "Holy Blood" team. OK -- lots of history-mystery novels are little better than jazzed-up third-hand research notes; wherefore is this one different from all others, except for its huge sales? But someone handed me "Angels and Demons" this week, and I decided to give it a try. I'm now one-third of the way through, persevering with grim curiousity at this point, because I must say that it's one of the most poorly-written and even poorly-edited novels I've read in years. It's difficult to believe that the author and his editor are native speakers of English, let alone well-read in either history or science. I could write a line-by-line analysis of malapropisms, misnomers, mixed metaphors, and howlers, not to mention absurd misunderstandings of physics, art, linguistics, and history, plus all the other flaws which Dan Brown would never have accepted (I hope) from his students back at prep school. But I've noticed that Amazon reviewers (and presumably their readers) fall into two categories: Those who possess some degree of literacy; those who don't, and prove that in a self-conscious style seemingly derived more from watching local-TV movie "critics" than from serious reading. This note is a fair warning to the former; the latter will probably react to "Angels and Demons" solely in terms of their personal feelings about the Conspiracy Theory of History, as if that's somehow relevant to the literary quality of a work of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I've Read in a LONG Time
Review: This is a fabulous book. It's the beast book I've read in a very long time -- and I'm a librarian! Not only has Mr. Brown done a superb job in constructing his fast-paced story, but kudos also go to John Langdon for his extraordinary artwork to create the ambigrams. If you like suspense, Rome, and/or art history, get this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Illumnati vs Vatican -- Not as good as Deception Point
Review: I bought this book for two reasons, I enjoyed Deception Point and I like Illuminati stories. If you have read Deception Point, you will be familiar with the basic flow of the book, main character gets whisked off to investigate strange happening and a 24-hour whirlwind of activity begins. In this book, Robert Langdon is said character. He has been summoned to a Swiss research facility to help investigate a murder that implicates the mysterious organization known as the Illuminati. Langdon happens to be an expert. Science and history are bent to the breaking point as we learn that a large quantity of anti-matter has been created and it has been stolen. It turns up in the Vatican. Supposedly the Illuminati are behind the plot and they are planning to wipe out their old foes the Catholic Church. But there is a Conclave going on to appoint a new Pope and the favorites have been kidnaped from the Vatican itself. Langdon must unravel the secrets of the Illuminati if they are to save the Cardinals and the Vatican. Langdon has a mere four hours to accomplish what he has been unable to do in twenty years. But he does anyway. Typical Brown subplots and major twists guarantee to final answers until the final page or two. I had a lot of trouble with the inaccurate science, the Captain of the Swiss Guard who will not take a threat seriously, and Langdon's ability to figure out what is going on. A romance plot line is added so that Langdon can have someone else point out the not-so-obvious once in a while. Still, it is a gripping book that keeps the reader hooked if only to see how things turn out (even if you can't believe it). As for the bit about what was done "without sin", Brown seems to be unfamiliar with both the procedure and the Church's stand on one of the steps. Deception Point is much better.
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Summary: Unsatisfying ending
Review: The book is interesting, fast paced but has a very unsatisfying and inprobable ending. I am asking myself: "Do you realy expect me to believe that?"
Rating:
Summary: Angels??
Review: I read Angels and Demons and found the first 90% excellent -- but then the author lost me. The ending seemed so contrived and convoluted, I really skimmed the last 15 pages -- it just did not make sense. I gave the book to a friend who offered me The DaVinci Code in return, I told her maybe in Sept I will be ready to cope with it. His website was not that good.
Rating: 
Summary: A 3.9 on a point scale of 5-Fun and Fast
Review: I enjoyed Angels and Demons. I appreciate Dan Brown's take on the international thriller genre: a combination of religious history, contemporary issues and fast paced action. I purchased this book after I read the DaVinci Code, which I loved. This book is not as good as that one: clearly Brown matured as a writer in both plot development and his style of prose. However, I still found this book a fun and fast read. Brown again educates the reader on an historical religious sect: this time it is the Illuminati. Brown also uses exciting international settings-Switzerland and Rome-as backdrops. He has the same hero (a swashbuckling Harvard professor) and a beautiful, intelligent female sidekick. I would recommend this book for those who enjoyed the DaVinci Code, though I would caution the reader not to expect the same level of entertainment. I also would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the thriller genre. I would not recommend this book for individuals with strong religious beliefs who would prefer not to be challenged in this arena.
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced adventure but with poor realism
Review: Dan Brown is a good storyteller if you approach his books without an overly critical eye at the research and plot. Very fast paced, and will most certainly keep you turning the pages. However, you might be turning those pages wondering just how much more ridiculous the story is going to be. Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor specializing in symbolism, having been faxed a gruesome picture of a murder scene with an Illuminati symbol; is then rushed to CREN, the largest physics lab in the world, to view the symbol. From here Robert encounters this horrible murder scene, and there the story blasts off leading Robert, and the victims adopted daughter Victoria to Rome. In Rome they move forward trying to piece together this ancient puzzle of the Illuminati to find the killer and stop the destruction of the Catholic Church on the eve of Conclave. Sounds interesting right, well it does make for an interesting idea, however I believe Dan makes his characters out to be just to super-hero like for me. I doubt that a Harvard professor and a brilliant and sexy yoga-master scientist could single handedly solve the puzzle of the Illuminati path of Illumination, all in the time frame Dan puts it in. If you expect the action to carry even a hint of realism you might want to check this out at the library first before buying it. Dan's research on the Illuminati is sound, but doesn't offer anything spell bounding in regards to revelations about the Illuminati. It's the standard story offered up in history books galore about a group of scientists that was persecuted by the Church, who has a diabolical plan to one day destroy the Church's hold on humanity. New World Order brought forth by this secret society that infiltrates all major political, media and business positions of power. To the reader that has no previous knowledge about the Illuminati, this book might reveal some interesting information; someone else though who has even hit a web-page or two will see nothing other than the "official" story. Another quick note on research, it has some shortcomings on things which are not Illuminati related, such as his references to Yoga and Buddhist philosophy. I mean if the guy flew to the Vatican, had an audience with the Pope; he could at least get a couple of facts about Yoga and Buddhism correct. Nit picking aside, the book will keep you going. If you have read Digital Fortress or perhaps other Dan Brown novels, you will enjoy this one. Beware though if you don't enjoy learning about the Illuminati, the Catholic Church's corruption, and other bits of related information because they are everywhere in this book. The book made me feel like I was in the "brotherhood", being able to extract the factual information from a fictional story. And that I think makes this book fun to read.
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