Rating: 
Summary: THIS BOOK IS PURE "GENIUS"
Review: Every once in awhile, I'll come upon a book that's so incredible that a five star rating doesn't even do it justice. Such was the case with Angels and Demons...a reading experience I'll not soon forget. The better part of this book takes place in Vatican City and I swear to you that I actually felt like I had spent the past few days there because that's how real and well-researched Dan Brown's book is. I also felt like I had been given some kind of drug that kept my heart in a state of continual palpitation because that's how exciting his book is as well.This is an effort of monumental proportions as Brown covers nuclear research, a Vatican conclave, the Illuminati, ambigrams, antimatter and a race against the clock to save part of the history of Rome. He also manages to fuse science, art, history and religion into one book while explaining why the battle between science and religion is still raging. The good thing about Brown is that he doesn't lecture the reader on this subject -- he simply lays it out there for you to ponder. The story begins with Robert Langdon, professor of religious iconology at Harvard University, receiving a very distraught phone call from Maximilian Kohler, director of CERN -- European Center for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland. One of his famed physicists, who also happens to be a priest, has just been murdered and the killer has left a calling card in the form of an ambigram branded onto the scientist's chest. Since Langdon specializes in symbology, he is asked to help track down the killer. This one phone call will lead Langdon on the most spectacular fictional chase I've ever been on. The reason this chase is so incredible is because it's like taking a fast action sightseeing trip around Rome while following a map written by Galileo with signposts sculptured by the great 16th century artist Bernini. Take my word for it; it's like nothing you've ever experienced. Like many of the other reviewers, I too had to stay up until 2AM because there was no way I could go to sleep without knowing how this book would end. The bad news is that once I finished it, there was still no sleep to be had because my heart was racing out of control. I decided to read this book because of all the "buzz" Dan Brown's latest book, The DaVinci Code, has been getting. Once I heard that it featured Robert Landon from Angels and Demons, I knew I had to read this before tackling DaVinci. Imagine my surprise when Angels and Demons far surpassed any expectations I had. Now I can't even envision what awaits me within the pages of The DaVinci Code. Unfortunately, I need to take a good rest between these two books as I don't think my heart can handle another thrill ride so soon with Dan Brown as the "Director of Entertainment."
Rating:
Summary: Uniquely "Brown!"
Review: Oh, Wow, What A Story! High-tech drama at its finest to be sure! "Angels and Demons," is a unique story that could only be told by a writer like DAN BROWN...simply AMAGING! This is definately not a book to be missed! It will have you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire read! (Angels and Demons is a book I highly reccomend!)
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Reading
Review: I don't mind suspending disbelief if a story is well written and ANGELS AND DEMONS fit nicely in that category. What makes Dan Browns's books spectacular (in my humble opinion) is the attention to detail and the research that he incorporates into his stories. I was fascinated by Brown's telling of the secrets of the Vatican and the Illuminati and the parts played by Galileo and Bernini. Also recommended: IN HIS IMAGE (The Christ Clone Trilogy, Book 1) by James BeauSeigneur
Rating:
Summary: An absolutely STUNNING Thriller!
Review: My first introduction to Dan Brown was through his incredible thriller, 'The Da Vinci Code' and figured that I had missed out on his previous works, so I picked up 'Angels & Demons' the day after I finished TDVC. This is in every way it's equal. Every bit as compelling. Every bit as entertaining. Every bit as FUN. If you enjoy solving puzzles -- especially REAL ones, than Dan Brown is an author you NEED to get to know and F-A-S-T. One of the things which made this book so instantly enjoyable was one of the main characters I already knew, Robert Langdon, world famous Symbologist from 'The Da Vinci Code'. Set aside some time to completely absorb this amazing tale, because once you start it, you will instantly be captured up in this highly addictive story. Robert is suddenly awakened early in the morning by the Director of the worlds leading science center, CERN located in Switzerland asking for advice. Robert is less than interested and hangs up when his fax machine spits out a picture which makes his blood run cold. Within a few hours, he is on a quick trip to Europe (heavy emphasis on the word 'Quick'). A murder has been committed. The victim, one of the most gifted scientist in the world has been brutally killed and the mysterious brand of the secret brotherhood of the Illuminati is left on his chest. NOT just ANY brand either, an Ambigram, a word which can be read the same right-side-up as well as upside-down. But Robert is convinced that the Illuminati have been disbanded for the better part of a century. Even so, his curiosity leads him on a quest which will take up the rest of the day and open up secrets long forgotten and better left buried. Somehow Dan Brown has introduced the element of Antimatter into the story in such a way as to be totally believable. The substance in actuality has been manufactured in microscopic quantities. It's a power source if harnessed could benefit mankind in untold ways -- however with most things the opposite is also true. In this case Antimatter can also be a weapon of catastrophic proportions. Just a tiny half-a-gram of Antimatter if it came in contact with literally ANYTHING, even air, would create an annhialation equal to a 5 kiloton nuclear explosion. When some of this material is stolen from a lab in Geneva and turns up hidden somewhere inside the walls of the Vatican, the chase is on to find it before it decimates the headquaters of the worlds largest Christian Religion. Oh, and to throw a little curve ball to the plot, the Pope has recently died and the worlds senior Cardinals have gathered for Conclave, to decide who will be elected Pontiff. Along the way, we find out the Illuminati's ultimate goal of destroying the Catholic Church, and suddenly it all seems possible -- frighteningly possible. When 4 of the Senior Cardinals are kidnapped and threatened to be murdered one-by-one until the Antimatter goes critical, the stakes suddenly are as serious as the Church has ever faced. Let me tell you this: NOTHING is as it seems, and NOBDY is safe from suspicion. I was absolutely convinced that one character was involved in the conspiracy and BOY was I WRONG. The surprises are fast and many, and the trip was one well worth taking. Catholics take note: You MAY be a little unsettled at how the Church is portrayed in 'Angels & Demons' but ultimately I believe the basic idea the author conveys is one of hope, and the Church provides that in many ways. I will be recommending this book (as well as 'The Da Vinci Code') to ALL my friends. HIGHLY recommended, and absolutely INCREDIBLY fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Take the Chance, If You Dare
Review: "HOLY COW" a famous person said once, but about something totally different. That same phrase applies here. What a termendous read. Once you're hooked, it's impossible to escape this book. Although not the "Da Vinci Code" (thus the 4 stars), the exploits of Robert Langdon in his tweed coat will captivate and turn you in knots. Mr. Brown has an amazing imagination and ability to twist and turn a story to places where the reader would never expect. Bad guys turn to good, and good to bad, innocents dying all over, surprise after surprise. And best of all, the hero gets the, oops, can't say that. Mr. Brown wins for research. His knowledge of locations and ancient legends, myths and secret sects is complete. My hat is off to the depth of his understanding of the Catholic Church. Robert Langdon is a hero ala Indiana Jones, Superman, and Einstein combined. His villans are terrifying and evil, and seem invincible, and his ethics are exceptional. Fortunately for us, the right thing is always done in the end. So, without telling any of the plot or the characters (you'll have to read about that) this is an excellent weekend read, if it takes you that long. You'll hang at the end of every chapter, wanting more. Don't wait any longer, get this book and read-it-up fast. You'll have no other choice. When you're done, and out of breathe, then go for "Da Vinci Code". You'll be very glad you did. Thanks for the great entertainment Mr. Brown!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Angels & Demons - Exciting and very different
Review: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown Robert Langdon is a professor of religious symbology. Vittoria Vetra is the beautiful scientist.
They are brought together to track down an assassin who is a member of the deadly Brotherhood of the Illuminati. He has captured four Vatican cardinals and has pledged to execute each one, using the four elements:- Earth, Air, Fire and Water. As well as this, the Illuminati have informed the Vatican there is a new and powerful device, an anti matter bomb, planted beneath the Vatican and set to explode in only a few hours time. The Illuminati are pledged to destroy the Vatican. A culmination of the centuries old argument of Science and religion. Apart from being such a terrific thriller, it is the way in which Dan Brown creates and allows the reader to enter the thought process of Robert Langdon, and lets the reader think along with him, as he uses all his skill and historical knowledge to try to outwit this assassin. To save the lives of the cardinals from such a deadly fate. The ongoing going issue of Science versus Religion is brought strongly to the forefront in Angels and Demons. Thousands of people are gathered in Vatican square still unaware of the bomb ticking away the minutes to their oblivion. Robert Langdon, battered, bruised but still unremitting, and with the camerlengo - the Priest, is crawling through the catacombs and underground passages beneath the Vatican. Can they find and disable the bomb in time? Can the Church of Rome be saved? It is here, that each twist and turn in the plot comes into it's own, cumulating in the final climax (climaxes) as well as a religious "manifestation" and takes the reader through to the end, in a spellbinding, page turning frenzy. One final thought. Apart from the thrilling potential offered by this novel, I was left with the thought that however beneficial science can be in our lives, whatever new discoveries are made, God is in these discoveries. He is one and the same and exists in our lives. In the words used in the story, by the camerlengo, 'Do you not see God in your science? How can you miss Him!
Rating: 
Summary: Blah!
Review: Since the 50's (bad ol' times of the cold war), the thriller fiction category has been one of the most crowded in the book publishing market - I don't think there's a need to give a list of the authors' names. Action, espionage, techno-thrillers, science-thrillers, etc. etc. etc., mostly all with the KGB and the Soviets as the unmitigated villains. MOre or less well plotted and written, but still palatable reading in those days. The all-out rivalry between the USA and the USSR does not now exist anymore (or at least, that's what they tell us, even though there's some element to the contrary), so the turn came for the introduction of new types of heroes and of baddies, such as in this book where the former is an American university professor in symbology, and the latter an ultra-secret, deeply rooted, well hidden, association or brotherhood, the "Illuminati" (the "Enlightened") (with immense powers, ruthlessly exerted, a total beef against the catholic church, and the usual program of world domination). This has been just another twist of the kaleidoscope tube. The writing is artificial, pompous, plethoric, redundant. I put the book down after reading the first 15-20 pages and, 5 minutes later, I was online with Amazon.com, cancelling my standing order for another one ("Digital Fortress") by the same author. Don't waste your money on him.
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed Research?
Review: This was the usual thrill-a-minute book. Interesting concepts, lots of twists, turns and surprises. The author purports to be an authority on a number of subjects from symbology to theology. However, I did notice two mistakes. Brown writes that only Cardinals can be elected Pope; acutally any male (and, please God, someday any woman)can be elected Pope without even the need to be an ordained priest. Secondly, Brown defines "Devil's Advocate" as the cleric who vets any potential Pope. The "Devil's Advocate" is the cleric assigned to challenge the canonization of a person being considered for sainthood. These two points could have been easily researched --so how valid is the remainder of his research? I'm reading the "DaVinci Code" now, so I'll see how accurate he is.
Rating:
Summary: Trouble in Vatican City
Review: What an amazing book! My only complaint, of course, would be that every religious novel and movie revolves around Catholicism. Why don't the Methodists and the Southern Baptists get equal billing? Seriously, this book is an incredible thriller, a tour guide to Rome, and an educational adventure all rolled into one. I've never learned so much from a work of fiction. Being an art major in college, I appreciated so much the references to art from the Renaissance. I think the book suffers a bit from Crichtonism. That being defined as "when an author can't decide what to do at the end so he throws out the most ludicrous thing he can think of." Let's just say one thing at the end stretched my ability to suspend disbelief just a tad too much. Despite these picky criticisms, I highly recommend this story.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome! ! Action, Adventure, Religion, Science & History
Review: I had been very impressed by DIGITAL FORTESS, Dan Brown's first novel, and found his treatment of a complex subject matter both knowledgeable and compelling. I had then missed the publication of ANGELS AND DEMONS, but felt that he had overplayed his hand in his third novel DECEPTION POINT, which started with an interesting premise but wandered into unnecessary complexity and violence and ultimately complete implausibilty. With the publication of THE DA VINCI CODE, upon learning that Robert Langdon is the central character in both DA VINCI and ANGELS, I decided to first read ANGELS in order to keep the stories in sequence. This is a mesmerizing page turner as long as you accept the author's central technological premises concerning scientific achievements in the near future. Robert Langdon, a professor of iconography and religious symbology at Harvard, is awakened by a telephone call from Maximilian Kohler, head of a prestigious European scientific institute. One of Kohler's fellow scientists has been murdered and an ancient symbol burned into his chest. Langdon feels compelled to investigate, and soon finds himself in the midst of a plot involving not only the death of Leonardo Vetra, a priest who is the world's leading antimatter researcher, but of the revival of a centuries old vendetta by a secret society, The Illuminati, against the Catholic Church. Langdon is forced by circumstances and the nature of the threat to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, Leonardo's adopted daughter, in an attempt to uncover the Illumunati's secret and halt not only several additional murders which have been threatened but the destruction of The Vatican itself. Incredibly, the entire story takes place within a time span of just over twelve hours, which adds to the compelling nature of the action. The book is typical Dan Brown, meticulously researched (despite the complaints of a few reviewers about some details), with lots of interesting information about a variety of subjects related to religion, the Vatican, art, science and morality. It is a well constructed story, with several plot twists and enough misdirection to make it extremely difficult to anticipate the conclusion. (I doubt that the outcome was as expected by those critical reviewers who didn't finish the book after identifying their choice for the "obvious villian". I also did not feel that the story was at all anti- Catholic, in fact the author met with the Pope and was helped by the Vatican during his research efforts.) While there are several gruesome scenes, they are integral to the context of the story and the violence is usually minimized and only briefly described. The real bonus of reading this story is the wonderfully well articulated discussion of the tension between science and religious faith, which forms the heart of the story. The last section of the book has a particularly insightful monologue in this regard, but the subject infuses the whole discussion woven into the plot concerning the historical conflict between the Illuminati and the Church. For instance, early in the book Vittoria challenges Langdon's evasion concerning his apparent lack of a belief in God with the observation "I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believed in God. There is a difference." In addition, the book is almost worth reading just for the ambigrams (words or phrases which read the same right side up or upside down) which Dan Brown had created. These are truly works of art and their design is incredibly clever and beautiful. Finally, if you are familiar with Philips Exeter Academy, the author's alma mater, you will also have the fun of recognizing the source of the names of several of the characters referenced in the book.
|
