Angels & Demons : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Captivating!
Review: I read both "Angels and Demons" and "DaVinci Code" in one seating. I couldn't put them down. The author has obviously spent hours in the library doing research on the topic he writes about. I respect that and welcome it. I am looking forward to the next adventure of Robert Langdon!

Rating:
Summary: Angels and Demons scores big time
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was a really good page turner. How can anyone put down an exciting novel about Robert Langdon following a trail full of murder mystery and even some cool facts about history? Langdon is called to Switzerland to try to help someone solve a murder with a strange brand on it. From there, he is whisked to Vatican City in Rome. He is following the clues of an assasian and is trying to stop the Vatican from blowing up because a bomb has been hidden in it. The ending is a real shocker. This is a great book to read when you're bored or when you want some exciting book to read. I wouldnt classify this as great literature, but it sure is fun.

Rating:
Summary: Two Wings Up For Angels And Demons
Review: With his elegant writing style and intriguing facts, Dan Brown has sent me once again on an epic journey through his novel, Angels & Demons. The book is fast paced from page one, building with every chapter. I have read all four of Dan Brown's novels and I personally believe that this book is his finest, measuring up to even The Da Vinci Code, Brown's most popular book. What I love about this book is all of the information you ascertain. There's all of the beautiful artwork and structures that you get to picture with your imagination. Each of the places that the protagonist Robert Langdon and his partner Vittoria Vetra visit are full of extravagant structures that most people will probably never get the privilege to visit.

The main problem with the book is its lack of character development. It's difficult to understand the characters and their motives until you're halfway through the book. The plot, on the other hand, makes up for the weak character development. The books main character, Robert Langdon, is sent to a Swiss research facility to discern the hidden meaning in a symbol saying "Illuminati" branded onto a murdered man, Leonardo Vetra. He and Vetra's daughter, Vittoria, go on a journey to find a substance called antimatter that will blow up the Vatican at midnight. They visit many churches, chasing after an assassin that kills a cardinal every hour, yet they are always one step behind. In the end there is one final twist that turns everything around and makes you question who you can still trust.

What is such an amazing theme in this book that reoccurs countless times is the duality of nature. White and black, yin and yang, matter and antimatter, all of these are complete opposites and always in twos. Another spectacular thing Brown does are his ambigrams, words that when turned upside down look exactly the same right side up. He created an ambigram for the words "angels and demons, illuminati, earth, air, fire, and water." Once I realized that he used duality as one of his themes in his book, so many things I read in his novel involved pairs.

Though many people have disliked this book because of its rushed plot, I am personally fond of that style of writing. For example, when I read The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, I was amazed by the fact that he had created a whole world separate from our own. I found, though, that the book was difficult to read at times because of its ten page descriptions. Angels and Demons is definitely a book that you would want to read while sitting next to a computer to look up all of the information that Brown informs us of. I believe that this book will compare favorably to other classic novels. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a novel that is truly a piece of beauty.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Brilliant
Review: Angels and Demons is possibly the best book I have ever read. The codes, the chase, the resurection of an acient brotherhood made this book a thrilling page turner. The use of old and new concepts and ideas was simply amazing. The way Dan Brown showed urgency was outstanding. Better then the Da Vinci Code. A brilliant read.

Rating:
Summary: This book killed my brain cells
Review: This book nearly leaves me speechless. I saw every major plot line coming, a least a hundred pages before they were revealed. This is because Brown can't seem to figure out how to foreshadow correctly. He gives away just about everything except for the very end of the book, which hits you like a train wreck. It is so ugly and twisted that you can't even believe that Brown actually beleves you would be absorbed by this.
For me, there was no suspension of disbelief at all. I was not drawn in. It was like I was watching a bad movie in the theatre that I want to walk out of but I couldn't because I kept hoping it would turn itself around become a better book. However, it didn't. It was just bad.
I understand that the book is fiction and that the errors in language and such are acceptable, but why not take the extra step as the author to research a little better and make sure everything is at least in the right ballpark.
Everyone should throw this book out and go buy a copy of The House of Leaves instead.

Rating:
Summary: As of an Angel
Review: As of an angel, with glowing wings illuminated in flight, "Dan Brown's" pen once again graces the page with utmost elegance and brilliance in, "Angels and Demons." From the start, the book is a fast paced thriller with, like most of Brown's works, an outsider being pulled into a world of secret societies to do some unbelievable feat. The books settings are fantastically detailed and have information, which has been researched thoroughly by Brown. Unlike his other novels, the characters in this novel have rather vague descriptions and are left that way until about page two hundred or so. The plot, which thickens from page one is and entirely different matter. Robert Langdon, an occult specialist is sent to Rome to explore the meaning of the death of a world-renowned scientist, when he meats this mans daughter. Vitoria Vetra is a young scientist working with CERT, a science facility of amazing proportions. Together they plunge into the world of an ancient, and supposedly dead society, the Illuminati.
From this point on the book climbs to it's apex, and then just as the reader suspects the ending, Brown rips the floor out from under you with an extraordinary twist. Overall Brown's writing is superb! What the story lacks in character development it makes up for, ten-fold, in it's unique plot, and just plain fascinating information. The book is one of the most highly informative, and well-researched books that I have ever had the privilege of coming across. Brown's knowledge of Illuminati secrets, maps, and rituals did not in any way fail to astound me. This book is a must read for any one who has ever wondered about ancient societies, i.e. Masons, Illuminati, etc. I found it utterly fascinating from start to finish.
"Angels and Demons" is written with a series of story lines that all lead in separate paths, but then begin to intertwine near the climax of the book. The flowing writing style, and is with which the author writes is unparalleled by any one of his time. In this book Brown once again pushes the envelope with new ground breaking material that is comparable to his best seller, "The Da Vinci Code."
The book has shortcomings, although few, they came near the beginning of the book and were noticeable. I found the pace to be rushed, and the author could have exercised slightly more patience in opening the story. Brown gives beautiful detail, but leaves little room in his story to create any real relationships between any of the characters, excluding the obvious love, which Robert and Vitoria feel toward each other. The books greatest asset can also be viewed, as it's greatest fault. Brown spends the majority of his time explaining in enormous detail, the settings and the information, which he has attained about the ancient group, the Illuminati. Though the detail is fascinating, it becomes slightly tedious near the middle to later half of the book in which Robert and Vitoria are on the trail of an Illuminati operative.
Despite what I disliked with the book, I am sure that this book will one day be held in the same stature as works by the classic authors of great American literature. Brown has never failed to hold true to the incredible expectations he has set for his readers to enjoy. Reading this book was truly a pleasure and I would highly recommend it to any person who wants not just a book put a true piece of art.

Rating:
Summary: Like most people
Review: Like most people, I came to Dan Brown via THE DA VINCI CODE first. This book was my second read of his, and I have to say that I enjoyed it much more than DA VINCI, although both books have similar themes and even characters. But A&D is, in my opinion, a better written book. Of the three books I've recently purchased, (BIRTH OF VENUS, BARK OF THE DOGWOOD, A&D) this one is the best, moving along at a fast clip with great dialogue and characters. Highly recommended to anyone who likes a book that "moves."

Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: This is an amazing book with a fast and furious storyline. I could not put it down. I won't go into the many, many reasons why I loved it, but I would like to say to all those critics out there who have a problem with the "implausible" portions of the book: have you ever heard of a little thing called FICTION!!!??? If not, feel free to look it up in the dictionary. Relax guys, and try to just enjoy a novel for what it is:)

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the new Nelson DeMille
Review: Wonderful fiction, easy to read and fast moving.

Rating:
Summary: e-book not received, unalbe to read
Review: I thought I was buying a book! Amazon "sold" me an e-book that I have not received. It was shipped on March 12, 2004 and today is May 5, 2004. After looking to see "where my stuff is" I noted that it was a stupid e-book. Being very dyslixic I am unable to read it on the computer even if I chose to sit in front of the stupid thing all day--what a waste of money.