Angels & Demons

Rating:
Summary: Toss up
Review: I'm having trouble deciding which book I liked better, The Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons. It is definitely a toss up for me. I couldn't put this book down either! I love a good mystery and after reading The Da Vinci Code I was looking for another religious mystery and was not disappointed. If you liked The Da Vinci Code, this is a must read. If you didn't, I'd give it a shot anyway because it is very entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: A flash in the pan ...
Review: If you want a 4-star read, tear out the first 70 pages, the last 20, and suspend all disbelief that a Harvard professor can solve an ancient mystery created by the greatest minds of an age in six hours, instead of six decades with the assistance of guide dogs and cavorting clowns holding signs that say 'Clue Here!'

The story was pretty good, but the author's political drivel and distortions of history really drag it down. I never actually read the last few pages; the ending was that lame. This paperback is going straight into the trash bin.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not Da vinci Code
Review: Like many people, I discovered Dan Brown through The Da Vinci Code (The Da Vinci Code and "A Tourist in the Yucatan" were my favorite thrillers of the year). As much as I enjoyed the just-one-more-page-before-I-turn-out-the-light qualities of this book I still prefer The Da Vinci Code. Angels & Demons is the prequel for The Da Vinci Code and I could truly see Brown's growth as a writer in his later work. I would consider his plotting skills in Angels & Demons good, but by the time he went on to write The Da Vinci Code I believe they were perfected.

Angels & Demons still possesses the page turning, fast paced plotting present in The Da Vinci Code. However, in my opinion, some of the plot twists, while being thoroughly entertaining, were also entirely unbelievable. I don't believe that fiction needs to be exactly like real life, but I can only suspend disbelief so far without falling out of the story.

If this was your first Dan Brown, and you enjoyed this one, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of The Da Vinci Code. If you've already read The Da Vinci Code, you'll probably like this one too, just know before you begin that you've already read the best, now you're going back for the rest.

Do Read "The Da Vinci Code" and "A TOURIST IN THE YUCATAN"



Rating:
Summary: Rip-roaring dastardly fun
Review: Like many people, I read the Da Vinci Code before I knew that Angels and Demons existed. I enjoyed the Da Vinci Code enough to pick up Angels and Demons. If you like mystery and treasure hunts, legends about the Vatican's power with secret and deadly societies pursuing, in this case, Robert Langdon (the MacGyver of religious symbology) through exotic European cities, I recommend you read this book. I preferred Angels' tighter plot, focusing on the clues laid out over Rome, Italy that are presented to Langdon in his pursuit of finding the answers before horrific death and destruction occurs. I do not remember a slow point in the book. Angels possesses the similar motion of the Code, but in retrospect, the Code is almost sloppy in comparison to Angels despite Brown's very interesting premise that the Code is the "truth" of the matter.

And, this is my WARNING: I am not sure that I get into Brown's larger than life resolutions to some of the plot twists to Angels or the Code for that matter. I don't dissect books like this because if I did the larger than life, outlandish segues, would kill my reading pleasure. Just like I try not to hate the Roadrunner for always foiling the poor Coyote. So, in saying that, the book does keep the reader hanging on to the very end and it is fun.


Rating:
Summary: A true barnburner!
Review: Next to Britt Gillette's "Conquest of Paradise", this is the best book I've read in a long time. I'm a first time Dan Brown reader but I'm hooked! I stayed up all night and didn't quit until I finished, blurry eyed and sleepy. I found myself believing every word and had to stop and remember that it's just fiction! I was amazed at the inside information about the Vatican (especially the library), and I finally got out a map and books from my trip to Rome to see if I could find all the churches. Anti-matter, illuminati, choosing a pope - all of it was fascinating. When I finished, I had to laugh thinking about the fact they never ate, slept or made comfort stops and neither could I. The ending was a total surprise! Anyone who enjoys non-stop action and information shouldn't miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: A page turner
Review: One of the most absolutely fabulous books I have ever read. It kept me trapped during a trip to South Africa. I was always looking for an opportunity to read it. Every free moment had to be used - while in the train, the bus, the plane, in my hotel room, the park. I couldn't stop until I had completed it. This book is a real page-turner.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE IDIOT

Rating:
Summary: action packed catholic church thriller
Review: Without giving a lot of the plot awat--Mr. Brown has written a novel that kept me on the edgo of my seat as I waited to see if the main charactoer langdon would be able to save people on the brink of being killed. The author has written a suspensul novel would plenty of twists to keep people of all ages entertained. I wonder if Tom Hanks will sign on to do the movie version of this book.