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Summary: Angels and Demons
Review: Angels and Demons caught my eye in a bookstore so I decided to try it. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I was able to "get into" the book. Being raised in the Catholic Church made this story even more believable with the politics that are prevalent in any organization. The best part of the novel is the completely unexpected ending. I found myself staying up way past my bedtime becuse I couldn't put the book down! Give this one a try, Catholic or not.
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Summary: So awful it's painful
Review: More konspirata drivel. The opposition runs around in sweatshirts that are emblazoned with "BAD GUY" in large red letters; the hero is actually stupider than a box of rocks, despite his academic qualifications; the Swiss Guard is once again reduced to a group of bumbling idiots; everyone dashes around being shocked by the obvious; etc. etc. It is almost as though Brown tried to cram every possible thriller cliché into 569 pages. If there had even been a leavening of wit, this would have been the comedy thriller of the year: The Pink Panther meets James Bond. As it is, alas, deadly, dully, heavily serious, there is no redeeming social virtue what so ever. Virtually the only use for this thing is as a doorstop or paperweight, please do not waste your money on it.
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Summary: The Ultimate Conspiarcy Book
Review: I had just recently heard about the Illuminati in a computer game that I've played, and I had become really interested in it ever since. I had searched around for something, a book at least, which pertained to that secret society, and nothing caught my eye like Angels and Demons did. By writing this book, Dan Brown has proved to the world that he is a genious. With such knowledge about everything that he covers in his book (from ambigrams, to anitmatter, to the Illuminati), it really makes you wonder whether Mr. Brown is an Illuminatus. :)
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Summary: A Compelling Read-I Couldn't Put It Down
Review: I read a tremendous amount of action/adventure/thriller type fiction, and this book is one of the best I've read recently. It was very hard to put down.
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Summary: Great Book That Will Never Rest
Review: This was a non-stop action pacted book. The book has a twisting effect on your brain. You want to keep reading even though you know your going to be late for something if you do. This book shows the reader what Dan Brown wanted you to visually see. Even the Vatican one of the most gaurded places on the planet is not immune to corruption.This is a real good book for those people who are religiously affilated with a church but are very interested in science. This book pushed that both were really going for the same goal.
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Summary: Gratuitous Plot Twists
Review: I don't really like what's at the heart of this book--and the problems go deeper than just surface-level stuff--but it was so compelling that I couldn't put it down. It's not that hard to basically figure out what's going on, but the last 50 pages or so are practically non-stop plot twists, not all of which are properly foreshadowed, leaving credulity stretched beyond the breaking point. Think Clive Cussler meets Morris West. And for me, that's where the trouble begins. It's almost as if Dan Brown can't decide whether to write a pure action/adventure yarn or a story with more substance, one that seriously discusses both contemporary and age-old issues. It works at the Dirk Pitt level, but not the Shoes of the Fisherman level. And I get the feeling that the author REALLY wants to be regarded as a Serious Writer. One does have to hand it to Brown as he brilliantly evokes the ins and outs of Roman art, architecture, and archeology, as well as Vatican politics, wrapping it all around a downright swashbuckling tale. But when he tries to address the larger questions, such as the relationship between science and religion, questions about philosophical theology, intellectual history, or Catholic doctrine, he badly stumbles. Since these questions largely fuel the plot engine, to miss here vitiates the impact of the story, at least for me. Hence, only three stars--despite the acknowledged brillance of the plotting--and a generous three stars, at that.
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Summary: Angels & Demons will possess you to turn the pages!
Review: Dan Brown's 'Angels & Demons' is a fast paced, eclectic suspense/thriller. His cast of characters include a Harvard symbology professor, a couple of brilliant scientists from C.E.R.N., the head of the Vatican's Swiss Guard, the dead Pope's chamberlain, and the famed anti-Christian cult of the Illuminati. He intertwines space-age technology with ancient catholic rituals without skipping a beat. I decided to read this book after reading other reviews from Amazon.com. One reviewer stated something like "move over Umberto Eco." Well, not quite. Brown does not write in the same erudite, literary fashion as Eco, but he does create a very enthralling page-turner. Other reviewers said it was too unbelievable. Well, it does require you to suspend disbelief, but it is fiction after all. I will not go into the details of the plot, as other reviews have already covered it, but I will say that 'Angels & Demons' reminds me of Michael Crichton's 'Timeline' in that the plot is pushed forward, at a dizzying pace, by a deadline. This book will grab you, and it might not let go. When you reach the heart of the book, the short, crisp chapters - there are over 100 - will keep you reading, because each one ends with a little teaser. I kept telling myself "One more small chapter." The problem was, I said it after every chapter, until I was finally done at six in the morning. Read this book. Now.
Rating: 
Summary: Puzzle Driven
Review: Interesting puzzles, gruesome murders and secret societies are not enough to save this thriller. The villian is identifiable way too early. The hero is an encyclopedia of trivia no one would know outside of the Vatican walls. Too many escapes and too few traffic jams in Rome.
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Summary: Blown Away!
Review: I was completely blown away by this book. My wife saw the paperback in the bookstore three days ago and brought it over to me. One look at the back blurb and I was intrigued. I started it that night and read the final page (page 569) less than an hour ago. It held my attention, obviously. I was fascinated with the history of the Illuminati and their battle with the Vatican, CERN and antimatter, the intriguing storyline, and the characters themselves. Langdon, Vetra, the camerlengo, Mortati, etc., are all well-defined and developed characters that I quickly took a liking to.The visuals were stunning; I could clearly "see" what was happening and where they were. I am now a fan of Dan Brown and intend to read his other books.
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Summary: FAST-PACE THRILLER!
Review: I happen to come across the book, when my sister had been visited by the author at Phillips Exeter Academy. I was reluctant, at first to read it, but when I hit the fourth page I was lost! This book is centered around Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist, and Vittoria Vetra, scientist and daugther of a murdered father. They must race against time to recover a missing destructive weapon and the two will come across troubles through a story of deceptive characters, murder plots, and hidden agendas. The book is fast-pace, thorough, and suspenseful. I recommend anyone to read this book.
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