Rating: 
Summary: Whoops, there it is!
Review: This book is what it is: a commercially successful novel for the masses. It is not a pulitzer candidate, or a definitive treatise on religeous myth and dogma, or the final scholarly word on ancient civilizations. People who are turning up their noses at it because it is not any of these things reveal themselves to be truly ignorant. It's like going into a burger joint and complaining about the wine list: you're looking in the wrong place. Many will want to debate whether DA VINCI CODE or ANGELS & DEMONS is the better work. They are similar and even have some of the same characters, but overall, A&D is a better buy for my money. Frankly, I thought the writing was better, and the characters (even though some are the same) are better "fleshed out" in this riveting read. But you have to take it for what it is. Don't expect Dickens or Hemingway, just as you would't expect Madonna to write a symphony!Also recommended: mcCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
Rating:
Summary: Another Winner From Dan Brown!
Review: I read the "DaVinci Code" first and decided to read "Angels and Demons".This is another excellent book.A Phyisist Leonardo
Betra is killed and his eye is cut out. He is also branded.Our
heor Robert Langdon is flown to CERN headquarters on a jet the travels 15,000 miles per hour.Langdon discover that the brand is used by an ancient cult called the Illuminati.Langdon,the director of CERN Kohler and Vittorio Vetra discover that a container of antimatter has been stolen from the facility.The antimatter is hidden within Vatican City and set to explode.All
of this takes place while a conclave is taking place to elect a new Pope.The four leading candidates for Pope are kidnapped by a
hired killer called the Hassassin.The four candidates for Pope are killed and branded with four seperate brands used by the Illuminati.In the meantime Langdon and Vittoiro are searching the Vatican hunting for the antimatter.This book is exciting from start to finish.The ending of the book will shock you as well.This is another excellent book from Dan Brown. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Exploding Page Turner
Review: I never read a Dan Brown book until I read his best selling thriller "The Da Vinci Code". The can't-put-it-down page turner captivated my literary senses, and played with intriguing, fun themes. Naturally, I went to the first book in which the character of Robert Langdon appeared, and found it to be equally compelling, if somewhat over-the-top in some parts. Robert Langdon is introduced as a symbologist, who's awakened early in the morning by a phone call and subsequently, a very disturbing fax. His adventures thus begin, and literally do not stop until the next day.
What lies between those two points provides an enjoyable, challenging story that is compelling, imaginative, and thrilling. Brown's style is rich with philosophical bantering, provided by his characters at prime moments in the action when they are given "breathers" to discuss certain developments. This allows the reader to feel as if he's learning something as the story spins around him. However, Brown's style is also somewhat shallow and lacking a true depth into his characters. He basically sets up the characters very quickly, and away they go. But this lack of depth didn't bother me. I didn't read this book to get inspired by insightful characters. I read this book to get involved with a mind blowing thriller that I couldn't put down, and Brown delivers on every page. However, unlike "The Da Vinci Code", there were times that the events in this book seemed somewhat incredibly fantastical and unbelievable. Fortunately, it wasn't too often, so I let them go. Angels and Demons provides many pages of good reading fun, with a few incredible devious twists thrown in. You won't want it to end.
Rating:
Summary: Fast, interesting, wonderful reading!
Review: I had to laugh at the few low ratings by raving zealots. If you are a person, that has always asked "too many questions," this book is for you! Whether you are a Philosopher, Theologian, or Agnostic, this book is a welcome addition to your fiction collection. This book makes you think, so Fun-dam-entalists should probably skip this one. Right or Wrong, this book will get your wheels turning...which is all that really matters, right? As a voracious reader, I have read the best. "Angels and Demons" is a heart-stopping thriller that keeps you turning pages until you arrive exhausted at the end. You're truly "in on the chase." Improbable as it seems, Dan Brown has combined nuclear physics and antimatter with Renaissance art, old Rome and the Vatican. You conjure up the images in your mind, but the icing on the cake is Brown's Web site, which shows you the CERN facilities, the plane and then the exquisite artwork of Bernini and others as well as a peek inside the Vatican. It's a book that teaches, makes you think, and entertains, all at the same time. Few authors can accomplish that. For those who say this book goes against their beliefs and their dogma, consider this: The tip of the iceberg: Numerous authorities who had noted the errors in the K.J.V. such as William Kilburne (1650's) 20,000 errors, John Wesley (in 1755) 12,000 changes in the New Testament alone, the Revised Version of 1881 consisted of 36,000 errors and on and on. The NIV, RSV and The Living Bible are also replete with thousands of errors. Do some research! If you are open minded and looking for those books begging for its pages to be turned...look no further. Read 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail,' and ANYTHING by Ken Follett! I just read a copy of Edgar Fouche's 'Alien Rapture,' which also blew me away. Fouche was a Top Secret Black Program 'insider', whose credibility has been verified over and over. Want to be shocked, check out Dr. Paul Hill's 'Unconventional Flying Objects' which NASA tried to ban. Buy this book, you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: A demon of a good time
Review: I visited Rome this past summer. Dan's vivid descriptions were right on. But, even more appealing to me was the more in depth info I received on Rome, Vatican City, and specific fountains and statuary that I saw. I have a whole different perspective and wish I could go back right now. I thought the DA VINCI CODE was the best book I have ever read but, I do believe, ANGELS AND DEMONS may tie it. It was a little slow in the beginning but the details were important to the overall plot and retrospectively critical in the overall read. Highly recommended book Also recommended: DECEPTION POINT and the finely crafted CHILDREN'S CORNER by Jackson McCrae
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read... unputdownable after the first 100 pages
Review: When I first heard about the Da Vinci code I figured let me first read the first book beofre the start reading the second... (This is my first Dan Brown book) hence I bought Angels and Demons.. the name at first kinda seemed fruty but when I started reading the book boy was I wrong.. The book is writting on so much detail.. all the places mentioned in the book and everything... you could just tell that Mr. Brown has done some serious research for the book and about everything mentioned in the book. All the places are based on real location and everything. And the ending... wow.. keeps to hooked the last page!! I read Da Vinci code after this one.. but personally I liked this one better.. I am reading his Deception Point right now
This book honestly deserves 5 starts... I am really looking forward to read the next book that comes out.
"Mr. Brown I am you Fan."
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, THE UNION MOUJIK
Rating: 
Summary: The Awesome Power of History
Review: Astounding achievement. I would give it five stars except I think Brown misses the mark with some of his portrayals of human reactions to deeply emotional events. This is especially true of the heroine's reaction to her father's death and the "camerlengo's" reaction to a Pope's confession.
Even with this single objection, I believe Dan Brown brings history to life in Angels and Demons. Reading this book is like emersing yourself in the ancient waters of a forgotten time. You feel waves of history washing over you with incredible force as you wade deeper and deeper into the untold mysteries of Brown's coarsing imagination.
I believe this book is stronger and better written than The Da Vinci Code. I also believe the subject matter is far weightier. The story definitely strikes a chord in a world that is driven more and more by technology. Like fellow writer Michael Crichton, Brown doesn't ask, "What can we do?" He asks, "What should we do?"
There has always been a conflict between religion and science. There always will be. Religion deals with articles of faith that by definition CANNOT be proven. Science deals with articles of fact that by definition MUST be proven. Brown shows us the danger when faith slips into fact leaving us starved for MEANING, even though we are filled with TRUTH.
Rating:
Summary: High Spirited Fun!
Review: Deep in the heart of a Swiss research laboratory, a brilliant physicist is savagely murdered on the brink of a groundbreaking experiment involving the origins of the universe - an experiment that could debunk religion in favor of science once and for all. The scientist's corpse is branded with a single word: "Illuminati," referring to the centuries-old atheist cult that sprang up in opposition to the Catholic Church. Of more immediate concern is the theft of a canister of antimatter, an unspeakably volatile substance that annihilates anything it touches. Robert Langdon, a professor of religious symbology at Harvard, is brought in to examine the markings, even though he insists that the Illuminati have been dead for many years. Soon, however, it becomes obvious that the brotherhood is alive and well, and mounting an unprecedented attack on its archnemesis, the Church. Teaming up with the dead man's daughter, Vittoria Vetra (a beautiful and brilliant scientist herself, of course), Robert has only a few hours to solve an ancient puzzle that may lead him to the heart of the Illuminati lair, and help him thwart their diabolical plan to destroy religion. It's important, when reading books like this, to be able to unquestioningly swallow virtually any plot development at all. Superhuman physical prowess and a credulity-stretching range of expertise are the norm, as are a steady stream of unbelievable coincidences. And yet, you must believe them. Dark matter in a high-tech canister of doom? Sure! Secret satanic societies threatening to blow up the Vatican? Why not! Like the intrepid Robert Langdon, you just have to learn to accept these things as normal, and smear each page with a generous dollop of suspension of disbelief before reading it. If you can make yourself believe, though, there's plenty of gadgety, high-speed fun to be had. When you've got four hours to stop a global disaster, there isn't a whole lot of time for character development, and this is reflected in the story. Robert leads an Indiana-Jones-esque double life, effortlessly switching from mild-mannered religious studies professor to hardcore action hero (though he lacks the bullwhip that really lends credibility). Vittoria is your standard fiery, intelligent, beautiful heroine, basically lacking in any flaw except her inability to find true love, blah blah. Most of the other characters undergo at least one are-they-good-or-are-they-evil switcheroo as the plot develops, but that isn't really the same thing as having a complex and believable personality. No, these characters are painted with broad brushstrokes, and while they're concrete enough to hang a fast-moving thriller on, you wouldn't want to hear them sit down and have meaningful interactions about feelings and such. ANGELS & DEMONS is a fun, high-spirited and not overly serious romp, ideal for distracting yourself from the tribulations of daily life. Another very enjoyable (though quite different) Amazon-pick I recommend is "THE LOSERS' CLUB: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez. Two wonderful fast reads.
Rating: 
Summary: A poor follow-up.
Review: I started to read Dan Brown's book but could never finish it. He has a nack for performing all these feats in a matter of two or three hours that would take the ordinary person several months to accomplish...he's amazing for his lack of timeliness. I also think, and I came to the conclusion with this book after reading the DaVinci Code that he is anti-Catholic. I'm not sure what's eating him but something must have happened to him in the past. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, in fact I've got a copy that I could give away if anyone would take it. I won't read anymore of his books nor will I recommend them to anyone.
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