Rating: 
Summary: Foucault's Pendulum "Lite"
Review: All in all, this has the feel of a wannabe. I really could not get over the kind of "dumbed down" feel of the stereotypical "Harvard professor" with his tweed schtick long enough to feel like I was reading something worthwhile. Having read Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum", this felt a little like the juvenile version, watered down with enough summer thriller plot cliches to appeal to the beach reader and fool them into feeling like a "serious reader". If you want a book that spoon feeds you a plot that shouldn't be too difficult to predict after 15 pages, this is the one for you. If you want the real read, pick up "Foucault's Pendulum" and commit to expanding your vocabulary and your attention span for more than is required of the 30-second commercial spot.
Rating: 
Summary: for what it is, it's pretty good
Review: If you're looking for good literature, this isn't the place to look. If you're looking for something to drag to the beach this summer, you've found it.
Brown has a little more respect for his reader than the typical Grisham/Creighton fare - and that's what sets this book apart. The plot if farely formulaic - full of wild technology, quasi-mysticism, and plots to destroy society. However, Brown actually discussed and involves slightly more complicated topics that pop lit. He's mainly concerned with the ideological conflicts between science and religion, and is determined to instill his story with a decent amount of the spectrum of philosophies regarding this topic.
That said, this is still is a fluffy, easy read - but certainly a notch above most of the other best-seller list crap.
Rating: 
Summary: better than "the code"!
Review: I read this first before "the Da Vinci code". and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed this book even more than "code" because it has even more twists. I was impressed by the facts given and the way it kept me interested about something that usually doesn't interest me. I put this in my favorite book section, and reading this book has piqued my interest in a whole new genre of books. excellent work.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating and suspensful--great read!!
Review: Angels and Demons is one I could not put down. Brown obviously did a lot of research to write this book. The facts on the Illuminati and the Vatican were facinating, and the Illuminati symbols he talks of that are embedded in US money are actual facts. His knowledge of Rome and the works, statues and churches as well as his knowlege of the interworkings of the Vatican were very interesting, especially to me since I grew up catholic. But anyone can appreciate the book--Christian or not. The story itself is captivating and interesting with lots of twists and turns, though I predicted who the mastermind was behind all this, I was not prepared for the twist Brown puts on it in the end. I was shocked. I have started the DaVinci Code and I am glad I read this first. It really helps set DaVinci Code up.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than Da Vinci Code
Review: Angels and Demons is the predecessor to the ultra-successful Da Vinci Code. Symboligist Robert Langdon is introduced in this book and author Dan Brown takes the reader on a crazy journey through Rome as the Catholic Church struggles to survive. I read the Da Vinci Code first and hated it, but after reading both Deception Point and Angels and Demons, I believe Dan Brown is a good author who just failed miserably with the Da Vinci Code. In Angels and Demons, Langdon must search through all of Rome for clues to help him find a hidden bomb that will destroy the Vatican. A lot of this book seems like a history lesson as Langdon, the Swiss Guard of the Vatican and Victoria Vettra rush to find the bomb. The main difference in Angels and Demons is that while Langdon deciphers many clues, he is ultimately trying to stop a terrorist organization from destroying the Vatican. In the Da Vinci Code, Langdon solves riddles and clues just to finally solve the ultimate riddle. The purpose of the novel is the final riddle, which really leaves no bad guys and causes the Da Vinci Code to read like an encyclopedia of art history. Angels and Demons is a long book (perhaps 100 pages too long, as Brown throws in another twist when the book could be over). The book is respectful of the church and Christians unlike the Da Vinci Code, which bashed the church. Brown does however let his disdain for all organized religions show when a character says that religion must evolve like science and move past churches and that each person can find God inside themselves. Readers should overlook Brown's personal dislike of the Church and realize this is a good, exciting over-the-top novel that is fun to read. I recommend you read this book, then stop, because the Da Vinci Code is much worse.
Rating:
Summary: I felt cheated... read DVC and stop there
Review: I have to admit that, while I found myself annoyed for enjoying the _DaVinci Code_, I felt possitively duped into getting _Angels & Demons_. Okay, the parts regarding the selection of the Pope and the inner-workings of the Vatican and Catholic hierarchy was fascinating. However, unlike _DVC_, I just could not suspend my disbelief and let myself be swept into the story, which, by the way, went on and on and on and on and... several false endings later, I just felt disappointed in myself for being swept into the hype. I did like the clues and the ambigrams, and I did like descriptions of Rome and the art... like its sequel, _A&D_ made me want to look deeper into the artists described. However, I shall not read any more of Dan Brown's books. _The DaVinci Code_ is a much better story, read it and be satisfied. Or if this was your starting point and you didn't like it, go on to _DVC_.
Rating:
Summary: And 'Indiana,' I mean Robert...Saves the day!
Review: Well, after reading the Da Vinci Code, and when I discovered Angels and Demons, I had to read it, of course. Enter the engrossing myths and facts of the Illuminati: an ancient cult that had been founded on the basis of protecting science from the Catholic Church. The great scientific colossus of CERN in Europe, has secretly created a most potent and awesome breakthrough: antimatter, the opposite of matter, the very thing that created everything. One catch, a tiney minute grain can annihilate whole landmasses. And...it's been stolen...by the Illuminati, a mortal enemy of the Church. Thus the ancient struggle of Science vs. Religion bursts open onto the forefront stage of the world. This time, Robert Langdon must face the resurrection of a supposedly dead organization bent on destroying the Vatican/Church in a most gruesome execution and public display of 4 kidnapped candidates for the Papacy. Not only does Robert have to scramble to find the hidden locations of each Cardinal to be symbolically killed, but somewhere deep within the heart of the Vatican, a bomb waits. Through the symbology within the renaissance art of Bernini (an Illumantatus himself) and the real history of this supposed 'evil & satanic' cult, Langdon fervently tries to discover the meaning of it all to save the Cardinals and Rome itself. Well, even though you will find a very familiar feeling in this book, as in Da Vinci Code: Prof. Langdon (oddly reminiscent of Indiana Jones...), a brilliant young woman, religion, symbology, amazing intuition, the trusty 'ol ignorant assassin-pawn, the mysterious man behind the plot, and all wraped up in a day or so, etc...It is still a great read and I couldn't put it down. You learn facts along with a great and captivating story: you won't be disappointed. In fact, the ending is very unexpected and well done. You can pretty much guess what will happened right before it happens, like in Da Vinci; but, in general, this book is better developed. Some of the secondary characters are more developed and not as flat as in Da Vinci Code. As usual, Brown does an excellent job with presenting both sides and giving weight to each.
Rating:
Summary: Best book ever!!!
Review: Angels and Demons is a great book, full of suspense and thrills until the very end. The book is also packed with amazing facts and details. Dan Brown is a genius, an absolute genius to come up with this captivating book. Another book of his I would suggest is The Da Vinci Code.
Rating:
Summary: Read Da vinci first (who didn't?)
Review: I read THE DA VINCI CODE first and enjoyed it, then began to delve into Brown's other works, ANGELS & DEMONS being the next obvious choice. I actually enjoyed this book better than DA VINCI and would highly recommend it to anyone. The themes and characters are similar (and in some cases the same) as DA VINCI but this one is better put together, as though Brown took more time in the crafting of the book. Would also recommend two other books I've really enjoyed as of late: BIRTH OF VENUS, and Jackson MccRae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD
Rating:
Summary: --Is a Secret Cult Trying to Destroy the Vatican?--
Review: ANGELS AND DEMONS was not what I expected. After a slow start, it took me a few chapters to become interested in the storyline. I think the only weakness in the book is that the two main characters are a little bland. Now, having said that, I will readily admit that the scientific parts of the story managed to hold everything else together, and keep the reader entertained. Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor whose specialty is religious symbolism is called to Switzerland to help investigate the death of a brilliant scientist. Dr. Vetra, the discoverer of antimatter, is found dead and his mutilated body has the words ILLUMINATI branded on his chest. The Illuminati were an ancient cult of scientists who had supposedly joined together and had a hatred of the Catholic Church. When a canister of the lethal antimatter is found to be missing, the story takes Langdon to Rome where he and Vittoria Vetra, the daughter of the murdered man, work together to save the Vatican from being destroyed. The book becomes fast paced and exciting as the two race around the Vatican and the city of Rome trying to beat the clock and a deadly killer. The author, Dan Brown manages many twists and turns in this story, and the research that was done for the book is fantastic. The reader learns so much about the Vatican and if I manage a trip to Rome someday, I think I might want to read this book again.
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