Rating: 
Summary: Fun, frustrating, fascinating, annoying...what a read!
Review: I had never read any Dan Brown before I picked this one up at a yard sale. Reading it in bursts over the next few days was a mix of "can't-put-it-down" and "throw-it-across-the-room". THE FUN: With a fast-paced plot that successfully mixes elements of religion, particle physics, assassins, art history, etymology, ancient manuscripts, Illuminati, puzzle-solving and more, 'Angels & Demons' is kind of a modern day Indiana Jones script written by Umberto Eco. This is definitely a plot-driven novel, so don't expect to be bogged down in deep character studies, though the characters are at least interesting enough to keep you caring what happens to them. Once we get into the meat of the plot, things move along at a fast pace as the characters dash around the city, racing the clock, following one clue after another. Just the right amount of humor mixed keeps it all from getting too serious (and contrary to another reviewer's comment, they *do* stop to eat and, in one memorable scene, get some "relief"). With so many elements involved, it would be understandable if things got confusing, but Brown keeps everything on track and manages to wrap the whole thing up in a very satisfying way, with no loose-ends. THE FRUSTRATING: Brown seems to have trouble keeping his characterizations consistent, even with the main characters. He'll spend most of a chapter showing how brilliant and educated they are, only to have them say or do something absolutely stupid. For example, in a scene involving a threat to a secure facility, the security guard says something about "beginning the sweep". Would a world-traveling, highly educated, nuclear physicist really think the guard meant sweeping the floor? Brown seems to think so. While many people may not know what CERN is, is there anyone who hasn't at least heard of anti-matter? In Brown's world, there are lots. And while ambigrams may not be common, they're not unusual (Scott Kim was publishing ambigrams, or "inversions" over twenty years ago in "Games" magazine). But as Brown explains it, the most powerful computers of our time have been unable to create the ones his characters come across. (Yeah, I know, it's only a novel, but there should be some grounding in reality!) THE FASCINATING: Brown does a good job of throwing in a mind-boggling number of details on myriad subjects without making it read like a lecture. You're sure to learn a thing or two reading this one. He provides some very intriguing views on the conflict between science and religion, and more interestingly, the similarities between them. There's some nuclear science thrown in, which is a nice counter to the quasi-historical background on the Illuminati (*always* a fascinating subject, even though they don't really exists'or do they? [fnord]). For me, the best part was the background on the city and sculptures. Never having really wanted to go there before, I found myself cruising the 'net looking up the various building and art works featured in the story. It's now on my list of places I'm looking forward to visiting. THE ANNOYING: Brown tends to telegraph almost everything. Rather that subtly dropping hints, foreshadowing his plot developments, he seems determined to say to the reader, "This is important! Remember this part!" The worst example is very early on, in Chapter 7, where he writes: "He never suspected that later that night...the information would save his life." The character may not have suspected, but now we do. When the pay-off scene finally arrived almost 500 pages later, I should have been thinking, "Wow! That's why there was that scene back in Chapter 7!" Instead, it was just one more item to check off on the "wrapping-up-loose-ends" list. That being said, there are still a few real surprises. Just when I thought I had his plotting all figured out, he managed to throw in a twist I didn't expect. I'd like to think this was intentional, but it doesn't read that way. He also seems to have a limited range of character reactions. They're frequently either totally ignorant of what's right in front of them, or they're "stunned", "mind reeling", "jaw agape", "horrified by the implication" etc. Reviews of his later books have said that his writing style has matured, and I hope these are two areas where it shows. WHAT A READ: Overall, 'Angels & Demons' was a highly entertaining read. Brown shows a real talent for mixing diverse elements into a compelling story. His pacing for this kind of novel is just right, though his characterization and dialogue skills could use some work (at least that was the case when this book was written). Even with my complaints, I'd recommend this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Dan Brown. If the next one I read is as entertaining as this, he'll definately be on my short list of must-read authors. (And how ironic is it that 'The Da Vinci Code' just popped up on my Amazon.com recommendations list? Coincidence? Or maybe the Illuminati'?)
Rating: 
Summary: Extremely enjoyable
Review: This book was a great read, from the begining pages I knew that this book was going to be fast-paced and a page turner. This was the first book of Dan Brown's that I have read, but it was a good place to start. I would recommend this book to anyone, but some say that the facts in this book are a little sketchy, but aside from the point that so called "facts" are a little away from the truth, this was a good book.
The ending of this book was also a WOW factor. So many unsuspected turns; first I had an idea who did it all, but once my idea was confirmed, a twist in the story proved that I was wrong.
This book also made me think on a different level then I have before about the subjects of Christianity and Science. The facts in the book were shocking and amazing to me, and I would proudly confess to anyone seeking a fast paced, mystery/thriller, with many twists and turns, history facts, and intrest in science or religion, that this again was a good book.
Rating:
Summary: Internet access a must!!!
Review: Once again, Dan Brown has sent me scurrying to my computer to look up information on the internet...illuminati, ambigrams,
papal elections, Vatican library, Bernini sculptures, etc. I am having so much fun reading his novels! The fact that he bases so much of his works on actual historical data is giving me a jolt of knowledge I never knew before. This time, Robert Langdon is called into service to study the death of a scientist who has etched in his chest an ambigram...a sign that can be read the same both right way and up-side down. Whisked to the Vatican, Langdon finds himself in the middle of a papal conclave...choosing a new pope. With a destructive bit of anti-matter being secreted in the Vatican, and time ticking down, Robert must unravel the mystery. Bernini sculptures are important!
Several years ago a custodian on the staff at my school kept talking about the Illuminati and how dangerous they were.
He convinced me to read a book about them. It seemed so preposterous that I felt I would never hear of them again. Boy,
was I wrong! Now I want to find out more about anti-matter!
Rating:
Summary: A Hardy Boy's novel for an older generation
Review: This novel attempts to breath life back into the ancient struggle of science vs. religion. Along the way, it introduces the average person to some startling facts about European history and modern science. However, this book shows a surprising lack of thought and depth when wading through an otherwise interesting plot line. Robert Langdon is a Harvard "symboligist", which the author never lets us forget, through numerous flashbacks to Harvard and numerous references to Harvard life. As I read through this book, I began to wonder if attaching Harvard to Langdon's name was intended to make us believe he was more intelligent than he came off as. This story revolves around Langdon's impressive knowledge of "symboligy" and the Illuminati, which might have made for a stunning novel if the author had bothered to do more than Internet research on both. One of the most disappointing aspects of this novel are the puzzles, which are often so quickly solved by the reader, that one will find themselves tapping their foot for two chapters as the characters laboriously trudge through these simple clues. Furthermore, despite being an English major, Brown completely missed the fact that modern English is spelled differently than olde English, something that all of the clues in this book hinge upon. Another issue I have with this novel is Brown's puerile writing style. For a best selling author, and he being an English major to boot, I was expecting better structure. His chapters almost fall into a formulamatic sequence with awful foreshadowing such as "...if he had only realized the trouble he would be in, he wouldn't have boarded that helicopter." (sic) While not a direct quote from the novel, I recall something very similar. Additionally, he attempts to complicate the plot by giving the reader insight into the mind of several characters, however looking at the case of the novel's ultimate villain, he changes the character's personality 180 degrees in order to explain the ending, which really soured me to the novel. Despite glaring mistakes on the author's part, this book is entertaining to read. However, like his book "The DaVinci Codec" this book offers very little in substance for the smart reader, but is a very enjoyable novel to pass the time with nonetheless. I realize that I somewhat trashed this novel, but I do feel that this novel is entertaining, much like a Hardy Boy's novel. It should not be compared Umberto Eco, who is the real version of Robert Langdon, a true philologist.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining Work of Conspiracy
Review: Angels and Demons is a very interesting work -- say what you will about Dan Brown's rather cardboard characters, but he certainly knows good subject matter when he comes across it. This book touches on a lot of interesting ground -- CERN and nuclear physics, a papal conclave, the Illuminati, space planes, the works of Galileo and Bernini, and a race against time. A book about any of these things would be interesting; Brown serves up a mystery involving all of these things. His protagonist, a Harvard professor named Robert Langdon, is called to CERN to help solve a rather bizarre murder. He soon finds that his life is turned upside down and he has less than a day to save the Vatican from destruction by the Illuminati. To do so, he has to solve clues that lead him and his friend Vittoria -- a beautiful CERN physicist -- through a scavenger hunt of Rome's churches, looking for clues left for them by the Illuminati's founders. The book is always entertaining, and is well worth reading. Brown has hit on a very novel formula for a his works -- an age old mystery, a smart and beuatiful woman, word games and puzzles, and a tour through Europe. The formula works very well both here and in the Da Vinci code. One sometimes wishes that Brown had the skill and humor of Umberto Eco in developing places and characters, but perhaps this will come in time. I recommend the book. It is very entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: really 4 1/2 stars
Review: I could repeat what many have already said about how interesting and thrilling this novel is, but that would be repetative. I will simply say that I gave it less than a perfect review because Brown did the same thing so many authors do..made the female beautiful like that is a prerequisite for being brilliant. Just Once I wish an author would trust his/her audience to judge a character on their depth and not have to make then "Eye turning" beautiful. It is such a cliche and hurts every book that contains this stock female character. How many booms ahve you read where the female co-star walks into a restaurant and all eyes turn to gawk at her beauty. Enough already!
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular
Review: I found Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons" as exciting and suspenseful as his blockbuster "Da Vinci Code." At times it is hard to believe it is a work of fiction. This time the ancient secret society that is causing havoc today is the Illuminati, an underground order with a vendetta against the Catholic Church. It is both cat and mouse as well as ticking clock. The present day Illuminati has stolen enough antimatter to level the Vatican---set to go off during the Papal Conclave to elect a new Pope. If not located the church's symbolic property as well as its leadership will be destroyed. To uncover the location of the antimatter Harvard symbolist Robert Langdon must discover and discern hidden messages and symbols in Rome's ancient art. It seems his pursuer has the inside information to prevent Langdon from accomplishing his task. Who is the betrayer? The head of CERN (inventor of the antimatter), the Cardinal overseeing the election, the former Pope's Camerlengo, the Commander of the Swiss Guards or his second-in-command? High-octane adventure that never slows. Requires an occasional bit of suspension of disbelief a la James Bond. The brotherhood of the Illuminati is genuine. The connection between the USA's founding fathers and the Illuminati is an historical controversy to this day. Impossible to put down. Not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: You owe it to yourself!!
Review: World renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered scientist. What he discovers is unimaginable; a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization--the Illuminati.
Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth........the long-forgotten Illuminati lair! That is just the beginning...........I guarantee that this book, from first page until last, will trap your attention and hold it hostage. It is a riveting adventure that will keep you awake, desperate to find out what happens next. I strongly recommend this book! After all you owe it to yourself! HAVE FUN!
Rating:
Summary: Just like the Da Vinci Code...
Review: There is good news and bad news about this book. Good news: if you read "The Da Vinci Code" and liked it, then you will love this book. Bad news: You'll love it because they are basically the same story and plot with the same twists. Of course, if you like the idea of hidden messages and symbols in ancient art, then "Angels and Demons" is the book for you. The book relies on a fast-paced path with utter destruction looming.
Rating:
Summary: A thrilling education on the mysteries of the Vatican
Review: Dan Brown's greatest skill seems to be his way of educating you without you known it and Angels & Demons is a great example of that skill. A Pope has passed away under mysterious circumstances and as the Vatican tries to elect a new Pope, a murderous villain claiming to belong to a secret society called the Illuminati has kidnapped the leading candidates. Not being a Catholic, I had no understanding of the Vatican and the processes for electing a pope and found the descriptions of the interior of the Vatican, the life of the Pope and the processes involved in Papal election extremely interesting. Even more so, the idea of the Illuminati fascinating...even more so because, like almost everything Dan Brown writes, this book is based in majority on fact. I loved this book, as well as his new release, "The DaVinci Code". It was enthralling and engaging and suspenseful, keeping you trying to figure out the puzzle ahead of time. A great read!
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