Rating: 
Summary: Cardboard characters, interesting information
Review: The idea has a lot going for it - the execution is poor. The only reason I finished it was to read about the sites in Rome and their history. This reminded me of Clive Cussler - male series character, new woman in every book, obligatory relationship. Ian Fleming did it better. Nowadays the females get interesting professions but it's really their appearance and attraction that get the attention. There isn't any character development that is shown rather than told.The villain became obvious fairly early on. The last couple chapters involve a twist that seems written in according to formula. I had high hopes for this. The author obviously has a lot of knowledge and good plot ideas. The writing, however, is so flawed that it robbed the book of any charm.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Book -- Intelligent & Interesting
Review: I purchased both Angels & Demons and The DaVinci Code. I decided to read Angels & Demons first because one of the reviews on this site mentioned that DaVinci Code was much better. So I figured I didn't want to finish the books on a low note, and started with this one. But boy was I in for a surprise---I absolutely loved this book. It was thrilling, intelligent, educational, and thought-provoking. And if this was the weaker of the two, then I can't wait to pick up The DaVinci Code next!!
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I don't usually read mystery novels but recently I had read the Da Vinci Code, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so I picked up this one. I loved it! Mr. Brown keeps you guessing. There is so much going on but it is never confusing. I could not put this down. I was about 75 pages from the end at 10:30 one night and had to finish the rest before I could go to sleep...I just could not imagine putting it down without knowing the solution. You will love this book!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and intelligent to the end
Review: I don't usually recommend books to others because I myself am very picky about what I ready. I don't care for conspiracy theories. This book is about a conspiracy theory (or is it?). The illuminati is a very interesting conspiracy story. How things are connected until the end is simply brilliant. And the ending! One can predict it but still enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Action/Suspense/Education On Ancient Societies
Review: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives a fax photo of a murdered man with the symbol of one of the oldest and most secretive societies of the ancient world branded on his chest. He is summoned to CERN headquarters in Switzerland to view the carnage firsthand. In Rome Italy, the pope has died and a conclave of the cardinals is being convened to select a new pontiff. The four most likely candidates suddenly disappear into the ancient underground catacombs beneath the Vatican, victims of a deranged but cunning captor. The Illuminati, a secret ancient arch foe of the "mother" church is not extinct as historians have presumed, but is alive and well (or so it seems) and wants revenge for atrocities committed against them hundreds of years ago in the dark ages. Interestingly enough some of the history cited in this novel is NOT fiction. You will get a bit of an education about secret ancient societies and some to the antics that went on between them and the Catholic church in the dark ages. But, don't quote all of the history as fact. There is a bit of embellishment added to make for interesting reading (it is fiction after all). The only part of the novel that my imagination had trouble with was the jet plane that flew 6,000 mph. Come on Dan, that is a bit much! The entire novel takes place in a 24 hour period as one continuous string of suspenseful events. This one will make you wake up in the morning with black circles under your eyes. Thanks, TRW
Rating:
Summary: a real page turner!
Review: another thrilling page turner by dan brown! i read the da vinci code before i read a&d, hence my first statement! i'm really looking forward to the next langdon adventure.
Rating:
Summary: ...yawn...
Review: As a conspirologist, I was intrigued. Sadly, this was a by-the-numbers thriller. Nothing new. I'll stick with the truth.
Rating: 
Summary: What a stinker
Review: Beware. Makes Robert Ludlum look like art. If you liked Da Vinci Code (which I did), then stay away from this book.
Rating:
Summary: Wow! What a great storyteller!
Review: I picked up this book after reading "The Da Vinci Code," my first experience with Dan Brown, and I have to say, this book is *much better* than "The Da Vinci Code." Both books are painstakingly researched and you learn a lot as you are entertained, but while Da Vinci Code only had one twist/reveal in its plot, "Angels and Demons" has several, making it a much more satisfying read. Langdon is again the star of the novel, an academic specializing in religious symbology. He is hustled out of bed early one morning to fly in a special jet to CERN in Switzerland, the R&D group responsible for the Internet and now, Anti-matter. Langdon is brought in as an expert consultant due to a bizarre brand sported by a murdered scientist. Just like in the Code, soon the murdered man's daughter and Langdon are unraveling clues and seeking justice, lives constantly in peril. Apparently, a long-dead conspiracy/cult known as The Illuminati has risen again in order to use anti-matter (the most powerful bomb ever created) to destroy the Catholic Church by blowing up the vatican. The vatican is at its most vulnerable as all the Cardinals have arrived to elect a new Pope. The entire vatican is held hostage as 4 kidnapped Cardinals are killed by the Illuminati in order to publicise their terrorism. Langdon tries to figure out ancient clues as to where the murders will take place to save the Cardinals, aided by the Pope's elite police force, while the rest of the police force search for the bomb. It's another fast read - can't put it down! The action takes place over a single day but you feel like you've lived an entire lifetime by the time you're done reading! The characters are all well done, action, art and the city of Rome described in wonderful sensory detail, the historical details, clues and ambigrams are fascinating. Underlying all of the marvelous entertainment are important questions about the morality of science (just because we can clone sheep, should we?), the varying paths to God, the unifying force uniting us all. Whether you're a skeptic, atheist, or true believer, you will appreciate the fine line Brown walks in his attempt to portray all arguments and find the common ground between the varying and diametrically opposed points of view. He succeeds in giving a very balanced argument overall without ever getting preachy or dogmatic or heretical. I especially like it when a highly-entertaining read is also a thoughtful one. It's tough to find a book that combines action, adventure, history and philosophy, and this one does it very well. The ending of the book completely satisfies - so much so that I felt emotionally exhausted by the denoument! Be sure to begin this book when you have a lot of time to devote to reading or you'll be going to work red-eyed from staying up all night long! :)
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Story
Review: This book is one of the best I have read in a long time. The imagination and originality that the author shows in this book is exceptional. The clarity in which he writes makes you think you are there.
The book is packed with information about the Vatican that not many people know about.
This is an exceptional read in fact it's a must read!!!!
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