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74   nwhyte | Mar 5, 2009 | 
This is one of my favorite books. I found it hard to put it down because of the continuous action and clever plot that always kept me wondering what was going happen next. The ploy flowed nicely, containing some twists and surprises that really glued my eyes to the page. I enjoyed how the book is centered around Rome, and, thus, contains many facts about the history of the city, adding to the layers of the book by intertwining a non-fictional aspect into the generally fictional novel. To name a few of the facts, the book showed how the Popes are elected, the basic papal administrative structure, and who painted, built or sculpted some of the most famous works of art in history. Another part of the reason why I liked this book so much is because i generally like books centered around conspiracy and mystery. This one is centered around the Illuminati, their underground attempts throughout history to destroy the Catholic church, and their supposed revival. Angels and Demons has you going to the end, not stopping until one of the best plot twists (in my opinion) comes out of no where. The ending is what really makes this book one of the best. 1 atrain93 | Nov 5, 2009 | Me FAcino!! :D es uno de mis favoritos!! me encanto la trama, el suspenso y todo. Claro lo unico que nome va mucho es sobre el tema y sobre como la cristiandad esta llena de falsedad y esas cosas, pero esta muy bueno me mantuvo conectada en el desde el principio hasta el final. (  )1 mesalina | Nov 5, 2009 | It's a pity Dan Brown is such a horrible writer, because his plots are actually quite clever. It's more or less the exact same plot at The Da Vinci Code and the movie National Treasure - academic follows clues in famous landmarks to find something supposedly lost centuries ago - but it's a nice light read anyway. (  )1 melydia | Oct 28, 2009 | Awesome book, even a little better than Davinci code imo. Just non-stop action, great plot twists with tons of intriguing facts surrounding Rome. Not much else i can say other than it was a great read. (  )1 Blazingice0608 | Oct 27, 2009 | The suspense kept me turning the pages and not wanting to put it down. What a great read! (  )1 tweezle | Oct 22, 2009 | I have to say this book had me the first 50 pages, I thought this is going to be a quick and gripping thriller. Then after a while I realized that this is going to be a pointless book that moves a long quickly yet has nothing to offer the reader. If you like mindless thrillers then you in for a treat. (  ) userbinry4n | Oct 4, 2009 | It is way better than Davinci Code! It will blow your mind away, with all the suspense and action! 1 JoshuaT. | Oct 2, 2009 | Much better than The DaVinci Code. ( )1 |  AdorableArlene | Oct 1, 2009 | Interesting subject matter. Entertaining and fast paced. A good read. ( )2 ickivixen | Sep 30, 2009 | I was disappointed by the fact that I couldn't figure out the codes and riddles as well as I could with 'Da Vinci'. I think I would have needed a map, an art history textbook, and about 200 hourse to walk around Rome if I wanted to figure that stuff out. But it was an intriguing premise, full of action, and had very nice plot twists. Not bad. (  )1 MissTeacher | Sep 28, 2009 | Not really my thing. (  )1 | DanSmithAuthor | Sep 25, 2009 | Started several times, before and after reading "The Da Vinci Code", could never get any traction. I'll give it a triple B: bloated, boring and banal. (  ) polo9 | Sep 23, 2009 | My very favorite Dan Brown novel yet. ( )2 | colleengreene | Sep 17, 2009 | Good novel. Interesting. Has alot of action. Quick read. (  )1 Bookwormliss | Sep 16, 2009 | I didn't like this book very much. Perhaps the reason is that I saw the movie before I read it? However, the facts are still there and I like that. ( ) JohannaIvarsson | Sep 16, 2009 | Fast-moving, exciting read, but a little too gory in spots for my taste. Structure very similar to The Da Vinci Code. ( )1 joyceclark | Sep 8, 2009 | This is an outstanding story of suspense and intrigue. It appears that an ancient foe has reorganized in an attempt to attack and silence the powerful church. An intense, detailed story unfolds as clues are uncovered in this fast-paced adventure through Rome. Frightening at times and totally believeable, Dan Brown has given up another favorite. ( )1 pbarber42 | Sep 3, 2009 | A coworker let me borrow this after a discussion we had about 'The Da Vinci Code' (me saying I was interested in reading it, but was afraid it'd be too confusing). At the beginning, I thought it would be a little too science based for me- it took a few times for me to read the introductory few chapters and get into it. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it- it wasn't JUST about science- I was pretty much glued to the book until I finished it- carried it everywhere. I didn't see the twists coming, so I was constantly saying "Oh, wow!" at the ending. The book was so descriptive that I felt like I was right there with the characters, seeing what they saw, feeling what they felt. I have been recommending this book to people ever since I finished it. ( )1 TurningThePages | Aug 27, 2009 | I read the Da Vinci code first and thought it impossible to enjoy another book by Dan Brown---how wrong was I !!! We have to remember that these books are works of fiction, but I have to admit that I am amongst the tens of thousands that love a "conspiracy theory" and I was therefore able to read and thoroughly enjoy this brilliant book.--if I could award ten stars, I would not hesitate. I have The Lost Symbol on pre-order and can't wait for it to drop through my letterbox. I know I won't be disappointed. ( )1 zante | Aug 25, 2009 | Even worse than its sequel. Demonstrates Brown's hatred of Catholicism. I give it one star because I was at least able to read it through to the end - mostly because of my interest in the subject matter and in cataloging the slams on the Church. ( ) scootm | Aug 23, 2009 | Read the book and saw the movie. Absolutley loved both. The book is obviously more indepth and a read that is very fast paced. Dan Brown put alot of detail into the book and alot of history. I never got bored! 2 erambeau77 | Aug 22, 2009 | I definitely enjoyed this book for what it was. It has really cool ideas and plot twists, and there is the fast paced writing style that Brown is known for. There is more edge of your seat action in "DaVinci Code", but there is a more pressing urge to finish the book because the plot is so "time based". I have heard the argument of this book leaving you feeling cheated by cheap cop-outs inplot twists, I think if you understand the "Hollywood system", you can easily avoid feeling cheated - this is because this book does (indeed) feel like a movie. The albino assassin (villain) in "DaVinci Code" is more interesting in my opinion, than that of the 'hassassin' in this novel. Both books make great movies, and are good introductions to the Illuminati history, Templars, Bible conspiracies, or even religious history. You'll like it. ( )1 prodthedog | Aug 18, 2009 | Enjoyed the book for what it was- the equivalent of an action movie with good plot. Enjoyed it much more than the Da Vinci Code. I like that Dan Brown keeps the pace throughout the book- this type of "popcorn fiction" as I like to call it keeps me interested and reading. The parts explaining the Illuminati and history were interesting and appeared to be extensively researched. It's a fun book. ( )1 JessicaCapelle | Aug 13, 2009 | Angels & Demons is the first book featuring Robert Langdon as the main protagonist of Dan Brown's mystery suspense thrillers, I like to think of these books (Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code and soon, the Lost Symbol) as The Robert Landon Thrillers, I like calling it that as Robert Langdon is one of my favourite fictional characters of all time. I read Angels & Demons in the months leading up to the film adaptation of Angels & Demons as I always like to read the book before seeing the adaptation of the film so I can compare them. I did the same with the Da Vinci Code. In my opinion, although Angels & Demons is the prequel to the Da Vinci Code it should have been released after it as the storyline is a lot more dramatic and fast-paced, although the Da Vinci Code struck the globe with it's contradictions of the church's beliefs Angels & Demons hug storyline makes it feel like an inbetweeny. Angels & Demons is the first to book of Dan Brown's to introduce the Harvard professor of religious symbology, Robert Langdon. He's only a geeky clever professor but he's rather badass in some parts of the book. I really can't be bothered to write this review properly, so I'll cut it short. I must say that the Camerlengo's speech about the war between science and religion actually touched me, I felt bad about not believing in God and relying on science and stuff, turned out he was the bad guy in the end anyway so it doesn't matter, lol. Angles & Demons has brilliant twists, a gripping storyline, couldn't fault it...apart from when Robert was on the verge of suffocating about was it three times? Yeah, that was annoying. All in all however a brilliant, clever book. ;) Recommended. ( )1 JordanLangston | Aug 12, 2009 | Amazing! A fun ride through a mystery with a great twist ending! ( )1 laurab_53 | Aug 9, 2009 | |
Abebooks |
You are the Director of CERN, and one of your senior colleagues is killed in his room with a peculiar word branded on his chest. Do you:
1) inform the authorities
2) google the word branded on the dead man's chest and then phone the first Harvard professor whose name appears in the search results
3) have a nice cup of tea?
You are the head of the Swiss Guard, responsible for the security of the Vatican during the conclave which will elect the next Pope. You receive reliable information that an explosive of unimaginable power has been hidden somewhere in the Vatican and will detonate in a few hours. Incidentally, four senior cardinals have also disappeared. Do you:
1) evacuate everyone, including the cardinals and most of the population of Rome
2) lock the cardinals into the Sistine Chapel and hope that the explosive device will be found by the Harvard professor and the cute physicist who have just turned up
3) have a nice cup of tea?
What was the fate of Copernicus?
1) executed by the church for heresy
2) died in his bed after a lifetime as a priest and senior government official in a church-run statelet
3) he had a nice cup of tea
How likely is it that a Catholic priest would be allowed to adopt a daughter?
1) if they are both interested in physics and she looks good in shorts, I can't see why anyone would find it unusual
2) you must be joking
3) perhaps they could have a nice cup of tea together
Was Winston Churchill a Catholic? Are only cardinals eligible to be elected Pope by ballot?
1) Boring technicalities!
2) A poor excuse for research
3) I've put the kettle on
Who do you trust most for good information on the historical relationship between religion and science?
1) Dan Brown
2) Richard Dawkins
3) Stephen Jay Gould