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Loading... The Lost Symbol (2009)by Dan Brown
  
Books Read in 2014 (549) » 7 more No current Talk conversations about this book.  joegibbs55 | Aug 31, 2019 |  Langdon is at it again in another cryptic tale with the usual twists and turns. It does make for an interesting read though. (  ) krgulick | Jun 19, 2019 | Formulaic, but fun. (  ) LisaBurns1066 | Jun 9, 2019 | Robert Langdon remarks to himself at some point in his book that he doesn't appreciate being lectured to. Well buddy, that makes everybody. I loved the thrill-rides that were the first two Langdon books and Brown's 'Deception Point' was a lot of fun, too, but this time the patronizing tone of Langdon spouting off all of these gee-whiz factoids and mysteries that most of us dumb Americans don't know about got old fast. One of the early reviews ('New York Times'?) labeled the pace as fast as ever, except where the characters began talking like encyclopedias. Exactly. And, for the record, there was NEVER an eternal flame in the basement of the Capitol Building. The floor was open to allow viewing of the crypt. To be fair, that was one of only a few architectural points that he got wrong. But an interior eternal flame as big as a carriage in the mid-19th century? No one would ever be that stupid. But those are trifles, Brown is a thorough researcher and is excellent at constructing puzzles and connections with what he finds. I'm unconvinced that people would really care about seeing their leaders in the middle of the the silly rituals of Masonic initiations, public knowledge for decades and decades, what mattered was the behind the scenes facilities and history that the books bring to light. How many people went to D.C. and ignored the Rotunda ceiling, the National Cathedral or the Library of Congress? Not anymore. I wavered between 2 or 3 stars (yeah, yeah, they're arbitrary, whatever), but I decided on 3 because even though the dialogue and italics and lack of thinking on the part of some characters (why would Sato not double-check the 9-11 response before sending Langdon, Soloman and a single agent to the site?) was frustrating, it was the situations that lack of thinking and breathless italicized action got the characters into that was fun. It's like a slasher movie, it's better when the victim runs up the stairs instead of out the door. I didn't want to put the book down, that's for sure. So I enjoyed the book, it passed a couple evenings and gave me something to think about. I was hoping there would be a necessary dash to some Smithsonian warehouse to gain a clue from 'The Discovery of America' by Luigi Persico or Greenough's 'The Rescue' since their removal is one of the biggest arts-related changes to the Capitol Building since the 1850s. But, other than referring to the statue of Freedom above the Capitol being placed there by slaves, Brown probably didn't want to dwell on the realities of white America's subjugation of others. Sorry, white guilt moment. Do check out those statues sometime though, craaaazy. The big secret, when revealed, didn't have the impact of 'The Da Vinci Code', duh. Also, So much for all of that running around in the dark and decoding shenanigans. The rest of the ending was schmaltzy (one character certainly bounced back pretty fast after his captivity), especially considering the fact that if (when) a new Langdon novel comes out they're won't be more than a backwards mention to Katherine Soloman's fate. He'll have a new pretty and brilliant sidekick specialist in an obscure discipline (she'll also be a relative of a previously unmentioned close friend and mentor who's at the heart of the current mystery) to help him along by then. Langdon Next: 'Inferno' Previous: 'The Da Vinci Code' (  ) ManWithAnAgenda | Feb 18, 2019 | I really enjoyed the first of the Robert Langdon books Demons and Angels, and thought it was excellent, and The Da Vinci Code was pretty good, but this book struck me as boring and repetitive. It was too focused on Langdon's 'attractiveness'and his ignorance of it, explaining why hi is now on romance number three in as many books, and the overdone stretch that was the plot. I finished it and thought, 'Well, 2/3, not bad' and ended the series with an overall opinion that it was good, but imagine my surprise when I realized that there was, in fact, going to be another book. The series should have ended with The Da Vinci Code, I will not be continuing the series. ( ) AngelaRenea | Jan 12, 2019 |
 In the end, as with “The Da Vinci Code,” there’s no payoff. Brown should stop worrying about unfinished pyramids and worry about unfinished novels. At least Spielberg and Lucas gave us an Ark and swirling, dissolving humans. We don’t get any ancient wisdom that “will profoundly change the world as you know it” — just a lot of New Agey piffle about how we are the gods we’ve been waiting for. (And a father-son struggle for global domination, as though we didn’t get enough of that with the Bushes.)  There are moments of excitement in this skilfully edited, deeply implausible thriller. At times the suspense is prolonged rather than sustained, but the 500 pages turn steadily and the overall effect is entertaining and certainly family-friendly. The Lost Symbol is violent but remarkably chaste and devoid of profanity. If you hate Dan Brown, you're going to hate this book. It seems Brown has decided to irk his critics by repeating every flaw he's been accused of. ... No, it's not Foucault's Pendulum. It doesn't even come close. However, if you liked Dan Brown's previous books you're likely to enjoy this one. There is some interesting trivia about the history of Washington, DC which is in fact true, which is an added bonus.  It’s true, his style is as baldly prosaic as legend, but there remains a heft to his potboilers that is hard to imitate. He is better at conveying claustrophobia and breathlessness than, say, the explosion of a top-secret lab (“fragments of titanium mesh . . . droplets of melted silicon” etc) but the latter will make a juicier scene come the inevitable Tom Hanks movie, and the author knows this.  As a thriller, "The Lost Symbol" is exciting, although readers of "The Da Vinci Code" will notice that some of the same stock characters and creaky plot devices pop up... As District of Columbia resident, I must say that Mr. Brown does a first-rate job of delivering a Cook's tour with duly sinister overtones of Washington's famous sites... It's when Mr. Brown interrupts his storytelling to deliver one of his many lectures on Christian intolerance—with pointed digs at the American religious right—that "The Lost Symbol" becomes a didactic bore. Is contained inAngels & Demons / The Da Vinci Code / The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown 1. Angels & Demons - 2. The DaVinci Code - 3. Deception Point - 4. Digital Fortress - 5. The Lost Symbol (The Dan Brown Books) by Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code/The Lost Symbol (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) by Dan Brown Has as a reference guide/companionSecrets of the Lost Symbol: The Unauthorized Guide to the Mysteries Behind the Da Vinci Code Sequel by Daniel Burstein Secrets and Practices of the Freemasons: Sacred Mysteries, Rituals and Symbols Revealed by Jean-Louis de Biasi Behind the Lost Symbol: The Unauthorized Guide to Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel by Tim Collins Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol": The Ultimate Unauthorized and Independent Reading Guide by Alex Carmine Has as a study
Amazon.com Amazon.com Review (ISBN 0385504225, Hardcover)Let's start with the question every Dan Brown fan wants answered: Is The Lost Symbol as good as The Da Vinci Code? Simply put, yes. Brown has mastered the art of blending nail-biting suspense with random arcana (from pop science to religion), and The Lost Symbol is an enthralling mix. And what a dazzling accomplishment that is, considering that rabid fans and skeptics alike are scrutinizing every word.The Lost Symbol begins with an ancient ritual, a shadowy enclave, and of course, a secret. Readers know they are in Dan Brown territory when, by the end of the first chapter, a secret within a secret is revealed. To tell too much would ruin the fun of reading this delicious thriller, so you will find no spoilers here. Suffice it to say that as with many series featuring a recurring character, there is a bit of a formula at work (one that fans will love). Again, brilliant Harvard professor Robert Langdon finds himself in a predicament that requires his vast knowledge of symbology and superior problem-solving skills to save the day. The setting, unlike other Robert Langdon novels, is stateside, and in Brown's hands Washington D.C. is as fascinating as Paris or Vatican City (note to the D.C. tourism board: get your "Lost Symbol" tour in order). And, as with other Dan Brown books, the pace is relentless, the revelations many, and there is an endless parade of intriguing factoids that will make you feel like you are spending the afternoon with Robert Langdon and the guys from Mythbusters. Nothing is as it seems in a Robert Langdon novel, and The Lost Symbol itself is no exception--a page-turner to be sure, but Brown also challenges his fans to open their minds to new information. Skeptical? Imagine how many other thrillers would spawn millions of Google searches for noetic science, superstring theory, and Apotheosis of Washington. The Lost Symbol is brain candy of the best sort--just make sure to set aside time to enjoy your meal. --Daphne Durham More from Dan Brown (retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:12:32 -0400) Symbologist Robert Langdon returns in this new thriller follow-up to The Da Vinci Code. |
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Wikipedia in English (2)
The Da Vinci Code Angels & Demons Deception Point Digital Fortress 
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Might donate his books to the library as I don't intend to ever reread them. (