Angels & Demons - Movie Tie-In: A Novel
by Dan Brown
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.00 You Save: $15.00 (94%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Angels & Demons - Movie Tie-In: A Novel
Book Review: Not the Worst Contemporary Novel and Far From the Best
Summary: 2 Stars
I almost called this review: "Harvard Professor Wins Heart of Girl Scientist." For ninety percent of the book this summed it up for me. But, near the end, the story line became somewhat unpredictable, my interest rose and my vision of the book broadened some.
Set in Switzerland and Italy, the story begins when a scientist at Geneva's CERN laboratory is found murdered and a Harvard professor is called in to help interpret evidence. The scientist's winsome step daughter and scientific partner is called back from a field trip and joins with the Harvard professor in a fast-paced search for an anti-matter bomb hidden somewhere in the Vatican. The bomb is not a weaponized application of some new scientific discovery. It is simply an anti-matter trap that holds a visible amount of anti-matter, a huge amount compared to typical anti-matter traps encountered in high energy physics laboratories. When the anti-matter containment of the trap fails, as is inevitable under certain conditions, the anti-matter will annihilate and blow up the Vatican.
The terrorist group is quickly identified as the Illuminati whose members oppose the Church's anti-scientific positions and its historical persecution of scientists. The Illuminati go back as far as the sixteenth century and an understanding of Renaissance symbology proves essential for unraveling the plot and saving the Vatican. That is the field of expertise of the Harvard professor. Anti-matter is the field of expertise of the winsome girl and she is the one ultimately responsible for having created the anti-matter trap at the center of the story. But her role mostly is to be an action-woman and occasional sex object.
The objective of the protagonists is first to find the anti-matter and remove it to a safe place before it blows up and second to unmask the perpetrators of the conspiracy if possible. Accomplishing this in the few hours available is a Herculean feat that draws on the Harvard professor's broad and deep knowledge of his field of expertise. It involves the Vatican Swiss Guard, access to the Vatican Archives, rapid trips between churches and monuments in Rome, a search of the publicly accessible areas of the Vatican, etc. Along the way murder occurs.
The timing of the terrorist threat is concurrent with a meeting of the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope. The former Pope died fifteen days earlier and is later found to have been a victim of the terrorists. To heighten the intrigue and underscore the audacity of the terrorist group, the four Cardinals most likely to be elected Pope have been kidnapped from Vatican City and are under threat of death. Regrettably, each one is sacrificed.
In the end the anti-matter is found, the Vatican is saved, the Harvard professor gets the winsome girl, and Catholicism gets two new Popes, one of whom commits suicide almost immediately after election by acclamation, the other of whom is a character of some but not great importance to the plot.
Two historical figures, the scientist Galileo and the architect Bernini play major roles in the story. Despite the author's claim that his facts are all accurate, many of what masquerade as facts about Galileo and Bernini whither under historical scrutiny. Also, what masquerades as scientific fact in this book is largely science fiction. The undeniable technological truths are that anti-matter traps really do exist and that the explosive potential of an annihilation between macroscopic amounts of matter and anti-matter greatly outweighs the explosive potential of nuclear weaponry.
For most of the book, once the situation is fully presented to the reader, the story line is painfully predictable. The writing style is what one might expect of a moderately talented college sophomore or junior, i.e., there is a large number of people who do not represent themselves as professional authors who could easily write as well as Dan Brown does. What raises the book above the purely amateurish level is the surprising and clever ending. Along with this cleverness, the author's prose style improves and becomes almost engaging. Regrettably, the reader has to plow through about 90% of the book before the better part of the book is reached. Leave the best 'til last as they say.
If you are looking for literature, you won't find it here. If you are looking for action you will find it here but there are other books that have done it much better. Dan Brown's own "The Da Vinci Code" is one of these. I can't recommend that anyone else read this book. So, why did I? I have the wasteful habit of giving an author every chance and so commit myself to finishing any book I start. The last 10% of the book was my reward. But the reward wasn't great enough to outweigh the burden of all the poor writing I had to read to reach it.
Book Review: Fabulously, Preposterously Awful
Summary: 2 Stars
Fiendishly contorted plans, life-threatening catastrophes, torture, and murder. Regrettably, I'm not referring here to elements of this Dan Brown thriller, but to his unforgivable treatment of the novel form and the English language. ANGELS AND DEMONS is a true potboiler, a ghoulish goulash of wacky science, paranoid religious cultism, history seen through conspiracy theorist eyes, and a cast of cardboard caricature characters, all served up with the kind of writing (dialog, descriptions, character development, similes, and metaphors) for which one might faintly praise a high school student. Consider just one example, in the book's early pages, when the story's hero receives a disturbing fax: "...a wave of nausea hit him...he stammered...the breath went out of him. [Clever, yes?] It was like he had been hit by a truck. [How original!!] Barely able to believe his eyes... [Nice cliché] Stunned...collapsed in a chair. He sat in utter bewilderment....trembling." He was apparently upset, wouldn't you say? Or are you unconscious after being beaten over the head so many times in just a single page?
With one hundred and thirty-seven action-driven chapters, the book is all plot, much the way a Marvel comic book like Spiderman is all plot, and about as equally deep. Forget the story line; it's far too circuitous to unravel in a short review. Suffice to say that the plot involves antimatter research at CERN, the search for scientific proof of God's existence as the Creator described in Genesis (the Biblical version of the Big Bang), the Vatican, a Papal death, the College of Cardinals, the Swiss Guard, Galileo, the seventeenth century sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, an Enlightenment era, anti-religious, scientific sect called the Illuminati, an Arab assassin, traitors within the highest reaches of the Catholic Church, cryptic puzzles and ancient crypts, ancient Vatican archives and worldwide asset lists, wheelchairs, helicopters, free falls, horrific human brandings followed by even more horrific killings, ambitious CNN reporters, and of course, Robert Langdon (later to become Tom Hanks).
Oh, lest we forget, there's also the coolly attractive and victimized younger woman, the brainy but sexually-inviting yoga practitioner Vittoria Vetra, who naturally becomes the older and stodgier Mr. Langdon's irrestible, nearly-at-first-sight love interest. Vittotia, whose father dies, horribly murdered, in the book's early pages and finds herself madly romantically involved less than twenty-four hours later. Vittoria, whom Mr. Brown clearly manages to prohibit from seeing her father's mangled body at CERN but who later relates another dead body's horrible final condition to that of her father's despite not having seen it. Vittoria, who improbably utters word for word the same sentence Brown uses in an opening dream scene of Langdon's, a pathetic attempt at a hoary literary technique. Such unforgivably lazy writing!
ANGELS AND DEMONS is designed to do one thing and one thing only: present a story line so breathless, the reader will get sucked in without realizing how utterly outrageous it all is. Each plot twist and turn becomes more outlandish until, by the end, the story tips over into the realm of a lunatic fantasy. No matter that the characters have the emotional depth of high school students. No matter that each is singularly one-dimensional. No matter that a Harvard professor of symbology can engage a trained terrorist in hand-to-hand combat and survive assorted improbable threats to his life. Only the rapid-fire story line matters, and in that, Mr. Brown succeeds despite its very inanity (as when, for example, Langdon, now suddenly discovering himself to be a Bernini expert on some of his most obscure works, cannot seem to recall one of the sculptor's most famous masterpieces, the Fontana del Quattro Flumi).
It's hardly a wonder that ANGELS AND DEMONS (first published in 2000) was little known before the outsized success of THE DA VINCI CODE (2003). The book is an embarrassment, an assault on both the English language and on readers' sensibilities. Not to mention the preposterous and pompous, "can't we all just get along" moralizing in the book's closing chapters. The whole affair makes Marvel comic books look like members of the Western literary canon by comparison. As escapist literature, ANGELS AND DEMONS succeeds only to the extent one seeks to escape from any semblance of reality (or literature) as we know it.
As of this writing, some 2,300 reviews, with well over 1,500 of them rating the book a 4 or a 5. As H.L. Mencken once wrote, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." Truer words were never spoken.
Book Review: Homework
Summary: 5 Stars
I think that this Angels and Demons by Dan Brown is a great read that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has many twists and turns that leave you hungry for more. It is a great read for people of all ages and will entertain anybody. The characters are all deep in personality and are very easy to relate to. The action is gut wrenching and seems very real. This is a very well written book that leaves you with a satisfied feeling.
The story has so many little twists and turns that are unexpected and they leave you at loss for words. This book is a page-turner and it can be interesting to people who don't enjoy fiction. It incorporates symbology, religious history and even delves into ancient cults and brotherhoods. One of the brotherhoods mentioned are the Illuminati a brotherhood that was rumored to be satanic. They were said to be the enemies of the church. They are now tying to blow the Vatican to smithereens while the new pope is being elected therefore killing everyone inside the Vatican. In the story they are trying to destroy the church while Robert Langdon tries to foil their attempts.
Most books have trouble making the characters come to life but Dan Brown easily does this. Robert Langdon is a great character and it is shown by the ease at which you can relate to him. He is a real person with real problems even if he is a bit exaggerated. Also the antagonists are so well written that you can feel their hatred towards the church and organized religion. One such character calls himself the Hassasin, he was hired by the Illuminati to destroy the Vatican because they know of his deep and dark hatred towards the church. All of the personalities that Dan Brow creates have real emotions and feelings that make you feel what the characters are going through. You are able to really feel yourself in the characters shoes and think about what you would do in those situations. These are some of the most realistic personalities in a book.
The action in this book is very realistic and it leaves you wanting more. Many of the scenes are graphic and violent but captivating nonetheless. The book also has its mushy romance part but the Mystery/Action scenes are dominant. An example is when Robert Langdon is following the path of illumination to find the Illuminati's secret lair. This book is constantly going from Action to Mystery an it is at some points in the book overwhelming, it is still an amazingly well written book. I don't think this book is suitable for most people under the age of seven but otherwise this book is amazingly well written and enjoyable to all over that age.
I think that this book will go down as a great work of fictional art. This book is gripping intense and makes you want to go on adventures of your own. In my opinion Dan Brown is a great author and he incorporates many little things that make him an amazing writer. This book makes you feel as though you've taken part in something bigger and saved lives. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I think that if you are someone that does not really enjoy reading than this and The Da' Vinci Code both by Dan Brown are great starters. Overall this book is amazingly well written and makes you want more.
Book Review: Awesome thriller!!!!!!
Summary: 4 Stars
I had a hard time putting this book down! Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown, is a terrific, action-packed novel with a fair share of heart pumping action, secret organizations, double-crossers, mysterious killers, and jaw-dropping assassinations. Staying true to the name "page turner", nearly every chapter ends with a hair-rising cliffhanger, edging the reader to go on to the next chapter. Dan Brown keeps the flow going throughout the book and effortlessly keeps the audience in their seats until the end. The story itself is twisted and full of countless surprises. You'll never know what's going to hit you next.
The book is centered around a Harvard symbology professor named Robert Langdon. Early in the morning, Robert receives a call from CERN, an advanced physics laboratory in Switzerland. Apparently, one of the top scientists working at CERN was murdered and branded with a strange symbol. Robert comes over to investigate and discovers that the brand was from none other than the Illuminati, a long-dead and anti-religious brotherhood. But when a mysterious caller informs that the Vatican is in danger of being wiped clean off the face of the planet, Robert is forced to admit that the ancient brotherhood has resurfaced and he is abruptly thrown into the vast cathedrals of Vatican City in search of vital clues that might save the church from total annihilation.
The book is fast-paced, so fast paced that the story manages to cram itself under the time span of twenty-four hours! Besides the frantic action, the book also gives some deep insight on the war between science and religion that really makes you think about what is going on in the world today. Sprinkled on top are tons of eye-opening facts such as the process of papal elections, the origin of the word "assassin", and info on the highly dangerous substance known as antimatter. Angels and Demons was obviously well-researched and I congratulate Brown for pulling off this novel while keeping (most of) the facts straight. Probably the only complaint I hold against this book is the ending. The conclusion left me confused and unsatisfied. Without spoiling the ending, I'll just say that the evil mastermind that was unmasked near the end of the story was entirely unexpected, but not in a good way. From the unmasking of the "bad guy", the book gets extremely awkward in explaining anything and I became thoroughly dissatisfied. But other than that, Angels and Demons is easily still one of the best books I've read in a while. Kudos to Mr. Brown for delivering a nearly perfect thriller! I'd certainly give this book a another go when I get the chance. If you want a fun and intense reading experience, I strongly recommend this book!
Book Review: An Embarrassment to a good writer..Pandering at best
Summary: 2 Stars
This is the saddest and most maddening experience, to take a good author and see him betray his integrity to produce a book that panders to the nation's need for another fast paced mystery/thriller.
Dan Brown, produced an academic quality book, which could have been spectacular if he had taken the time to work out all the issues.
Instead we have a well developed mystery with gaping holes. Did he set realism aside to pander to the need for a speedy book? Is that why, he put this out before it was edited to assure a full reality check. Or is Dan Brown making a statement about the Italian government, and its inept police force? In this book murders are taking place in the streets of Rome, aired on news channels around the world, and the Italian Police never enter the picture. Pathetic.
Then there are the love lines - straight from a romance novel.
Two professionals who have known each other for less than six hours are looking at each other hungering for love. Are all Dan Brown's readers juveniles? Can we not see a woman as a competent professional, without adding lines from a romance novel. This is distracting to the rest of the story, does no justice to the characters, and interferes with the suspense.
Then there is the point of view. Any teacher of the craft will tell you how disturbing it is to flick in and out of point of view like you are God looking into everybody's heads. Was it so hard to edit this down to the point of view of just the main characters? If you are in a rush to get something to press, it is an easy way out.
I am saddened that the time was not spent in polishing what could have been an exceptional piece of work. The research, the depth of information about technology, history, geography and culture are wonderful. The plot is good but unfortunately riddled with holes.
I could accept the possibility of two public killings shown on the tv before the police got involved, but certainly not seven. It is moronic to consider this real. The police never show up in this book - yes, they never show up despite pictures of murdered cardinals appearing on every station around the world. Ridiculous!
So I have given this two starts, One for the research, and two for the excellent voice of the actor, Poe, who clearly reads the tale with excellent Italian, great accents, and perfect personality changes.
I am wondering what Ron Howard has done with the film, and if he found some way to circumvent the holes, and the terrible images of torture to create a film worthy of one of America's finest directors.