TITLE:The Lost SymbolAUTHOR: Dan Brown
STARTED: November 2, 2009
FINISHED: November 11, 2009
PAGES: 528
GENRE: Fiction
FIRST SENTENCE: The secret is how to die.
SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling -- a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths - all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale.
As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object -- artfully encoded with five symbols -- is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation - one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom.
When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon -- a prominent Mason and philanthropist -- is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him. Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations -- all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth.
As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown's fans have been waiting for... his most thrilling novel yet.
THOUGHTS: Lacking.
This book felt chaotic, disjointed, and poorly written. Whereas The DaVinci Code had inherent drama and clear, forward-moving plot, The Lost Symbol simply felt sloppy. Brown has written one of those books where the author has done so much research that they feel they must include everything. This book would have been better served with a strong editing pen.
Also, Langdon was a wuss in this book. His character was weak, easily misled, and stupid. Seriously stupid. For a man that is supposed to be some well-educated, highly-regarded professor, he was a just a dummie in this one. Sure he spouted out facts left and right, but all of that just made him seem out of touch.
I felt like Brown threw logic and organization out of the window with this book. Langdon and Katherine Solomon are thrown into a situation and their stupid carcasses are dragged through the story by secondary, set-piece characters. The villian was the most interesting part of the book - but it's hard to really like a character when he is so darn one-dimensional.
What irked me the most was that DC and her landmarks were slighted in this book. The author and publisher made such a big deal about The Lost Symbol being set in Washington and the city was not there. Sure they visited landmarks, but Brown was so interested in sounding smart that he didn't get it. His sent his characters running all over the city and it simply didn't matter. There was no connection between them, the city, and the plot.
This novel was just poorly laid out in plot and execution.
Also, the big OMGWTFBBQ twist - saw it coming from the page it was introduced.
RATING: 3/10 [Poor, Lost Interest]
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