Saturday, June 18, 2005

Angels & Demons

(He of the bad back is blogging whilst recumbent on the floor; bless his little heart. It's not that easy either.)


If you're looking for a good summertime read, you could do much worse than Dan Brown's Angels & Demons. It's Brown's other book, actually written prior to his mega hit, The Da Vinci Code.


Without trying to give too much away, let me say that the two books follow the same formula: so much so that, in a sense, if you've read one, you've read the other. Both feature protagonist Robert Langdon, an academic and expert in religious symbology, and in each he is aided and abetted by an attractive lady of genius intellect. While the two female co-protagonists share similar intellects, looks, and personalities, their academic specialties differ to suit the plot. There are numerous other similarities as well. Both involve the Catholic Church, highly powerful and secret organizations, fast-paced plots, very condensed time frames, infiltration, and treachery.


Of the two, I prefer Angels & Demons. I found it very difficult to entirely suspend my disbelief in The Da Vinci Code. My main stumbling block was Brown's theory of The Chalice; it was a rather gargantuan stretch for me. However, any book of this type requires suspension of belief, and I was better able to go with the flow in Angels & Demons. While light and frothy in a sense, it is also very cleverly and shrewdly contrived ... as is, despite my reservations, The Da Vinci Code.


If you are one of the ten people on the planet who hasn't yet read this novel, and if you are in the mood for a fast-paced romp through Rome and the Vatican, you should adding Angels & Demons to your nightstand collection.


 

6 comments:

Lora said...

Hope your back is feeling better soon.

I've actually not read any of Dan Brown's books. I think the mere fact that everybody else has turns me away.

Heather Plett said...

I'm like Lora. Haven't read them, and am not particularly inclined to, given the fact that the rest of the planet has.

Gina said...

She of the bad back wishes he of the bad back a speedy recovery!

Melodee said...

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll add it to the towering stacks!

Iona said...

Well, I guess Angels and Demons is next on my list then. I'm almost halfway through The DaVinci Code now. It's an amazing book! I love the suspense. It makes me want to read on and the story is constantly in my mind...
I am reading it in English, which sometimes makes me want to grab a dictionary or check the Internet! But the facts amaze me. Finally I know why Mona Lisa smiles!

Iona said...

I've now read practically all of Dan Browns books; the Da Vinci Code I started with, then Angels&Demons, Deception Point and last but not least
Digital Fortress. All of the books I thought were a pleasant read, full of suspense, action, good characters, a great story line and amazing plot.

It is because of The DaVinci Code's 'dangerous' Anti-Christian substance, that it got so much attention. But I'd have to say that all of Dan Browns's books are what they are; "great fiction"!