The Lost Symbol

Anyone reading this yet? I placed a copy on hold yesterday at my library and I thought it would take months until I got it, considering how big The Da Vinci Code was. But, I just got an email saying it was ready for pick up. So, I am going to start diving into that tonight, but I was just wondering if anyone else is reading it and what they think about it so far?!?

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I read the first few pages while at work (I work at Barnes & Noble) and to be honest...eh. Here is every Dan Brown book, imo. Something shady happens. Robert Langdon is informed in some way of the shady happenings. Despite the fact that he is a professor, he gets hired in a private investigator type of way to figure out what is going on. Shocking secrets which may or may not be true are revealed about high-powered people and organizations. Robert Langdon gets the girl and then makes no mention of her ever again in the other books which also concern his character, and Tom Hanks has another movie to make. Roll credits. lol

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Totally hooked, and about to log off to go finish it!

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I really enjoyed Angels & Demons, then semi enjoyed DaVinci, but started to really dislike Dan Brown by Digital Fortress. All books alone aren't that bad, but to me, his plot evolution is the SAME in every book. Different characters or subjects but the same plot line. Like the other poster said...almost every time this happens, then this happens, which causes this to happen, etc. I bought the new one and will start reading it this week, but I am not as enthusiastic as I wish I could be.

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I totally forgot about this until yesterday; I thought it wasn't until much later in the year. I'm in the middle of another book at the moment, but will be finishing it ASAP so I can pick this up and start reading!

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I think I read somewhere that it's going to press with 6.5 million copies in its first release. That's astounding. For Kindle users, it's also available on Kindle.

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I bought it last night at 40% off at Borders.

All books alone aren't that bad, but to me, his plot evolution is the SAME in every book.

That is something most mystery/thriller writers (or most novelists who develop a series centered on the continued escapades of a main character) share and often how they develop a dedicated fan base. It's when they deviate from their formula that they start to lose readers. For example, I love John Sandford's Prey series mainly because I almost always know what to expect from them. Though they might have a couple of unexpected variations in events, the structure is generally the same. Even in unrelated novels, popular authors generally go with what works as their bread-and-butter novels so they can afford to go out on a limb later in their careers. Looks at the bulk of Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, Agatha Christie, Ian Rankin, John Grisham, and even J.K. Rowling. They are smart enough to know they must fulfill a certain amount of expectations if they wish to continue their lucrative trend.

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Updated On: 9/17/09 at 01:41 PM

I'm afraid my romance with this one is over. There's just too much that's too ridiculous to keep me with it. Maybe I'm too familiar with DC or the workings of some of our Government agencies? (Possibly true.) Or maybe I've just never enjoyed broadly (read comically) drawn stereotypes like the Mal'akh and Sato characters. (Definitely true.) They came straight out of the comic books - via some of Hollywood's worst slasher/B movies. There is nothing remotely believable about either of them. Add on the lazy mistakes (a scene supposedly taking place at a Metro station and on one of their trains shows he's familiar with New York's subway system, but certainly doesn't know DC's) just brings the whole thing down even more.

He could have made this a seriously thrilling mystery without resorting to super villians who can't be killed and demonic CIA officers who apparently have unlimited powers in this dream scape he's created. Unfortunately he chose to take the lower path.

Every morning I take the blue line to work and I pass the George Washington Masonic Temple. For the last few years I've known that Brown's next book would be based in DC and would feature the temple. I've loved all his other books so I've been anxiously awaiting this one. That makes my disappointment with this book all that much greater.

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Updated On: 9/20/09 at 04:15 AM

I just started reading it, and so far it's The Da Vinci Code: Washington, DC.

And the fact that he's a professor who becomes a police investigator doesn't bother me. I can overlook that bit of strangeness. It's just, in all of the Langdon books, these situations he gets himself into and out of are way beyond anything my suspension of disbelief can handle.

Updated On: 9/20/09 at 11:25 AM

I'm up to chapter 32 (about 130 pages in, I think). I'm totally hooked, but the book is confirming my earlier belief that Brown is not actually a very good writer, but the stuff he writes about is really interesting. I've always found the information he packs into these novels and the way all of these crazy things tie together far more interesting and rewarding than his talent as a wordsmith. He's not a bad writer and he tells a good story, but if not for all of the history, art, science, religion, etc., I would see no incentive to follow him.

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Mamie, I'm just up to the subway station scene right now. I think I've found the part you're talking about, but now I'm curious -- what doesn't work about it? I'm fairly familiar with the DC Metro, but don't consider myself someone who knows the system well by any means. I can't pick out the mistake, but now I want to know what it is!

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Updated On: 9/21/09 at 10:07 PM

I started reading it last week and I am not getting into it that much. With Angels and Demons, I couldn't put it down. With this book, I read a bit....pick up a different book....read a bit....pick up a different book.

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HAHA! Dan Brown threw in an "in-joke" if you will.

Langdon's book editor is Jonas Faukman. This is an anagram of Dan's editor, Jason Kaufman. Clever Dan!

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