I decided to start reading Dan Brown’s books based on the ravings of one of our customers. I’d never seen anyone so physically affected by a book. She walked in one morning breathless and disheveled, looking like she’d lost a night’s sleep reading. She wanted to see our Da Vinci art books, and spent about 15 minutes at the front counter leaning down close to study the pages of what we had, and talking about how amazing The Da Vinci Code was, like it had changed her life.
It didn’t have quite the same affect on me. I was pretty entertained by Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code though. I think Dan Brown is excellent at putting together intricate puzzles. The symbol plot device allows for the reader to look at real familiar objects, and locations in new ways and feel involved in the adventure. My enjoyment of those aspects was brought down though by the lame characters.
Robert Langdon, A Harvard professor who likes: Symbols, black turtlenecks, tweed sport coats, his old Mickey Mouse watch, swimming, and various smart/ hot brunette ladies with older male relatives who are academic associates of his who get maimed/ murdered in every book. Dislikes: Confined spaces because he fell down a well as a boy. Each of the books covered and lingered on those same traits adding almost nothing else to Langdon that would make him much more than a flat plot device. I had hopes that the new book would be better, so I attend the grand midnight unveiling of The Lost Symbol. All the stars were there for the big event: me and two other old guys, staring at our shoes until the Borders clerk wheeled out the bounty on their beige aluminum cart for us.
I won’t spoil any plot details in this review. In general I like how ambitious The Lost Symbol is. I also like Dan Brown’s attempt to make Robert Langdon a heroic skeptic, unfortunately he is only as skeptical as the author who seems to fall for a lot of pseudoscience. Which wouldn’t bother me so much if page one didn’t begin with, “FACT:”…”all rituals, science, artwork, and monuments in this novel are real.” Which just isn’t the case. I also could never take the villain seriously. There was one ridiculous scene where a secret piece of information could possibly leak out to the public that the heroes didn’t think the public could handle. They thought there would be massive devastating effects if people found out. I don’t think that stuff would bother the public that much though. It may shock them for a second then quickly turn into some stupid gossip before it fizzled out. Overall I think this book was mostly a failure. I’m anxious to talk to other people who’ve read it though. If nothing else it’s a conversation starter, something to gossip about.

Reviewed by Steve

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