The Lost Symbol
I finished Dan Brown's new book...It is a typical Dan Brown novel; another page turner. I wish more authors were as "fun" to read. That said, I was disappointed in the book. I'm not recommending it to anyone. The plot and story structure draw heavily from The Da Vinci Code (a better read for sure). There is a museum type setting. A crazed, religious fanatic murderer. Bob Langdon, and a pretty, (as well as intelligent) female to share the ride. Mr. Brown also may have had a movie deal in mind because some of the story feels more like a movie than a novel. I'm not sure about that, but you get that sense as you read.
The story takes place in Washington, DC, so I learned quite a bit of trivia about DC architecture, which was interesting. Brown builds his plot to a surprising climax, then spends the last 50 (or so) pages of the book sharing his personal theology. This through the eyes of another respectable, highly intelligent, prominent character in the story, Peter Solomon. I am not at all interested in Dan Brown's personal world view myself (and I suspect I'm not alone).
He presents a mostly pop theological view that sees all religions leading to the same one God; and more importantly to Brown, they lead to man's enlightenment, and evolution (a "quantum leap" in our humanity). It's presented as something of an intellectual absolute truth. However, the real truth is that this thinking is inconsistent, and based on very sketchy theology, as well as fringe science (Noetics). It was a boring, and unnecessary end to the mostly predictable book (if you read Da Vinci Code).
It seemed like Mr. Brown felt so successful in his Da Vinci Code work (which had weird theology as well, I know...but was easily refutable) that he thought we would all be dieing to hear what he thinks of the seen and unseen world. No thanks on that for me... :-) It would have been a fun, interesting (in many respects), exciting (although predicable) read if he had stopped at the climax of the story; because he smuggled in enough of his worldview in the body of the story for discussion, and provocation(?) purposes.
The story takes place in Washington, DC, so I learned quite a bit of trivia about DC architecture, which was interesting. Brown builds his plot to a surprising climax, then spends the last 50 (or so) pages of the book sharing his personal theology. This through the eyes of another respectable, highly intelligent, prominent character in the story, Peter Solomon. I am not at all interested in Dan Brown's personal world view myself (and I suspect I'm not alone).
He presents a mostly pop theological view that sees all religions leading to the same one God; and more importantly to Brown, they lead to man's enlightenment, and evolution (a "quantum leap" in our humanity). It's presented as something of an intellectual absolute truth. However, the real truth is that this thinking is inconsistent, and based on very sketchy theology, as well as fringe science (Noetics). It was a boring, and unnecessary end to the mostly predictable book (if you read Da Vinci Code).
It seemed like Mr. Brown felt so successful in his Da Vinci Code work (which had weird theology as well, I know...but was easily refutable) that he thought we would all be dieing to hear what he thinks of the seen and unseen world. No thanks on that for me... :-) It would have been a fun, interesting (in many respects), exciting (although predicable) read if he had stopped at the climax of the story; because he smuggled in enough of his worldview in the body of the story for discussion, and provocation(?) purposes.
posted by Jim at 4:47 PM
3 Comments:
While dan brown's writing sometimes infuriates me with it's blatant manipulation and two-dimensional characters, I find his books worth the time spent reading because of all the interesting tidbits of arcane trivia they contain. And his message, heavy-handed I would agree, is basically sound and important. Certainly more carefully crafted than so much of the propaganda out there. (but I suppose I do cut Brown a break, since his dad was one of my favorite teachers when I was a student at Phillips Exeter! ;))
His dad was a math teacher? Is that right? I didn't know that about you... :-)
And, yes, I like his books too, but I hope he moves past this (DVC) formula...it was too close to his last two books. He can, and has in his previous work.
Yup. A math teacher, but really personable guy! Great instructor.
I liked DB's earlier writing also---definitely not so formulaic.
Hopefully he's got this out of his system now! ;)
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