stan_vdb's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
deciasuniverse's review against another edition
5.0
Captivated from chapter 1. This book was impossible to put down. I had of lot of what the f*ck moments, how did I not see that coming? I love stories about freemasonry and history. And Dan Brown stories are just prefect for that.
wayfaring_witch's review
4.0
I decided to pick up a Dan Brown book after almost a decade when I heard my students mentioning the Illuminati. This book ended up being an engaging read, though it became tiring that at the end of every chapter you are left with some form of a cliffhanger. But it worked, I kept reading. Enjoyed learning more about the Masons, and taking a tour of the Capitol. Was disappointed in the ending, after the 'climax' I didn't care about the book anymore.
PS: It turns out Beyonce and Jay-Z are supposedly Illuminati. Oh kids.
PS: It turns out Beyonce and Jay-Z are supposedly Illuminati. Oh kids.
_kojokeram_'s review against another edition
3.0
Inizia bene, si perde nella seconda metà . Troppe spiegazioni lunghe e poco necessarie. Non aiuta il fatto che la rivelazione scioccante si capisca fin da subito.
ltt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ulyazmh's review against another edition
4.0
What I expected before turned out to be not all true. To be honest, I'm not satisfied with the ending. I really enjoy the book until the last 100 pages (more or less). I found it a little boring.
tanyaaugust's review
2.0
Alright, I admit it. I went looking for this book with the wrong idea. With all the hype around Dan Brown, I has somehow figured that any one of his books would be brilliant and memorable.
It's. Well. Not.
The Lost Symbol is sloppy. It's a low-calibre book, with an over-dependency on mysticism. While it's action scenes are adequate enough, it's wow-factor relies way too much on half-hearted, mystical beliefs, and vague sentimentalities. It's puzzles are barely stimulating. It's antagonists are terribly dull. Unlike James Rollins, Dan Brown seems to rely too much on urban legends, playing to the popular conspiracies, rather than more historically-sound and rational ideas. His conclusion was staggeringly weak - and if the movies are anything to go by, a bad pattern. Dan Brown seems to rely heavily on exploiting popular sentimentality - he always throws in the god card, to the point that it seems to be an overused gimmick, rather than an actual theme.
Don't get me wrong. I understand and even admire his use of a sound pattern. Relying on such gimmicks has obviously made his books extremely popular, and him rich. But by god, let's not call Dan Brown books' good literature, because that they most certainly are not. The Lost Symbol is just a simple, pulp, overrated novel, whose existence proves that not all popular books are actually genuinely good ones. So read it, if you will, but with a pinch of salt. Don't expect much, and you'll do just fine.
It's. Well. Not.
The Lost Symbol is sloppy. It's a low-calibre book, with an over-dependency on mysticism. While it's action scenes are adequate enough, it's wow-factor relies way too much on half-hearted, mystical beliefs, and vague sentimentalities. It's puzzles are barely stimulating. It's antagonists are terribly dull. Unlike James Rollins, Dan Brown seems to rely too much on urban legends, playing to the popular conspiracies, rather than more historically-sound and rational ideas. His conclusion was staggeringly weak - and if the movies are anything to go by, a bad pattern. Dan Brown seems to rely heavily on exploiting popular sentimentality - he always throws in the god card, to the point that it seems to be an overused gimmick, rather than an actual theme.
Don't get me wrong. I understand and even admire his use of a sound pattern. Relying on such gimmicks has obviously made his books extremely popular, and him rich. But by god, let's not call Dan Brown books' good literature, because that they most certainly are not. The Lost Symbol is just a simple, pulp, overrated novel, whose existence proves that not all popular books are actually genuinely good ones. So read it, if you will, but with a pinch of salt. Don't expect much, and you'll do just fine.
kevinweitzel44's review
4.0
OMG OMG OMG................
This is an AMAZING book.
Cant wait for more from Robert Langdon.
Dammit Dan Brown, I need more. NOW.
This is an AMAZING book.
Cant wait for more from Robert Langdon.
Dammit Dan Brown, I need more. NOW.