Let the angels guide you. (Angels and Demons - Dan Brown)

Member Name: giksy21

Product:	Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
Date:	17/05/09 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: easy to read, factual, believable

Disadvantages: poor in terms of style

Dan Brown is a household name. His fame came quickly, after the release of his novel 'The Da Vinci code'. You would be mistaken, however, if you thought that it was his first work.In fact, 'Angels', was completed a full three years before 'code', in the year 2000. It only became popular as people searched through his older works having read 'The Da Vinci code'.

The book is a prequel to 'code', and is similar in style and direction. Both feature the same, age old fight between the belief in science, and the belief in God. Both are researched incredibaly well, to give plausible explanations to events from long ago. Both are written in a simple, easy to follow style. Both are good, but not great.

In 'angels', we follow how Robert Langdon is called in to help the vatican police find and stop a potential spate of murders from happening within the church. Langdon is a symbologist, and appears to have infinite knowledge of the historical feud between secret scientific societies, and the Catholic church. He is thought to be the expert that the vatican police require, when an ambigram (word that has two lines of symmetry, meaning it can be read and looks identical when written backwords and forwards.) is found of the word illuminati. The illuminati were an underground society bent on bringing down the church, and proving that science explains all basic religious ideals.

Langdon sets off in pursuit, and follows clues along the way that are both fascinating, and wholly believable. The action from this point is relentless, and gives the book a real un-put-downnable appeal. Brown, though simplistic in his prose, writes well enough to keep you interested. In fact, I think that it is his very simple style makes the book easier to follow. You see, his real strength is not in his writing ability, but in his research, and his story telling. All events in this book, are based on real facts. He must have spent years looking it all up, and to be able to put them together so plausibly is a real feat.

As a piece of literature, the book (and indeed, his other works.) are far from brilliant. His use of language is clumsy, and incredibly American. Not surprising, I suppose from a 44 year old from New Hampsire. His writing is short and punchy. Not long-winded at all, but rather sharp and to the point. But, again I feel that this works, as it would have been all too easy to get readers lost in the highly detailed, and factual nature of his story.

Langdon's charcter is a strong one, and he is a likeable enough chap. The fact that he is basically an everyday person makes him reachable at all levels. He has a great mind, which is both a benefit to the book, and a definate flaw. He is a bit too brilliant, and you quite soon realise that there is not a chance of him failing. The clues in the book jump out a little too quickly, and there is little or no challenge in realising what is going on. I would have prefered him to be little more human in that respect.

Other than that, what we have in 'Angels', is a readable book, with enough of a plot to keep you focused to the end. It is very clever, but without being too condescending. Dan Brown seems to have found a way to overcome his literary shortcomings, and produce creditable works. If anything, I would say that 'Angels' is a better book overall, than the immensely popular 'code', but I would also like to bet that it is on fewer bookshelves.

So, overall, if you enjoyed 'Da Vinci', then you will definately like this book. It wieghs in at around 600 pages, but they are not cumbersome. They flow well, and contain enough per page to keep you hooked. The book is fascinating, and are made up with enough factual information to have created something of a phenomenon. It is, essentially a story, that may not be a story. It could just as easily be true. I think this makes it all the better.

Reccomended. G

Summary: A good read, especially if you liked The Da Vinci code.