Science and religion are not at odds. Science is simply too young to understand
I started reading the Dan Brown novels some time ago in the order of publication and I was looking forward to starting on the Robert Langdon series, because I know I enjoy those the most. My expectations were true and I enjoyed myself so much I needed to finish it asap.
Book Review: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Rating:
Title & Author: Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Release Date: May 1 2000
Series: Robert Langdon
Publisher: Corgi Books
Synopsis
When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol—seared into the chest of a murdered physicist—he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati … the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth. The Illuminati has now surfaced to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy—the Catholic Church.
Langdon’s worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.
Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair … a clandestine location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.
I give Angels & Demons by Dan Brown four out of five hearts. It is not because it disappointed me, but I just always think there could be a little bit more in this novel. The very end is a bit predictable and I would have liked a little bit more info on Robert Langdon since it is his first novel.
Robert Langdon is a pretty detailed character, but I am just missing a little bit of his history. A thing that I was missing during Angels & Demons and the later books do have is history, the later novels at least refer a little to things that happened in the earlier books. One of the few things you really see with him is that he is flawed, he doesn’t like flying and hates heights. I like him for that.
Vittoria Vetra is a smart woman, she is Robert Langdon’s sidekick during this novel and it keeps Robert on the tips of his toes.
The Camerlengo, Carlo Ventresca (called differently in the movie) is a very deep character. He has a whole history to motivate him during this novel. I enjoyed it a lot and he may actually be my favorite character in this book due to his complex life and reasoning for everything.
Overall Angels & Demons is a great starter for the Robert Langdon books, I just missed a little bit of history on the man. The story was great however and it is surely a novel that will stay relevant in this day and age.
The Movie
In 2009 the movie Angels & Demons was released with Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon for the second time, Ewan McGregor as the Camerlengo and other famous actors. I do not know why they used the first novel as the second movie. But the details that connect The DaVinci Code to Angels & Demons were not in the movie, so maybe it is not that important.
I enjoyed the movie, it just was missing a couple of things I thought were more important to the story, but the acting was great and the characters were as good as in the novel.
Let me know what you thought of this book and/or movie!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.
For now, let books enrich your life!