Book #3: LibraryLove

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Book description:
In this stunning follow-up to the global phenomenon The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown demonstrates once again why he is the world's most popular thriller writer. The Lost Symbol is a masterstroke of storytelling -- a deadly race through a real-world labyrinth of codes, secrets, and unseen truths... all under the watchful eye of Brown's most terrifying villain to date. Set within the hidden chambers, tunnels, and temples of Washington, D.C., The Lost Symbol accelerates through a startling landscape toward an unthinkable finale. As the story opens, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned unexpectedly to deliver an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building. Within minutes of his arrival, however, the night takes a bizarre turn. A disturbing object -- artfully encoded with five symbols -- is discovered in the Capitol Building. Langdon recognizes the object as an ancient invitation... one meant to usher its recipient into a long-lost world of esoteric wisdom. When Langdon's beloved mentor, Peter Solomon -- a prominent Mason and philanthropist -- is brutally kidnapped, Langdon realizes his only hope of saving Peter is to accept this mystical invitation and follow wherever it leads him.
Langdon is instantly plunged into a clandestine world of Masonic secrets, hidden history, and never-before-seen locations -- all of which seem to be dragging him toward a single, inconceivable truth. As the world discovered in The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's novels are brilliant tapestries of veiled histories, arcane symbols, and enigmatic codes. In this new novel, he again challenges readers with an intelligent, lightning-paced story that offers surprises at every turn. The Lost Symbol is exactly what Brown's fans have been waiting for... his most thrilling novel yet.

I am captivated by Dan Brown's ability to make me fall back in love with D.C., just like we fell in love with Rome and Paris in parts 1 and 2 of the Robert Langdon series. I love our Nation's Capitol but especially loved seeing it (hearing the audiobook, in this case) through the eyes of our favorite symbologist, Robert Langdon. Despite much criticism, and although I did enjoy Angels & Demons, The DaVinci Code, now The Lost Symbol fell a little flat for me. It seems like it's falling into the same template: Find Langdon. Save the world from disaster. Run through streets, caves, dark alleys. Solve riddles. Lather. Rinse.Repeat. Although I was already familiar with the Masonic Temple and all the astrological ties Pierre L'enfant left for us to discover about Washington D.C., the average person was not aware of the historical, religious, and anthropological enigmas in the city's past. Brown does a fantastic job of really keeping us on the edge of our seats, like we're with Langdone and Dr. Santo through every turn. I think if you're new to Dan Brown, maybe read one of the three books, I would recommend Angels and Demons. However, after now having read all three, I hate to say it's getting a bit predictable. An immense amount of research went into making this book and it kept me engrossed, but I couldn't help thinking about the movie National Treasure the entire time....

Sorry Langdon, I think it's time you went back to swimming laps for a while.

3/5 stars

3 down 49 to go.

On deck...Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

Xoxo, LibraryLove