The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon #3) by Dan Brown 3.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After reading Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code, I was ready for the next Robert Langdon mystery. They both blew me away. I could talk about The Da Vinci Code all day; I could talk about Angels & Demons all day (and all night); but, I could talk about The Lost Symbol for maybe 15 minutes before I got bored.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows a Masonic seal holding together a torn coded page, above the city of Washington D.C.. The cover fits well with what the book is theoretically about. Or, at least, it fits the good parts of the story, what I expected the book to contain. A- cover. 

Official Description:

WHAT IS LOST...

WILL BE FOUND
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, DC., 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 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.


My Review:
I was disappointed in The Lost Symbol. It's focus was much less on decoding and solving a mystery while explaining a secret organization (in this case, the Masons) than the previous books. While the decoding was still an element, the book centered more on how crazy the bad guy was. The majority of the book was from the villain's point-of-view to try and prove how crazy he was. 

Large chunks of narration from a villain's point-of-view is one of my writing pet-peeves. It makes the main characters look dumb, while making the book uncomfortable to read and boring. This style made The Lost Symbol feel less like a Dan Brown book, and more like a Silence of the Lambs book. Specifically, it felt about 80% similar to Red Dragon.  

The Lost Symbol is much the same as the earlier amazing books by Dan Brown, but it replaced some of the unique code-breaking and conspiracy-style history with thoughts from a madman. It really wasn't my style, and I'm disappointed to say the least. This book has taken me three weeks to read, and honestly, wasn't worth my time. It just didn't hook me like the other ones did. 

I think I'll still try book four, Inferno, but I know I'm going to wait awhile and catch up on other books first.

Phrase:
Tattoos

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Da Vinci Code
Angels & Demons
Silence of the Lambs

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Dragonwatch (Fablehaven Adventure #1) by Brandon Mull 4.5/5 stars

Hey, guys! About seven years ago, I finished the Fablehaven series. I really enjoyed it. It's a fun kids' story about magical creatures with solid characters and an exciting plot.
In October at YALL Fest, I got to meet Brandon Mull (nice guy) and he told me that he was working on a sequel series to Fablehaven. I knew I wanted to read it, and then, edelweiss provided me a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Cover:

The Cover:

It shows a dragon blowing fire at the neutral area between humans and dragons, I believe. I don't like this cover. It just looks cheesy and isn't directly related to the story. C- cover.

Official Description:

In the long-awaited sequel to Fablehaven, the dragons who have been kept at the dragon sanctuaries no longer consider them safe havens, but prisons and they want their freedom. The dragons are no longer our allies....
In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.
No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.
As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.
How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?

My Review:
Dragonwatch picks up a few months after the original series ends. It stars the same main characters, though some of the supporting characters change. The feel of the book was the same. The adventure and characters still felt the same as they did seven years ago. The only difference is the setting (a Dragon Sanctuary) and the enemy (the dragons).

Once you get past the immediate disbelief (is sending Seth and Kendra in really the only option?), Dragonwatch is a really enjoyable read. It goes by quick with a fast pace and lots of adventure. 

The characters are the same ones that you know and love. Even the satrys make an appearance. There are a few minor characters that are added. For example, Kendra and Seth's cousins are visiting Fablehaven, and Seth gets them into all sorts of trouble. At first, I was worried that this series would just be a repeated of Fablehaven, just from the cousin's point of view. This is not what happened. They were an important plot device that actually worked really well!

The ideas in Dragonwatch were original and fun to read about! The change of focus was refreshing. This book did not feel like a rewind of the previous series. The characters are (mostly) the same, but the situations are not.


Overall, I would recommend reading Dragonwatch only if you have already read the Fablehaven series and liked it. The format is similar, but you'll find a new story that you'll love.
Phrase:
What do you look like before the milk?

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
A World Without Heroes
The Sword of Summer
Five Kingdoms series

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Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon #1) by Dan Brown 5/5 stars

Hey, guys! After being blown away by The Da Vinci Code, I couldn't stop myself from reading the first book in this series. I loved this one, too. Maybe even more than The Da Vinci Code but for different reasons.

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows Langdon running toward an explosion in one corner and the ceiling of a church on the other side. The contrast of heaven and hell, angels and demons, while still being heavily related to the plot! A cover

Official Description:
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.


My Review:
One of the hallmarks of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series is its catchy writing. The pace of the book flies by, to the point where you look up and realize that you have been reading for hours.

I imagine that is also due to how action-based this novel was. Comparatively, The Da Vinci Code is a lot more about history, while Angels & Demons centers on cults (the Illuminati) and action (racing against a literal time bomb). 

A book is nothing without it's characters, and Angels & Demons definitely had some good ones. Robert Langdon is a mix between your typical nerdy professor, a suburban dad, and an adrenaline junky. It's an odd mix that works very well for his character. As a result, he is very easy to route for, and his character feels very natural. The other leading character is Vittoria, a strong, smart female who is portrayed not simply as "the love interest" but as a capable woman who can (mostly) handle herself. Vittoria is a strong character, who I'm definitely glad was added.

Another hallmark of the Robert Langdon series is tackling religion. Angels & Demons talked much less of the "theory" of religion, but it definitely covers it. It discusses the politics of relgions, namely involving naming a new Pope, but also it's relationship with the media and the public. Also, about how it's had to adapt with the times. It was really interesting and the way that Dan Brown handled it was masterful. It wasn't made to contradict any religious feelings you may or may not have. Instead, it dances all over the issue without treading on anyone's feet. As a Catholic, I wasn't offended by anything but rather intrigued.

Yet another thing I loved about this book was that there wasn't much from the villian's point of view. I find that that always ruins the element of surprise and suspense. While there were a few moments from the antagonist's POV, they didn't give too much away and kept the element of suspense alive. 

Overall, this book sucked me in like no other has been able to in a long time. I was in the world. While reading, I actually gasped out loud at some points. There are copies of this book in every library and used book store in America. Do yourself a favor and grab one the next time you see it. 



Movie Thoughts:
After enjoying the book so much, I found a copy of the movie somewhere. I thought I'd give it a shot. I cannot recommend reading the book first more! The movie takes all of the main plots points but leaves the significance of this events behind. 
You would ruin the suspense and genius of the book without understanding the actual point of the book. The movie changes the whole point of the book (in much the same way as The Shinning). The movie does a poor job of showing motivation for actions. 
It's a decent movie, but pales in comparison to the book.

Phrase:
Branded

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
The Da Vinci Code

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Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk 4/5 stars

Hey, guys! Yes. Fight Club was a book before it was a movie. I was just as surprised as you are. A long time ago (before I probably should have), I watched the Fight Club movie. I enjoyed it, and when I noticed there was a book, I bought it. Fast-forward about eight years (after I forgot almost all of the movie). I decided that after The Da Vinci Code, I needed a short book. At 200 pages, Fight Club definitely flew by. 

The Cover:

The Cover:
It shows a fist was bloody knuckles coming to hit you in the face. Short and not-so sweet. This image almost perfectly sums up this book, too. A+ cover.

Rating: 
R  (for basically everything: violence, language, gore, sex, etc.)

Official Description:
Every weekend, in basements and parking lots across the country, young men with good white-collar jobs and absent fathers take off their shoes and shirts and fight each other barehanded for as long as they have to. Then they go back to those jobs with blackened eyes and loosened teeth and the sense that they can handle anything. Fight Club is the invention of Tyler Durden, projectionist, waiter and dark, anarchic genius. And it's only the beginning of his plans for revenge on a world where cancer support groups have the corner on human warmth.

Alternate Description:
Chuck Palahniuk's darkly funny first novel tells the story of a god-forsaken young man who discovers that his rage at living in a world filled with failure and lies cannot be pacified by an empty consumer culture. Relief for him and his disenfranchised peers comes in the form of secret after-hours boxing matches held in the basements of bars. Fight Club is the brain-child of Tyler Durden, who thinks he has found a way for himself and his friends to live beyond their confining and stultifying lives. But in Tyler's world there are no rules, no limits, no brakes.

My Review:
I'm incredibly torn about this book. It is both a five-star book and a three-star book. The good parts are fantastic and the rest is just decidedly average. I decided to split the difference for a four-star review. My difficulty in rating this book is possibly because of how different this book is. 

This book is very "in your face". The manliness of the characters, the plot twists, and the gross (seriously gross) descriptions are meant to hit you in the face. The embodiment of this book would be someone invading your personal space and yelling "Do you want to fight?" in your ear. This leads to an aggressive writing style that isn't very eloquent or "good". Yet, the unpolished, abrasive writing fits the book perfectly. Do you see what I mean? Fight Club is a polished attempt to be unpolished.

Fight Club is told in a scattered sort of way. It is a collection of a bunch of snapshots of memories and current events. Each thought is a few pages long, and then will switch focus to another snapshot. It is an interesting sort of approach (similar to Slaughterhouse-Five) that keeps you hooked but leaves you feeling as if you are not quite up to speed.

The characters in Fight Club are fairly one-dimensional. The unnamed narrator has a bit of personality, but like the narrator of The Great Gatsby, he seems to be more of an observer of this work he writes about than anything. The other characters have distinctive characteristics for sure. They are unique and memorable, but not very complex. This might be due to the narrator not caring about actually knowing the people in his life, in fact, it's a plot point in Fight Club.  


Overall, Fight Club... I'm not sure what to think about this book. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? Definitely not to anyone I know in the real world. This book is just gross. It will make your skin crawl (again, the point). It's very interesting though, so if you aren't squeamish, give it a shot. You might love it. You might hate it. Either way, you'll know by the first few pages how you'll feel throughout the rest of the book.

Phrase:
You wake up in O'Hare.

If You Liked This Book, You May Also Like:
Slaughterhouse Five

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