Angels and Demons Review
Angels and Demons is a bestselling mystery novel by Dan Brown. It Introduces the character Robert Langdon - who is also the principal character of Brown's later, better-known, more controversial novel The Da Vinci Code. It also shares many elements with the better known novel, such as conspiracies of secret societies, a single day time frame and the Roman Catholic Church. The story involves a conflict between an ancient group, the Illuminati, and the Roman Catholic Church.
The basic plot is a classic race against time to find a hidden bomb and hunt down a serial killer in Rome. As its backdrop, the book debates the question about which is to be trusted - science or religion. It shows how the Vatican works as the plot to blow it up is uncovered during the conclave, revealing hidden secrets and mysteries as the story unfolds.
The story is a definite thriller but also contains many touching moments that are not usually found in such books. For example, the part when the Camerlengo realises who he is, and who his father is - is an especially touching moment. Then, being unable to live with the actions he has done, kills himself (after making a long and emotional speech to the cardinals.) He is then interred next to his father, his master, the Pope.
A plot weakness is the plot behind the antimatter - a plan to blow a building up. Hardly original, however, through the masses of information that Brown puts into his novel, originality is there. Another weakness would be the James Bond type plot with Langdon and the girl of the book, Vittoria. This theme was followed in The Da Vinci Code, and in my opinion, that story line is quite cheesy and predictable.
I read The Da Vinci Code first, before Angels and Demons, and it in no way impeded my enjoyment of this book. There is no back story/ongoing story of any great detail to the book in them, so it does not matter what order you read them.
Surprisingly i found Angels and Demons a better book than his wider acclaimed book, the Da Vinci Code.
If you choose to read this book it will prove to be a highly addictive read, and is one of those books you will miss your favourite television programme for. The amount of enjoyment I got from this book was massive and I highly recommend it. The way Brown interweaves fact with fiction is something he excels at. And the reader will be left wanting to find out more information about the secretive group: The Illuminati.
A film is being made for release in 2009, unfortunately with Tom Hanks playing the lead Langdon. I assure you that the film will not meet the expectations made from the book. I will eat my hat if the film surpasses, or even meets the books standard.
This book is a must read, and definitely one for the book shelf.



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