The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (audio)

My Kewaunee Library Book Club left our meeting last month in a fever to read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. The library had one copy of the book and one audio copy. As I am the only one who listens to audiobooks, I was allotted the audio book. As I was 150th in the hold list at the library for the actual book, I figured it was a good deal.

The Lost Symbol is the third adventure story staring the erstwhile Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon. Langdon has been flown to Washington, D.C. for a last minute speech at the U.S. Capitol as a favor to his old friend, Peter Solomon. When he reaches the capitol, he discovers he has been brought to the capital under false pretences. He then quickly stumbles upon a horrific scene, and the hunt is on to discover a secret that the Masons have been keeping since the start of our nation.

SPOILER ALERT (for the rest of the review)
I thought the start of the novel was really slow. Four (out of fourteen) CDs into the book Robert Langdon was still walking around talking to the CIA director without any real action. Once the action started though, it was non-stop and it was hard to stop listening to the book as I really wanted to find out what happened. I thought the ending of the book was rather slow too after the climax.

I did like the nerdy details though in the slow start-up in the novel. I found the information to be intriguing. I thought the villain was rather cardboard one-dimensional. I had his secret figured out early on and I still do not really understand that character. It should be interesting to discuss at book club next week.

I thought the mystery itself was rather anti-climatic. It almost seemed like an appeasement for all of those who were shocked by The Da Vinci Code. What did others that read this book think?

I really liked Brown’s interesting take on how different religious practices can be misinterpreted by different people. It would be strange to walk into a Catholic church and see people drinking blood and the giant cross with a man being crucified on it if you had no clue about Christianity or Catholicism. That is why we should really learn about cultures and religions before making judgment.

My favorite quote: “Wow,” the homeless man thought, “She must really need a book” after seeing Katherine Solomon hitting the door of the Library of Congress trying to break her way in. I laughed out loud at this.

Overall it was an interesting and exciting book, but not as good as The Da Vinci Code.