Some Thoughts on The Lost Symbol

So I just finished reading Dan Brown's 'The Lost Symbol'.  I was wanting to formulate an organized book report that ties everything together with a lovely introductory paragraph, thesis, conclusion, etc., but then I realized a) this blog isn't a 7th grade writing class assignment and b) I don't think I care enough to put in the time and effort to write that (nor do my readers care enough to put in the time and effort to read it).   So, with no further ado, a simple bulleted list of random thoughts/criticisms/opinions on said book.

Oh, before I do so....SPOILER(S) ALERT.

*Can we get our main character, Mr. Robert Langdon, a steady girlfriend?  Now, don't get me wrong - I realize these aren't romance novels.  If one read these books in order (Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol), which I didn't, it appears as though first there's Victoria, then there's Sophie, now there's Katherine (although there's no outright romance between Katherine and Langdon, just some brief implications that it could possibly be there).  At the end of the Da Vinci Code, it seemed that Langdon was ending up with Sophie, who is now completely and totally absent.  He supposedly ended up with Victoria at the end of A&D, and if I remember correctly, there's a very brief reference to her and her absence in the DVC, but really, nothing is actually explained.  Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that Mr. Brown has chosen to create intelligent, successful, strong-minded women as Mr. Langdon's counterparts, as opposed to just one-dimensional trophies.  However, I don't like their supposed disposability.  I can only imagine if there's a fourth book, there will be a fourth chick.

*Granted, I read the DVC five years ago at this point and I can't say I vividly remember it.  However, what I don't remember is Robert Langdon being a complete and total moron.   That and I can't remember the lead-ins to each scene being so painfully obvious.  It seems as though there were so many moments like the following:
--some sort of conflict arises
--other character suggests: haven't you heard of xyz? (as a potential explanation to the previous conflict)
--Langdon:  Yeah, but duuuuhhhh, everyone knows that's just a rumor (I'm paraphrasing)
--xyz happens to be true (who'da thunk?)
--Langdon:  Ohhhh....
This scene plays out multiple times throughout the book.  After a while I wanted to reach in and smack Robert Langdon, if for no reason other than the fact that he should have learned from the fact that he'd just made this same mistake 15 pages ago.

*Katherine's whole field of research 'Noetic Science' could have been completely edited out with no loss to the novel whatsoever.  Granted, although the fact that she was in a line of scientific research may have served as important character development, Brown could have made her some kind of biologist/historian/engineer, not over-explained her job, and moved on with it.  Also, I was waiting for some moment when it all tied together in the story, but it oddly didn't, leaving it seeming purposeless in the book.  Perhaps it had a greater meaning within the story that got somehow *thankfully* edited out - I say this because something of Noetics reeked of 'The Secret'.  Shiver/gag.

*The very end of the book (which was a simple letdown) made me question if Dan Brown was somehow just really excited by the Obama campaign.  Judging based on the timing of the release of this book, and presuming when it was being written, only gives more evidence to this argument.

*I do not remember feeling this disturbed whilst reading the DVC.  Although, again, I read it a while ago and don't remember it as clearly, so I may be off on this.

*It was completely and utterly ridiculous that Peter Solomon, after all he'd been through in the night, was, at the end of the evening, in decent spirits talking about Masonic secrets.

*I do believe Dan Brown is possibly on track to become M. Night Shyamalan.  Or, perhaps, they are the same person.  Now THAT would make for a good twist.

I will probably add to this list as I think of more.  Your thoughts?  Agree?  Disagree?  Like the book?

Should I Read This?

The Lost Symbol.

It's Dan Brown's latest book. The man behind 'The DaVinci Code', 'Angels and Demons', etc. Some feel he's an absolute genius; some feel he's painfully overrated at best.

Your thoughts? I liked the DaVinci Code. Whether or not it is 'high art' is perhaps a subject open for debate - but it was entertaining, easy to read and kept me interested and in suspense. I think it's not always easy to write in a way that makes people want to keep reading (believe me, I know). That, and I liked the symbolic puzzles he found within everything.

Angels and Demons was, in my opinion, a little more laboring (although most people I've spoken to seem to think it was the better of the two books). That, and after having read the DaVinci Code, I found it to be a bit more predictable. I'm sure I wouldn't have had it been the first book I read by Mr. Brown (he wrote it prior to the code), but regardless - I didn't enjoy it as much.

Now that it's been a couple years and many other books have slipped in - do I want to read The Lost Symbol? Has anyone read it yet? Is it good? I'm afraid to look at reviews online because of spoilers. Did you like the D-Code? Angels and Demons? Which did you prefer?