27 August, 2011

Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol

This is the fourth book I read of Dan Brown after Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code and Deception Point. I picked this because I like his style of storytelling - something which can be called smart, intelligent thrillers. Stories based on science / beliefs / myths which are not so familiar with, adapted in real life like situation and by the course of the book enlighten the readers along with entertain. When I told my friends I picked this one, many asked me not to expect a lot and said this is boring. Was it ???



The story deals with ancient secrets of The Freemasonry brothers and an evil mind trying to get access to it. He was incapable of deciphering the secret codes and symbol, so he tricks Robert Langdon, the symbol specialist who appeared in Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons to Washington DC and in trade of his dear friend and top order mason Peter Solomon's life. Robert, who was skeptical about the Masonic secrets from the beginning, to save his friend, play along with the kidnapper and help him understand the codes. Meanwhile CIA also gets involved in the case, and they cross the paths of Robert and the captor. Whether the captor get hold of the ancient secret, will Robert know the lost knowledge is the remaining of the story.
This time, Dan Brown deals with little known 'science' of conscious. Suggesting the thoughts have mass, it directly influences / manipulates the material world, soul exists and it has mass kind of theories. I always like to believe our thoughts shapes and influence our world. So something suggesting they are true was interesting to me. But when considering this is a novel and not a research handbook, it could be less entertaining. Because more than the course of unfolding the events, Dan goes on explaining the Neotic science ( that's what it is called ) and the suggestion how the ancient texts have already explained what we prove today. So the preachy and suggestive style may hinder the enjoyablility of the book.
After reading this book, like Brown's other books too, I spent considerable time online to get more insights about the theories he suggested. Ironically, in this book he says - "Google' is not a synonym for 'research'." !!! " We all fear what we do not understand." - another quote from the book may explain why many didn't like the book. When we hear something we cannot accept, we often write them off as rubbish. If you cannot imagine the power of your thoughts, or believe that the ancient texts have already mentioned what we prove today ( solar system was explained in detail in Vedas, for example ), this book is not for you. I am not saying Dan Brown proves the existence of it or he is true, but this book could make you think. ( When Da Vinci Code was released, Brown said all of what the book suggests is true. Which he changed to 'most of them are true' and then further to 'most of the theories explained in the book are fiction'.! So do not take him for authority, it is left to you. )
So how did I feel finishing this book - I placed the order for the one last book I missed of him, Digital Fortress !

2 comments:

  1. Digital Fortress, we won't like. Its more of IT and you know, most of the stuff what he tells in that book, is crap.

    Anyway I like his way of story telling. Expert in making twist in the story.

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  2. I am half way through the book. Do not look for logic in his books, just go for the twists ;)

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