The Lost Symbol

[Nietzsche]

Is anyone reading this when it comes out? I have it pre ordered.

I'm quite a fan of Dan Brown, though I realize he isn't the best in the genre of conspiracy fiction I find his books highly entertaining and I can get through them quickly.

For those criticizing his books on the historical inaccuracies, remember he is a FICTION writer, his books are not meant to be passed off as non-fiction. In the DaVinci Code there is that page saying all the secret societies, etc are real, but it is referring to the fact that the lost gospels, the priory of scion, existed, not that the story is true. The DaVinci Code is a fictional interpretation, and naturally facts are changed for the sake of a good story! Criticizing his books from the foreword is like criticizing Star Wars for it saying that it happened a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Of course it didn't. Or criticizing the Texas Chain Saw Massacre for saying it is based on a true story thought it is an extreme exaggeration inspired by several events.

That being said, from what I have read about the book it reminds me of National Treasure.. I read in an interview about the book, that The Lost Symbol was started before Brown even finished the DaVinci Code.


Also, I have heard that Umberto Eco was a big name in the religous conspiracy genre, and that his books are more in depth than Browns are, can anyone recommend a book to me? I also have heard, Umberto Eco was in turn pre-dated by the Illuminatus! Triology, are these books good?

What other books are in this genre, that I may enjoy? If someone can point out something just as riveting or more than Dan Brown, that would be great.

[Janine]

Dan Brown, himself, has said his books are meant to be thrillers and are strictly fiction. As far as Eco is concerned, we discussed one of his novels on this site a year or so ago...The Name of the Rose...that was quite good; I think you would enjoy it, if you read Dan Brown's novels and liked them; they both are in the historical fiction genre. You can locate the discussion here on the forum if you run it through search or if you can't find it ask any one of the moderators.

[Haunted]

I'm a fellow Dan Brown fan. I read it backwards, Da Vinci Code first and then someone recommended Angels and Demons, saying it was even better. I couldn't put either one down. Just as you said the fiction is compelling.

Matt Lauer on NBC's Today did a series on the Lost Symbol last week, he showed the place in Washington DC where Dan Brown did his research, it's quite a sight! New York Times says the new book The Lost Symbol is "mind-blowing". Can't wait to read it.

[PeterL]

Also, I have heard that Umberto Eco was a big name in the religous conspiracy genre, and that his books are more in depth than Browns are, can anyone recommend a book to me? I also have heard, Umberto Eco was in turn pre-dated by the Illuminatus! Triology, are these books good?

Foucault's Pendulum destroys conspiracy theories. An outline of the plot of one of Brown's books is in chapter 65 (I think). I posted a review of FP here within the past year. After you read Foucault's Pendulum you will never look at anything by Brown again.

[Nietzsche]

I'm a fellow Dan Brown fan. I read it backwards, Da Vinci Code first and then someone recommended Angels and Demons, saying it was even better. I couldn't put either one down. Just as you said the fiction is compelling.

Matt Lauer on NBC's Today did a series on the Lost Symbol last week, he showed the place in Washington DC where Dan Brown did his research, it's quite a sight! New York Times says the new book The Lost Symbol is "mind-blowing". Can't wait to read it.

I agree, I found Angels & Demons to be better than the DaVinci Code. It actually was writen before the DaVinci Code, despite it being flipped for the movie..

It's nice to meet some fellow dan brown fans, despite his popularity I havn't met many fans of him. Most i've met have never read him, or get anal about the historical fallacies in a fictional work, or think he's some sort of anti-christ (despite the fact Brown has said he hopes his works inspire discussion to strengthen faith)...

Have you guys read Digital Fortress or Deception Point? I have read all of his books, save Digital Fortress but I do own it and will read it shortly. I probably will read the Lost Symbol... I can't wait for the book. Tomorrow it is out (yay!)

My newspaper had an interview with Dan Brown, and the first few pages of the lost symbol as preview. It's going to be good!

[Haunted]

I agree, I found Angels & Demons to be better than the DaVinci Code. It actually was writen before the DaVinci Code, despite it being flipped for the movie...

The Da Vinci Code was hugely successful, when all is said and done, 80 million copies were sold. Isn't that more copies sold than Michael Jackson's Thriller album?

With such popularity it's almost a guarantee that a movie will follow. It's probably then that they (publisher, literary agent, Hollywood people, etc. collectively) realized they can make a franchise out of Dan Brown, much like John Grisham and other great writers and storytellers. So next came the movie version of the previous book, Angels and Demons. And that's very good news for us Dan Brown fans.

I must admit I didn't see the DVC movie. One reason is, it came out not long after I read the book and I didn't want the movie to ruin it. I don't remember AAD now, so I'll see the movie when the DVD comes out.

[Dark Muse]

I strongly recomend Foucault's Pendulum, it has already been mentioned, but I have to 2nd it, it is a brilliant and excellent book.

I would not call myself a Dan Brown fan per sae, but I read Angels & Demons and the DaVinci Code, becasue the subject matter was something of interest to me, and I do find they are entertaining thrillers to read.

I do not know much about his new book, but from what you said, it sounds like it could be interesting so I might look into it.

[Nietzsche]

I must admit I didn't see the DVC movie. One reason is, it came out not long after I read the book and I didn't want the movie to ruin it. I don't remember AAD now, so I'll see the movie when the DVD comes out.

The DaVinci Code movie was far closer to the novel than Angels & Demons was to its novel. DVD only cut out things that took up a lot of time and could be briefly put into another scene, and left out some details but nothing too major

Angels & Demons, while a great movie, left out many things and even changed a great portion. There are some characters in the book, not in the movie, and characters in the movie not in the book. The entire first segment of the book and movie are different, though most of it regarding the search for the clues is the same. Other than that, they are mostly separate artistic entities in the way Jurassic Park stands alone in comparison to Michael Crichton's novel.

[NickAdams]

I read The DaVinci Code when it was first published and I enjoyed the subject and the trivia, but found the characters and prose to be shallow. I thought the movie served the spirituality with a heavy hand, which is something I don't remember being mentioned in the book. I respected the book after that, but I have no intention of reading The Lost Symbol.

[dfloyd]

out of curiosity. I thought the movie was much better than the book. Somehow it didn't seems as shallow as the written word. Dan Brown's popularity stems from the fact that there are a lot more people out there that can read such trivia than there are tose who can read literature. If you want to read it, then do so. IMO, howver, it's a waste of time. I am a fast reader, and the book is not .long, so I satisfied my curiosity in a minimum of time. I wouldn't read another Dan Brown book.

There have been other writers who are very sorry at the writing craft, but who have attracted many readers. Ann Rice is one. And for the life of me, I can't understand the attraction that Ayn Rand has for some readers. Acually, reading Dan Brown is not such a waste of time as reading Ayn Rand since it takes much longer to read her books, although they are not much better.

[Amethyst2010]

I am a fan of Dan Brown. I read Digital Fortress first, then Da Vinci Code, followed by Angels and Demon, and Deception Point last. I will be collecting The Lost Symbol today. I think it is better to read the book first before watching the movie. For Da Vinci Code, too much details are left out in the movie. I think Angels and Demons is a more entertaining movie, and assuming that Rome and St Vatican really looks like what the movie protrays, it has been very educational for me who hasn't visited that part of Europe. Deception Point is the least entertaining among the four books, in my opinion, but that could be because I personally like stories on computer crimes, which is in Digital Fortress.

[DanielBenoit]

Wow, there seems to be so many Dan Brown fans coming out! Where were you guys when I made my Dan Brown bashing thread? Either way, not a very big fan of Dan Brown to say the least

[Thespian1975]

Just read this review in the Mail on Sunday website

Meanwhile, Brown aficionados will be relieved to learn that his reputation as one of our foremost prose stylists looks set to endure: his innovative use of italics, soaring descriptive flights ("he wrapped the Kiryu silk robe around his naked, 6ft 3in body...") and feather-light moments of erudition ("Langdon knew that, etymologically, cravat actually derived from a ruthless band of 'Croat' mercenaries") are as beguiling as ever.



I hope that the reviewer had his tongue firmly in cheek when he wrote that.

[NickAdams]

Just read this review in the Mail on Sunday website

Meanwhile, Brown aficionados will be relieved to learn that his reputation as one of our foremost prose stylists looks set to endure: his innovative use of italics, soaring descriptive flights ("he wrapped the Kiryu silk robe around his naked, 6ft 3in body...") and feather-light moments of erudition ("Langdon knew that, etymologically, cravat actually derived from a ruthless band of 'Croat' mercenaries") are as beguiling as ever.



I hope that the reviewer had his tongue firmly in cheek when he wrote that.

[Adagio]

I read, last week, in the Sunday Times culture magazine that Brown doesn't actually like novels. Despite being a writer he cannot stand fiction: 'One of the reasons I don't read fiction is because I can't really get through it.' He prefers reading books on symbols and history (surprise surprise).

Also, writing was not his first love (again, surprise); pop music was his juliet. Culture mag. informs that in 1993 Brown released an album titled Dan Brown which featured a song about phone sex called 976-Love. A year later came his next CD Angels and Demons (huh?) which had heavy religious themes and was unsuccessful.

Just thought I'd share.