Title: The Lost Symbol
Author: Dan Brown
Published: September 2009
Pages: 509
ISBN: 9780385504225
Source: Personal copy
Description: Everyone off the bus, and welcome to a Washington, D.C., they never told you about on your school trip when you were a kid, a place steeped in Masonic history that, once revealed, points to a dark, ancient conspiracy that threatens not only America but the world itself. Returning hero Robert Langdon comes to Washington to give a lecture at the behest of his old mentor, Peter Solomon. When he arrives at the U.S. Capitol for his lecture, he finds, instead of an audience, Peter's severed hand mounted on a wooden base, fingers pointing skyward to the Rotunda ceiling fresco of George Washington dressed in white robes, ascending to heaven. Langdon teases out a plethora of clues from the tattooed hand that point toward a secret portal through which an intrepid seeker will find the wisdom known as the Ancient Mysteries, or the lost wisdom of the ages. A villain known as Mal'akh, a steroid-swollen, fantastically tattooed, muscle-bodied madman, wants to locate the wisdom so he can rule the world. Mal'akh has captured Peter and promises to kill him if Langdon doesn't agree to help find the portal. Joining Langdon in his search is Peter's younger sister, Kathleen, who has been conducting experiments in a secret museum. This is just the kickoff for a deadly chase that careens back and forth, across, above and below the nation's capital, darting from revelation to revelation, pausing only to explain some piece of wondrous, historical esoterica.
I Give This Book 3.5 Stars!
I kind of feel sorry for Dan Brown. He had to write a follow up to The Da Vinci Code, and we all know that it was probably not an easy task. I think he did a pretty good job of it for the most part. I loved how this one was set in the US, and not just the US, but Washington D.C. The historical and landmark facts in this book are nothing short of astounding. It never fails to amaze me how religious the founding fathers really were and how much of those beliefs are worked into our government. One thing is for sure, this book really made me want to visit our nation's capitol. I also enjoyed the mystery, twists and turns in this one. Dan Brown really knows how to keep you guessing until the very end. But (and sadly there is that but), I felt the overall message delivered in this one was a bit heavy-handed and over the top. And the descriptions of the "Ancient Mysteries" left me rather bored at times. It just wasn't as believable as his previous books. I never had that moment that made me question all the things I've been taught (which I did with Da Vinci Code). Still, a great read for those who like his previous works, but I would not expect it to wow you like the others did.
