It’s been a while since I last read a fictitious novel so I thought it’d be about time to read one for a change. Based on a co-workers recommendation, I picked up a copy of Angels and Demons by Dan Brown; supposedly a kind of a predecessor to Da Vinci Code. I have not read the Da Vinci Code (yet), so I thought it’d be good to start with Angels & Demons.
Despite the name, the book isn’t really about angels or demons as such. The theme is somewhat religious, though, but not disturbingly so (IMO anyway, YMMV). And scientific at the same time. Throw in quite a pile of reasonably well-researched facts and a conspiracy and you have ingredients for a plot that no doubt some people are uneasy with. But it’s this semi-believable style of writing that makes this novel a real page-turner.
It’s difficult to describe the plot without revealing too much, but the entire book tells of events taking place within 24 hours. Starting out in Boston, all the real action takes place in Europe, Rome in particular. It helps to be somewhat familiar with Rome and the Vatican, but the provided map helps the reader to place events in the correct places.
I have heard that Brown’s books tend to have a repetitive formula for the plot. Myself having not read Dan Brown’s books before, I must say I couldn’t guess all or even most of the plot twists and turns in advance. Overall, a very enjoyable and exciting reading experience. Certainly one of the better novels I’ve read.
Up next, the Da Vinci Code. We’ll see how that compares.
Graded 4 / 5
