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[NibbyCat]

Believe it or not, Dan Brown has written more than just The Da Vinci Code.

Angels & Demons is the prequel to Da Vinci, though it isn't necessary to read it first. Someone goes on a murder spree, including killing the Pope, and the clues lead to the Illuminati. What boggled my mind was how people of all walks of life had never heard of the Illuminati. I learned about their existance as a side note to Gallileo in 6th grade science. Someone developing anti-matter? Sure, I'll believe it. A bunch of scientists who've never heard of the Illuminati? Sorry, that's just too incredible for me.

Otherwise, it was interesting for me, as a Catholic, because he talks about the procedures for choosing a new Pope, and I was reading it around the time of John Paul II's death.

[NibbyCat]

Today I finished reading The Da Vinci Code. I had some issues with this book. First off, most of the action takes place in one night, and it's one heck of a long night. I think time got expanded or something.

Another problem I had was how dense these folks were. When they were trying to solve the two cryptex clues, I had the answers long before they did. For the first one, my dyslexia helped me to read the puzzle, and, knowing the person who made the puzzle, I figured out from the first line what it should be, I only had the spelling off.

But the second one... My heavens. On page 324, we got the first line of the clue. Thanks to my American education, I could only think of one person that fit, and only one 5-letter word that would be associated with him, but then, I'm in a situation that puts that word in my mind every day. On page 337, we get the rest of the clue, and I KNEW that if I had the right person, I had the right word. On page 377, Langdon and Sophie are at King's College, using their reference library. They get several hits on the computer, but it's not until page 391 that they get the one that confirmed my guess. At this point, I flipped ahead, it wasn't until page 425 that my guess was confirmed. Cheese and everloving crackers.

The action, aside from a lot happening in one night, was pretty good. I knew there'd be some twists because I've read a couple of his other books, but I didn't expect the ultimate identity of the Teacher.

Now, onto the theories and theology in this book. I have no problems with the possibilities presented, in fact, it's almost a relief to think that Jesus did put such high stock in a woman as to have actually left her as the head of his church. It makes sense that he married, and it explains her prominence in the gospels. It does nothing to diminish his message and his teachings. If true, these theories reinforce my statement that I converted to Catholicism, but I didn't join the Church.

[NibbyCat]

Deception Point is very interesting. We start in the Arctic, where a seemingly ancient meteorite has been discovered. There's murder in many ways, political machinations, and of course twists. Brown did his homework, some of the information about NASA and the discovery of possible extra-terrestrial life is true.

I enjoyed this one, the action kept going and the twists were very surprising.

I've read the first couple of chapters in Digital Fortress several times in the bathroom off the farm office. Unfortunately, my uncle's wife tossed it in a fit of housekeeping :roll: , so I'll have to either buy my own copy or check it out of the library.

[JuntaJoe]

Sounds like Robert Ludlum material. You should try his books.

[Elvengirl]

i read all his books as well, and deception point is IMO the best, tho all his books are really easy to read, they just keep your attention. NibbyCat if you havent managed to find/buy copy of digital fortress, give me your mail or something and i can send you ebook. Actually if anyone is interested i have all his books, just PM me and i will send them to you