There seems to be mixed feelings about the book from the Masonic Community. I'm interested in discussing your personal likes/ or dislikes about this particular novel. What is your personal take on the book?
I have not read the book but we do have another author on here that has a book out on this topic: Amazon.com: Deciphering the Lost Symbol: Freemasons, Myths and the Mysteries of Washington, D.C. (9781569757734): Christopher Hodapp: Books
I completely enjoyed the book, in fact I could hardly put it down. The opinion of most of the Brothers who I have spoken to (who have read the book) is very positive. Of course its understood to be a work of fiction and no more accurate in its depiction of the fraternity than Angles and Demons was of the Catholic Church. The book and subsequent movie may do more to gain interest in Freemasonry than anything in our lifetimes.
I agree with your assessments. I enjoyed the book as a work of fiction, and look forward to the movie.
The lost Symbol, to me, did not grab me like his previous work. The plot seemed somewhat undeveloped and the addidtion of the Noetics backdrop could have been handled much better. He researched the book for five years and that was all we got? And the phoenix thing and the way he made it seem that 33rds are some all-powerful group annoyed me as well. And is it just me, or are his books starting to follow a pattern? And the movies! OMG! Could at least ONE of them pretend to follow the book? The radical altering of integral plot elements drives me freaking crazy! And as much as I am a huge Tom Hanks fan (not kidding, I really like him as an actor) I'm not sure I like him as Dr. Langdon. But that is just me, I can count on one hand, with fingers left over, how many times those worthless hacks in Hollywood have ever made a film from a book or graphic novel that was worth watching. Really, I hate Hollywood! I haven't read it since the day it came out (really, I read it THAT day) so maybe I will reread it this weekend and see if I like it better this time. Or maybe I'm just being cranky and I need my diaper changed! LOL
"I thought Hanks did a good job. Who do you think would have been better to cast for the part"..GaryE Sean Connery....he kicks a$$
He's also a great actor, but I don't think he's nerdy professor material. I do think that Linda Hunt would make a good Sato, and Morgan Freeman could pass as Warren Bellamy.
I was kinda think Harrison Ford too I could see Dennis Quaid too......Russell Crow...iffy...he is normally some kinda bada$$...hard to see him as a nerdy kinda guy. I know he played one in a movie ( cant think of the name right now)....but he still was kinda bada$$ in it too...
I've read all of Dan Browns works. He does follow a pattern but then, so does Ayn Rand. The worst part of reading Dan Browns novels are the inability to put them down until your completely finished with them. Sleep be damned ... Ha!
Ok, We've established that some brothers here think that there is a "pattern" to Brown's work. WHAT is that pattern, and does it make his books too predictable? The only thing negative so far, is that Brown depicted a phoenix instead of a double eagle for the SR. And that pesky description "pattern" that no one has elaborated on.
Here's a great one star review that I found very fitting , not only for Dan Brown but many other authors who's novels rely on recurring protagonists and themes ..... Amazon.com: Valannin "Pantheon Ou...'s review of The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, No. 3)
A hectic 24 hours period deciphering clues. A female counterpart (prob out of his league) that he gets in the end. The psycho that baits him instead of just shooting him. I never said the pattern was a deal breaker, just that some more curve balls would be nice.
Funny , right !? If you look hard enough (well not so hard) you will crack his (the reviewer's) secret code in the review .
