اولین کتابی بود که از دن براون می‌خوندم. همیشه نسبت به این بشر گارد داشتم اون هم به خاطر این بود که شنیده بودم توی کتاب‌هاش خیلی به علامت‌های گروه های سری و مخفی و اینا بها میده. خب درست فکر می‌کردم. این کتاب یک کتاب سراسر نماده که در هر جا هم نویسنده در موردشون توضیح میده. البته اینکه توضیحات ضمنی نویسنده در مورد تاریخ ایتالیا و واتیکان و کلیسا و الی آخر چقدر صحت داره از چالش‌هایی هست که ذهن منو درگیر خودش کرده و شاید یه زمانی که وقت بیشتری داشتم برم دنبالش.

از نظر معمایی کتاب بدی نیست. البته تا حدود صفحات صد، کتاب تقریبا کند پیش میره و حوادث پیوستگی ندارن ولی از اون جا به بعد هیجان چاشنی کار میشه و تقریبا پای کتاب میخکوب میشی. البته به نظرم اون اصل غافلگیری رو نتونسته خوب در بیاره چون من به شخصه از دو سوم کتاب به بعد تونستم حدس بزنم ماجراها زیر سر کیه. در هر صورت به عنوان یک اثر معمایی جنایی متوسط طبقه بندیش می‌کنم.

اما این کتاب از یک نظر دیگه بهم حس خوبی نمی‌داد. به نظرم نویسنده با قصد و غرض در مورد جبهه‌های داخل کتاب نوشته. مثلا مشکلی که واتیکان و کلیسا در قرون وسطی با گالیله و جریان علم داشت رو به مشکل علم با مذهب و ناسازگاری اون تا همین الان ربط میده و تا لحظات اخر کتاب اصرار شدید داره که این دو تا به شدت با هم در تناقضن. حتی کشف ضد ماده که مثلا نشانگر وحدت علم و مذهب هست رو در اخر کتاب از طرف یکی از واتیکانی‌ها به شدت می‌کوبه. کلا رفتار فرضی کلیسای کاتولیک با علم رو به نظرم نمی‌شه به کل مذاهب دنیا تعمیم داد.

از طرف دیگه واقعا نمیدونم چه پدرکشتگی با مسلمون‌ها داشته این نویسنده. در حالی که کتاب درگیری دانشمندان اشراقی با واتیکان رو روایت می‌کنه، قاتل اجیر شده اشراقی ها مسلمان و عرب معرفی می‌شه. در حالی که رفتار‌ها و اعمالش به اسلام نمی خوره ولی نویسنده به مخاطب می قبولاند که اره این داره طبق دینش پیش میره و امشب خدای خود را در آسمان زیارت می‌کنه. اینجور برداشت‌های یک طرفه نه تنها از اسلام، بلکه از هر تفکر و مذهب و مسلک دیگه‌ای به نظرم نفرت بر انگیزه. حالا اگه ادم تفکر خودش رو برای خودش نگه داره یا بگه این تفکر منه، مورد نداره اما اینکه بخواد در لفافه این مسائل رو در ناخودآگاه خواننده بذاره خیلی خیلی حرص درآره.

در مورد این نماد‌های فراماسونی و ایلومیناتی و اینکه اینا همه دنیا رو گرفتن و هممون تحت سلطه اوناییم انقدر هر روز همه جا میبینم و می‌شنوم که فکر کردن در مورد این موضوعات برام عذاب آوره و اصلا دوست ندارم به اینجور مسائل، هرچند اگه واقعی باشن، اهمیت بدم.

با این همه احتمالا این اخرین کتابی نیست که از دن براون خواهم خوند.

+ فصل های کوتاه کتاب یکی از ویژگی‌های بسیار مثبت و دوست داشتنی‌اش بود

This is another great work by Dan Brown! Though it is first in the Langdon series, I have somehow managed to read it the last, having read the other three books in the series in order. Like in all of them, Dan Brown's uniqueness has been preserved in this book too. It has Dan Brown inherent features: history, puzzles, action, intrigue and a masterfully crafted story.

A physicist attached to CERN is murdered in cold blood and a canister containing antimatter is stolen. The word "Illuminati" is branded on the dead man's chest indicating that he was killed by an secret organization which Professor Langdon believes now to be extinct. Professor Langdon teams up with the dead scientist daughter in the quest to find out the murderer of the scientist. But there is another danger: The canister with antimatter, stolen from the CERN laboratory, is now abandoned somewhere in the Vatican. Once removed from the electric charger on which the canister is kept, the antimatter can hold in suspension only for 24 hours without further charge. And once the antimatter falls from suspension and contact physical matter, it will explode and the damage it can done is equal to a nuclear bomb explosion. Professor Langdon teams up with the dead scientist's daughter, Vittoria, who is also a scientist in the quest to stop the destruction and the threat to Vatican as well as to find out the murderer of the scientist. However, further troubles await for them in Vatican. The four Cardinals, out of which a new pope is chosen, hasve suddenly disappeared without trace. Vatican is in chaos and only Robert Langdon and Vittoria can save the day.

It was fascinating read and an intense page turner. I felt as if I too was running against time with the duo to stop the horrific murders and feeling greatly distressed when the attempts become futile. I also really enjoyed the factual details to the history, art and science. It is very informative. I have a very high regard for Dan Brown for taking pains to provide the reader with a good historic knowledge through his well-researched books. With this read I have read all the books he has authored, and I must say he has not disappointed me so far; waiting impatiently for the "Origin" to hit the shelves in October.

بغض النظر إن فيلم (ملائكه وشياطين) شوه الروايه لكنه فيلم جيد فعلا
أكتر مشهد عجبنى فى الفيلم كان حوار بين البطل (توم هانكس) , وقس فى إيده الإذن لتوم هانكس علشان يدخل مكتبة الفاتيكان . فالقس عمل له حاجه زى اختبار نتج عنه حوار من أفضل ما يكون وتعبير حى عن حال كثير من الناس. ونص الحوار دا كالتالى :
القس: سيد لانغدون أنت محق أننى قد أوافق على دخولك المكتبه
لانغدون: شكرًا أيها القس.
القس: قلت إنى قد أوافق ليس إنى سأدخلك . أكثر المخطوطات المسيحة قدسية موجوده فى هذه المكتبة يوجد سؤال أريد أن أسألك إياه اولًا فى مكتب قداسته : ------هل تؤمن بالرب يا سيدى ؟
لانغدون : ابتاه ببساطه اؤمن أن الدين...
القس: لم أسألك إن كنت تصدق ما يقوله البشر عن الرب . سألتك إن كنت تؤمن بالرب.
لانغدون: انا رجل منهجى يخبرني عقلي بأننى لن أفهم الرب ابدًا.
القس: وماذا عن قلبك؟
لانغدون: يخبرني بأننى ليس مقدر لى .
أيها القس الإيمان هبة لم استلمها بعد .

أما عن الرواية فقد نختصر الحديث عنها في :

العلم والدين : ما العلاقة التي تربطهم ببعضهما العبض؟
اتفاق؟ اختلاف؟ تشابه ؟ تعارض؟
لطالما كان هذا السؤال وهذه العلاقه محط الكثير من الانظار ومثار لكثير من الجدل
وهنا يقدم لنا (براون) قصة مثيرة لبيان هذه العلاقة
مُمَثله فى طائفه دينيه ما (الكاثوليكيه)والعلم ممثل فى جماعه قديمه
كم معلومات مبهر مع غلق مثير للاحداث
أحيانا تشعر ان دان براون هو الوريث الشرعى (لأجاثا كريستى ) فى مجال الجريمه
عمل رائع فعلا

Enjoyable enough suspense thriller. It was a high octane adventure lurching from crisis to crisis but I only occasionally found it exciting- possibly less often than I was meant to! That was certainly an eventful weekend that Robert Langdon had!
I read the Da Vinci Code years ago as a stand alone and I think my judgement for this book suffers as the second book I've read because it seems so similar and formulaic.
Maybe I will dip into the other books in this series eventually but I'm not in any hurry...

This Dan Brown thriller kept my attention from the very first chapter. I read Brown's Code and thoroughly enjoyed. After enjoying TDC and seeing the movie trailer for Angels and Demons, I decided to read the book while on my honeymoon - 710 pages in five and a half days. Throughout the read, I often wondered when the story would become dull - and it simply never did. Chapter after chapter, Dan's style of writing (intelligent, visual, and well-researched) kept the pages turning. The intriguing combination of religion, science, secret brotherhoods and politics is keeping me a Dan Brown fan.

If I reach far enough to present a Con, it would be inadequate character development for Ms. Vetra. Ms. Vetra's lack of development coupled with verbosity issues in certain chapters would be my two critiques.

In summary, Angels and Demons did not disappoint after reading the Code (and watching the movie). I'm looking forward to watching the A&D's movie in May - and wishing the release of The Solomon's Key would arrive sooner than later! JP

I liked this book. In as much as a person can like, say, cotton candy. It tastes good at first, but after a bit the taste starts to lose some of its sugary goodness and just becomes a sticky mess that you hope doesn't get in your hair or on your shirt.

The premise was interesting: I liked the whole Illuminati and church conspiracy. The suspense of the novel kept me engaged. But like I said, too much of a good thing just becomes problematic. To be honest, after a few hundred pages, the writing really started to annoy me. I wasn't expecting Dan Brown to give me something as well written as say a John le Carre novel, but I wanted more originality. I wanted sentences to pop and zing as they should in a thriller novel.

I guess it comes down to this: ANGELS AND DEMONS was good brain candy, and I'll read other Dan Brown books. In time, of course.

RECOMMENDED (a great three to four hour killer of time)

This book is a thrilling and thought-provoking journey into a world of mystery and intrigue. The story’s intricate web of art, science, and ancient symbols adds depth and excitement to the plot. The characters are well-crafted, and the pacing is expertly done, keeping you hooked from beginning to end. While it may not be a literary masterpiece, it’s a suspenseful adventure that effortlessly blends history, enigma, and excitement. If you appreciate a well-crafted thriller, this is a compelling read.

This book was amazing. That's my one word to describe it. Throughout it, I had a diversity of emotions: At the beginning I loved it; at about 30% , I was still enjoying it, though it sometimes seemed a little convenient; by around 85-90% of it, I was sure I was going to rate it 2 stars, because of probably the biggest Deus Ex Machina I had experienced so far in books... but Brown saved the book in the cleverest way possible, and here I am, giving it a well-deserved 4-stars rating.

That is not to say the book was perfect, because it wasn't. Here is what I kept thinking while reading it (at it quickly became my main complaint): It read like a book made out of a movie, not otherwise, which was actually the case. I have in fact read books made out of movies, that is, the movie came first, then the book. What do they all have in common? The writing is deficient and tells me barely anything about how things look like... in other words, the descriptions are weak. Like, I didn't know how to picture things in my mind. I had to google some things because their descriptions were not enough to give me a clear image.

Truth be told, descriptions are very important. You cannot exaggerate with them because what you'll create is a tedious book no one will want to read. However, if barely no detail is given about the imagery of the book, you can't simply see the things how the author wants you to. That is why this book gave me problems. The deaths of some of the cardinals were impossible for me to picture. I even had to watch the movie to get an idea, if that tells you something.

Nonetheless, I still deeply ejoyed the book. It was one of the fastest-paced books I've ever read. Really, I can't remember a book that got in the action as quickly as this one did. Riddles, Illuminati, deaths, ancient books... I loved every piece of it and I do not regret reading it. I wonder why in hell it took me so long to start it. My father had gotten himself a copy of it more than 4 years ago, and till now I am reading it. Why, though, I know not. I totally recommend it. Now I'm immediately starting the next of Langdon's adventures.

P.S.: I'm perfectly aware I spoke next to nothing about the plot, but believe me, it's better the less you know about the book. I went completely blind to it. Believe it or not.

Really enjoyed this book so much, very binge able and couldn't put it down.

Looking forward to continuing the series.

A rather absurd story carried out smoothly behind the scenes of the Vatican, with a series of big surprises and certain suspense. However, we believe in it (a little) and never tire (too much) because this book is short, and its writing is relatively simple. By the way, we take the opportunity to go sightseeing, which is not so bad.

Oh dear God please do not read this book. You don't notice what a bad writer Dan Brown is when you read the Da Vinci Code because it is so exciting, but you read this and you want to kill yourself for ever liking Da Vinci Code. Really.

All right, a few suggestions. DO NOT START THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVE TO GET UP THE NEXT MORNING. Forget it, you WILL NOT be able to put it down. I suggest a long weekend, an early morning start and unplugging the telephone.

Brown has successfully created a character driven suspense tale (an unusual achievement in and of itself). The people here are as arresting as the ephemeral strands of history that tie the tale together with continually tantalizing possibilities - Add edge-of-your-seat suspense and I defy anyone to put it down before each puzzle is unravelled, every villain identified and our heroes crowned. The best part is you THINK you know how each of those things will be managed. Forget it, you don't have a clue.