Sep 30, 2009 04:30 PM
3322 Views
(Updated Sep 30, 2009 04:36 PM)
Dan Brown's latest offering is well. different. The difference is: Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons had the story at the center and the philosophy wovwn in around it. The Lost Symbol has the plot revolving around the philosophy. But the story is tight and gripping. Dan Brown is one of those highly talented writers who teach us history and Philosophy by the means of a story. In a nutshell this book seems to be
A letter of apology and a detailed advertisement to the Masonic Order, trying to give an explanation to calm he general public trying to give a high level reference about secret societies(Masonic, Rosenkreuz and others) and their functioning, a full length narrative on Masonic philosophy where the author uses the characters to explain that the Masons are not evil, what their vision is, how they operate and what their ultimatee aim is, all of the good of man. Characters extensively challenge any opposition to Masons, forcing us to view how their ideals will change the world for our own good.
An exhaustive intellectual narration about good and evil, what is the meaning of'God' from a viewpoint of man, what should be the way man should view his consciousness and his place in the universe, how we have deviated from the path of enlightenment, the path that bought man tantalizingly close to becoming equal to the Gods, how we lost that power and how we are on our way to attain that peak again, very shortly.
The book from a departure from the other two, focuses a lot on the psychology of the central characters, on their belief and value systems and on the paradoxes they face as a battle within themselves.
The author has gone technical as well, detailing Neotic sceinces, and a lot of otherworld and new scientific methods. Brown pulls a Crichton in going highly technical in the book.
The book is an intellectual Tour de Force, with everything ranging from American History to as range of Philosophy to Religious interpretations to Masonic secrets to Cutting Edge scientific practices all crammed into 390 pages. You will have to take a break after every 20 pages as it is too much of an information explosion that your brain will find difficult to handle.
PLOT
Robert Langdon(Who else?:) is summoned by Peter Solomon, his mentor and guide to Washington DC, to deliver a lecture at the Smithsonian institute. However, when he reaches the place he figures out that the plan has gone awfully wrong. Peter goes missing, a terrible seand evil plan is set in motion with serious consequences to humanity and threatens to set an end to civilization as we know it. The CIA has got wind of this plan as well and is close on the heels of Langdon who suddenly becomes the hunted from all sides. He teams up with Katherine, Peter's sister, in an attempt to find him. However, Peter's Super Ultra Rich and influential family has its own fair secret of skeletons in its closet. Raber races against Time, Peters captors and the CIA with only one thing in mind: to rescue Peter who is revealed is in llife-threatening danger. But nothing prepares him for the events that he to go through, unfolding at a straggeing pace that is sometimes difficult to comprehend and thick to follow. A great evil lurks in the background and Langdon seems to be unable to get ahead of it, deeply intertwined with Peter Solomon, his family, the Masonic order and an ancient secret that can turn literally men into Gods. The story is racy, gripping and the accumlation of many suspense points literally explode in the face if the reader in the end leaving you absolutely breathless.
The author spends lot of time detailing Robert Langdon's character, value systems, beliefs and way of thinking in the book. We see him stubbornly refusing to believe things does not want to believe, even while presented with obvious proof. He also surprisingly refuses to see the bigger picture, his vision is myopic and does not seem to want to see beyond the his values and beyond Peter Solomon. All this can be irritating at times, even his rambling on about Masonic stuff. Also, Brown keeps unnecessary suspense points hanging in the air, equally irritating. Breaks the glow of the story at points.
Dan Brown seems to be in a hurry. He has too many things to tell, and he tries to do all of that at once. I can see the stuff for atleast three different books in these 390 pages. The story is masterfully crafted, but the'story' as it is takes up only about one third of the book. Remaining is all about other stuff that Langdon tries to teach us. The major difference between this book and the others is that in those that'other stuff' was mainly concentrated around history while in this one it is Philosophy. Brown has efficiently used a fast paced story to put across his Philosophy. And has succeeded pretty well at it.
It is an amazing feat that Brown has pulled off with this book, even with all the philosophy, he keeps the narrative going fast and unbroken, leaving you literally breathless at times.
The stuff is tries to explain is pretty Heavy Duty, so be ready to be brain racked! Otherwise, it makes for a good read, and you can file this one as a reference book to look up later! Go ahead, boost that grey matter!
ReadOn!
Vadakkus
