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"The Lost Symbol" Book Review
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By Robert Francis
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\"The Lost Symbol\" Book Review
House of the Temple
8:33 P.M.
The secret is how to die.
Since the beginning of time, the secret had always been how to die.
The thirty-four-year-old initiate gazed down at the human skull cradled in his palms. The skull was hollow, like a bowl, filled with blood red wine.
Drink it, he told himself. You have nothing to fear.
Within the third installation of his mystery series exploring the history of some of the world's most ancient and secretive societies, Dan Brown burrows into the depths of one of the world's best known and largely populated fraternities, the Freemasons.
The Lost Symbol follows Brown's character, Robert Langdon, on yet another journey of murder, mysticism, and mayhem. The Harvard professor of religious symbology, previously finding himself in the company of strangers in Switzerland, Italy, and France, now finds himself working with old and personal friends in his nation's capital.
The story begins with Langdon in a dead sleep. He receives a phone call, startling him awake, of the supposed assistant of an old friend of his, Peter Solomon, Secretary of the Smithsonian Museum. The man explains that Solomon is hosting a gala that evening and would like Langdon to read his lecture on the Freemasons, as Solomon is of the highest degree in the brotherhood.
The assistant also instructs Langdon to bring a small package Solomon had given him many years ago. Without question to his friend an
d mentor's orders, Langdon obliges and heads off to Washington, D.C., only to discover an empty reception hall, save for the severed hand of Peter Solomon.
Langdon then works closely with FBI instructor, Inua Sato, Architect of the Capital, friend of the Solomons, and Mason, Warren Bellamy, and also Solomon's sister, Katherine to find the location of the man responsible for Solomon's kidnapping, who goes by the name Mal'akh.
As with Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, Brown's incredulous story takes place in the time span of less than 24 hours. In the time, Langdon and Katherine travel all across Washington, D.C., deciphering ancient clues left behind by the Founding Fathers (most of which were Masons) so they can find the "lost symbol," and use it as a bartering chip to get back their dear friend.
Throughout his books, Brown has been discredited by several skeptics for providing false information within his novels. However, most of the information he feeds to his reader are not 100% inaccurate. Brown, like many other authors, merely contorts minor details of the truth to fit his story.
Simply because some of the ideas Brown presents are farfetched and contrary to popular beliefs, does not mean they are incorrect. Readers need to open their minds to the possibility. As E. B. White said, "The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind."
Surprising twists and tricks around every corner, blood-pumping suspense, and a few truths that may cause your head to whirl, The Lost Symbol is a book none should miss out on.
8:33 P.M.
The secret is how to die.
Since the beginning of time, the secret had always been how to die.
The thirty-four-year-old initiate gazed down at the human skull cradled in his palms. The skull was hollow, like a bowl, filled with blood red wine.
Drink it, he told himself. You have nothing to fear.
Within the third installation of his mystery series exploring the history of some of the world's most ancient and secretive societies, Dan Brown burrows into the depths of one of the world's best known and largely populated fraternities, the Freemasons.
The Lost Symbol follows Brown's character, Robert Langdon, on yet another journey of murder, mysticism, and mayhem. The Harvard professor of religious symbology, previously finding himself in the company of strangers in Switzerland, Italy, and France, now finds himself working with old and personal friends in his nation's capital.
The story begins with Langdon in a dead sleep. He receives a phone call, startling him awake, of the supposed assistant of an old friend of his, Peter Solomon, Secretary of the Smithsonian Museum. The man explains that Solomon is hosting a gala that evening and would like Langdon to read his lecture on the Freemasons, as Solomon is of the highest degree in the brotherhood.
The assistant also instructs Langdon to bring a small package Solomon had given him many years ago. Without question to his friend an
Langdon then works closely with FBI instructor, Inua Sato, Architect of the Capital, friend of the Solomons, and Mason, Warren Bellamy, and also Solomon's sister, Katherine to find the location of the man responsible for Solomon's kidnapping, who goes by the name Mal'akh.
As with Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code, Brown's incredulous story takes place in the time span of less than 24 hours. In the time, Langdon and Katherine travel all across Washington, D.C., deciphering ancient clues left behind by the Founding Fathers (most of which were Masons) so they can find the "lost symbol," and use it as a bartering chip to get back their dear friend.
Throughout his books, Brown has been discredited by several skeptics for providing false information within his novels. However, most of the information he feeds to his reader are not 100% inaccurate. Brown, like many other authors, merely contorts minor details of the truth to fit his story.
Simply because some of the ideas Brown presents are farfetched and contrary to popular beliefs, does not mean they are incorrect. Readers need to open their minds to the possibility. As E. B. White said, "The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind."
Surprising twists and tricks around every corner, blood-pumping suspense, and a few truths that may cause your head to whirl, The Lost Symbol is a book none should miss out on.
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