What is the best book you've read lately? (page 3)

Leilani

oops, got carried away and went past "current" reading. So right now, just "River Horse".

sf

I just finished reading Dan Browns "Angels and Demons":

Product Description:

An ancient secret brotherhood.
A devastating new weapon of destruction.
An unthinkable target.

World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization -- the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth...the long-forgotten Illuminati lair.

Editorial Reviews Amazon.com
It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of antimatter, jets that can travel 15,000 miles per hour, crafty assassins, a beautiful Italian physicist, and a Harvard professor of religious iconology. It takes talent to make that novel anything but ridiculous. Kudos to Dan Brown (Digital Fortress) for achieving the nearly impossible. Angels & Demons is a no-holds-barred, pull-out-all-the-stops, breathless tangle of a thriller--think Katherine Neville's The Eight (but cleverer) or Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum (but more accessible).

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati--dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism--is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out, and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, antimatter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared--only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.

Brown seems as much juggler as author--there are lots and lots of balls in the air in this novel, yet Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. While the reader might wish for a little more sardonic humor from Langdon, and a little less bombastic philosophizing on the eternal conflict between religion and science, these are less fatal flaws than niggling annoyances--readers should have no trouble skimming past them and immersing themselves in a heck of a good read. "Brain candy" it may be, but my! It's tasty. --Kelly Flynn--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

sKally

Fe2O3Girl

I read The Da Vinci Code over the holidays - I was disappointed by it. The premise is interesting but the standard of writing is weak. Some of the solutions to the riddles can be seen coming three chapters away - is that a deliberate technique to make the reader feel smart? I spotted at least one factual error (describing "Shekinah" as the female element of Jehovah, no mention of Asherah) which makes me wonder how much of the other "factual" detail is accurate.

My boss bought me Bill Bryson's The Lost Continent for Christmas and I am about half way through it. It has made me laugh out loud on most pages, and I have also learned more about US history. I suspect some USA readers would not enjoy it as he is quite cruelly witty about some aspects of life in America.

I also bought myself A Round Heeled Woman by Jane Juska. I devoured it; and thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautifully well written, an exquisite observation of sexuality and sensuality at all ages.

Recently re-read The Blind Assasin by Margaret Atwood. A tale of social conflict, political upheaval, love and betrayal spanning the 20th century. Well, Margaret Atwood hasn't written anything I haven't enjoyed, although Oryx and Crake was not her best. Still, something had to be.

Special K

Best books I read this year

Angels and Demons and Davinci Code both by Dan Brown

I'm reading Waiting for time right now a sequel to Random Pasage both written by Bernice Morgan. I really like these two books.

My worst read this year was a book written by Ann marie Macdonald call Fall on your knees. It was a long trudge through that one. It was a book recommended by oprah..but I sure as hell don't know why. dark and dismal read for me personally. The quetion really is, why do I finish reading books that I don't like and I'm not enjoying. ..sheesh on me.

I'm reading Harry potters The Order of the Phoenix.. out loud to my 9 year old now. We both really enjoy it. We have been very careful not to let anyone tells us what happens in the story.

SK

Special K

Hey, has anyone read Blow Fly by Patrician Cromwell, I think?

What did you think?

SK

stillajwexelder

Onward Muslim Soldiers

setfree

Special K I read "Blowfly" pretty good. I like P.Cromwell. Sometimes its difficult reading all the detail she goes into.

little1

Amy Tan's books are good, even though it seems as if she always writes about the same group of people with different names and situations, she aways makes it interesting and I enjoy the history of China that she includes. I recently finished The Kitchen God's Wife.

Dan Brown must be raking in the mucho denaro seeing how many people just on this board have read his books!

Fe2O3Girl

Dan Brown must be raking in the mucho denaro seeing how many people just on this board have read his books!

I was lent The Da Vinci Code by a friend; just as well I didn't shell out for it given my low estimation of it!!

under74

A Confederacy of Dunces--hilarious book. I looked like one of those crazy people on public transit when I'd read it on the bus--couldn't stop myself from laughing outloud.

Let It Blurt:The Life & Times of Lester Bangs, America's Greatest Rock Critic--great book. Bang's grew up JW and although I think the author gets some of the JW doctrine wrong it's still a good read and insightful.

I'm going to start Expecting Armageddon: Essential Readings in Failed Prophecy...several people have suggested it. I hope it's good.

What is the best book you've read lately?

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