Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

My edition: Library book
Pages: 430
Series: Robert Langdon #1
Genre:Mystery
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:

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

When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Lagdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist-he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an acient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati… the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth. The Illuminati has now surfaced to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy- the Catholic Church.

Langdon’s worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican’s holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very hear of Vativan City. With the countdown underway, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.

Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long forgotten Illuminati lair… a clandestine location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.

An explosive international thriller, Angels & Demons careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war.

Review:

Unfortunately I am one of those who happened to have seen the movie before reading the book. I know… such a tragedy.

Any dick moving on.

Growing up in a Catholic home, I knew the Vatican ran the church and I thought innocent of the world. As I got older I did discover that no matter what, we all have a dark history. The church included. If you think about it, American history started off with religious persecution.

I don’t know much of the history behind the church in Rome due to I never really got into it. Now after reading this book I want to look up the history. To see what is true and what is all made up for the story’s intent.

I was hooked in the story. Wy tended to get a little annoyed with me because I keep telling him how the movie got this or that wrong and how the book explains so much better. Funny how after reading the book everything that didn’t really make sense in the movie makes sense now. I do own The da Vinci Code. I didn’t want to read it just yet because I have to read the books in order. I am weird like that I guess.  So I went to the local library and snatched this up.

Even though I am suppose to be reading and finishing Dracula I couldn’t help but pick this up. The writing was amazing. I loved it. The story flowed wonderfully. Even though I knew how it was going to end, the movie changed so much that the story seemed almost new to me.

Langdon and Vittoria’s relationship seemed deeper. Camerlango’s character depth was amazing. I wish they would have kept much of his dialogue the same in the movie. Hello you casted Ian McGregor.  The Hassassin was a character I still don’t know how I feel about him. Even though there was an array of characters the story never lost it’s pace.

The only reason I am not giving this a 5 stars is due to the fact it took me two weeks to finish.

And to end with words we all have uttered before, so much better than the movie.

Horror Stories:51 Sleepless Nights: Thriller short story collection about Demons, Undead, Paranormal, Psychopaths, Ghosts, Aliens, and Mystery by Tobias Wade

My edition: Kindle (Received for an honest review)
Pages:358
Collection of Short stories
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Rating: 3 star

Synopsis:

Horror/Thriller stories collection
A diverse collection of short horror stories including the grizzly confessions of a serial killer, parallel dimensions, becoming trapped in a virtual world, and encountering ancient aliens buried beneath the Earth’s crust. Demons, monsters, psychopaths, undead, mad experiments and paranormal-no matter what makes your heart race, you’re guaranteed to face your fear with these terrifying tales.

Review:

I received this copy for an honest review from the author.

Normally I wait till October to read horror/thriller, but I am a mood reader and my mood has been in a horror mood. This came at the perfect time. I am just getting over a horrible book slump that has lasted 3 months. (July has been the worst.) Coming out of this slump I have been in the mood for horror.

While I was reading Dracula, there were times I need a break from Stoker so I would pick this up and read about one or two stories.

“Don’t let him steal my child”, “Unborn Doll”, and “Virtual Terror” are right up my alley. I love stories like these. I did laugh at some of the titles because they weren’t what I would expect such as “I met the Devil on Tinder, and I swiped Right”.

One thing I didn’t like were some of the political marks. I know some people, okay a lot of people, don’t like our president but at least be respectful. After reading those remarks it put a bit of a bad taste in my mouth which I tried to get rid of to finish the book.  I don’t want to rate the whole book due to a couple remarks.

Some of the stories were weird. I didn’t get scared by any of the stories. Some were a bit bland. I did like the psychology that went along with a few stories such as the “Unborn Doll”. I love stories like that. A story that I wanted a little more background on would be “Breaking and Entering for Dummies” which left me with more questions than ever.

As of right now this hit a spot with me. What that spot is I don’t know but it helped me get out of my book funk along with a few other books.

 

Trying to Engage

Hey everyone,

I am writing to see how you are? Summer is about over and the time in the RV business starts to slow down. Good and bad for me. Good because I’ll have more energy to read. Bad because it will be slow. What’s coming up in the near future for you?

I’m going to be a little busy this month, but the good thing about it is I will make time for reading now that I am out of my reading slump.

I want to hear more about you. I have a few questions and I will list my answers underneath the question.

1. What is your favorite genre?
   I don’t have one. I am what is called a mood reader.
2. Who is your favorite character/s?
   My top two are Fred and George Weasley.
3. What is your favorite book/s?
   My top two are Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling and Sweet Home by Tillie Cole.
4. Final question. Do you listen to music while you read?
   I do. I have to have some background noise.

Hope you have an amazing August. For those returning to school, good luck