Reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Yeah, sorry for the inactivity of this blog. Was kind of busy lately. Anyway, I managed to buy a copy of Dan Brown’s latest fiction The Lost Symbol last Monday (with 20% discount at MPH).  I was looking forward to reading this book, since it’s about 6 years after Dan Brown’s previous novel, The Da Vinci Code. So for the last 3 days, the book made me hooked to it even during my meals!! Haha. And I finished reading the 133-chapter book last night.

This is not really a proper review of the book since I haven’t got time to put my thoughts on the book together. Let’s just say it’s my overall impression of the book. To me, it’s definitely a must-read! But when you’re reading it, read most of the parts between the lines! You’ll understand why Dan Brown spent so long to write this book. It’s a manisfesto for atonement or "at-one-ment!"

Instead of making Paris famous, Brown’s latest installment focused mainly on his motherland, the US, or specifically Washington D.C. It’s amazing how this capital of the New World lies secrets unknown not only to the world but to his fellow Americans. If you have read the previous two books by Brown (Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons), you’ll find similar key concepts or theory or even facts surrounding this book, especially the Freemasonry.

Dan Brown cleverly put a teaser on the preface of the book:

In 1991, a document was locked in the safe of the director of the CIA. The document is still there today. Its cryptic text includes references to an ancient portal and an unknown location underground. The document also contains the phrase "It’s buried out there somewhere."

All organizations in this novel exist, including the Freemasons, the Invisible College, the Office of Security, the SMSC, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences.All rituals, science, artwork, and monuments in this novel are real.

When I read this, my mind tells me that "it was going to be a brilliant and enlightened read". The plot of the story maybe an echo of the Da Vinci Code, as Robert Langdon was again summoned by a stranger to go to Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. to solve several mysteries involving the Masonic Pyramid that could eventually lead to the unlocking of the Lost Word. The villain in this book, Mal’akh, is really well described and created by Brown, though some say it’s identical to the Francis Dolarhyde character in Red Dragon. But they do read carefully, Mal’akh characterisation is far better than that. Anyhow, I don’t want to spoil your interest on this book, go ahead and read it.

You’ll also discover the inclusion of various up-to-date technologies as well, not to mention gadgets like Blackberry, iPhone and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

If you’re interested to read more related facts on this book, this blog compiled them well.