false 4 88 66 true 7226582 read 1 true 7226599 currently-reading 21 true 7226598 to-read 17 false 7448832 historical-fiction 14 false 7448836 da-vinci-code-wannabes 14 false 7448999 thriller 14 false 7448857 childrens 13 false 7448877 fantasy 12 false 7448875 classics 12 false 7448856 historical-non-fiction 7 false 7449107 mystery 6 false 7448906 drama 6 false 7448932 crime 5 false 7449031 biography 5 false 7448971 chick-lit 4 false 7448991 autobiography 2 false 7449002 sci-fi 1 false 7448910 guides-and-help-books http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78839522 Decipher (Paperback) by Stel Pavlou
bookshelves: da-vinci-code-wannabes, thriller, to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74597436 to: The Pact (Red Dress Ink) by Jennifer Sturman
bookshelves: chick-lit, crime, mystery
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74597065 to: The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3) by Dan Brown
bookshelves: da-vinci-code-wannabes, thriller
I was a bit disappointed to see The Lost Symbol follows Dan Brown's formulistic plotline of "academic expert teams up with attractive single woman whose "father figure" is somehow involved (usually injured or killed and often a leader of a "secret society") to unravel an earth shattering secret while on the run for their lives. But that is my only complaint.

Though not always 100% factual, the general concepts that Brown presents in his books always introduce me to new ideas and information I had never come across before and The Lost Symbol is no exception. Criticize his writing skills all you want, the theories that some of his novels are based on inspire probably millions of people to get on the internet and research it themselves. How many books have accomplished that? There is obviously something worthy about his material.

The theory of Intention in particular struck a cord with me. In a way, the concepts are familiar ones: prayer, positive thinking, even a bit of Karma. But to learn there are scientific studies going on as we speak which could potentially prove the benefits of such acts? Have I been living in a cave or is this really as groundbreaking as it sounds?

Though I can't credit Dan Brown with the idea or studies of Intention, I can thank him for bringing it to my attention in a fun, entertaining, action-packed story. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74620301 to: Sacred Blood (Paperback) by Michael Byrnes
bookshelves: da-vinci-code-wannabes, thriller
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74809022 to: The Last Templar (Paperback) by Raymond Khoury
bookshelves: da-vinci-code-wannabes, thriller
If you liked Da Vinci Code, this one is arguably better. I've read a lot of novels in the same genre as Da Vinci Code and so far, this one is the most similar to it but also the only one that competes for superiority. In the beginning, you may even think "Why am I reading this? It's a carbon copy of Da Vinci Code". But the writing is superior and certain elements of it make it more believable.

My only criticism is that certain things I suspect were intended to be a bit surprising were actually easy to see coming.

There's some great quotes about religion and spirituality in it and I'm now interested in reading The Jefferson Bible. Any book that inspires you to look further into something else has to have done something right. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77964909 Palatine Mennonite Census Lists 1664-1793 (Paperback) by Hermann Guth
bookshelves: to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77964795 Historic Background and Annals of the Swiss and German Pioneer Settlers of (Hardcover) by Frank H. Eshleman
bookshelves: historical-non-fiction, to-read
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77084858 The Adobe Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter) by Scott Kelby
bookshelves: guides-and-help-books, to-read
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