Origin / Dan Brown - 3***

[Book Concierge]

Origin – Dan Brown
Book on CD performed by Paul Michael
3***

Brown certainly knows how to craft a page-turning thriller. Sentences are short. Characters are circumspect. Action moves from scene to scene. Red herrings abound. All this keeps the reader in suspense and turning pages, guessing right up to the reveal.

But …

I’m tired of Robert Langdon (or Dan Brown) lecturing about “symbology.” And I’m tired of religion, and the Catholic church, in particular, being portrayed as the bad guy. In this episode, I’m also somewhat stunned at the way Spain and the royal family are portrayed. I know this is fiction, but I’m still uncomfortable with some of the depictions.

This one also went rather far afield, plot wise. It was almost as if Brown wrote himself into a corner and couldn’t easily work his way out. I was disappointed in the reveal and was left feeling cheated.

Paul Michael did a fine job narrating the book, however. I loved his voice for Winston, and he does a credible job of voicing Ambra as well.


LINK to my review

[Jason]

I liked this one, and the idea that science and religion are working towards the same end just indl different ways. Maybe we interpreted the book different, but I found this to be an attack on both sides. Fanatical science and fanatical religion.

[Nicole R]

I read his first couple of Robert Langdon books but didn't continue on. I really enjoyed the ones I read, but felt like it was something I would easily get bored of.

I also read Digital Fortress, which was pretty good, and Deception Point, which remains one of the best thrillers I have ever read!

[[deleted user]]

I've read his others and have this on the bookshelf to read. Your review brings up some interesting points. I don't mind his continuation of symbology so much, as this is his field of expertise but I am curious that this book continues on with the Catholic Church again. There are so many other things to explore within the realm of symbology, going back centuries. It will be interesting to see what his future books will hold. I'm still going to read this one since I loved the others so much. Good review.

[Amy]

Just a few if you know that I have a particular obsession with the interplay of science and religion. I thought I had read all of Dan Brown’s books, but perhaps I missed this one. I love thinking about how science and religion intertwined. I’ve even promised a long essay on the topic, that’s been put off. Glad to see it getting discussed through our review of these books.

[Jason]

Amy, this is Browns newest book. released end of last year I think

[Amy]

Then I’ve never read it. Maybe about time given my interest in this topic.