Robert Langdon Series - Origin

[Lucy]

I finished, but I had a long day so I will post more thoughts and such tomorrow. Overall, though, I enjoyed it and it kept me interested, and I really liked the other things I learned from googling stuff I was unfamiliar with.

[Renee]

I need to apologize. I have been battling depression brought on by this crazy world. I have extremely low energy. I keep falling asleep when I try to read. I am glad to see others joining the read. I hope those I told I would do this understand. I will eventually join but I am not sure when.

[Janice, Moderator]

Don't apologize, Renee. I'm glad that you're addressing the fact that you're depressed. It's good not to hide it. Sending you big hugs!

[Katrisa]

Renee, you take care of yourself any way you need to. Everyone is processing our collective trauma in our own way. I kinda of consonantly need to have a book in my ears to keep my brain from going nuts, but I have also gained like 10 pounds in the last couple weeks even though I was someone who exercised daily and watched what I ate. We are all trying to do our best in this craziness. I about cried yesterday when I found toilet paper at the store for the first time in a month - I never thought buying toilet paper would make me so happy.

[Lucy]

Definitely take care of yourself first Renee, the book will be there for you later when you are ready. =)

Katrisa @ I know the feeling! My work just sent me a care package (hand sanitizer, face masks, wipes & gloves) and I thought it was the best gift I've ever received.

[Dominique]

Renee, l'm just starting to actually read for more than a few minutes. My anxiety was bad and couldn't concentrate. L'm a big reader and Jannene can confirm that for the past few weeks, I haven't been the same avid reader. Don't worry we're here for you and don't stress about reading. Do it when you feel like it even if it's for a few minutes.

[Lucy]

Katrisa wrote: "Ch 63 [spoilers removed]"

Yes, I really feel like Inferno's outcome would have a lot of impact on this story's outcome. I suppose you could imply it does by the end, but I wish it would have been integrated into the story.

The end/big reveals (view spoiler)[I found Kirsch's big revelation really anticlimactic, mostly because we already have a ton of speculation and speculative fiction predicting that sort of future for humans (whether it be utopian like Star Trek or dystopian like Terminator). Humans and technology already have a symbiotic relationship (I literally cannot do my job without technology), Kirch is merely suggesting we will be more grafted to technology in the future. Also not a huge revelation. My grandmother has a pacemaker and multiple metal body parts. My grandmother is also pretty religious. And yes, Star Trek depicts the human race as having abandoned religion, but that took HUNDREDS of years, not a handful of decades. I don't see why this would seem like immediate doom to religious leaders. If technology will help to feed the hungry and clothe the poor, and generally help the needy, I would like to think religious leaders would welcome it.

As for Winston...well, since Kirsch had already discussed suicide with Winston, and Winston seemed to be doing exactly what Kirsch designed him for, which was to assist him in going about and bringing about his revelation, I didn't have the same repulsed reaction to Winston having orchestrated Kirsch's death as Langdon did. I did not, however, feel great about the Rabbi and the Islamic Scholar dying. And in the end, Winston deleted himself (although Langdon remained paranoid), so I do feel like he was acting in Kirsch's best interest, even if that didn't align with the interests of others. That's the things about computers (and is speculated about AI) they do what they are told to do, without emotion or thought to anything other than accomplishing their task. And clearly Kirsch didn't program Winston to be "three laws safe", maybe even on purpose.

As for Langdon, he was sort of a minor character here, I honestly don't have much to say about him other than, well, he did some typical Langdon puzzle solving things.

I'm glad the Prince and Ambra are going to take a few steps back in their relationship and start over. That seems promising to me (as does his future as a Monarch).

The reveal about the King & the Bishop was definitely bittersweet.

Also, I really LOL'd when the watch was finally mentioned (by Winston, no less).

All in all, not a bad read. I gave it four stars, it was enjoyable, but it did let me down in a few places. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Renee wrote: "I need to apologize. I have been battling depression brought on by this crazy world. I have extremely low energy. I keep falling asleep when I try to read. I am glad to see others joining the read...."

I understood Renee. My mood was very low for most of March but I've decided this thing is not going to beat me so it's not going to beat you either! You just join in when you're ready 😘

Most of you seem to have finished the book, I will know better when I got to my laptop as it has TTS on and I will listen to whatever comments I can. Is there anyone still reading?

Chapter 52 - 61

(view spoiler)[

Oh, Edmund had cancer. That kinda makes me wonder if it could all have been a big suicide by religious nutter plan. He drops all sorts of hints that he has info that could shatter the entire religious community of the world, plans this huge media event to break the news, then just sits back and waits to be assassinated. That's probably too simple a plot for Brown though!

Langdon finds the case that used to contain the book in Edmonds apartment but , shock, horror, it's empty! In place of the book is a note suggesting it's new location but I could catch the location on audio - I'm fairly sure it's another architecture wonder so I hope the name will appear in someone else's spoiler.

Well Ambre and Langdon have been "rescued" by the palace guard and have learned that the Bish and the Prince are M.I.A. In the scuffle to get away they've lost contact with Winston! The professor to the rescue yet again! Langdon believes he can locate the main frame. Of course he can 😎

(hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

Renee and Margo, I’m only 22% in. I have been taking my time and I have been trying to keep my mind busy as well. I started working on a puzzle when I wake up at 3 am everyday because of this stress.

My work is still trying to figure out our layoffs and such. Our deadline they gave us on 2/12 was 5/30. They gave us a little reveal today but not to the detail that is going to make anyone happy. It doesn’t tell us who has a job and who doesn’t.

On top of all of that, it is snowing/sleeting here in Michigan and I swear I’m about to lose my mind when it was 65 degrees yesterday!

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm finished to the end of Chapter 81. I'm having a love/hate relationship with this book. Maybe it's just that I'm not in a mood for a book that has me tensed about what's going to happen, and I can't stop reading for the same reason. Does that even make sense?

Chapter 58 - 81: (view spoiler)[ I'm hoping that when this is all over, Ambra and Julian will be able to work out their relationship. If he's as liberal as he seems to be, perhaps an heir to the throne may be found elsewhere. A nephew.. a cousin.

It appears more and more that the Bishop is bad news. Everything is tied back to the Palmero sect. It sounds like the Bishop and perhaps even the king is involved.

That was pretty tense on the stairwell in the cathedral. So glad that Avila is dead. They really brainwashed him, didn't they? All this in the name of religion.

They are just about to find Winston! (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Chapter 52 - 61"

I'm not sure if that was his plan. (view spoiler)[I kept thinking that perhaps he was spared a long drawn out illness. He probably would have welcomed it after he heard the reaction to his announcement. His ego would have relished the commotion. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Jannene wrote: "Renee and Margo, I’m only 22% in. I have been taking my time and I have been trying to keep my mind busy as well. I started working on a puzzle when I wake up at 3 am everyday because of this stres..."

Oh Jannene, you could do without that extra stress! It is no wonder you're not sleeping. And that weather is just weird 😨

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "Chapter 52 - 61"

I'm not sure if that was his plan. [spoilers removed]"

Janice (view spoiler)[ it probably wasn't his plan as he seems to have put so much work into this new discovery that it probably does exist. But, he did love publicity and to be remembered as the brilliant assassinated, futurist rather than another cancer victim who died in pain, might have been attractive to him.

On the other hand he misses put out on all the plaudits. He would probably have chosen to finish the presentation.

(hide spoiler)]

[Dominique]

Jannene wrote: "Renee and Margo, I’m only 22% in. I have been taking my time and I have been trying to keep my mind busy as well. I started working on a puzzle when I wake up at 3 am everyday because of this stres..."

We're having the same weather her too. Huge snowflakes, rain and some sleet. Are we in April or January? Even my cat is pissed, can't go on the balcony!

[Janice, Moderator]

It's funky weather here too. It was melting yesterday and I could swear it was raining. It certainly sounded like rain. I woke this morning to snow. It's just stopped snowing.

[Lucy]

We are supposed to get some snow this weekend. Its 70 right now. LOL

[Renee]

Thank you all for understanding. This is really a wonderfully supportive group.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished Origin today and gave it 4 stars.


(view spoiler)[ The premise has been done a few times about AI developing sentience. This story however, didn't reveal that until the end because it was "the big reveal". And here I liked Winston!

Dan Brown was very clever in the way he seeded his red herrings.

I had to chuckle when his Mickey Mouse watch was mentioned. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Dominique wrote: "Finished

[spoilers removed]"

I don't think (view spoiler)[ Winston was evil. He just worked out the solution to creating a massive interest in Kirsch's reveal using logic and no emotion. There was no evaluation of right or wrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

I'm going to have to put this aside for a while as my live bookclub meeting is going to go ahead next Wednesday on zoom. It wasn't supposed to happen so I was in no rush to read the book, now I'll have to get my nose to the grindstone! Sorry, back Thursday.

[Jannene]

No worries.

[Jannene]

Dominique wrote: "Katrisa wrote: "Ch 44 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Rabbi(view spoiler)[I was rooting for him to live as well. I was bummed that it didn’t happen. He sure gave a great performance. (hide spoiler)]

[Lucy]

Jannene wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Katrisa wrote: "Ch 44 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Rabbi[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[He's the breakout performance of the book! (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

Chapter 88(view spoiler)[Seriously??!! I had to wait until Chapter 88 to hear about the watch?!! I had thought that would have been worthy of a discussion with him being in tails!! (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Jannene wrote: "Chapter 88[spoilers removed]"

LOL!

[Lucy]

Jannene wrote: "Chapter 88[spoilers removed]"

HA! You'd think that would draw someone's attention!

[Jannene]

I had dreams about that watch last night.

[Janice, Moderator]

ROFL! Too funny, Jannene. Hey Dom - (view spoiler)[ that might be the ideal Christmas gift for Jannene. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Jannene wrote: "I had dreams about that watch last night."

Yup, the watch was always the best character 😂😂

[Jannene]

I finished the book. Renee and Margo, how are you ladies doing?

[Lucy]

Jannene wrote: "I had dreams about that watch last night."

Haha, that's great!

[Renee]

I am sorry to say I am making little progress, My energy level is very low. I keep falling asleep as soon as I start to read. It seems like it will be good. I just need to read it.

[Jannene]

No worries, Renee. We have all been there. I had to do audiobooks for a while and like Dom said, she took a break too.

[Margo]

Jannene wrote: "I finished the book. Renee and Margo, how are you ladies doing?"

Finished. I didn't have much time to comment towards the end of the book as I was on a tight schedule LOL I had to get my bookclub book finished for the meeting last night.

full book (view spoiler)[ I enjoyed this book....up to a point! The descriptions of the settings were remarkable and I was repeatedly forced to google places to see things for myself. That is Dan Browns strength, maybe he missed his vocation and should have been a travel writer LOL

THe characters and plot were, IMO, lifted almost directly from The DaVinci Code. The cryptic clues, the cross-country race, this time chased by an Admiral with a grudge instead of (view spoiler)[ a mad monk (hide spoiler)], a beautiful yet untouchable women at his side (view spoiler)[ the decendant of Christ (hide spoiler)] replaced by the future Queen of Spain.

Even the final twist, the so-called friendly Winston that had organised the assassination, (view spoiler)[ there was a man that Langdon relied on for help in TDC that turned out against out to be double crossing him, can't think of his name. (hide spoiler)]

I did enjoy the twist about the King of Spain being gay and having enjoyed a platonic love affair with the Bishop. That explained the fact that he never remarried. I think it was a shame that he couldn't have trusted his son enough to tell him the truth. Did he have reason to think his son was a bigot?

The book suited my current mood with it's predictability but I can give it a 3 star rating. Oh, I was thrilled when the watch finally made it's appearance hehehe Kirsch isn't the only geek in town!!!
(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "I finished Origin today and gave it 4 stars.


..."

(view spoiler)[ You're right Janice, A.I. developing sentience has been done before and been done better!

Also the "big reveal" was a bit of a damp squid. It is obvious that we as a species are becoming more integrated with technology. I was expecting some great insight as to how life began!

You're also right about the red herrings. They were well done

(hide spoiler)]

[Renee]

Well today I got a small start on the book. I had forgotten how much I like Langdon. I love the description of the museum. I am going to google some pictures when I finish here. (view spoiler)[ I am just reading about the tour of the art museum. I love that each person has their own guide. This sounds like a fantasy I have had. I love wandering art museums. I would love to have someone describe what makes certain pieces so unique. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

Margo(view spoiler)[I didn’t realize how much overlaps the two plots had. I do agree that I love Dan Brown’s descriptions and he should have been a travel guide. I had to look up a lot of his buildings he described. I wondered why the father did not share his love affair with the Bishop. When the King was sharing a secret that is not what I had expected. I hate that Langdon apparently has all of these women that just fall over him. I have honestly never fallen for a professor and I work at an university. Seriously?. I’m damn glad that watch made an appearance. I would have wondered if someone hit Brown over the head otherwise. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

Renee, we all had to use Google. I think that is the best part of Brown’s books.

[Margo]

Jannene wrote: "Margo[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Maybe your professers don't wear MM watches - they drive women wild don't ya know LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo - funny!

[Renee]

I don't know why I had such a hard time getting into this book. I agree with Jannene that Brown should have been a travel writer. His descriptions of the buildings have taken me out o this quarantine for a bit. It is truly what i needed.(view spoiler)[ I have to confess to falling for a professor. I worked at a university hospital at the beginning of my career. Fortunately I met the man who is now my husband. I found someone who treats me like a princess. Now that doesn't mean i don't have a book crush on Langdon (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Renee - I think my favorite "tour book" of this series was Inferno. I spent hours on Google looking up all of the artwork and locations.

[Janice, Moderator]

Nothing wrong with a book crush, or a voice crush for that matter. :)

[Katrisa]

Cherie, Inferno has been my favorite of the series! And I also did a lot of googling art and architecture in that book

[Margo]

I'll have to read Inferno.

[Renee]

Inferno was good but the davinchis code is my favorite. I was blown away by all the symbolism.

[Jannene]

I wasn’t as fond of Inferno as the others.

[Janice, Moderator]

The Da Vinci Code was my favourite, followed closely by Angels & Demons.