52 weeks, 52 books discussion

Okay, I give up. Inferno is perched atop the bestseller list and doesn't seem to be moving so, to be true to the project, I'll read it. You can check it out here: http://amzn.to/15qRwkW

In the meantime, if you are looking for some other summer reads, check this out:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catheri...

And finally, if I could encourage all of you to post reviews (ratings, a few lines) on here and Amazon, B&N whatever of the books you read, either for this group or just in general: whether you are reading a bestseller or something that should be reviews help and matter to the author and to readers.

Happy reading!

But I haven't read the first two! Let me know if it makes sense to read as a stand alone as I have too many other books I'd prefer to read ahead of The Da Vinci Code & Angels & Demons. I am a voracious reader but doubt I could read all 3 in one week.

Back when I read The DaVinci Code, I hadn't read Angels & Demons, and it wasn't a problem. I doubt if you'll have trouble. If DVC is any indication, these books aren't really about character development or anything like that -- rather, puzzles and conspiracies.

I recently listened to audio of Dan Brown's "Inferno". What did help me (just a little) was that I had re-read Dante's "Inferno" just a few months ago for a book group. IMHO - not necessary at all to read any of Brown's other books. I have read them all, but feel that this is a stand-alone book. Just my opinion.
As to my opinion of his "Inferno" - I liked it. Didn't love it, not 'great literature', annoyed at some of the author's repetition (how many times do we have to be reminded that he is claustrophobic?) but for what it is (entertainment) I liked it. Might even be considered by some as a good escapist novel and/or a good beach read.

Read The DaVinci Code and liked it as a very good high energy beach read. Then read Angels & Demons and hated it. Basically the same book in a slightly different iteration. I decided at that time not to read another Dan Brown unless I heard something really compelling to change my mind. So far, nothing has changed my mind and this is my second quarter miss! No DB for me. Reading too many other books that are good.

I read this the day it came out - got lucky and it came in on my ebook holds on Overdrive from the library. This is another fast paced Dan Brown novel. You start out in the middle of an intense scene. The book is fast-paced and you want to keep reading. Major plot twist comes up right after you think you have it figured out. I liked this book, but it is set in Italy and I have not been there, so harder to be as engaged as some of the other Dan Brown novels. For example Da Vinci code, is in Paris and England, every place in the novel I have been too, so the action was more real, I could see it for real in my head. Overall it is a fast=paced, high-energy story and it does not disappoint. You do not have to read the other 3 with this character to understand this book. Enjoy!

What a twist! I totally didn't see it coming! While I enjoyed the first part of the book for its characters and its history and beautiful locations, I was somewhat disappointed that it did not include some kind of conspiracy or religious component I had so adored in his other works; however as the story unravelled, I was NOT disappointed. Can't wait to read whatever Dan Brown comes up with next!

I really didn't like this book. The adventure got lost in the repeated message that human population is out of control and something must be done about it. The plague, when it comes is remarkably benign and anticlimactic, and the puzzle is not as interesting, detailed or well explained as the puzzles in previous Dan Brown books.

I was reminded of Michael Crichton's State of Fear which pushed a specific point of view about global warming.

This was same old, same old with the chase storyline but, as always, I loved reading about the artifacts and especially the descriptions of Florence. Never a destination in Italy that I had on my list to visit, but that has changed. The descriptions kept me interested the first two thirds of the way through and the plot pulled me in the last third. Just so so but definitely a little better than The Lost Symbol.

I've had this on my TBR list for quite a while now and finally just got to it. I read Da Vinci Code when it first came out and thought it was brilliant and then I read Angels and Demons and thought it was better in some way - so this is now the third book of his that I have read and I have to say, although it was fast-paced and action-packed, I have wearied of the Dan Brown "formula"; Robert Langdon, a beautiful woman, bad guys chasing him, a mystery/puzzle that needs to be solved - been there, done that.

I mean, I guess the formula is working for him because he has sold millions of books and probably made a ton of money but I am done with Robert Langdon, I think.

I do love the descriptions of art and architecture though - the best part of this book. I've been to Florence quite a few times but reading this book made me want to go back and see some places that I have been before or missed.

3 stars