Angels & Demons discussion

I've been thinking about this lately, mostly due to the fact The DaVinci Code was written before it's prequel Angel's and Demons. I was thinking...is this one of those books where you don't need to read the books in order, in fact you can just read whichever one you want. I'm not positive, i'm still finishing The DaVinci Code but I was just curious as to what others thought because while reading The DaVinci Code I thought to myself "Reading Angels and Demons definitley gave me some character backgrounds and helpful hints but it wasn't necessary to read it if you want to read The DaVinci Code?"
Am I right?
Am I wrong?
Am I on the verge of insanity?
Hahahhaha, share your thoughts :D

I had no idea Angels and Demons was a prequel to the Da Vinci Code. I don't think there is any reading order for these books, but I read them DVC then much later AD.

I read DVC before AD and it didn't seem to matter. I actually liked AD better.

You're right. I read all four, and like you, I read the DaVinci Code first, followed by Angels and Demons. The other two books are totally different stories and subject matter and have no bearing on DaVinci or Angels. All four were very good, though!

I've just looked at the publishing dates of both books and A&D looks to have been 1st published in 2000 whereas Da Vinci code in 2003

I have only read the three books in the Robert Langdon series. I read DaVinci first, A&D second and then the Lost Symbol in that order. I don't think the order you read the books has any bearing on the overall series, all the books stand up on their own. There are a couple of minor references to the other books in the series but that's all they are, minor references. :D

There is an order with A&D coming first but I think each book stands on its own pretty well. So I would say read the one that interests you the most. I personally love A&D the best followed by DVC.

you dont have to, i didnt and its just like each book is a different adventure for robert langdon. I did like angels and demons the best.

To set the record straight, Angels and Demons was published before the Da Vinci Code, but Da Vinci was the first one that was really popular. When Da Vinci took off, people went back and read Angels & Demons.

The true facts are always the most interesting part of Dan Brown's books for me, which I think is why I like Da Vinci Code the best -- it was the most interesting.

Brown lost me with all the science in Lost Code. And as a DC resident I can tell you that some of the geography in that book was not correct (like the Washington Cathedral being a short sprint from the Tenleytown metro).

Dan Brown's only real talent is making people think that his books are works of art. He delivers a fast pace thriller with quite possibly the worst characters I've read. So reading the books out of order will not lessen the series, seeing as the main character, Robert Langdon, is never truly given any depth to build on.
After reading all three novels, all I can say about him is that he is good at symbolic puzzles and history, and he likes tweed. Pretty weak after 1000+ pages.

I almost wish Brown would write a nonfiction novel -- give us all the interesting facts about history and puzzles and lose the thriller formula.

I really don't see a need to read these books in any particular order. Each one is a stand alone novel. I have really loved each one.

The DaVinci Code was the book that introduced Dan Brown to most readers, so they would have read that one first. But they are stand alone stories.

No, I didn't read the books in order.

I only heard about Dan Brown back when the da Vinci code became such a success and so I read that first to see what the fuss was about. It was only after reading and loving this book that I looked into his other works and read them, and no I don't think it made a difference which order I read them in.


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You could just read any one of them 3 times...just change a few of details here and there...change female accomplice's name; change city; change conspiracy; change scenery chewing bad guy; slightly different puzzle...and Bob's your uncle, save the price of 2 books.

Teckha wrote: "I've never thought of it like that, by now that you mention it, they are all kind of based on the "exact" same formula. Very good and valid point you have made..."

Damn...and there's me trying to be sarcastic...

Well i came to know A&D is a prequel to DC resently. So i dont think what book u read first matters. What matters is that i want another new book from Dan!!

No, they stand alonge.

I read DaVinci Code first (in two days) and loved it! I was less enthusiastic about Angels and Demons, and I couldn't even finish The Lost Symbol, as it was so poorly written, in desperate need of a good editor. They all pretty much have the same plot structure, and they all pretty much stand alone.

I've started with "The Da Vinci Code" and then "Angels and Demons". After that I read other Dan Brown's books and I didn't like it very much and finally I read "The Lost Symbol". My favourite is "Angel and Demons" and I like a lot the Robert Langdom trilogy, the other books I just felt bored...

All the books featuring Robert Langdon are standalone stories, it's just that "The Da Vinci Code" caught the public's imagination. I agree with the comments here about "The Lost Symbol" being poorly written. I guess the guy was under huge pressure from the success of "The Da Vinci Code". For me "Angels and Demons" was the best of the three "Robert Langdon" books and it was also the better film, although when I read the two books that have so far made the big screen I didn't see Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, and still don't. Dan Brown's first two books - "Digital Fortress" and "Deception Point" are both worth a read.

I like to read prequels first so I feel as if I have a good understanding of what's going on. Although it truly doesn't matter but I think that the last book should always be read last.

i dint know dat A&D was a prequel,but i luv to read dem in order:)

No. I read DVC first to see what all the fuss was about and then the others, ending with A&D ... meh ...

Old-Barbarossa wrote: "You could just read any one of them 3 times...just change a few of details here and there...change female accomplice's name; change city; change conspiracy; change scenery chewing bad guy; slightly..."

My first and only thought when I read this statement was "What did the Romans ever do for us????"

I don't think it matters what order you read them in. I personally liked Digital Fortress and Deception Point better than the Robert Langdon books. I read Lost Symbol and kept thinking "when will this be over?"

Nope.Reading the books in the order is not required, but advisable to get a fair idea about what is happening.

Just to point something out: Angels and Demons (2000) was written before The Da Vinci Code (2003)

There really is no order. I, also, read "The DaVinci Code" first and then "Angels & Demons". I really did not see no series. It just had the same character, that's all!!

Dan Brown does not relate his books with prequelsor sequels... You can read what ever book of Dan Brown when ever you want... I read in this way...

I just read them in the order that they came out!

At this point in time I have only read Angels and Demons. I heard another one came out recently too. I am behind the times.

Nah. Langdon's like Bond, he ditches the girl in between books and there's no continuity between adventures.

The question should rather be: do you have to read these books...at all?

Paul Martin wrote: "The question should rather be: do you have to read these books...at all?"
Y do you think so Mr. Martin? Though these books aren't that legit, or atleast so I feel, they are actually good reads.

it doesnt much matter...but yeah reading in order increases reader'z fun n little helpful 4 background of robert langdon..
however i read AD b4 DVC... n i find AD most fav of all..

There's no need to read them in order and if you do so, you see how he explains what needs to be explained from the previous books (which sometimes is a little boring for me, cause I already know it, but it doesn't matter). However, I strongly recommend reading them in order, because this way things are more familiar and bring associations with the previous books, which make you think deeper.

it doesnt matter. His books were amazing and I've read and loved all of them. (In no particular order) Hahaha

I don't think that this Langdon stories are not in series. The only similarity in these books are the symboligist and his events. Also I read all in an orderly manner.

As others have noted, Angels and Demons comes before the Da Vinci Code both in its release date and in the chronological sequence of Robert Langdon's exploits. As others have noted, since Dan Brown does not do much by way of character development, the order you read these books doesn't terribly matter. Contrast this with Dan Silva's Ariel Allon series, which you can read out of order but will be sorry you did so in light of how Allon develops as a person from book to book.

As for the one point or two about whether Mr. Brown should write these books as non-fiction, that's neither there nor here for me. A novel that will sell well has to have at least one great strength in the Concept, Character, Conflict triad, and Mr. Brown with his in-depth research excells in Concept, and does a fairly good job at the Conflict part, even if this comes primarily externally and never affects nor derives from Character development. That Mr. Brown's writing isn't terribly good by most literary standards seems to be rather beside the point with most readers, and I suppose there's something to be said about that. Like a good bag of potato chips his books may not be very nutritious and your doctor might get after you for consuming it in one sitting, but while you're popping the chips into your mouth, boy does it feel good.

Which book do you like the most in Dan Brown series ?? Lets take a poll. http://pollyster.com/content/which-bo...

Helen wrote: "I've just looked at the publishing dates of both books and A&D looks to have been 1st published in 2000 whereas Da Vinci code in 2003"
Exactly, The Angels & Demons was published in 2000 and The da Vinci Code in 2003. Then how can someone read The Da Vinci Code first?
I read a lot of people saying they read The Da Vinci Code first, I don't get it. Or may it was their choice to read The Da Vinci Code first.

Michelle wrote: "it doesnt matter. His books were amazing and I've read and loved all of them. (In no particular order) Hahaha"

Same. For me, though, I went Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Lost Symbol, Inferno. I had previously thought Da Vinci code was the first and that it was a series and thought I had messed up after I saw Angels & Demons was released first. After reading all of them though there's no sequence and each has it's own amazing story line, only Robert Langdon stays the same. :)

I read Angels & Demons first followed by DVC, there are minor references that you'd only get reading them in order (like mini flashbacks of past near death experiences and why he has a Mickey Mouse watch etc) but yes these books can stand alone. And although they use the same formula I still enjoy the ride for what it is; puzzles, action, conspiracy theories an killer albino monks! :D