After reading various classics and historical accounts pertaining to the Colonial Age, I felt it would be a nice break to read something more contemporary. I wasn't quite sure what I was looking for but I wanted a present day novel set in New England or within the government. It was thanks to my recent discovery of the app, Goodreads (which is like a database for books similar to IMDb) that I started getting some good recommendations. There was one in particular that shined above the rest, The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I was already quite familiar with the book and knew it pertained to the mysterious secret society of the Freemasons. It was exactly what I was looking for; a present day story pertaining to the history of our nation.
Perhaps the greater lure for me was that I was already a big fan of Dan Brown's work. I especially remember in college the hysteria about his latest release, The Da Vinci Code (2003). Just as I did with the Harry Potter mania, I had to see what all the fuss was about, and eventually got my own copy of the book. I was so hooked by this book, that after I finished Da Vinci Code I got a copy of his other popular book Angels and Demons (2000). The books have a unique thrilling style to them, loaded with great academic insight. Here was an author who found a way to make religion, history, and art extremely exciting. He was controversially challenging the teachings of the church, not with any slander but with academic insight into lesser known secret societies such as the Opus Dei, the Knights Templar, and the Illumanti.
Dan Brown's protagonist character of Robert Langdon, is a present day Harvard professor of symbology. He's as suave as he is intellectual, almost reminiscent of the iconic Indiana Jones (maybe not quite as adventurous). However in the 5 novels pertaining to this character (known as the Langdon Series) the professor is always put in a very thrilling situation. Although he's not a heroic gunslinger like Indiana Jones, he displays great tenacity in the face of danger. It is thru his scholarly knowledge of symbology that he is able to unlock ancient codes and mysteries.
I remember back when I was in college, hearing that his next book, The Lost Symbol would be the 3rd story in the Langdon Series, pertaining to the secret society of Freemasonry. This seemed like a very intriguing topic and immediately I thought of the popular Nicolas Cage movie National Treasure (2004), regarding the same subject. However unlike the advertising and publicity that comes with a major movie release I don't think it was the case for this book. Aside from the Tom Hanks movies, I simply lost track of the Robert Langdon book series, until now. And I can say upright that the book is just as thrilling as the National Treasure movie, and also a lot more realistic.
The Synopsis
So I should go ahead and give a spoiler warning here as I will now break down the synopsis of The Lost Symbol in detail. Throughout the book there are about 3 or 4 stories going on at once, all pertaining to the national emergency at hand. It begins with Robert Langdon accepting a spontaneous request to give a speech at the US Capital for his friend, Peter Solomon, the director of the Smithsonian Museum. However Langdon quickly realizes that the whole thing was a set-up, and discovers that his friend Peter Solomon is being held hostage by a mad-man named Mal'akh. In order to free his friend, Langdon must solve a Freemason mystery.
However the story gets even more intriguing when Langdon must deal with the CIA, who takes this as a matter of national security. This is a common element in the Langdon series, in which Robert is conflicted in dealing with the authorities while solving the criminal's game. Quite often he ends up fleeing from the cops, so that he can have more time and freedom to solve the riddles, which he does with the mysterious architect of the capital, Warren Bellamy. Another common element is the clever female who is also invested in the kidnapped person and thus partners with Langdon's quest. In this case she is the sister of Peter, Katherine, who specializes in the study of Noetic Sciences. Which is basically a study of the human mind in relation to physical matters.
Robert Langdon and Warren Bellamy escape to the Library of Congress, where Bellamy informs him that he is a Freemason and that the Masonic Pyramid has a secret that must not be revealed. Meanwhile Katherine is barely able to escape Mal'akh's destruction plot and later reunites with the two. Knowing they are being chased by the CIA, Bellamy offers himself as a distraction to allow the two to find sanctuary at the Washington National Cathedral. Here they are welcomed by an old blind priest named Dean Galloway who is also a Freemason. Galloway offers more insight into deciphering the mysterious codes on the Masonic Pyramid in their possession, however they are eventually caught here by the CIA. At which point Langdon must share everything he has discovered so far about the Pyramid.
Believing they have the suspect walking into a trap, the CIA awaits Mal'akh's arrival downtown while Langdon and Katherine drive to Mal'akh's house to free Peter. However this was yet another set-up by Mal'akh who quickly captures Langdon and Katherine and begins to torture them for more answers pertaining to the Masonic mystery. At this point it appears that Langdon dies from drowning in an isolation tank and Katherine is left do die of slow blood deprivation. Meanwhile Mal'akh takes his hostage Peter to unravel the mystery at the House of the Temple (the headquarters of the Freemasonry society).
The CIA discover that they were tricked and arrive to Mal'akh's house in time to save Katherine. They later find Langdon's isolation tank and it is revealed at this point that he is still alive and simply went into shock. The water he was breathing was actually a breathable liquid that did not drown him. At this point Langdon must awake from his trauma and help the CIA once again chase after Mal'akh and Peter. Furthermore the CIA reveals to Langdon, that it's not only Peter's life in danger, yet also a video revealing the identity of prominent government leaders performing disturbing secret freemasonry rituals (hence the matter of national security).
In the top level of the House of the Temple, Mal'akh begins to send his controversial video to all the major news media outlets. Meanwhile he tattoos a circumpunct on his bald head, which he believes to be the lost symbol of the Masonic secret. Than in quite a shocking twist Mal'akh reveals to Peter that he intends to sacrifice himself, in what he deems a spiritual transformation. Furthermore, and perhaps the biggest shock of the story it is revealed at this point that Mal'akh is the abandoned son of Peter, who was believed to have died many years ago. This makes for an even more intense scenario by which Mal'akh expects his father to be the one to sacrifice him.
Just as the video is to be fully transmitted, Peter is unable to sacrifice his son, and the CIA arrives at the scene. Their helicopter smashes into the skylight which sends shards of glass pouring upon Mal'akh killing him. The CIA is also able to emit an EMP blast just in time to stop the video from fully transmitting. At this point the case is considered closed and Robert, Peter, and Katherine share a brief reunion. Peter than takes Robert to the Washington Monument where he further elaborates on the lost mystery. He describes the symbols and codes are ultimately a metaphor of the godly power within oneself achieved by enlightenment. Katherine then expands on this concept with her scientific revelations that the mind can indeed acheive godlike powers. While in the end Robert as always remains skeptical of the supernatural element of faith and mystery, he realizes that there is a very uplifting aspect to it; one of hope.
Book Review
Already being quite familiar with Dan Brown's style, I was not surprised to be hooked after just a couple chapters into this book. He specializes in the genre of suspense, and with each chapter he leaves the reader with a cliffhanger. The format was very similar to the previous 2 Langdon novels of Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. From the onset Robert Langdon is called to the scene of a crime and must decipher the mystery (with the help of an attractive scientist), flee from the authorities, outsmart the lunatic, and save his friend or the general public. This is pretty much the same structure of all three of the Langdon books I have read thus far. And despite this predictable format, I still was very enthralled by this book!
I'm by no means a book expert, but it seems Dan Brown has successfully established his own original genre; an academic thriller. It's almost as if he's presenting a scholarly journal in the form of a suspenseful mystery story. It's not quite a historical fiction nor non-fiction yet rather a present day thriller unraveling the mysteries of history. I think it's quite clear that Dan Brown is as much a historical non-fiction scholar as he is a very good fiction writer. In all of his books he provides incredible research and insight into very intriguing and mysterious topics.
Now I will say off-hand that I did not think this book was quite as incredible as The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. It's just hard to compete with the shocking theory of Mary Magdalene being the wife of Jesus Christ. Also in this book I did not get that sense of emergency I felt with the antimatter bomb in Angels and Demons. Dan Brown did a good job of keeping the reader uninformed of what the matter of national security was until the end, at which point for me it did not seem quite worth all the fuss. The revelation of an embarrassing video of ritual practice only pertains to those associated to the society. Plus although these public figures would've faced some humiliating media, nothing they did was illegal. Thus for me making it quite a lackluster "national emergency".
However there were two things I really enjoyed about this book, which I'll probably remember it most for. The first is that Dan Brown definitely created his most evil villain yet with the insane character of Mal'akh (I have however yet to read Inferno and Origins). With his physically-toned body covered in tattoos it was clear from the start that Mal'akh was a madman on a mission. He always seemed to be a step ahead of everyone else, and had a physical presence to match his clever mind. It's not until the major reveal at the end that Mal'akh's mysterious character comes full circle. This is my 2nd favorite thing about this book, was the shocking twist that Mal'akh was Peter's son Zachary.
All throughout the novel, Dan Brown takes the reader on flashbacks of the horrific events of the Solomon family. This includes Peter leaving his son Zachary at a prison in Turkey so that he can learn a lesson, but is later believed to be killed in prison. Years later Peter is attacked by Mal'akh who is in search of the Masonic Pyramid, and kills Peter's mother. All throughout the novel Dan Brown seems to make it quite clear that Zachary and Mal'akh are two completely different characters. However the reveal that Zachary faked his own death and later took on the identity as Mal'akh makes perfect sense. He was ultimately bitter at his father for abandoning him in Turkey, and thus it drove him mad for vengeance. I was certainly expecting a twist from Dan Brown, but this had to be his best one yet.
Freemasonry
I would be remiss if I did not briefly touch upon the interesting topic of freemasonry presented in this book. As per usual Dan Brown completely unveils the curtain behind one of history's most secretive societies (just as he did with the Opus Dei, Priory of Sion, and the Illuminati). Like any history nerd, I've always been quite fascinated by the mysterious symbols associated to the Freemasons, such as the pyramid and all-seeing eye on the dollar bill. I've also known for some time that many of our founding fathers, including George Washington, Ben Franklin, and James Monroe were all influential members of the Freemason secret society. Quite often this organization is shrouded in mystery and associated with many conspiracy theories, such as the implementation of a New World Order.
Dan Brown however makes it quite apparent almost from the start of this book, that while the organization has it's secretive rituals it's open to anyone who wishes to join. He also describes that just like any club or company there are various degrees of affluence, the highest being the 33rd degree. Usually this level is saved for the high ranking members of society such as the wealthy and government officials. One of the distinctive features of the Freemasons is they encourage enlightenment and acceptance of a Supreme Being. This Deist notion was quite groundbreaking during the age of enlightenment, and essentially considers all religions equal in regards to the worship of God.
Perhaps some other time, I might make a deeper dive into this fascinating secret society. It's influence throughout history cannot be questioned as it included so many prominent members such as Washington, Franklin, Monroe, Paul Revere, Thomas Paine, Andrew Jackson, Mozart, Simon Bolivar, Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, J. Edgar Hoover, and many other prominent artists and celebrities. It also played a very symbolic role in the establishment of America's government, including the architecture of Washington DC, the national seal, and it's currency. I hope to further dive into this topic with a proper historical study of the architectural wonders of Washington DC.
Dan Brown's protagonist character of Robert Langdon, is a present day Harvard professor of symbology. He's as suave as he is intellectual, almost reminiscent of the iconic Indiana Jones (maybe not quite as adventurous). However in the 5 novels pertaining to this character (known as the Langdon Series) the professor is always put in a very thrilling situation. Although he's not a heroic gunslinger like Indiana Jones, he displays great tenacity in the face of danger. It is thru his scholarly knowledge of symbology that he is able to unlock ancient codes and mysteries.
I remember back when I was in college, hearing that his next book, The Lost Symbol would be the 3rd story in the Langdon Series, pertaining to the secret society of Freemasonry. This seemed like a very intriguing topic and immediately I thought of the popular Nicolas Cage movie National Treasure (2004), regarding the same subject. However unlike the advertising and publicity that comes with a major movie release I don't think it was the case for this book. Aside from the Tom Hanks movies, I simply lost track of the Robert Langdon book series, until now. And I can say upright that the book is just as thrilling as the National Treasure movie, and also a lot more realistic.
The Synopsis
So I should go ahead and give a spoiler warning here as I will now break down the synopsis of The Lost Symbol in detail. Throughout the book there are about 3 or 4 stories going on at once, all pertaining to the national emergency at hand. It begins with Robert Langdon accepting a spontaneous request to give a speech at the US Capital for his friend, Peter Solomon, the director of the Smithsonian Museum. However Langdon quickly realizes that the whole thing was a set-up, and discovers that his friend Peter Solomon is being held hostage by a mad-man named Mal'akh. In order to free his friend, Langdon must solve a Freemason mystery.
However the story gets even more intriguing when Langdon must deal with the CIA, who takes this as a matter of national security. This is a common element in the Langdon series, in which Robert is conflicted in dealing with the authorities while solving the criminal's game. Quite often he ends up fleeing from the cops, so that he can have more time and freedom to solve the riddles, which he does with the mysterious architect of the capital, Warren Bellamy. Another common element is the clever female who is also invested in the kidnapped person and thus partners with Langdon's quest. In this case she is the sister of Peter, Katherine, who specializes in the study of Noetic Sciences. Which is basically a study of the human mind in relation to physical matters.Robert Langdon and Warren Bellamy escape to the Library of Congress, where Bellamy informs him that he is a Freemason and that the Masonic Pyramid has a secret that must not be revealed. Meanwhile Katherine is barely able to escape Mal'akh's destruction plot and later reunites with the two. Knowing they are being chased by the CIA, Bellamy offers himself as a distraction to allow the two to find sanctuary at the Washington National Cathedral. Here they are welcomed by an old blind priest named Dean Galloway who is also a Freemason. Galloway offers more insight into deciphering the mysterious codes on the Masonic Pyramid in their possession, however they are eventually caught here by the CIA. At which point Langdon must share everything he has discovered so far about the Pyramid.
The CIA discover that they were tricked and arrive to Mal'akh's house in time to save Katherine. They later find Langdon's isolation tank and it is revealed at this point that he is still alive and simply went into shock. The water he was breathing was actually a breathable liquid that did not drown him. At this point Langdon must awake from his trauma and help the CIA once again chase after Mal'akh and Peter. Furthermore the CIA reveals to Langdon, that it's not only Peter's life in danger, yet also a video revealing the identity of prominent government leaders performing disturbing secret freemasonry rituals (hence the matter of national security).
In the top level of the House of the Temple, Mal'akh begins to send his controversial video to all the major news media outlets. Meanwhile he tattoos a circumpunct on his bald head, which he believes to be the lost symbol of the Masonic secret. Than in quite a shocking twist Mal'akh reveals to Peter that he intends to sacrifice himself, in what he deems a spiritual transformation. Furthermore, and perhaps the biggest shock of the story it is revealed at this point that Mal'akh is the abandoned son of Peter, who was believed to have died many years ago. This makes for an even more intense scenario by which Mal'akh expects his father to be the one to sacrifice him.
Just as the video is to be fully transmitted, Peter is unable to sacrifice his son, and the CIA arrives at the scene. Their helicopter smashes into the skylight which sends shards of glass pouring upon Mal'akh killing him. The CIA is also able to emit an EMP blast just in time to stop the video from fully transmitting. At this point the case is considered closed and Robert, Peter, and Katherine share a brief reunion. Peter than takes Robert to the Washington Monument where he further elaborates on the lost mystery. He describes the symbols and codes are ultimately a metaphor of the godly power within oneself achieved by enlightenment. Katherine then expands on this concept with her scientific revelations that the mind can indeed acheive godlike powers. While in the end Robert as always remains skeptical of the supernatural element of faith and mystery, he realizes that there is a very uplifting aspect to it; one of hope.
Book Review
Already being quite familiar with Dan Brown's style, I was not surprised to be hooked after just a couple chapters into this book. He specializes in the genre of suspense, and with each chapter he leaves the reader with a cliffhanger. The format was very similar to the previous 2 Langdon novels of Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. From the onset Robert Langdon is called to the scene of a crime and must decipher the mystery (with the help of an attractive scientist), flee from the authorities, outsmart the lunatic, and save his friend or the general public. This is pretty much the same structure of all three of the Langdon books I have read thus far. And despite this predictable format, I still was very enthralled by this book!
Now I will say off-hand that I did not think this book was quite as incredible as The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. It's just hard to compete with the shocking theory of Mary Magdalene being the wife of Jesus Christ. Also in this book I did not get that sense of emergency I felt with the antimatter bomb in Angels and Demons. Dan Brown did a good job of keeping the reader uninformed of what the matter of national security was until the end, at which point for me it did not seem quite worth all the fuss. The revelation of an embarrassing video of ritual practice only pertains to those associated to the society. Plus although these public figures would've faced some humiliating media, nothing they did was illegal. Thus for me making it quite a lackluster "national emergency".
However there were two things I really enjoyed about this book, which I'll probably remember it most for. The first is that Dan Brown definitely created his most evil villain yet with the insane character of Mal'akh (I have however yet to read Inferno and Origins). With his physically-toned body covered in tattoos it was clear from the start that Mal'akh was a madman on a mission. He always seemed to be a step ahead of everyone else, and had a physical presence to match his clever mind. It's not until the major reveal at the end that Mal'akh's mysterious character comes full circle. This is my 2nd favorite thing about this book, was the shocking twist that Mal'akh was Peter's son Zachary.
All throughout the novel, Dan Brown takes the reader on flashbacks of the horrific events of the Solomon family. This includes Peter leaving his son Zachary at a prison in Turkey so that he can learn a lesson, but is later believed to be killed in prison. Years later Peter is attacked by Mal'akh who is in search of the Masonic Pyramid, and kills Peter's mother. All throughout the novel Dan Brown seems to make it quite clear that Zachary and Mal'akh are two completely different characters. However the reveal that Zachary faked his own death and later took on the identity as Mal'akh makes perfect sense. He was ultimately bitter at his father for abandoning him in Turkey, and thus it drove him mad for vengeance. I was certainly expecting a twist from Dan Brown, but this had to be his best one yet.
Freemasonry
I would be remiss if I did not briefly touch upon the interesting topic of freemasonry presented in this book. As per usual Dan Brown completely unveils the curtain behind one of history's most secretive societies (just as he did with the Opus Dei, Priory of Sion, and the Illuminati). Like any history nerd, I've always been quite fascinated by the mysterious symbols associated to the Freemasons, such as the pyramid and all-seeing eye on the dollar bill. I've also known for some time that many of our founding fathers, including George Washington, Ben Franklin, and James Monroe were all influential members of the Freemason secret society. Quite often this organization is shrouded in mystery and associated with many conspiracy theories, such as the implementation of a New World Order.Dan Brown however makes it quite apparent almost from the start of this book, that while the organization has it's secretive rituals it's open to anyone who wishes to join. He also describes that just like any club or company there are various degrees of affluence, the highest being the 33rd degree. Usually this level is saved for the high ranking members of society such as the wealthy and government officials. One of the distinctive features of the Freemasons is they encourage enlightenment and acceptance of a Supreme Being. This Deist notion was quite groundbreaking during the age of enlightenment, and essentially considers all religions equal in regards to the worship of God.
Perhaps some other time, I might make a deeper dive into this fascinating secret society. It's influence throughout history cannot be questioned as it included so many prominent members such as Washington, Franklin, Monroe, Paul Revere, Thomas Paine, Andrew Jackson, Mozart, Simon Bolivar, Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, J. Edgar Hoover, and many other prominent artists and celebrities. It also played a very symbolic role in the establishment of America's government, including the architecture of Washington DC, the national seal, and it's currency. I hope to further dive into this topic with a proper historical study of the architectural wonders of Washington DC.
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