Dan Brown returns with his lightening thriller; The Lost symbol. Robert Langdon, an expert Harvard symbologist is called upon to help rescue his good friend Peter Solomon, a wealthy and prominent Mason, who has been kidnapped by an obsessive tattooist named Mal’akh; a man who will go to any extent to get what he wants. Following the Ancients in their way of like Mal’akh tattoos his body completely from head to toe in symbols and pictures. He does however miss a spot on top of his skull which he has reserved for the lost symbol. A symbol which has the power to unlock the Ancient Mysteries. He believes that the Masonic legend is correct and that he will become a god and will soon be liberated from his earthly shell at the moment. This is perhaps the only character which makes this book worth reading as his cunning is shown as he outsmarts Robert Langdon and the CIA.

Many would assume that given Browns credentials as an author we as the reader would be satisfied with what we receive however this is far from the case. The only good bit about this book was the end. Granted the descriptions of the Masonic rituals where described in depth, the reader can’t help but ask themselves “what on earth is going on?”
Not only does Brown claim that his facts are 100% correct he fails to recognise the thin line between fantasy and fact. Langdon as a character is a big letdown as he fails to offer anything to the reader. With no female interest in this book, Brown fails to breathe life into this 2-d character, something which he had successfully accomplished with his other books. This book like Deception Point has nothing to offer but facts. However,

The Lost Symbol is a step up as it at least attempts to explain to the reader some of the factual terms that it uses. Many characters, like Langdon are lifeless and do not adhere to generic conventions which only creates a macabre ending in which one character in particular is shown as heartless. Rumours are circulating round that Columbia pictures are going to make this book in to a film and are slated for release in 2012. If the movie is anything like the book then I doubt that the even the likes of Tom Hanks will be enough to lift this book out of its obscurity. All in all its an average book which hopelessly attempts to grip the reader right from the beginning. If you are a perserveerer then The Lost Symbol is the book for you.

My rating : 3/5

This post was submitted by Anum Faisal.