Grade: A

Did you know that Dan Brown’s infamous book-turned-movie, The Da Vinci Code, is actually the second book in a series – Angels & Demons being the first book? A lot of Dan Brown fans seem to disagree about which of these two Robert Langdon adventures was the best, and usually it’s whichever book they read first. I read The Da Vinci Code a few years ago and remember that it took me a REALLY long time to get into, but when I did, I loved it. I also really enjoyed the movie based off the book. So when I found out they were making a movie version of Angels & Demons I decided I should probably get around to reading it now before I broke down and saw the movie – I don’t know about you, but once I’ve seen the movie, the odds of me reading the book are slim to none.

I guess you could say it took me awhile to get into Angels & Demons also, as I’ve picked up and put down this book a few times, but the truth is I just have far too many books vying for my attention because when I did finally re-pick up this book a month ago, it did not take much effort for me to get into the story at all. The only reason it took me an entire month to read it is probably the simple fact that I moved halfway across the country in the middle of reading it. And to go against the norm, I think I’m going to have to say that, although it was the second book I read, Angels & Demons was probably my favorite of the two Robert Langdon adventures.

This story had so many twists and turns, constantly building in ways I rarely saw coming. Dan Brown seems to enjoy leading his readers astray and I constantly found myself being duped by him, thinking I had for sure figured out a plot twist only to be completely proven wrong. And really, having read The Da Vinci Code, I should have seen this coming, but I didn’t. He surprised me with just about every turn from beginning to end and the end… wow. Yeah, never saw it coming, but loved it.

I don’t want to give too many details or give too much away because that element of surprise – it’s really part of the enjoyment of reading this book. But if you are interested in religion, conspiracy theories, science, action and adventure, whodunnit mysteries, travel – anything like that – this book has it all and then some. I really enjoyed it and I’m planning to read the newest Robert Langdon adventure, The Lost Symbol, which comes out this September.

Have you read Angels & Demons or any of Dan Brown’s other books? Which one is your favorite? Least favorite? Have you seen or will you see the movies?