PM Review: "The Lost Symbol"

I've been trying to write this review for the past hour or two. Stuffy-head sickness is constipating my eloquence, so let's just dive into it (no spoilers, I promise).

You have to read this book. You really should read them all, but for different reasons.

For "The DaVinci Code" it was because of the guiding premise (SanGreal or SangReal?) and not so much the plot. Let's say "70/30" idea-to-plot ratio, and DVC was still a helluva page-turner. I mean, if you haven't read DVC yet, it's time champ...step up.

With "Angels & Demons" (written BEFORE DVC but appreciated mostly after Brown's nuclear success), I would say it was the other way around. 70% of this book - and ESPECIALLY the end - was driven by the plot (who can forget Camerlengo?), while the idea about the Illuminati kept us intrigued.

(I should say this here. 30% is not a diss. But the twist at the climax of DVC cannot compare to the twist of A&D. Both are durn-good twists. We're essentially arguing the difference between "Low End Theory" and "Midnight Marauders")

With "The Lost Symbol", we finally have the opus Dan Brown has been working on for more than 6 years (he started LS before DVC but got stalled, you'll see why when you read it). You have over 500 pages of a book that keeps you going from start to finish, engrossed EQUALLY in an amazing plot (I mean, you will NEVER see it coming) and an idea that is...well...world-changing.

If you've seen or read "The Secret" you will have a bit of a head-start, but we'll talk about that after you've read the book. Suffice it to say, The Secret sucks...New-Age mysticism will be right at home.

The formula for all Dan Brown novels is the same:

-There is some clandestine organization - Templars, Illuminati (this time the Masons) - who are keeping a secret that they've always had. That secret has always ALWAYS been right in front of our face.

-Something happens to somebody to catalyze the presence of Robert Langdon - universal know-it-all (the fictional Ken Jennings). He is, despite your inclination to think otherwise, the only person who knows anything about symbols.

-Langdon always seems to procure some bad, middle-aged chick by his side. Between he and the femme, there is no question of history that is unknown.

-There is an impossibly small amount of time to get things done.

With that, I'll say that the one frustrating thing about this novel is that you are waiting to find out WHAT'S AT STAKE if this thing goes wrong - a facet that was definitely present in ALL of his other novels. You may be let down at that moment. But Brown has compelled you already to read 400+ pages, so you won't be mad.

The twist is ridiculous. You will be looking for it, expecting it (rightfully so), and you will be absolutely blown when it comes. You didn't see it coming.

Basically, if you are looking for a good novel to stimulate otherwise-dormant brain cells (because Twitter is Sooo exciting), this is your book.

***There will be another post that digs deeper into this guiding premise (the "Big Idea" of LS) but if you are an open-minded, engaged Christian you will have fun in dialogue with it. There's really nothing to argue against, which may make some fiesty Christians mad. In 2002 I came across the notion of "focused energy" from Dean Carter (21st Century mystic at Morehouse). We were in Japan and he told me what "The Lost Symbol" will tell you. And he explained it to me in a way I'll never forget:

"The Bible doesn't SAY this outright, but it does. It's yelling it at you. The more you study the more it will become obvious."

HE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, and the consequences of "focused energy/positive thinking/collective consciousness" are mind boggling.

My favorite scripture is Luke 17:21, and it is for this reason (though Greek scholars will suggest "among" instead of "within". Guess what? Doesn't change the basic idea at all).

The idea is simple: We can do much more with our minds than we think.

I stop here, and implore you to read the book. After that, we can talk science and spirit, or whatever else is on your mind.

PLOT: A-
EASINESS TO READ: B+/A- (gets a little bulky at certain spots. He did well for this to be an "idea-fiction" though)
STIMULATION: A+ (creates a lot of thought bubbles. Those unfamiliar will have a LOT of questions)
LENGTH: B (at 500 pages, it needs to either be 50 pages longer, or 100 shorter. You'll see why)
DISTRACTION FACTOR: A+ (you will be unable to do anything else until this book is done)
IMPACT: C (the idea, while stimulating, is kind of boring. And he definitely lets the Masons off the hook)

OVERALL: A- (has some flaws, but still a must-read. A GREAT book-club book that can kick off discussion after discussion. Most people won't read it though, or the other sacred and secular texts that "The Lost Symbol" points to. They lost.)

But you can win. $16.99 at Target right now.

AGREE? DISAGREE? SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS on "THE LOST SYMBOL"