The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lost Symbol begins with an ancient ritual, a shadowy enclave, and of course, a secret. Readers know they are in Dan Brown territory when, by the end of the first chapter, a secret within a secret is revealed. To tell too much would ruin the fun of reading this delicious thriller, so you will find no spoilers here. Suffice it to say that as with many series featuring a recurring character, there is a bit of a formula at work (one that fans will love). Again, brilliant Harvard professor Robert Langdon finds himself in a predicament that requires his vast knowledge of symbology and superior problem-solving skills to save the day. The setting, unlike other Robert Langdon novels, is stateside, and in Brown's hands Washington D.C. is as fascinating as Paris or Vatican City (note to the D.C. tourism board: get your "Lost Symbol" tour in order). And, as with other Dan Brown books, the pace is relentless, the revelations many, and there is an endless parade of intriguing factoids that will make you feel like you are spending the afternoon with Robert Langdon and the guys from Mythbusters.

I purchased this book on the day it was released. I throughly enjoyed Dan Brown's other books and believe it or not, Deception Point was my favorite. I liked his writing style, I liked the fast pace of the books (which helped me to read them faster too).

Two of my sons started this book and only one finished it. Neither were too impressed with The Lost Symbol. I think that was the reason why it took so long for me to read this.

Sometimes when you read something that has high reviews, your expectations are so high that it is somewhat of a let down, but when your expectations are low, well can it go any lower?

I was grabbed right away with this book, the first half I really enjoyed. It moved fast, it had the historical aspect that I loved, there was the mystery that started out nicely. So what went wrong?

For starters I figured out the bad guy very early on and it was so logical that I was surprised I was correct (thinking maybe there was a twist coming and I might be wrong). I also came to the conclusion that Dan Brown must of had a word quota for this novel and the last half was full of meaningless words that was so distracting and of no use. Usually I love the last half of a good book, this time the only reason I liked the last half was to finish the darn thing. I must say that the only reason I finished was to see how it would end, which it could have done about 150 pages sooner. Though I must admit the ending was a letdown, just my opinion


Have updated Where Are You Reading 2011 to reflect this book.

Into The Wilderness by Sara Donati

Weaving a tapestry of fact and fiction, Sara Donati's epic novel sweeps us into another time and place…and into a breathtaking story of love and survival in a land of savage beauty.

It is December of 1792. Elizabeth Middleton leaves her comfortable English estate to join her family in a remote New York mountain village. It is a place unlike any she has ever experienced. And she meets a man unlike any she has ever encountered-a white man dressed like a Native American: Nathaniel Bonner, known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives. Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village, Elizabeth soon finds herself locked in conflict with the local slave owners as well as with her own family. Interweaving the fate of the Mohawk Nation with the destiny of two lovers, Sara Donati's compelling novel creates a complex, profound, passionate portrait of an emerging America. -

I love a nice fat juicy book, one that you can just sink your teeth into. This is is almost 900 pages long, exactly what one needs on these cold winter days. Just to curl up on the couch with Mr. Kindle, which is exactly what I did. This book was recommended from another reviewer. To be honest after I purchased it I did hesitate a little (other books this person recommended didn't pan out).


I loved this book, I really did. I found the characters were well developed, I could picture Wolf Mountain, the rivers, the schoolhouse and so much more. I have always had a hard time picturing what life was like in the 'old days' (1792 is when this book takes place) and especially the winters. This book was a good picture for me.

Added to Where Are You Reading?

An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi

Fourteen-year-old Emily Pigbush suspects that her uncle is involved in body snatching. Meanwhile, her best friend''s family is accused of plotting to kill Abraham Lincoln, and Emily is left unsure of whom she can trust.

I had a hard time getting into this book, putting it down a couple times, finally getting to that half way point and I just finished it off. This book involves 2 stories, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and body snatching (not just from the graveyard). I really enjoyed other books by Ann Rinadli (A Break with Charity and The Coffin Quilt). Being MG/YA books I really don't expect to much detail. I found myself going to wiki to check things outs myself and seeing how close to fact her books are. This book though is more YA then MG, depending on who is reading some information about body snatching might be a little much for them

I found that Emily grew up in this book, really she didn't have much of a choice, her mother has just died, her best friends family is accused of being involved in the killing of Lincoln and she is living with her uncle, a doctor with secrets of his own.

The best past of the book was the authors comments at the end, going into more true facts about that time period. I enjoy learning while reading.

This book was added to Where Are You Reading

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

I have heard so many good things about this book. Some said it took them until half way through the book to really get into it, others were hooked right away. I am one of the ones hooked right away. This book has been on my book shelf for about 2 years now, recommended by a good friend in Australia. Since getting my Kindle I have been on the prowl for cheap book, this one going for $5 felt like it finally talking to me to be read.

I love reading on the Kindle and this book was a pleasure to read.

Cases rarely come much colder than the decades-old disappearance of teen heiress Harriet Vanger from her family's remote island retreat north of Stockholm, nor do fiction debuts hotter than this European bestseller by muckraking Swedish journalist Larsson. At once a strikingly original thriller and a vivisection of Sweden's dirty not-so-little secrets (as suggested by its original title, Men Who Hate Women), this first of a trilogy introduces a provocatively odd couple: disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist, freshly sentenced to jail for libeling a shady businessman, and the multipierced and tattooed Lisbeth Salander, a feral but vulnerable superhacker. Hired by octogenarian industrialist Henrik Vanger, who wants to find out what happened to his beloved great-niece before he dies, the duo gradually uncover a festering morass of familial corruption—at the same time, Larsson skillfully bares some of the similar horrors that have left Salander such a marked woman.

I spent much of my time trying to figure out the ending, having read enough mysteries in my time that for some books it isn't hard to figure out. With this book I couldn't figure it out. I loved how everything fit together at the end. The book takes place in Sweden, so I found some of the names of places and political information confusing (since I am not familiar with them).

Gentle Ben by Walt Morey

This book is part of my Off The Shelf Challenge. I think it has been on my shelf since my kids were little (wonder if they even read it?). I am kicking myself if they didn't, what a wonderful book. I so enjoyed it. Throughout the book I was trying to figure out how it would end and I loved the ending.

As someone who has encountered a bear in the great outdoors (I survived, thankfully), I can't imagine having a bear for a pet, but I can understand the attachment to an animal.

The classic story of a boy and his beloved pet (which happened to be a brownie).

"Told with a simplicity and dignity which befits its characters, human and animal, Gentle Ben is a memorable reading experience" Library Journal.