The Lost Symbol: A Review

I know it’s been quite a while since the book was out, but I read it just now and thought it’ll be great to give you guys a head start on it, in case you plan to read it.

If I rate Dan Brown’s other fictions, namely The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons at 5, I’ll rate The Lost Symbol at 4, or maybe even 3.5 due to some reasons. The Lost Symbol is another Robert Langdon stunner with the usual Dan Brown beginning that he wakes up in the morning not knowing where he’s going to end up in the evening. This plot has been followed in all his novels without exception. And I think Dan Brown is obsessed with three things - Europe, America and Christianity.

The plot of the story rotates about a mad man trying to find a Masonic Pyramid which is believed to be hiding the secret of some secret Word that leads to apotheosis of the man. And obviously, there’s only one man on earth who can find and decipher this pyramid and this word – Dr Robert Langdon. And out of nowhere, he finds himself trying to save his mentor and his own life from this madman who’s also being followed by none other than the CIA chief. The end, of course, you’ll have to find it yourself.

Though the story is intriguing and the thought process has been great, but I think Dan Brown is getting caught into his own web. During most of the novel, it looks like he has written it just to show-off his intellect and knowledge. He has gone into so detail about the specification of events, even the ones that don’t have any impact on the story, that it starts getting boring and sometimes irritating. The description of Italian marble and 16^th century bible etc etc were some parts which were not at all required, but were there in the story. Such parts were enough to distract the attention away from the main plot.

Apart from this, I think the novel has been written very well and is a usual Dan Brown thriller with unexpected turns and twists. Though I’ve rated it below his other masterpieces, it’s definitely way above some of the other well-known authors.

Arun Sharma

(Originally published @ www.whynothavefun.wordpress.com by Arun Sharma)

It's Not About Bike: by Lance Armstrong

I was going through the rough patch in my life and this book was gifted to me by my close friend.

After reading this, I am unable to believe that what Mr. Armstrong is saying is true. Infact, I don't believe its humanly possible.

Since then I am trying to find the personal id of Lance, to ask this question directly.

But, if its true, then nothing seems to be impossible. A must read for anybody who wants inspiration in life

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

This is my third reading of Dan Brown. The other two ones were 'Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels and Demons' .

I was really fascinated by these novels of him. And I expected the latest novel to even better. But, now the style of Dan Brown is getting stale. Its only treasure hunt stories he is spinning. And this particular novel is having anticlimax at the end.

Utterly Disappointing novel as per me. I will think 10 times before reading Dan Brown again.

Rising Sun by Michael Crichton

This is the fourth novel by Michael Crichton, which I read.

Actually, it was suggested by one of my friend. And the topic was intriguing. So I picked it asap.

The novel is about, different management styles of Americans and Japanese. The front end of the story is about a murder, but backend is pure management.

Though I worked with Japanese joint venture company for 4 years and thought I knew a lot about their management style. But reading this I felt, there is lot more to learn, digest and understand.

I recommend this novel to anybody and everybody, who is interested in Japanese Management Style.

Many Lives Many Masters

I was recently tempted to read this book, because of one recently launched serial in India viz 'Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka' (Secret of past life).

This book is about reincarnation. It narrates experience of Dr. Brian Weiss with his patient Catherine.

After reading this book I was as confused as ever. There is no proof till now, whether actually there is reincarnation or not.

But, it was interesting and an entertaining read.

2 States by Chetan Bhagat

It is indeed a master piece by Chetan Bhagat after Five Point Someone. The other two novels i.e. One Night @ Call Center & Three Mistakes of My Life, were relatively junk.

First hour of reading, I kept on laughing holding my tummy. Its indeed a hilarious one.

I think that Chetan's real life has more spice than his imagination. So Chetan, dont try to imagine anymore :), just share your real life incidents with readers.

Trinity by Leon Uris

This is the fourth book of Leon Uris, I have read. The other three were Exodus, Mila 18 and Angry Hills.

This book is about the freedom struggle of Ireland against England. It carries the classic style of Leon Uris, as was reflected in his legendary novel Exodus.

After reading this book, I came to understand what is the whole problem in Ireland i.e. between North Ireland and Britain. Between IRA and government.

Its indeed a masterpeice by master. I recommend it to anybody who is interested in history of Ireland.

Aol.com by Kara Swisher

I read this book almost after the decade, it was published. I was apprehensive, whether should I or shouldn't I read this book. But, i went ahead.

This book gives us a snapshot of internet industry in its infancy stage. More over it tells us about the AOL-America On Line- its birth and rise.

I recommend this book to all the netizens as well as to all the brand managers. It gives us a classic case of brand management.

The Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson

I came to know about this author Niall Ferguson, when one of my close friends told me about the concept 'Chimerica',which is the term indicating the symbiotic relationship between Chinese and American Economy. According to author, this was one of the main drivers behind the recent recession.

Anyway coming back to the book 'The Ascent of Money', it reminded me of the works of Alvin Toffler, especially the 'Third Wave' and 'Future Shock'. This book tells you the financial history of the world, especially about the currency,banking system, bond markets, stock markets, insurance and real estate. I will not be ashamed to claim that I was more than scared after reading this book. I am enlightened as well as confused about money now.

And at the same time, I will say today's schools should include this book in the course, because nobody can't remain untouched by financial market at least in the civilized world today.

A must read.

More articles on author's work can be found here http://www.niallferguson.com/site/FERG/Templates/Home.aspx?pageid=1

2 States - The story of my marriage: Chetan Bhagat

Sometimes, I think Chetan Bhagat is writing specially for the generation that I belong to. His debut novel “Five Point Someone” came at a time when I was in the last leg of my engineering and that too in Mechanical Engineering. So, the novel was and still is very close to my heart. Then came “One Night @ Call Center” and “Three Mistakes of My Life” that were again very precisely timed to match the movements in my life. And now, when I’m pursuing my MBA, Chetan has come up with this new novel “2 States” about an IIMA passout who finds his love for life during MBA.

The story of the novel spins around the lives of a Punjabi boy Krish Malhotra and a Tamil girl Ananya Swaminathan. As was written in their Nakshatram, they met over the dining table in IIM-A and fell into love with each other, just because the Punjabi honcho couldn’t stay “just friends” any more. Subsequently, they had made to each other’s beds pretty fast and often during the course of the MBA. But again, as the legend has it, their parents had to disagree with this decision of their children. The refusal was partly due to North India – South India clash and partly due to the generational egos of parents when children select life partners for themselves. And then, it takes the Citibank Relationship Manager, Mr Malhotra and HLL Marketing Manager, Ms Swaminathan, quite a while to bring the two families together.

Chetan has spun the novel nicely around this story and maintained the seriousness of the North India-South India issue along with the fun of reading his novel. The description of intimacies by Chetan Bhagat has been as unmatched as ever before. And some anecdotes like “we don’t use spoons to measure alcohol” made me laugh at the conversation between a Punjabi boyfriend and his prospective Tamilian father-in-law. The description of Punjabi lifestyle and their way of looking at the Tamilians and vice-versa has been interestingly funny. Just like his previous novels, this one is also full of youth and unrealistic idealism at certain points, but that fits in perfectly well. Some twists here and there make it an irresistible read.

On a serious note, there’s one particular incident that left an impression on my mind from the novel. There is a conversation between Krish and a Guruji in Pondicherry’s Aurobindo Asharam where Guruji guides him that forgiving someone doesn’t make him/her right. All it does is to make the forgiver feel lighter and happier.

All-in-all, I found 2 States an interesting novel, worth spending some time to get yourself relaxed.

Arun Sharma

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