This is my first CBR review since 2019.
I’m not sure what happened last year (aside from the global pandemic), but it just kind of got away from me. I just checked Goodreads, and I read 55 books last year, so I totally could’ve hit another Cannonball. I just didn’t have the energy to review them. I think the problem was that I waited too long to start. I read a few books in January, but I also had this huge investigation I was writing at work, and it sucked the life out of me. I reallly didn’t want to come home and write after writing all day long and frequently on the weekend. Then, after I was done with that investigation at the end of January, I just wanted a break! Then I got varicose vein surgery in February, and then COVID. After that I was in too deep. I couldn’t fathom writing like 17 reviews all at once. So there’s my shameful 2020 Cannonball story. Anyway, on to 2021!!!
I started reading Dan Brown books back in the early 2000’s, just like everyone else. I read the DaVinci Code (which is book 2), then Angels and Demons (which is book 1). I guess I didn’t realize for a while that there were more books with the Robert Langdon character, so I missed the rest for about 20 years 🙂
I read The Lost Symbol (#3) and Origin (#5) last year in the fall / beginning of winter. I had to take a little break and read some other stuff, because this character is a little too much sometimes. I like him, and I always picture Tom Hanks (which helps), but he just knows a little too much and can figure out everything.
Enter Inferno. This one’s a little bit darker, as someone is trying to release a plague to control the population. Also, Robert Langdon wakes up not knowing what the heck has happened for the past 24 hours or so. I liked that. It made him a little more relatable. If you’ve ever read my reviews before, you know that I love plagues and diseases and all that too. So this was right up my alley.
One thing I really do enjoy about Dan Brown books is how he uses the location to draw you in. I actually felt like I was rushing through the streets of Florence with Dr. Langdon at times, and it really endears you to a character.
If you like Dan Brown, you’ll like this book. If not, you probably shouldn’t be starting at #4 of a series anyway!!
Happy Return!
THANKS!! It feels good 🙂
Ha so true. My reviews for this series have trended downwards, but I still picked up Origin. I think that other than Origin at least the Big Secret that gets revealed has some pizzazz in each book, and I never have to think very hard while reading Tom Hanks running around. I do wish that the gorgeous lady of the week trope was a bit…less.
You’re right on both accounts! The big secret is at least interesting in most of them. I remember listening to Origin in the shower on my blue tooth speaker, and the big reveal was happening. I was like “Am I high?”, “Is it just because I’m listening in the shower?”. But I think I listened to some of it again and felt the same way. It was just so meh. I do appreciate that most of the time the gorgeous lady of the week is very intelligent though!!!