In print: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

This is the third book in what some people refer to as the Da Vinci Code series, The Lost Symbol. It's really the third book featuring the main character Robert Langdon by Dan Brown.

After reading the first two some years back, I felt somewhat excited that a third book was coming out and that it would be based on the Masons.

In a nutshell, Langdon is lured to Washington, DC to help a lunatic uncover an ancient secret buried at the Nation's Capitol. The story is a series of twists and turns as the heroes try to stay one step ahead of who is perceived to be the bad guys at that moment.

The concept is interesting, unfortunately Brown's method of writing started to wear thin on me by the end of the first 100 pages. Just like the previous two books, the authorities are involved, but instead of just grabbing Langdon and setting him straight from the beginning, they choose to act suspiciously and then the chase starts.

I was told that Brown writes "smart books" but I SWEAR this book made me feel dumber with each page. It's written on a fifth grade level and any "big words" are defined and reiterated about a thousand times. It drove me mad after a while. Not to mention there are very few sentences in the book that don't contain at least on of the following:

• Ancient Wisdom
• Lost Wisdom
• Ancient Mysteries
• Lost Mysteries
• Lost Word
• Lost Symbol

The book came off as so pretentious that I didn't even feel like finishing it off. However, I kept turning the pages hoping that something would give and get interesting. I was wrong.

If you didn't read this book yet, spare yourself. Keep the memories of the fun frantic pace from the first two Langdon novels and don't bother with this tome. It's lackluster at best.