Ratings267
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings267
Average rating3.5
Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement--the unveiling of a discovery that "will change the face of science forever." The evening's host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a renowned global figure. Kirsch, who was one of Langdon's first students at Harvard two decades earlier, is about to reveal an astonishing breakthrough . . . one that will answer two of the fundamental questions of human existence.
As the event begins, Langdon and several hundred guests find themselves captivated by an utterly original presentation, which Langdon realizes will be far more controversial than he ever imagined. But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch's precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Reeling and facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch's secret.
Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, Langdon and Vidal must evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain's Royal Palace itself . . . and who will stop at nothing to silence Edmond Kirsch. On a trail marked by modern art and enigmatic symbols, Langdon and Vidal uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch's shocking discovery . . . and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us. Origin is stunningly inventive--Dan Brown's most brilliant and entertaining novel to date.
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A fun enough read except for the part in the middle that felt like a chapter-long Tesla commercial. That, and when the book spends the first 80% teasing a big reveal and the reveal turns out to be an uninspired let down, you begin to wonder if you really liked the first 80%.
Oh man. You don't expect much from a Dan Brown book, but this was just so much nothing dressed up to sound smart and interesting, and it takes forever for anything to happen. The reveal at the end was interesting though, I'll give him that.
Also, two books in a row where the woman can't have children and is haunted by it? Gross. Plus, given how the last book ended, does it even matter in this one that the woman can't have kids?
There was also one of the interviews where someone described themselves as “a space scientist”, which, wut?
It was good enough fluff, but any of the previous Langdon books are better.
eta: I was reminded about another issue I had with this when I saw a meme on Facebook. There's a part where Langdon's written a problem out in Greek and asks the woman if it's correct or not. It turns out that from her angle it's wrong and his it's right! And he explains that it's all in perspective, yada yada. No. The problem is either right or wrong. Don't go using tricks to try and make a point about perspective, etc.
Also, I forgot to mention before what a cheap, stock atheist Kirsch is. Way to make us all seem arrogant and kind of awful. Thanks, Dan Brown.
This was predictably entertaining, with lots to learn about architectural marvels in Spain and a little bit more about religions. But it took too long for the mystery to be solved and the reveal was very anticlimactic, while the identity of the murderer was boringly obvious. While I didn't hate the book and it kept me good company over the weekend, I definitely wished it was shorter.
Featured Series
5 primary booksRobert Langdon is a 5-book series with 5 primary works first released in 1977 with contributions by Dan Brown, Dan Brown, and Jana Linnart.
