A Book in Review: Angels & Demons

Angels & Demons By: Dan Brown
Really, really fiction, mystery 569 pages
Book count: 51

First, I would like to say that I only read the book because it was given to me and by finishing it I can put it in my garage sale this week and get rid of it. (Also, all the better to rant about what a piece of crap it is.) Second, I would like to suggest that no one goes to the head librarian at Ohio University- Chillicothe for help on research information as according to the acknowledgments he is in part to blame for this horrible book. As this book is a strange combination of things that you could learn with a five minute search on the Internet and complete BS. For example, it talks about the Catholic priest that worked on making The Big Band Theory (the science one, not the show), rips off Catholic teaching on science (as one of the characters own idea, not a church one as that would ruin the whole idea of the book), and then goes on and on about how religion and science are in this epic fight. The main plot is about the Illuminati, a group of scientist hunted down by the Church centuries ago now getting their revenge. It is always talking about scientific ideas that by their being science is naturally evil. A main character's parents refused to give him medicine when he's deathly ill, studying the origin of the universe is evil because God did it is all you need to know, etc, etc. And sure, some religions would say that, but not the one that the story is about. And then they finally get to something scientific that the Catholic Church has moral issues with and a bunch of cardinals state that it is a good thing! Frankly I do not know how these books became so popular, as anti-Catholic Protestants would be more likely offended by the pro-science anti-religion message of the first 400 pages of the book (ruining all the unfacts about the "evils of the Church" they would enjoy learning)and really Catholic hating seams like the only reason to read the book, its writing is OK, it has a fast pace, action but it is so much about religion.