Review: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I know, I know, I'm really late reading this book. I bought it almost four years ago when it first came out and it's just been sitting here, moved around from nightstand to dresser to book shelf. When I discovered a fourth book had been released in the amazing world of Robert Langdon I figured that I needed to get this book off of the 'ole book shelf and get caught up.  I was really excited to read this book when it first came out, however at that time I was completely engulfed in another series and so this waited.  I didn't miss much.

The Lost Symbol
by Dan Brown
Rating: 3 wine glasses

The Lost Symbol is book three that features Robert Langdon getting into some type of mess that requires only him and his expertise to solve the mystery.  Robert Langdon sure knows how to get in a mess. In this third book, Robert is called to Washington D.C. For an emergency seminar by a close friend and mentor Peter Solomon. Only when he walks onto the stage Robert is face to face with an empty room. A phone call seconds later revels that Robert has been tricked and Peter has been kidnapped.  Robert has to decide whether he will comply with the kidnapper's demands to code the clues to the Ancient Mysteries or work with the CIA to keep a very old and Masonic secret a secret.  With Peter's life on the line he must act quickly.  

Robert is amazing at first with his knowledge of symbols that takes you on a thrilling adventure again. I love the symbolism and the way these books make me think.  The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons are two of my favorite books and proof that I do read books other than Sci-Fi Fantasy.  However, in this book Robert's lack of belief limits his mind from decoding the artifact. Yes, Robert is not the hero in this story. I guess this is what Dan Brown wanted, but its not really what I wanted. I now see Robert flawed. Even after the conclusion of the climax, Dan Brown still goes on and on and on to try to convince Robert to believe. My issue with this is everything that Robert has already been through, I would imagine that he wouldn't have been this stubborn to try to accept that the Ancient Mysteries could be truth. This book kept my interest however it was predictable which why it only received 3 wine glasses.   I love how Dan Brown pulls in religion, science, and history and I will forever be a Robert Langdon fan. 

Feature & Follow Friday Initiation

The Feature & Follow is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. This is the first time I am participating in this meme. I am very excited to meet everyone and check out all the other blogs out there.

This weeks Question:

Back to school. Create a reading list for the imaginary English Lit class you’ll be teaching this semester.

My English Class would be mostly classics with a spark of something new…

 

Any follows in whatever form are greatly appreciated. Stop by and say hi so I can find you and share the love back!

Friday's Featured Freebies: Ever Shade by Alexia Purdy & Cursed by Casey Odell

Another week has come and gone - so it is time for Friday's Featured Freebie. This week has been a LONG one with some triumphs - we got our first review request from self published author, C.E. Wilson and Melissa got our Facebook page, The Big Book Binge up and running. Then there were some setbacks - trying to locate the widgets I see and love on other blogger's pages. At the same time, I am trying to configure and personalize our blog. As my boyfriend cautioned me, Rome was not built in a day so I guess this blog won't be either. Melissa and I are still determining what we want our viewers to get from our blog when they visit it - which is pretty much to talk, breathe and love books (or occasionally a movie based on a book). In all actuality, we are not that extreme, but some days it is debatable. Since we are in the beginning stages of our blog creation, I am interested to hear what you are looking for as a blog viewer and what you want to see more of from book blogs?

It has been a long week so I am going to share two freebies today because we all deserve free stuff every once in a while other than Saturday's junk mail.

Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale #1)

by Alexia Purdy
282 Pages
Published: July 5th 2011
Currently Free on Kindle or Nook

A dark twist on Faeries.

For Shade, a chance meeting with a powerful Teleen faery warrior who wields electrical currents and blue fires along his skin has her joining him on a treacherous mission for the good Seelie Faerie Court across the land of Faerie. Magic and malice abound and nothing is what it really seems to be.

The evil Unseelie Queen and her treacherous allies are round every corner as Shade makes her way across the breathtaking landscapes of the world of Faerie, which exists alongside the mundane human world. Shade discovers her own uncharted magic and meets some of the most powerful warriors in Faerie while battling evil dryads, conniving Teleen guards and challenges on her life with every step in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.

Cursed (Cursed Magic #1)

by Casey Odell
330 Pages
Published: July 21st 2012
Currently Free on Kindle or Nook

The night Claire Tanith’s small village is attacked, her mother sends her alone into the cursed forest, the one she’d been forbidden to enter all her life with these mysterious words: ‘They will protect you.’

On the run from her attackers, she soon finds the forest is not as abandoned as she’d once thought.

Beautiful and elegant, the elves seem to be everything the legends said they would be. But legends sometimes forget the true history of things and Claire’s eyes are soon opened to a world she never knew. One that has been kept from her for most of her life. All Claire wants to do is return home and start looking for her mother, the only family she ever had. But the elves have different plans. The mysterious mark that appeared on her arm isn’t a curse, at least not to them anyway, and before she knows it, she is whisked away on a mission she never agreed to, unless they help her in return.

Now she is stuck on an adventure with the perverted elf, Aeron, and one with an attitude, Farron. But there is more to this adventure than she’d ever hoped for.

Waiting on Wednesday #1

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are highly anticipating. Don't forget to check out the questions below. This week’s pre-publication that I can’t-wait to-read is:

The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore
Release Date: August 27th 2013

The Garde are finally reunited, but do they have what it takes to win the war against the Mogadorians?

John Smith—Number Four—thought that things would change once the Garde found each other. They would stop running. They would fight the Mogadorians. And they would win.

But he was wrong. After facing off with the Mogadorian ruler and almost being annihilated, the Garde know they are drastically unprepared and hopelessly outgunned. Now they’re hiding out in Nine’s Chicago penthouse, trying to figure out their next move.

The six of them are powerful, but they’re not strong enough yet to take on an entire army—even with the return of an old ally. To defeat their enemy, the Garde must master their Legacies and learn to work together as a team. More importantly, they’ll have to discover the truth about the Elders and their plan for the Loric survivors.

And when the Garde receive a sign from Number Five—a crop circle in the shape of a Loric symbol—they know they are so close to being reunited. But could it be a trap? Time is running out, and the only thing they know for certain is that they have to get to Five before it’s too late.

The Garde may have lost battles, but they will not lose this war.

Lorien will rise again.

The questions that plague my mind while I am waiting for The Fall of Five's release..... 

7. Where is Sam? Why does no one seemed concerned with his absence?
6. Who is the dead Garde in Sam's well? 
5. Why does Setrakus Ra wear the three Loric pendants? Are they just spoils of war or does he claim the powers of the dead Garde such as the power to take away powers and turn people into stone?
4. Will another number be crossed off the list or will seven make it on to book #5? 
3. What is Number Five's powers? I am predicting flying.
2. Who is going to couple up? Such as Six and Four or Six and Nine, ect. How is Five going to throw a wrench in the mix? Do you think Five is a female or male?
1. Who do you think will assume the role of Pittacus Lore? Will no one assume his role since he is still alive?

What are your thoughts? Any other questions you are dying to have answered about The Fall of Five?

Top Ten Books I Wish Had A Sequel

This is my first Top Ten Tuesday, which is hosted by The Broke & the Bookish. 

This week’s topic: Top Ten Books I Wish Had A Sequel

I had trouble finding books for this list since the last couple of year seem full of series (Hunger Games, Divergent, Delirium, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Graceling, I am Number Four, and Percy Jackson). Some of the books that made the list, I read many, many years ago, but I would love to have a sequel so I could once again dive into these characters' lives.

10. Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

9. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

8. The Only Alien on the Planet

7. Music from a Place Called Half Moon by Jerrie Oughton

6. Friends and Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey

5. The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

3. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

2. The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer - I believe this was a standalone book, but a sequel is coming out this September which I found when I made this list. 

1. The Host by Stephenie Meyer - This was a standalone book, but Meyer has come out in the last year saying she is going to be writing this into a trilogy. 

What other books would you like to see have a sequel?

Melissa's Monday Review: Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn

I know it's a little late, but I thought that I would make my first contribution to the site. I have read a lot of fantastic books lately and it was really hard to decide which one I should post here tonight. I haven't read many new releases so I apologize if I'm behind the times on this one. Since this book is currently free and Rachel mentioned it in yesterday's post here you go.

Open Minds (Mindjack Trilogy #1) 
by Susan Kaye Quinn
Rating: 5 out of 5 wine glasses

Imagine a world where we have evolved to communicate telepathically. By the time you become a teenager you should go through the change, if you don't, you are an outcast, a zero. Unable to go to college or get a decent job because you can't be trusted with thoughts that no one can hear. Kira Moore has been waiting for her change and has begun the realization that she may never. Her best friend Raf won't give up hope for the girl he loves. Kira nearly kills him when she finally goes through the change only it's not what she or anyone expected. Kira has the ability to push people telepathically to her command. Kira meets Simon who is like her and helps her with the change. Simon has mastered his craft and is not always moral or ethical. She knows that no one can know her secret since history has proven disaster with people who are different, but she can't trust Simon and the cult he is trying to get her to join. Kira is faced with decisions to either fight against the corrupt cults or the to protect them from the unlawful system that hunts them because they are different.

The author did a fantastic job developing this world from the technology you use your mind to control and the slang the teenagers use. The story is nothing that I've read before. I love Kira, have a sweet spot for Raf, and love to hate Simon. I'm hooked!

Showcase Sunday #1

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea where you show what books you’ve purchased, borrowed, gotten from the library, received from giveaway, as gifts or for review.


Gifts: 

Melissa and I got a chance to meet Heather Fleener, the author of Chosen and Forsaken, a couple weeks ago to discuss her novels. It was an amazing experience to meet an up-and-coming indie author. I always thoroughly enjoy hearing an author talk about their writing process. She divulge some spoilers on what is to come in the 13 book series. The 3rd book in the series, Broken, is expected to be released August 27th. She proved us with signed copies of Chosen and Forsaken. {Thanks Heather!!!}

Freebies:

 

I was having one of those weeks where I spent hours on Amazon and Barnes & Noble looking for any free eBook that I haven't snatched up yet. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. Melissa recommended the Lichgates, Blood Faerie, and Open Minds so I made sure to download those while they are free. I downloaded and started Forbidden Forest this week. I stayed up till 2 AM the first night. I had to force myself to go to bed. I also picked up Hidden and Eternal Eden. Now, I just need more hours in the day to read all these.