My aunt likes to read all kinds of books as she has a lot of books in her house. One book that impacted her the most is Angel and Demons by Dan Brown. This book is publicated on May 2000. My aunt was around 19 years old that time.
This book is about CERN, a facility at Switzerland dealing with particle physics has one of its most brilliant scientists, Leonardo Vectra, most brutally murdered and branded with an ancient symbol used by an ancient underground organisation, Illuminati, which is believed to have extinct. A world renowned Harvard Symbologist, Robert Langdon, is immediately called in to give insights to the death as he has done extensive research on the subject and has the right credentials. When he reached the facility, he discovered that the dead scientist and her daughter, Vittoria Vectra, has managed to create and contain Antimatter at a sizeable amount and one unit has been stolen. Just days before this, it was announced that the Pope has died and on the day of Leonardo Vectra’s murdered, the cardinals will perform Conclave and elect a new Pope. The creation of Antimatter at this amount is the re-creation of the exact moment of Creation itself. Traditional Catholics see this as a direct challenge to the Christian belief that god created the world. More progressive Catholics see it as a bridge between Science and Christianity.
Leonardo Vectra, who is also a Father, and the recently demised Pope are such progressive Catholics. Both Vittoria and Robert went to Vatican when news of the lost canister was found in the Vatican at a location that is not known. Linking the Illuminati, the news of the kidnapping of 4 Cardinals and the message from the kidnappers, Robert beliefs that the carnister is in the Church of Illumination. Therefore. Robert and Vittoria went on the search for the path of Illumination, hoping to find the Church of Illuminati, a place where the members meet. The message for the path is embedded in the work of Galileo (which is kept in the Vatican archives). This work was put in a material so fragile that it can be easily destroyed. This path is also a test to allow only the right and worthy is admitted into the brotherhood.
The search on the path of illumination involves entering the Vatican archives, searching Rome for the Symbols placed by the Illuminati. The Symbols are the basic elements of life: earth, air, water, fire. One feature of the illuminati is their ability to create Ambigrams. Ambigrams are words curved into symbols that look exactly the same when you turn it 180 degrees. Ambigrams are believed to have been created for the words Illuminati, earth, air, water, fire. There is also one more Ambigram that is made for the Illuminati Diamond.
Robert and Vittoria managed to follow the path of illumination and found the symbols but are unable to save the 4 cardinals who are killed and branded by using the Ambigrams. When they at last found the church of illumination, they, the cardinals and the world are led to believe that the Camerlengo was sent by god to unite the church against the age old enemy, the Illuminati, only to discover a sinister plot behind and the real villain.
This is all about the book.
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My aunt feels that this book talks about an aged battle between Spiritual belief and Science and these makes the story interesting by showing the contrast between Spiritual belief and Modern Science.
She also thinks that this book is very amazing. The amazing part of this book is the amount of research that has been done on very difficult topics: particle physics, Biophysics, Church proceedings, Christianity history, Christian Symbols, and the art work of the masters like, Raphael and Bernini and linking them up to form a seeming credible story.
It is also highly accurate in its description of the locations, Art Work, and facts; even CERN is a fact. This is a very distinctive feature in all Dan Brown’s books. Dan Brown’s books also have another one distinct feature. Everything happens in 24 hours. That’s why my aunt loves this book.
Furthermore, there will be in the cinemas soon. My aunt is planning to watch it.
I've heard that the science in the book (and thus, the upcoming blockbuster) is a bit specious (eg, antimatter from CERN will not destroy the Earth, as it doesn't exist long enough to annihilate actual matter), but that it's an exciting narrative.
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