Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol for the New Year

From our January hostess, Juli Tingle

To explain why The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown was one of my choices for our book club, I guess I have to go back to the beginning of my reading affair with Dan Brown.  I like many others read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown first even though he wrote Angels and Demons prior to The Da Vinci Code.  I was caught up in the controversy I had read about with regard to The Da Vinci Code.  Being a Christian, I had to see for myself if the book should be getting the heat it was getting from a lot of churches.  I enjoyed the book and decided to take it for what it was which in my opnion was a fictional story with a clever trail of codes and ideas with regard to the relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus.  So, when a close friend of mine said they loved Angels and Demons even more, I had to read that too!  I had to agree with her. Angels and Demons for me was a pager turner that I could not put down.  So, of course I have had The Lost Symbol on my list to read for some time now.  I have not even started the book yet, but plan to this week.  I am looking forward to it.  I do love the puzzle and codes Dan Brown is famous for putting into his books.  I look forward to more surprises and conspiracy theories in The Lost Symbol.  Should be fun! Dan Brown has a pretty cool website everyone may want to check out too - http://www.danbrown.com.

From Daphne Durham at Amazon.com

Let's start with the question every Dan Brown fan wants answered: Is The Lost Symbol as good as The Da Vinci Code? Simply put, yes. Brown has mastered the art of blending nail-biting suspense with random arcana (from pop science to religion), and The Lost Symbol is an enthralling mix. And what a dazzling accomplishment that is, considering that rabid fans and skeptics alike are scrutinizing every word.

The Lost Symbol begins with an ancient ritual, a shadowy enclave, and of course, a secret. Readers know they are in Dan Brown territory when, by the end of the first chapter, a secret within a secret is revealed. To tell too much would ruin the fun of reading this delicious thriller, so you will find no spoilers here. Suffice it to say that as with many series featuring a recurring character, there is a bit of a formula at work (one that fans will love). Again, brilliant Harvard professor Robert Langdon finds himself in a predicament that requires his vast knowledge of symbology and superior problem-solving skills to save the day. The setting, unlike other Robert Langdon novels, is stateside, and in Brown's hands Washington D.C. is as fascinating as Paris or Vatican City (note to the D.C. tourism board: get your "Lost Symbol" tour in order). And, as with other Dan Brown books, the pace is relentless, the revelations many, and there is an endless parade of intriguing factoids that will make you feel like you are spending the afternoon with Robert Langdon and the guys from Mythbusters.

Nothing is as it seems in a Robert Langdon novel, and The Lost Symbol itself is no exception--a page-turner to be sure, but Brown also challenges his fans to open their minds to new information. Skeptical? Imagine how many other thrillers would spawn millions of Google searches for noetic science, superstring theory, and Apotheosis of Washington. The Lost Symbol is brain candy of the best sort--just make sure to set aside time to enjoy your meal.

Best book club discussions yet!

Last night was probably the best book club meeting yet. We met to discuss the sex-scandal themed book, Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner. Although, it was not a book I loved by any means, I absolutely loved the conversation this book brought out in everyone as it seemed 1/2 the book clubbers loved the book and 1/2 the book clubbers hated the book. There seemed to be no middle ground and I think this polarity made for the most spirited book club yet. The conversations around woman, their relationship to the men in their lives, the mother/daughter dynamic, sex, perceptions people have of each other and judgments we all make were very interesting.
My thanks to Christy Yeaman for hosting a wonderful book club meeting. The food, wine and treats were delicious. I really appreciated all your hard work for arranging. I know everyone had a wonderful time. Thank you!

December Book Club Selection Announced!

Drum roll please.......(you should be drumming your little hands on a table right now).

From our December hostess, Christy Yeaman

After much pressure I think I will choose "Fly Away Home:  The Novel"  It is a recent publication by a well known and respected author Jennifer Weiner.  I found it as I was looking for an interesting book that was a little more light hearted than the two we have been reading - people have toted this book as witty and hilarious.  Another thing that drew me to the book was the varied. In reading the reviews, I think it may align well with the varied experiences and backgrounds in our book club, making for some interesting discussion.  We will see what people think.

From the book's cover

Sometimes all you can do is fly away home... When Sylvie Serfer met Richard Woodruff in law school, she had wild curls, wide hips, and lots of opinions. Decades later, Sylvie has remade herself as the ideal politician's wife - her hair dyed and straightened, her hippie-chick wardrobe replaced by tailored knit suits. At fifty-seven, she ruefully acknowledges that her job is staying twenty pounds thinner than she was in her twenties and tending to her husband, the senator. Lizzie, the Woodruffs' younger daughter, is at twenty-four a recovering addict, whose mantra HALT (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?) helps her keep her life under control. Still, trouble always seems to find her. Her older sister, Diana, an emergency room physician, has everything Lizzie failed to achieve - a husband, a young son, the perfect home - and yet she's trapped in a loveless marriage. With temptation waiting in one of the ER's exam rooms, she finds herself craving more. After Richard's extramarital affair makes headlines, the three women are drawn into the painful glare of the national spotlight. Once the press conference is over, each is forced to reconsider her life, who she is and who she is meant to be. Written with an irresistible blend of heartbreak and hilarity, Fly Away Home is an unforgettable story of a mother and two daughters who after a lifetime of distance finally learn to find refuge in one another.

From random people online we have never met (and who may be crazy)

I read this book over a rainy weekend, and it was perfect! The story was well written; an interesting portrayal of relationships, and our perceptions of ourselves. Light hearted, mostly, but honest subject matter and believable characters. I'd definitely recommend! - shannyp

I just finished this book... I really enjoyed the characters and the story. They are all very human and flawed; but relatable; you could see yourself being friends and in some cases identifying with all of them. A great summer read! - Lori