Book Review: Origin
Author: Dan Brown
Publisher: Doubleday Books
Pub Date: Oct 3, 2017
Category: Thriller
Synopsis: Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum in 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
Dan Brown gets around to writing number five in Robert Langdon's frolics through high brow art culture around the world, pissing off the church and police everywhere.
Origin was no different.
For me, nothing will ever live up to the twisty, turny excitement of The Da Vinci Code. I sat in my grandparent's den and devoured the whole thing, nearly in one gulp. LOVED IT. So of course I must faithfully read everything else Brown puts out, because while I don't necessarily consider him one of the great literary minds of all time, the man writes a damn fun book.
It was pointed out to me once that the Langdon series is every educated white man's fantasy - a man, who we are constantly reminded stayed fit by swimming and jogging, slightly graying at the temples, but an every man, not wealthy, not overly handsome, saves the day by using his obscenely vast knowledge of art and ciphers, outsmarting the police, and ultimately winning the beautiful woman, who is almost always at least 10 years his junior. (But don't worry, it never lasts.)
And it's truuueeee. It's a white male wank fest.
But that doesn't mean it's not good! It was a fun read! The premise was great - super genius discovers secret to humanity that has religions everywhere shaken to the core, and then is assassinated mid-presentation, and Langdon teams up with the beautiful fiance of the Prince of (I honestly wasn't paying attention to what country this was - Italy?) to figure out the mystery.
The twist at the end? Really cool. I would have read a whole book based on that twist alone.
Did I roll my eyes when, at the end, the Female Love Interest Type Person decided that she could feel love in her heart for both her fiance AND Robert Langdon, who she knew for three days and would never see again? Yes. Yes I did. But that happens in every book, and I'm used to it.
There was also a part where an astronomer referred to himself as a "space scientist", and I could PHYSICALLY HEAR Neil Degrasse Tyson spinning around in his office chair.
Mostly this was a fast paced and fun read, keeping the reader going in true Dan Brown fashion, and I will continue to read the Langdon series until the very end, because Brown is very engaging.
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