Origin by Dan Brown

Summary:

     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.

My Thoughts:

    I have been a big fan of Dan Brown for years.  I loved The DaVinci Code (one of my all time faves) and have read it multiple times. I think it is because I've always been very interested in learning about religions and the history stuff they didn't teach us in school.  Art intrigues me but I don't know much about it but Mr. Brown always brings in the history behind pieces which make it more meaningful to me.

     I recently got to see Dan speak during his tour for Origin and he spoke a lot about the research for the book and it was very interesting. He is very intelligent and articulate and very passionate about his subject matter.  You can look on his website for a video and more info on some of the sights mentioned in the book.  He said the basis for this book came down to "Can God survive science?" and that is a very timely question.

     Origin is very intriguing and you will learn a lot but while it is interesting, and kept me turning the page for more, it was not as thrilling as his past works.  There was a lot to take in and occasionally the story is bogged down by very heavy science.  The science is deep and definitely a learning experience but at times it was over my head and I admit that I skimmed.  I do still love the character of Robert Langdon and hope for more stories with him.
     I think this was a good story but not great. And while I never would have guessed what the big scientific part of the mystery was I did figure out the rest fairly easily so that was a bit disappointing.  Again, learned a lot about modern art and the history and beautiful architecture of Spain but I felt overwhelmed at times by the deep science.  3.5/5 stars

Favorite quotes:

"Well science and religion are not competitors, they're two different languages trying to tell the same story.  There's room in this world for both."

"Love is from another realm. We cannot manufacture it on demand. Nor can we subdue it when it appears.  Love is not our choice to make."

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Author's site: 

http://danbrown.com/

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!