Blog 11

Book: Angels and Demons
Pages read this week: 300
Pages read this semester: 1322
Writing Style: Questions

Robert Langdon, a Harvard Symbologist, goes to CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) to help in the investigation of the brutal murdr of Leonardo Vetra, one of the top scientists at CERN, who had discovered antimatter, an opposite of matter which is highly explosive as it has a lot of energy. After the arrival of Vittoria Vetra, Leonardo’s daughter, they discover that the antimatter specimen has been stolen. It is the task of some insider, as no one knew about it. Robert and Vittoria fly off to Vatican City where the canister containing antimatter is reported to have been placed by Illuminati. Both of them disembark on a dangerous journey to find it along with the help of Commander Olivetti of Swiss Guards and Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca. They receive a phone call from the ‘Hassassin’ who claims responsibility of kidnapping four preferiti, the preferred ones for the position of pope. Langdon tries to retrace the so called “Path of Illumination,” hoping to find out the whereabouts of the preferiti. The first cardinal is found dead and they start figuring out the next place.

Que. 1: What does the story makes you wonder about and why?
Ans.: First of all, the story makes me wonder about why Dan Brown chooses similar topics for his storyline. Like ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ ‘Angels and Demons’ also involves secret brotherhoods, Catholic Church, murders and above all, an ancient secret. Sometimes, I think how much of the author’s claims are true. I do turn skeptic, even though it is very hard for me to stop reading the book. Where does Dan Brown get so much information from? Is he really a genius? How are his books received by religious organizations? There was huge uproar about ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ but I found nothing about ‘Angels and Demons’ online. I know the Catholic Church committed a lot of crimes against its opponents, but I never knew about the profoundness of them. Until now, I used to think that I have read a lot about religion, but I guess that Christianity and Paganism still require more exploration from me.

Que. 2: What does the author not do well as a writer?
Ans.: Even though ‘Angels and Demons’ is a smartly written book with a very fast paced story, there are some loopholes in the story. First one is that how can be some American (Robert Langdon) leave his country without permission and go to two other countries without any visa? Surely, he or his hosts had some high profile international contacts. However, it seems illogical since everything in the story was supposed to be clandestine. Dan Brown never explained how CERN’s security was breached when Leonardo Vetra’s was murdered in his own bedroom. How can Langdon reach Boston Airport in a car and board the plane witout any check in? And above all, why would CERN contact a Harvard Symbologist to investigate the murder of their top scientist, not Interpol or Police? Dan Brown’s plot is built on over hypothetical assumptions. Still, it was a good book.

Blog 10

Book: The Da Vinci Code
Pages read this week: 247
Pages read this semester: 1022
Weekly style: Quotation

Andrew Vernet fails to get the Keystone. Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu go to a Grail historian, Leigh Teabing, a British knight who lives in France. He saves them from Silas and DCPJ, and take them to London where the next clue of the grail lied. Leigh's servant Remy with the help of Silas kidnapped Leigh and took away the keystone. Langdon and Neveu wandered for the clue and finally reached Newton's grave. They found a note there which asked them to come to a hall to find Leigh. What they discovered was mind blowing and upsetting, Leigh was the one behind all the murders and asaults. Langdon cracked the code, but escaped Leigh also. Silas mistook Bishop Aringarosa as a Police Officer and shot him. He prayed and Bishop was saved, but he himself died. Remy was already killed by Leigh. Leigh was arrested. Bishop urged the twenty million euro in Vatican bonds to be given to family of those murdered in Paris. Sophie met her brother and grandmother who had not died. Sophie was a member of bloodline of Jesus. Her grandmother said that the Priory had no intention to reveal the grail sinve its beauty lies in its secret. She did not know the exact location of the grail. Sophie and Langdon fell in love and set up a 'date.' Langdon discovered the grail to be at the Louvre, in Paris.

"A little faith can do wonders, Captain." (Page 431)

This quote was spoken by Bishop Agnimarosa to Captain Bezu Fache, when the latter met the former in St. Mary's Hospital after the Bishop had recovered from the bulllet injury. Bishop Agnimarosa here is referring to Silas, who had prayed in falling rain for the safety of Bishop's life. Silas did not worry about his own injuries, and died instead.

I agree with the quote, since I have a very strong belief in God and His powers. I have faith in God and wonders, if not miracles, have happened to me also. I have inherited these strong beliefs from my parents. My mother is a very religious lady. Here is an interesting fact about my birth. In the early and middle stages of my mother's pregnancy, when I was in her womb, the doctors discovered that the (my) developments are not those which lead towards a normal delivery. My parents were concerned when they came to know that a surgery may be required, and asked the doctor for any other option. The doctor, who is the nicest doctor I have ever met and a firm believer in God, advised them to pray to God. My parents prayed extensively, and the results was indeed a miracle, my normal delivery. My mom did not take any medications that could have changes the course. A lot of other incidents have strengthened my belief also. My left eye had a miraculous escape when my opponenent's field hockey stick hit me on my left eyebrow couple years ago. Earlier, I had four tests on Friday. Later, two of them were cancelled, allowing me more time for my SAT. A lot of times when I could not study for a test due to genuine reasons, I still scored highly.

There are more incidents I could talk about, but I do not want to make this post my personal journal. However, I do believe that these examples are enough tp strengthen my case.