The Lost Symbol

I've just started reading "The Lost Symbol". For those who live under rocks, it's the new Dan Brown book. For those from other galaxies, that's the guy who wrote "The Da Vinci Code". If you still don't know what I'm talking about then I can't help you. Ask your mother.

Anyhoo, I'm enjoying it. I expected that I would but I have made a number of observations.

NOTE 1: If you are reading or want to read the book and don't want a single thing given away, stop reading now. I haven't finished, so I can't give away the ending, but I will be writing about the content.
NOTE 2: If you are a die-hard Dan Brown fan who can't handle him being criticized or ridiculed in any way, stop reading now. Well, you don't have to but don't bother complaining in the comments.

The first thing I've noticed is the formula. Certain things have a familiar feeling to them.
For instance, someone Robert Langdon knows has a secret (Da Vinci Code, Langdon had arranged a meeting with Saunière). Something happens to them. A clue is left (DVC: Saunière's message, Angel & Demons: the brand) that only Langdon can decipher. A person in authority thinks Langdon knows too much and isn't trustworthy, there is some involvement with a scientific discovery that will have philosophical implications (A&D) and there's a woman at a similar age to Langdon.

Oh, and there's a secret society of course. In Angels and Demons we had the Illuminati (and the Vatican), in Da Vinci Code we had the Priory of Sion and the Opus Dei, and now we have the Stone Masons (and something else I haven't been told yet).

And lastly, there's the use of the word "symbology". Why is it OK for him to make up words? Every time I read it I'm reminded of the scene in Boondock Saints ("What's the symbology there?").

So, how can I say that I'm enjoying it? Because I am :)
I enjoying it the way I enjoyed Transformers. Or all of the Indiana Jones movies. Because I'm not trying to make it into something it's not.
It's not award winning writing (or it shouldn't but probably will), it's not a new theory, and it's not original (as I demonstrated above). But it is fun, readable, and entertaining.

It's the same way that Day of the Woman blogger, Brittney-Jade Colangelo, liked Jennifer's Body. Because she knew what to expect, and expected it.

I want to know what conspiracy theory he's going to take on next. Flat-earth? Fake moon landing? Who knows :)