yoti

My four stars may have something to do with the fact that I am moving from Texas. And as such, I am leaving behind family. I'm an emotional wreck...feeling sort of gutted, actually. And so I say thank you Dan Brown. Thank you for writing an entirely unbelievable but completely entertaining piece of stock thriller fiction. I'm glad I can count on you to come through with such an engrossing distraction. I might have to go out and find myself a copy of Digital Fortress now. Because I might still be in need of more distractions. The basics? Rachel Sexton is a really smart intel expert working for the NRO. Her father is the hot shot senator du jour, Sedgewick Sexton, a man who is all set to take the White House from the current president, Zach Herney. And then NASA, standing on the brink of totally catastrophe, makes an incredible discovery. Senator Sexton's outspoken criticism of the agency may now jeopardize his run for the White House and catapult President Herney back into the White House for another four years. But when Rachel makes a shocking discovery and her life is put in danger, Senator Sexton's play for the White House might be saved. So let us be entirely honest and call a spade a spade. This book is pure nonsense. It goes beyond the bounds of all plausibility. But Brown uses real technology and scientific discovery to advance the plot. Certainly his use of said technology and discoveries stretch my limits of suspending disbelief, but that is what makes Brown's books so fun. He takes something real and pushes the limits of what could happen...if. That is the first thing I like about the book. It's obvious that Brown spends time doing his research. So even if the antics are far fetched, at least he uses real and interesting developments in science. Second, it's fast...really fast. Everything happens in a matter of about thirty-six hours. Again, really far fetched, but it moves the story along. There is no time for a lull in the plot when everything comes together so quickly. Brown is the master of cramming the action into short windows. It sort of leaves you feeling exhausted when you come to the climax. I like that. What's more, he stays focused on the conflict and doesn't weigh down the plot with needless sexual exploits. It's suggested, of course. And Senator Sexton is, well, let's just say he's the typical prototype of the power hungry politician, so of course there is that scandal. But it fits in with modern politics and, more importantly, the plot of the story. And there is no graphic depiction, in any case. Again, it's something I appreciate because personally I want the story to focus on the development of the conflict, and in this case, it does. And I have to admit, I was surprised at the end. I thought Brown was leading me down one road, but I ended up somewhere else entirely. Now I suppose that there may have been some sort of clues that would suggest the ending I got, but I didn't see them coming. I was so caught up in the action that I didn't really pay attention. That's the mark of a good thriller, and I thought Brown did a great job disguising any trace of who does what. Like I said, it is stock...entirely and completely unbelievable. But it is pure escapism. And for that reason alone, I highly recommend.

2022-11-14 17:14