Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

Picked up this book...pretty excited about it. Post Angels and Demons, Brown's narrative gets stale. I didn't like Deception Point and Digital Fortress that much after getting familiar with Brown's walking talking running jumping encyclopaedic archeaophiles. After boosting tourist traffic in France and Italy, Brown is all set to do his bit for the American economy albeit with a lethal dash of action, suspense and drama. Strangely, the book jacket doesn't mention any female character akin to Sophie Neveu, Vittoria Vetra, Rachel Sexton and Susan Fletcher. Wonder who the heroine in this one is. Will get back after I complete it.

Cheerio:)

At first you smile amusingly...

Then turn away expecting not to return..

Browse through the treasures on the burdened shelves.

Come back and now pick it up.

Run your fingers on the shiny silver cover.

Read the abstract.

Then keep it back. After much wrangling, I purchase

"The Curious Case of 221 B--The Secret Notebooks of John H. Watson, MD" by Partha Basu.

I am a Sherlock Holmes fan--maybe not the ultimate fan nevertheless a fan. I've read the Complete Works umpteen number of times and am still filled with foreboding at the Hound; marvel at the peeling away of the Study in Scarlet and smirk at the pathetic bufoon in the Blue Carbuncle. Enough rambling.

The Curious Case of 221 B etc etc shifts your perpective to the female characters. Partha Basu creates rounded personalities in Irene Adler, Frances Carfax, Kitty Winter, Gemma Gold aka Violet Smith. These non-consequential heroines who have been dismissed as scheming or naive (with the exception of Irene Adler) have got their say back at Holmes. The notebooks are engaging while the narrative tries to build up stamina.

Enjoyed the read.

Cheers!