Angels and Demons #4

Finally, the feared-action of the Illumnati has occurred. The first cardinal was killed and branded with the mark "Earth" exactly at 8 o'clock as the killer of Illumnati had warned. I have read up till page three hundred, and soon, the second cardinal will become the victim with a branded mark "Air" on his chest. My question is, will Langdon and Vittoria will be able to stop this misconduct and bravely confront the Illumnati?
Yes, the first cardinal was killed like what I have expected. However, my prediction was that Langdon and Vitrtorai will see the first cardinal being killed at the Pathenon except that the Illumnati will escape from the Vatican guards and Langdon and Vittoria. But there was a twist. When Langdon and Vittoria were anxiously waiting for the killer to reveal himself inside the Pathenon, they realized their flaws in their predictions. It turned out that they were at the wrong place at the last minute or few minutes before 8 o'clock. Hence, they were terrified and endeavored to go to the actual place where the murder will happen on time. However, their effort was futile because when they arrived at the Chigi chapel, it was too late for the cardinal was already dead. This twist created such suspense; it was such a surprise. I marvel at how Dan Brown engaged me into the novel, making me wait for the murder to happen at the pathenon, but making a twist and swirling and amusing my mind. Again, I certainly love these twists that Dan Brown uses. His twists never disappoint me!
While reading the book, I started feeling skeptical towards Maximillian Kohler. Once in a while, there would be short chapters about what Kohler is doing at CERN. He has left his office and intruded Leonardo Vetra's lab and room to find something. I wonder what he was scrutinizing, and I even thought and I am thinking that Kohler might be an accomplice or an associate with the Illumnati because of his suspicious actions. I even asked this question to my father who read this book before, and he gave me a small smile telling me, "You'll find out." Now that I am even more curious, I am eager to continue reading, face the twists, and find the answers.

Angels and Demons #3

Angels and Demons – Entry #3

I am so excited about the fact that clues are being revealedㅡclues that are potentially answers to my questions that I have had. Langdon and Vittoria found the clue that answers where the Illumnati is located and where they will be killing the four cardinals. It is already evident that the Illumnati does exist in the novel. Furthermore, there is suspense created in the book because there is only four hours left until the antimatter explodes in Vatican City. As I have been reading the novel, I naturally read fast in order to find out whether Langdon and Vittoria will be able to find the antimatter and prevent the explosion. I have made many guesses about what will happen next based on foreshadowing, but I am uncertain about the climax and resolution. My prediction right now is that Langdon and Vittoria will confront the Illumnati for sure. I can predict this from the text because Langdon and Vittoria found the clue, Galileo’s writing, which Langdon analyzes that the clue they found will lead them to where the Illumnati are. Frankly, I do not completely comprehend what the clue is and how the clue will help them, but the discovery they made in the archive makes me believe that from now on, the novel will be about Langdon and Vittoria facing the Illumnati.

However, the Dan Brown does not only write about Langdon and Vittoria’s point of view. Once in a while, there are short chapters about the Illumnati’s point of view. Whenever I read those short chapters, they make me feel worried and angry. The most recent chapter that I read was written in the Illumnati’s point of view from chapter 53. What is happening is that the four cardinals are individually saying things in their vernacular language. They are shouting out loud in the dark phrases like “Help me”, “Let us go”, “What do you want”, and “God, help us”. As I read and imagined the cardinals desperately saying these words, it made me worry about their deaths, if it really happens. At the same time, I felt resentment towards the killer, or the Illumnati, because the Illumnati cruelly shut them up and said, “Now then, who shall be first?” I detest the killer’s evilness and brutality. I cannot believe what the killer is about to do; he or she is about to conduct his plan of killing the four cardinals one by one. As I read this part, I felt hatred about the Illumnati, and I sincerely wanted to help rescuing the cardinals if I were one of the characters in the novel.

Angels and Demons #2

Angels and Demons – Entry #2.

I have read up till page 140 in the book Angels and Demons and I obviously didn’t get much clues or answers to the questions I had asked last week about the book. Up till now, what happened is that someone, (assumed to be the Illumnati), had stolen the canister that held antimatter, which was invented by Leonardo Vetra. Vittoria is baffled because no one was supposed to know where the canister located and how to get access to it except her. She is confused about who might’ve taken the canister, and simultaneously she is infuriated by the fact that someone murdered her beloved father. She is psychologically undergoing a hard time, and Robert Langdon remains tacit trying to solve the mystery. There is a report that the canister has been located in Vatican City, so Langdon and Vittoria fly to Vatican City to find the canister of antimatter in 24 hours to prevent disaster from the explosion of it.

I want to comment on Maximillian Kohler, who is the head of the CERN. Personally, I dislike the character. One thing I like about him is his logic. Whatever he says, he says in very logical ways supported with reason and evidence. I like his eloquent speech. However, I dislike his cold heart. Isn’t it the priority to report a death case to the police when such brutal murder occurs? Even though one of his colleagues was bloodily murdered in his company, Kohler insisted on not reporting for he fears that the reputation of CERN will depreciate. However, if Kohler is a sympathetic and caring person, he would’ve listened to Vittoria’s suggestions. Vittoria, who is Leonardo Vetra’s daughter, is extremely shocked and sad with his father’s death and she suggested calling the police; but Kohler’s immediate reaction was holding her back. Besides this, Kohler is too cold and logical in any circumstances. It seems to me that he has no emotions towards anything and I detest that kind of character. I myself am very sympathetic towards others and I dislike when people react with bluntness and indifference to circumstances. If I were Kohler, I would first try to comfort her instead of immediately warning her not to tell this incident to anyone.

Besides the plot, characters, and other literary elements of the book, the portion I read this week made me recollect my past memories of my trip to Vatican City. Two years ago, my family traveled to Rome and Pompeii, Italy and Vatican City. While I was reading this portion, I had a hard time focusing on the plot because I kept reminiscing my vacation at Vatican City. So I decided to pause reading and just call back the past memories at Vatican. When Langdon and Vittoria arrived near the St. Peter’s Basilica, I remembered myself amazed over the grand and unique architecture of it and the elaborate and detailed structure and design of the interior. I also recalled the beautiful clouds that day outside of the Basillica. In addition, I recollected the fatigue I underwent due to walking over 4 hours to tour and look at all the art works, sculptures, and more in Vatican City Museum. I was glad to recollect the good memories of my trip at Vatican City.

Angels and Demons #1

Angels and Demons – Entry #1.

My first novel that I’m reading this year is Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. So far, I’ve read up till page 82. In terms of the plot, I already read the exposition and now I’m entering the rising action. There are several characters in this novel. Some of them have distinct and apparent characteristics, while others are mysterious. Robert Langdon is the protagonist of the story; he is a professor at Harvard University who studies religious iconology. The man who calls Langdon into adventure is Maximillian Kohler, who is the head of Counseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN). The victim of the conflict is Leonardo Vetra, a theophysicist at CERN. Vittoria Vetra is Leonardo’s adopted daughter. It is assumed, or I should rather say, I assume that the organization who murdered Leonardo Vetra would be the antagonist.

The major outbreak of the novel is the murder of Leonardo Vetra. Frankly, I am still not 100 percent sure of what the conflict is. However, I think the conflict is men vs. men: between Langdon and the murderer. Langdon is called by Kohler because Kohler seeks help from Langdon to solve the inexplicable murder. The peculiarity of the murder is that the killer imprinted a mark “Illumnati” on Vetra’s chest and took one of Vetra’s eyeballs. When Langdon confronts the dead body of Vetra, he is extremely surprised. What stuns him the most is the mark “Illumnati,” which is an archaic code that signifies Satanic. It also used to refer to an ancient group that was strongly against Christianity. Step by step, Langdon strives to solve the mystery, and slowly he uncovers some evidence. In the process, he figures out that Vetra is a theophysicist and his recent research and discoveries. Though he is a scientist, his goal in his life is to use science to prove God’s existence. Thus, Vetra had been conducting an experiment and discovered the truth of the origin of the world. However, the mystery here is that Vittoria was the only one that knew about her father’s research and results. Besides, the only way to get access to Vetra’s lab that contains his research was through Vetra’s retina. This shocks Langdon because of the possibility that the “Illumnati” still exists. The part that the murderer took Vetra’s eye tells that the murderer knows about Vetra’s research; however, the only person who is supposed to know is Vittoria. Langdon continues to struggle to figure out the solution to the mystery…

So far, I find this novel EXCITING! I love the mystery in it and I love how Dan Brown writes in such an enigmatic manner. Angels and Demons is like a labyrinth. As I continue reading it, I feel like I know what will happen afterwards, I know what the next sentence will be, I know what evidences will be revealed, and more. However, almost every guesses that I make are off the tangent. This is what I love about this book. It makes me ask numerous questions and predict what will happen next. However, it surprises me all the time. For example, one thing that surprised me was that Leonardo Vetra is a theo-Physicist. Previous to figuring that out, I wondered why would (if the “Illumnati” still exists”) the “Illumnati” kill a normal physicist. I kept questioned myself why would that particular group want to kill a scientist. I asked, “Wouldn’t the Illumnati rather like Vetra since he is a scientist and he believes in the Big Bang Theory?” But when it turned out that Vetra was an unusual figure who believes in both creation and evolution, I was shocked and astonished. I didn’t expect that at all and I never heard of a scientist who simultaneously supports evolution and creation. Like this, I look forward to continue reading Angels and Demons and encounter more surprises!