Pan: 11/22/63

     Let me preface this post by saying that there are three specific historical events and/or people that fascinate me. Absolutely fascinate me. I wish I could more eloquently describe how I feel about each of these things, but I get so worked up I can hardly wrap my mind around it all in order to write something remotely sensible. My trifecta is in no way, shape, or form in any kind of preferential order, as I simply cannot choose which one means the most to me. Nonetheless, here they are:

1. Titanic- the ship, the sinking of, passengers, underwater wreckage, etc. 

2. The life and death of Princess Diana

3. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy

     With that being said, you can only imagine my feelings of excitement over hearing about this new fiction writing, 11/22/63, which relates to the shooting of JFK at Dealy Plaza. I was a little wary with it being a Stephen King novel, as I've got these preconceived notions about horror and gore and just general creepy weirdness associated with his books (Carrie...It...Kujo...Rose Red?!). But alas, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is in my fascination trifecta, so I just couldn't say no. 11/22/63 made for a great present under the Christmas tree in 2011. Thanks brother and sister-in-law!

I love a good conspiracy theory. Apparently, so does Jerry. The Seinfeld of Zapruder films

      With the 50 Shades trilogy behind me, I was ready to start something a little more intellectually stimulating. And grammatically correct. And good. So this was a very nice change. The novel is 842 pages of serious action. Now that may seem like a daunting number, but it is broken up in to shorter sections within chapters within 6 different parts. This makes it not so intimidating and definitely doable. The book follows the adventures of our main character Jake Epping, a high school English teacher from Maine. Recently divorced with no children, he appears to be the perfect candidate for a 5-year stint in time travel, or so Al the Diner Owner believes.

     Jake is a regular at Al's Diner, a place known for cheap burgers made with questionable beef. Al explains to Jake his discovery of a wormhole-like time warp concealed within the back end of his diner's pantry. Jake tests out its validity and spends an afternoon in 1958 ("always starts in 1958," he learns from Al) drinking a root beer float and chatting with the locals. He returns to 2011 a mere two minutes after he stepped out of the diner pantry and in to the sunlight of the late 1950s ("always back in two minutes," he learns from Al). Al divulges his plans for time traveling to Jake, plans that involve stopping Lee Harvey Oswald from shooting President John F. Kennedy in Dallas 1963. Al admits that he himself cannot accomplish the task, as his health is declining rapidly from end-stage lung cancer. Jake, reluctant at first, agrees to travel in time and fight to change the past.  

     Reminiscent of Ray Bradbury, 11/22/63 will appeal to those of you who are fans of the science fiction/doomsday/what if kind of novel. In true Stephen King style, there is plenty of gore to go around. However, there is plenty of action and adventure as well. There is even a little bit of love, which I am a total sucker for. In true Stephen King style, it gave me the chills. 

Pan: The Lost Symbol

     Being the avid reader that I am (or think I am, rather), I have established a couple of rules for myself when it comes to tackling a book. 1) If I start a book, I must finish said book and 2) the decision to reread a book can be made only after determining that said book is declared above and beyond in worthiness. Admittedly, I have broken Rule #1 on two occasions: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Committed (ironic?) by Elizabeth Gilbert. Just couldn't get into them. Rule #2 is highly selective and reserved only for the elite of the elite. Namely Harry Potter (three times thinking about a fourth) and Wuthering Heights. Classic!

     As it is so out of character for me to reread a novel, I was surprised to find myself wanting to pick up The Lost Symbol for a second time. A few months ago, I purchased this gem at the local Half-Priced Books in the clearance section for $1. I've read all of Dan Brown's novels and have yet to be disappointed in any of his stories. However, for some reason I just couldn't remember the plot to this one at all. I could tell you where I was when I first read it--sophomore in college living in an apartment complex on campus--but that's about as far as it goes.

     The Lost Symbol is the third novel in which Harvard professor Robert Langdon involuntarily plays the role of detective. This guy must be a magnet for mysteries and madmen, as indicated by his previous adventures in The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons. In Symbol, Langdon is summoned by an old friend of his, Peter Solomon. More specifically, Peter Solomon's assistant (this is important, I promise). The assistant asks if it is possible for the professor to come to Washington, D.C. to deliver a keynote address for a charity function, as the initial speaker has unexpectedly cancelled. Langdon flies to D.C., only to discover that there is no charity function and that he is now in the midst of a hostage/solve the puzzle/wild goose chase kind of a situation. He realizes fast that the "assistant" to Peter Solomon is in fact the criminal in all that is going on. The novel is written from multiple point of views, three of which are most prominent: Robert Langdon, Mal'akh the kidnapper, and Peter Solomon's sister Katherine Solomon. The Lost Symbol focuses on the Freemason society and highlights important symbolism within the unique community as well as various rituals that are required for each degree of membership.

     Brown's writing is so fun and so exciting to read, his books are just too difficult to put down. I love how he incorporates American history with modern-day science into this particular novel and as I finish this, I can't help but think I learned something new with a fiction thriller. As the CIA becomes involved in Langdon's quest to solve the multi-faceted puzzles of the Freemasons, the reader is able to experience Washington, D.C. landmarks like never before. It is easy to see that Dan Brown's 1.5+ years of historical research regarding the city monuments, Noetic science, and the Smithsonian Institute was not in vain and makes for great read. I am so excited for his next novel, believed to be released in the next year.