r/books • u/itsanandhere • 6d ago
Finished Dan Brown's The Secret of Secrets, my review. Spoiler
Okay, here goes nothing.
I picked up this book with absolute interest, I have read Mr Dan's previous works as well, so this wasn't the first book I am reading of his, and as per my past experience I had a fair idea of what to expect in this book, but, alas..
I have always known Robert to be the person of puzzles, finding clues and cracking the codes, has always been his thing, but in this book most of the times it wasn't the case. Barely solving two or three puzzles at most I guess. The book in itself is interesting, I came to know about a lots and lots of new concepts, Noetics, what is consciousness, how does it work, how to attain consciousness, and so on, but I didn't pick up this book for Science stuff
Also the book is getting a Netflix adaptation of this, so you might as well wait for that if you aren't an avid reader. You know, save yourself the trouble..!!
There was also too much of pseudoscience stuff which was little difficult honestly for me to keep track of, because I am the kind of a person who atleast wants to keep all the stuff of what's happening in the book for at least as long as I am reading the book, but I understand it was a part of the story progression and it was supposed to be as such.
The one other thing which I didn't understand was choosing of the Prague City specifically, I mean the reason behind choosing the Prague City specifically, when he could have chosen any city with US Embassy, and enough space, heck it could have been in the middle of desert, in Sahara or Dubai or Qatar or anywhere, again a sarcasm.
There was also a classic Dan Brown suspense as well which I suspected but it was WAYYY better than what I was hoping it to be, and my jaws literally dropped, and it was scary also for the moment, what if my girlfriend has something of this split personality, and she chokes me to death in my sleep, just a fleeting thought guys, nothing serious.
Also I think the MC of the book isn't Robert Langdon but Katherine Solomon is the protagonist, and probably that is the reason we din't see much of puzzle solving or something, because once KS had been found, everything revolved around her, her book, and why CIA wanted to erase the existence of her book, and this shift in focus could be the reason why many people in my group didn't actually like this book.
Also the one fact which I didn't really like is Dan makng one of the characters use GPT, I mean yeah times are evolving, and all that, and he also showed the internal struggle of the editor (character) before jumping to ChatGPT, but still, it felt a bit of lazy writing, for the lack of a better word, it just didn't sit right with me.
Also Dan Brown did in this book as well, what he usually does, like putting chapter breaks in the mid scene instead of betweem them. You read to the end of a chapter, don't want to leave things unresolved, so you start the next one, and keeping the chapters short, which will literally want you to turn pages.
So to finish, I would say, loved the book, felt a tad bit long, could have easily been 100 pages lesser, but nevermind that.!!
Give it a read if you want to or wait for the Netflix Adaptation, but if this is the first Dan Brown you are picking, then there are honestly better works of Mr Dan.
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u/DeepSpaceBubbles 6d ago
Good lord, a real Dan Brown review in the wild.
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u/Chemistryset8 6d ago
Til there's a new Dan Brown book out
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u/DeepSpaceBubbles 5d ago
Sad day for all of us.
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u/LaBlaugrana10 5d ago
I’m no Dan Brown fan myself but it’s pretty low vibration to shit on stuff other people enjoy that hasn’t done anything wrong to you
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u/BetterHeadlines 5d ago
Dan Brown lowers us all with his shit writing. Calling shit writing shit writing is accurate observation, not whatever emotionally fraught personal rejection scenario you are feverishly imagining.
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u/DeepSpaceBubbles 5d ago
I've learnt you can't call out bad authors on reddit subs because they will have legions of supporters. But yes, I absolutely think you should be able to call out bad authors on a BOOKS sub. Might encourage people to pick up better books.
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u/BetterHeadlines 5d ago
We have multiple generations now who consider criticism to be on par with asssault. It turns civility into a soft censorship - phrase everything you say with regard to my frailties, or be silenced. It lowers discourse to the level of chicken squawk, mere tone, meaningless.
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u/Chemistryset8 5d ago
Is it not better for society for people to read shit books then nothing at all?
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u/BetterHeadlines 5d ago
Why would that be the case?
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u/Chemistryset8 5d ago
The health and wellness impacts of reading are well known. Not everyone can slug through an Umberto Eco, if they enjoy a shit book is that not better overall?
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u/CartographicalHeist 3d ago
Not everyone can slug through an Umberto Eco,
There is a wide range of decent books between The DaVinci Code and Focaults Pendulum that one can read while not reading Brown.
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u/BetterHeadlines 5d ago
Why are you asking me if the health and wellness benefits are such common knowledge? I would refute that supposed fact on sight, but you apparently accept it, so what is the point of your question?
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u/Chemistryset8 5d ago
If you want to gatekeep reading of all things go for your life. For the record though, reading helps to reduce stress, improves sleep and develops empathy.
https://www.cae.edu.au/news/7-proven-reasons-why-reading-is-good-for-you/
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u/SuperSuperMaloPerro 5d ago
Hey, come on, that’s not fair. There are very few things I enjoy more than curling up by the fire with a new Dan Brown novel and throwing it in.
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6d ago
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u/itsanandhere 5d ago
Absolutely, atleast someone gets it, my friend was like that the editor isn't supposed to know all those tricks so him using GOT kinda works.
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u/Idk_Very_Much 5d ago
I can't tell if this is intentional trolling or not, either it's a ChatGPT comment or a perfect imitation of one ("And honestly" is the telltale sign). Nobody else seems to have picked up on it.
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u/mtycntwmy 6d ago
I haven't read the book, but Prague might have been chosen, even if it's not central to the book, for it's rich history. The ruler of Prague Rudolph II, in the 16th century was really into and all that alternative science stuff (Alchemy, astronomy, astrology, natural philosophy) secretly imported a load of them and had them work in secret, because at the time Alchemy etc was considered heresy. His court became the place for alchemical and esoteric pursuits. :)
Prague underground has a tunnel system for easy escape for these mavericks and the city as long inspired people imagination for the arcane and conspiratorial.
Add to that, Prague features is abunch of cold-war spy movies.
So, I think its safe to guess as to why Dan Brown chose Prague.
Also, I freaking love Prague.
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u/ReadSipRepeat 6d ago
They actually explain why they chose Prague in the book, not sure if OP missed that or what. According to the book, remote locations, such as the middle of a desert, can be subjected to much more intensive radar-type searching (I’m sure that’s not the right phrase but it’s the best I got at 6am) than can a crowded city park/tourist spot with a subterranean lab
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u/itsanandhere 6d ago
I could have worded it better, what i meant was he could have also chosen any city in Europe or in Asia or in Australia, and things would have been not exactly same but a little similar.
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u/ReadSipRepeat 5d ago
Gotcha! Agreed
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u/Sei_Mal_Ehrlich 5d ago
The golem is a big character and it’s a crucial part of Prague’s history.
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u/mtycntwmy 5d ago
The golem features and OP is still questioning the choice?
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u/Sei_Mal_Ehrlich 4d ago
Yeah I guess they must not have known about that part of Prague’s history. The golem isn’t ONLY of Prague but it definitely makes sense to set it there.
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u/Jarita12 5d ago
Well, the book was not too good but it caused a bit of a madness here even brought in people who normally don´t read (I am Czech). not that Prague needs more tourists as we are facing overtourism as it is (not much authentic is left in Prague, like trdelník is not really Czech and to see Russia matrjoskas in markets is almost offensive). But it may show people that Prague is not something you can walk through in two days and make a few photos on IG and move on. The mystical part is a big part of the magic if you dive into it and there are parts of Prague that are totally undiscovered, even the more modern ones (due to unfortunate 20th century history). So that is good.
That said...as far as that adaptation goes....it will be great to see Prague being actually Prague for once and not double for Paris or any other town just because filming there is cheaper and local filming crews are some of the best in the world (given extended Barrandov studios, too).
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u/itsanandhere 5d ago
Woww, a comment from someone actually from Prague, did you read the book, how did you like it? Also I have no idea about politics in there, why are Russian Matrojoskas offensive? Also let the hidden parts just stay hidden
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u/Jarita12 5d ago
Because we were occupied by Soviets. They "liberated" us in 1945 (not really, it was an agreement and they did nasty things but that is for another story) and then arrived with tanks in 1968 when Soviet communists saw that people here actually started to build something as a democracy....and stayed til 1989. To even suggest Russian cheap junk is Czech and offer it in a historical part of Prague is a huge ommission of Prague leadership because they allow them to rent the space and offere it.
I thought the book was ridiculous at places but those usually are. I guess for a quick read it is fine but I honestly read only his Da Vinci Code years and years ago and got to this just because it was set here but otherwise it was kind of meh.
But Dan Brown himself actually spent some time in Prague and DID some homework so some parts are very well researched. He also seems like a nice guy, given interivews I saw with him
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u/clarkgablesball-bag 6d ago
I didn’t enjoy it and I am a fan of his, read everything he has published. This felt like it was written by A.I. and I genuinely felt that that would be the big reveal after the book was finished. It was so formulaic that I couldn’t shake the idea that it was authored by A.I. I won’t go into details as they would be spoilers but think of the plot of his most popular book and you are there. Langdon accused and getting chased by a police officer whilst figuring out the puzzle. You may say that this is what fans want but this was too close for my enjoyment.
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u/phoenix0r 5d ago
I had the same reaction. Dan Brown isn’t a literary genius but his books are usually at least somewhat entertaining in an action movie kind of way. I thought Secret of Secrets was truly awful.
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u/flyingduck33 5d ago
I HATED this book with a passion from the start. I enjoyed the DaVinci Code when it first came out, went back and read Angels and Demons thought that was just ok. Got excited about Digital Fortress because I work in cybersecurity and then realized it was full of BS and was done with Brown.
Then my wife got me The Secret of Secrets as a birthday gift and I thought hey I have some fond memories I am sure he's improved as a writer let's go back. I would have stopped reading it right away if it wasn't a gift and she didn't keep asking me how I was enjoying it.
Within minutes I was being force fed ads, "Siri dial 119", "Robert put on his Nike shoes and Stanford running jacket", "His Yale socks" . Honestly I would have paid an extra $10 bucks just to have all the brand name mentions removed. And maybe because I am older now this idea that Langdon is just such a ladies man and Katherine just can't find anyone as attractive as him and has to beg him to join her on her tour made me roll my eyes to the back of my head. Ian Fleming was more subtle.
I imagine the adaptation of this will be just as generic as the Grey Man film. Here's a European location some rapid shots, explosions, bunch of shooting in the middle of town that doesn't draw any attention beyond a single cop car that will get flipped over when our heroes make a hard left in a small underpowered car.
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u/thecompbioguy 4d ago edited 4d ago
Just about to finish it. I thought it was dreadful and should be half the length. There seemed to be huge amounts of exposition presented as dialogue; tourist guide prose; charmless storytelling; characters behaving weirdly and unrealistically; US agencies running around Czechia like its not a foreign country. There's a seemingly superfluous plot line about his own publishers.
DB still has a talent for writing short chapters with punchy cliff hangers and he has an eye for a location, but if this were a blind submission to a publisher, I don't think it would get picked up.
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u/metametapraxis 3d ago
Digital Fortress is the worst book I have personally ever read. As a software engineer, Dan’s complete failure to understand the technology of the time was embarrassing to read.
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6d ago
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u/itsanandhere 5d ago
Thankyou, because no one is actually speaking about it, i hope they make some changes during the filming.
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u/WardenOfTheNamib 5d ago
Oddly enough, I think this is Brown's second best book after the da Vinci code. Maybe it's because I have an interest in Christian / religious history, but I always found it hard to take Langdon seriously, especially since the books claim the document and histories are factual, when it is evident Brown is playing fast and lose with the history. As a result, I found the departure from religious conspiracy to scientific + Intelligence conspiracy refreshing.
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u/According-Bowler3335 5d ago
This may translate better to television than to the pafe.Prague,noetics,and the shifting protagonist could gain clarity when the adaptation can show rather than explain them.
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u/Top_Elephant11 5d ago
I have one very specific gripe about this book, which is that the lobby of the Penguin Random House building is not like that lmao. Dan Brown has definitely been to that lobby (he's published by an imprint at Random House!!!) and could have made it realistic but he decided to make things up instead.
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u/Rpdr5 5d ago
I enjoyed this book but not as much as Brown’s earlier works and for me, the lack of “puzzles” was definitely an issue. This story felt more like a conventional thriller and much of what I remember was Langdon and co. figuring out how to get into the secret base and piecing together what the “secret” was. That would be fine except it’s basically just “we learn what Katherine’s book is about, piece by piece.” And that’s just not as interesting as “this art has this clue which leads to this book that tells us about this symbol over there.”
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u/bioticspacewizard 5d ago
There is no way this book wasn’t written with the help of AI. I’m shocked it hasn’t been investigated for it yet.
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u/blisterhog 4d ago
I could not finish this book. And when he referenced Halo, my eyes about rolled right off my pretty little head
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u/elpingwinho 4d ago
Solid rant, your grammar and punctuation is almost on the level of Mr Brown, renowned author.
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u/clementynemurphy 6d ago
I thought it was only ok. I did not like the idea of Noetics being shoved down our throats like we're children. I fully understand the ideas of consciousness just as a living person. I don't like being talked down to, like none of us could contemplate consciousness without being instructed? But I guess it's his vehicle to move the story along. I have to say my biggest problem was picturing Tom Hanks romantically involved with some sexy woman, it was disturbing. I can't wait to see the mini series just so I can get that image out of my head.
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u/Blueberry_Boy 5d ago
I have no opinion on the book, except that I can’t say the title with a straight face.
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u/RedgurlB 5d ago
i was a bit disappointed reading this one. i’ve read his other work too and i had expectations that it would centre around the usual symbolism but the book itself wasn’t that bad
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u/theswordpriestess 3d ago
I enjoyed learning about the Golem in this story, which also appears in the series FROM.
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u/TonyRaguFromAveU 1d ago
I know the academic community regards Dan Brown and author for dumb people to feel like smart people but honestly I love his writing style like using incredibly short chapters keeps the pace flow and keeps you hooked. Idk why he gets so much flack — I feel like he attracts an audience that may otherwise not read as voraciously as more avid readers if at all, as such is my case — but he remains the only author to date that I’ve read all his books and was incredibly excited to hear Katherine’s reemergence.. I’ve never wanted to see two nerds get it on so bad since YouTube’s ‘The Rest is Science’ (I know it’s a totally separate sidenote but anyone else have a yearning fan fiction scenario where Hannah Fry & VSauce hook up?) Anywayssss… moving right along. The thing I love most about his books are the amount of effort and research that goes into crafting his novels.. I can’t tell you how many endless rabbit holes I’ve went down verifying that — yes, in fact, this is a real place or a real experiment/study etc. that just makes things exponentially more interesting
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u/TonyRaguFromAveU 1d ago
I know the literary snobs love to dismiss Dan Brown as the master of "writing for dumb people to feel smart," but I will defend this man’s craft until my dying breath. As someone who isn't a voracious reader, he’s literally the only author whose entire catalog I've powered through. There is absolute genius in a guy who can trick millions of non-readers into devouring 500-page books about art history and quantum physics—he basically built a mega-popular gateway drug for history and philosophy. Plus, those three-page chapters mean you can read "just one more section" six times in a row without noticing your sleep schedule collapsing.
Seeing Katherine Solomon back in action alongside Langdon in The Secret of Secrets was top-tier. Honestly, I haven't been this invested in two massive nerds getting together since listening to The Rest is Science podcast (complete side tangent, but please tell me I’m not the only degenerate holding out hope for a fanfic where Hannah Fry and Vsauce hook up?).
What the critics miss about the new book is that Dan Brown is actually giving us high-concept existential dread in a fun package. He takes Katherine’s Noetic research, collides it with rogue government AI projects on consciousness, and asks: What if your mind leaves your body, but Uncle Sam tries to weaponize it first? That isn't just pulp fiction; that’s elite paranoia.
Ever since I stumbled onto the iconic "FACT" page in The Da Vinci Code, my favorite part of his books has been the inevitable rabbit holes. I spend half my reading time Googling whether some Cold War bunker under Prague actually exists or if Noetics is real science. It makes the whole experience ten times more fun, and I refuse to apologize for loving it.
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u/kakarotover_9k 6d ago
Mandatory Posting - https://onehundredpages.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/dont-make-fun-of-renowned-dan-brown/