I have been anticipating the release of “The Lost Symbol” since Dan Brown announced it right after “The Da Vinci Code” rose to fame. Years later, I finally have a copy in my hands. I ran out Sunday morning to Wal-mart to pick it up (and got it for 45% off!) and eagerly dug in.

I admit, it took a bit to get going, but once it did, I wasn’t TOTALLY disappointed.

Dan Brown is under a lot of pressure. With the unprecedented success of “The Da Vinci Code” and “Angels and Demons” Brown has to live up to the standards set by himself. The two first books in the Robert Langdon series captivated the world and turned into a multi-billion dollar franchise, complete with their own movies. When Brown first announced a third book in the series, originally titled “The Solomon Key,” people began counting down the days. And then Brown delayed the release. And then delayed it again. Now critics predict that Brown may have delayed the release TOO long, as reactions to the book are less than stellar. With anything else, you have to strike while the iron is hot, and Brown’s iron has slightly, well, cooled.

Fortunately, “The Lost Symbol” is written as a typical Robert Langdon novel and hopefully, that is good enough for his fans. The formula is the same: Robert Langdon is involved in an action sequence, he spots a mystery symbol, he explains the symbol to the general public (usually involving a shocking revelation) and then moves on to the next chapter, complete with another mysterious symbol and action sequence. And then another chapter. And another… Read More »

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In the world of higher education, there are universities, and there are colleges. The fundamental difference between the two are resources: the former usually boasts graduate degree programs and a larger faculty. But bigger doesn’t always mean better.  A traditional liberal arts college places its entire focus on educating the undergraduate. Yes, the fresh-outta-high-school-barely-able-to-vote-let-alone-know-what-I-wanna-do-with-my-life set. Where to go for such an education? Let’s take a trip up to Massachusetts, where Williams College and Amherst College have been trying to answer that question for centuries.

1. Mascot Matchup

Amherst- The Lord (and Lady) Jeffs, named for college founder Lord Jefferey Amherst, is a perfect spirit leader for those who like their sports icons to be dignified and historical.
Williams- Similarly, the Williams mascot–the Eph–is named for it’s founder, Ephraim Williams. But if you like a bit of whimsy with your historical icon, the Ephs are represented by a purple cow.

Three credits to: Williams–how could you go wrong with anything purple? Read More »

So lately I have, like the rest of the world it seems, been anticipating the release of Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons” film. I’ve re-read the book (I have the nice copy with pictures!) and “The Da Vinci Code” in preparation and cannot seem to satisfy my historical-thriller appetite. So along with “The Reincarnationist,” here is another book that filled my need for some serious reading adrenaline.

“The Historian” by Elizabeth Kostova is a LARGE book. I have the hardcover copy and let me tell you, this thing is by no means dainty. At a whopping 642 pages, you’re in for the long haul with this one. But what a fast-paced, exciting and intriguing haul it is!

Kostova takes the classic story of Dracula and weaves it into a story about the hunt for the real man, Vlad the Impaler, who supposedly did discover a way to become immortal. With vivid descriptions of the majestic countries of the Eastern Bloc (if you’re ever been, you will be drooling with jealously) and scary dives into crypts and ancient castles, Kostova is sure to please a history or travel buff purely with her settings. Read More »

For all of you Dan Brown fans just chomping at the bit waiting for “The Solomon Key” (word on the street is you’ll be waiting for eternity), I have a book to satisfy your appetites for a while! “The Reincarnationist” is an adventure novel with a slightly paranormal twist; several of the characters have been reincarnated and are remembering their past lives!

This novel is a quick, easy read, but has a great story. Rose is an accomplished author and is exceptional at description, making you feel as though you are in the story. The beautiful settings of modern and ancient Rome and New York City are so vivid and vibrant, I had no problem envisioning the adventure taking place right before my own eyes. The emotions of the story run high as well and I found myself wrapped up in the story, cheering for the good guys and cringing when the bad guys got ahead.

The historical aspect of the book was also a real treat. Rose did her research about ancient Rome and seamlessly intertwined interesting history into her novel. Even though I am history buff and former history major, I found that I learned some about the Pagan religions of the ancients, and especially enjoyed reading about the Vestal Virgins. Read More »