Angels & Demons is Dan Brown’s first book containing Robert Langdon, the Harvard symbologist.  Langdon seems to find himself in a high-energy, extremely dangerous, historically based adventure that takes the reader through the ancient city of Rome and more specifically Vatican City.  Somewhat convoluted, the story is fun to read because of its fast -paced action mingled with ancient puzzles.  This gives the reader a hint of culture and learning.  Robert Langdon is also a great hero and seems to have the allure similar to that of Indiana Jones.

Some find Brown’s theories about history and especially religion controversial.  This may be off-putting to certain groups of people, but taking the story for what it is, namely an action adventure, may curtail that reaction. 

History, science, and religion mix together in this up-tempo adventure to make it an entertaining book to read, but I wouldn’t use it as a historical reference book.  Unless, of course, you are discussing fictional heroes and their adventures. 

Content Analysis:

Language/Profanity:  8 religious exclamations; 6 mild obscenities; 3 religious profanities; 6 derogatory names; 2 scatological words.

Violence/Gore: Several gory murders that involve branding, torture, gruesome death, one is extended and all are descriptive; two murders involving fire arms; hand to hand fight that ends in death of character who falls to death; historical references to murders, hangings, and burning at the stake, non-detailed; few creepy or scaring situations – trapped in an overturned sarcophagus with remains of body, descending and exploring into ancient tombs and catacombs.

Sex/Nudity:  Mention of prostitution that involved some sexual deviancy, non-descriptive; one encounter involving consenting adults with nudity, non-descriptive.

Mature Subject Matter:

Torture, murder, war, persecution, prostitution.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adults drink wine.