Review: The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

Confession up front: Dan Brown isn't my favourite author. I've read The Da Vinci Code, preferred Angels and Demons, so I thought The Lost Symbol would be an easy read with a bit of entertaining hokum. That's what it offered, peppered as usual with Brown's passion for symbols and determination to link conspiracy theories and ancient folklore with a modern day challenge.

This time he's centred on Washington DC and the myriad myths connecting the foundation of the United States with the Masonic Movement. I'm not American, so maybe my lack of enthusiasm for the topic can be explained that way. Yes, it was interesting to Google pictures of the Capitol building, the Washington Monument and even a dollar bill, to see the so-called 'clues' that Brown laid out for our consumption, but somehow it just didn't grab me. I was slightly startled when the 'hand of the mysteries' symbol that starts the trail turned up on an 18th century statue at Newstead Abbey during a completely unconnected visit, but a book so definitively about the US shouldn't have delivered its biggest shock in the Nottinghamshire garden of Lord Byron.

And then there's the book's big plot twist. There's a fact that's obviously supposed to shock the reader when it's finally revealed. It certainly shocks the characters when it turns up in the narrative on page 588. Sadly, I'd worked it out at about page 260, and all it did was emphasise how clumsily Brown wrote the text to avoid mentioning it earlier.

If you like Dan Brown novels you've probably already read this. If you live in Washington DC it'll be fun to visit the buildings that feature in the story and look for the various symbols. Otherwise I can't think of a real reason to read it. At 670 pages it's about twice as long as it should be.

Something from 2011 I think

Being fat is not a crime. It's an eating disorder. Yet anyone who's seen as even slightly wider than a moss-covered stick is considered out of control, stupid and a fair target for insults and abuse.

It's still acceptable to say the word 'fat' as an insult, even when people aren't. I've seen plenty of examples recently. I'm increasingly convinced that those who choose to use it are lazy and lacking in imagination because all the other words they might have hurled in the past have been branded politically incorrect.

Call someone by the N word or insult their religion or sexual preferences and the world will condemn you. Call someone fat and everyone laughs. Why?

Let's look at the recent publicity over Amy Winehouse. Poor Amy. She couldn't help herself. The stress of fame and fortune got to her and she started taking drugs and drink so she could cope.
Good job she wasn't a comfort eater then, wasn't it? Otherwise the millions who have been rushing round to offer their sympathies since her death would be calling her a fat bitch.

More than half of the UK's under 30s have considered surgery to 'correct' their bodies.  Most of them think they're fat - even at size 12 (US size 8). Why?

Because it is still acceptable to use the word fat as an insult. It's about the worst thing you can say to someone these days without risking admonition.

If someone in the UK is identified as having one of the 'skinny' eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia the might of the health service turns out to help. Full on psych support, daily guidance, the works. But until recently a fat person was told to eat less, take more exercise and go away. Being fat only increases your risk of other diseases and so you're costing the country money you fat waster.

Stuffing your fingers down your throat, taking overdoses of laxatives, smoking, drinking, popping pills, pushing white powder up your nose, etc. etc. are seen somehow as 'proper' signs of addiction that deserve help. Being addicted to eating is a sign of weakness.

Make no mistake here. Fat people do not enjoy being fat. Most of them don't even enjoy eating. They are addicted to the short-term comfort food offers. And unlike most addictions they have to learn to control it. They can't just go cold turkey.

Telling a fat person to cut down on their food is like suggesting to an alcoholic that they restrict themselves to three measures of whisky a day. It ain't gonna happen!

Everyone (except a lucky few) is addicted to something. Sex, exercise, gambling, smoking, biting fingernails, Facebook, blogging, whatever.

Next time you think about using 'fat' as an insult just consider what your own addiction is - and use that word instead.

Shoppers!