November 13, 2009
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Confluences
I like to read multiple books at the same time. I am currently reading Dan Brown's page turner "The Lost Symbol," with "The Complete Sherlock Holmes," and "The Chronicles of Narnia; The Magician's Nephew;" and some other (theological) books too. I really like the Barnes and Nobel leather bound series of books, they are leather bound, with a matching placekeeper ribbon, and very inexpensive. I want to get some more books from the series, great quality for a nice price!
Here is the first interesting confluence. Sir Conan Doyle wrote the first Sherlock Holmes story "A Scandal in Bohemia" in 1887. In that story Doyle introduced Dr. Watson, Holmes faithful recording companion. Dr. Watson was medically retired from the British Army due to a leg wound received in (wait for it ... here it comes) the Afghan Wars! 122 years later, guess where one of America's wars is continuing? Wait for it, I'm not talking about Iraq ... but ... Afghanistan!
The second interesting confluence is in the opening pages of Lewis' "The Magician's Nephew." Do you know what the time period selected for this "children's book" was? Guess. You'll never guess: Lewis said that the events took place at about the time that Sherlock Holmes was living in and working from 221b Baker Street.
Sorry, no link to "The Lost Symbol" yet; maybe later in the book. Although it's a page turner, I really question the accuracy of his details to make the story line "work." His other books were page turners too, but wow, were they ever wanting in their details!
Comments (2)
What is the premise of Lost Symbol?
The Lost Symbol uses multiple story lines with multiple 'central' figures to support the central plot. The plot takes place primarily in Washington DC.
It is based on supposed connections of the Masons with real events and places. In the front matter, the author, Brown, says that all of the locations and edifices in the book are real and existing.
The 'lost symbol' is the secret protected by the Masons that is the key to ultimate knowledge for mankind which would make the possessor of that knowledge invencible and invulnerable. Like every good mystery, there is a central villian who is out for the knowledge for himself, he has become a 33rd degree Mason and uses ancient religions to give him real power in real time.
The 'secret' is connected/protected with the capstone of a pyramid that is symbolized on the back of the one dollar bill. The capstone is the final 'decoder' of the codes that tell where the ultimate secret knowledge of the universe available and functional for the possessor.
Murder and villiany, corruption and deceit fuel the secrecy of the Masons, who protect the burried stairway to the knowledge being sought.
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