I recently finished Angels and Demons by Dan Brown and watched the movie. Since this is the only novel I have read since I graduated high school in 2005, and the only novel I have ever completed for my own enjoyment, it was a feat.
While reading, I appreciated an exchange between the Pope's chamberlain and a Swiss Guard. This interested me firstly because Dan Brown, a man on his own search for faith, wrote the exchange. Secondly, I liked the metaphor the camerlengo used to answer the question.
"Father," Chartrand said, "may I ask you a strange question?"
The camerlengo smiled. "Only if I may give you a strange answer."
Chartrand laughed. "I have asked every priest I know, and I still don't understand."
"What troubles you?" The camerlengo led the way in short, quick strides, his frock kicking out in front of him as he walked. His black, crepe-sole shoes seemed befitting, modern but humble, and showing signed of wear.
Chartrand took a deep breath. "I don't understand this omnipotent-benevolent thing."
The camerlengo smiled. "You've seen reading Scripture."
"I try."
"You are confused because the Bible describes God as an omnipotent and benevolent deity."
"Exactly."
"Omnipotent-benevolent simply means that God is all-powerful and well-meaning."
"I understand the concept. It's just... there seems to be a contradiction."
"Yes. The contradiction is pain. Man's starvation, war, sickness..."
"Exactly!" Chartrand knew the camerlengo would understand. "Terrible things happen in this world. Human tragedy seems like proof that God could not possibly be both all-powerful and well-meaning. If He loves us and has the power to change our situation, He would prevent our pain, wouldn't He?"
"Would He?"
Chartrand felt uneasy. Had he overstepped his bounds? Was this one of those religious questions you just ask? "Well... if God loves us, and He can protect us, He would have to. It seems He is either omnipotent and uncaring, or benevolent and powerless to help."
"Do you have children, Lieutenant?"
Chartrand flushed. "No, signore."
"Imagine you had an eight-year-old son... would you love him?"
"Of course."
"Would you do everything in your power to prevent pain in his life?"
"Of course."
"Would you let him skateboard?"
Chartrand did a double take. The camerlengo always seemed oddly "in touch" for a clergyman. "Yeah, I guess," Chartrand said. "Sure, I'd let him skateboard, but I'd tell him to be careful."
"So as this child's father, you would give him some basic, good advice and then let him go off and make his own mistakes?"
"I wouldn't run behind him and mollycoddle him if that's what you mean."
"But what if he fell and skinned his knee?"
"He would learn to be more careful."
The camerlengo smiled. "So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons?"
"Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It's how we learn."
The camerlengo nodded. "Exactly."
(Dan Brown, Angels and Demons, p. 360-362)
My Review
(Note: no spoilers!)
I read the book because I really liked the movie and because Callie told me I should. The movie was very suspenseful, but, surprisingly, so was the book.
Oh, before I forget, the movie is different from the book! Ron Howard (the movie's director) and his screenwriters changed a number of things from the book. The general story is the same, though. So, even if you've read the book, see the movie. Likewise, if you've seen the movie, you would probably be interested to read the book.
The book is generally quite interesting and suspenseful, enough that it moves quickly. However, there were a number of times when I got a bit bored with some of the superfluous detail. For example, in the book, Robert Langdon, the main character, takes a liking to Vittoria Vetra, a physicist, which I feel doesn't really add to the story. If anything, the Langdon in the book just seems scummy to me because of that.
For the most part, I like the movie better. I like the characters in the movie a bit more than in the book. I suppose a lot of that stems from the fact that in movies you can see the characters' facial expressions and hear their inflection. I like the way the Church handles and addresses the situation to the outside world in the movie as opposed to the book's version. Although, there are a number of times in the movie when some of the book's detail would have been most appreciated. Langdon had to work a lot harder in the book to find all the clues and answer all the questions. There were times, in the movie, when it seemed like everything came extremely easy to him. Additionally, there was some character development from the book that I liked, but didn't really make sense for the movie.
So, overall, read the book. Watch the movie. You won't be sorry you did. I don't think.
