A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones is SUCH a good read. Different than your typical fantasy books - while there are fantastic elements, they are more of a background component than the main subject matter (though I suspect that will change a little in the next 3 books). There are lots of characters to keep track of, but really if you focus on the main players, you can't help but really have a vested interest in what happens to them - even the ones you love to hate. His ability to tell stories from such different points of views is extremely impressive. It's full of political intrigue and while I was initially skeptical of the plot, it sucked me in. It's mind boggling that authors such as he can create whole worlds like they do. Thanks to my brother for recommending it.

The Lost Symbol

Really enjoyed this one. Had to get past a serious sense of deja vu, as Dan Brown is a little more formulaic than I prefer. That said...I got over it. While the adventure pulls you along, it is his ability to weave his historical mix of fact and fiction that turns it into a thoroughly entertaining read. It was a really fun topic to read about, and will probably spend some time researching what was real and what wasn't. I also found a fantastic blog containing images of most of the places and buildings in Washington D.C. that are described in the book. I wish I had found it earlier while I was still reading it to fuel my imagination.

I also started doing a teeny bit of research on the Scottish Rite - certainly not quite as exciting as the book...but good to know.