Atlantis Code

Sadly, disappointing.

Setting aside preconceptions from The DaVinci Code, The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw is about a Harvard linguistics professor, Thomas Lourds, who stumbles across an ancient artifact wanted by a secret group of Cardinals from the Vatican. Together with television journalist Leslie, and Russian police officer Natashya, Lourds travels the globe in search of five ancient instruments inscribed with an untranslatable language, somehow linked to the lost city of Atlantis. Where did the instruments come from? Are the ruins in Spain really Atlantis? And how can Lourds and his women escape the evil Cardinal Murani with their lives intact? These are the types of plots and action and conspiracies which I adore in a book. Running for your lives, secret languages, ancient artifacts, evil dudes wearing robes. I eat these things for lunch.
Brokaw's twist on an often used stock-plot (Catholic Church hides something, and someone else must discover it) was new and unique and I was thankful that it kept me entertained. This is the reason I kept reading. Sadly, it's the only thing I really liked about the book.
Before I get started on the things I didn't like, I will confess something: I'm a woman. I know, shocking. But I'm saying that now because in case some guy reads this and thinks I'm biased because of my gender, I will also say that I'm not a moron. I know how the male brain works, but I also know how books should work and they're not supposed to placate to the male fantasy of travelling across the globe while two hot chicks fight over you. Less is more, but Brokaw's sexual undertones were blatantly obvious and annoying. From the first time Lourds meets Leslie and appreciates her trim figure, to the second time he sees her, wearing a crop top and a belly ring. It became too frequent, and too sickening. Especially when Natashya enters the picture, with trench coat and pockets full of guns. I believe Brokaw enjoyed turning her from a masculine character smoking a cigar, into a feminine vixen wearing pajamas with no panties later in the novel. It's a shame it was more for his own pleasure than that of the reader's. He does not hate women, but he certainly enjoyed making them into stereotypes for his own entertainment. Lourds is middle-aged, but sexy; intelligent and kind. But he's a pig. He can't possibly understand why two women fight over him? And Leslie can still find time to be jealous when she's running for her life? And Natashya, really? I had faith that you of all of them would remain normal, but no. Sadly, the only character who lived up to my expectation was the evil Cardinal Murani. He knew what it meant to be a villain.
I'd give this book 1 star for the character of Lourds, 1 star for Leslie, 2 stars for Natashya, 3 stars for the bad guys, 3 stars for the writing, 4 stars for the plot and twist on religious conspiracy, 1 star for the ending with the women, and 3 stars for the ending with the plot resolution. Average: 2.25 which rounds down to 2.
So there, 2 stars. I received this book from GoodReads First Reads program and I was excited to start it. I do not enjoy giving bad reviews, and I'm sorry that I have to, but it's necessary. We don't read books just for plots, we read them because we enjoy the characters and relate to them. I thought Thomas Lourds was going to be a great character, he had all the beginnings of one, but he decided to think with his libido more than his brain, and I can't enjoy that when it happens every 10 pages.

8 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

Certainly NOT "The DaVinci Code"

If you like stories with one very strong woman, a poorly defined hero and a race to find a 'treasure', then you'll enjoy this book. For someone listed as an academic, the writing is a little labored and the editing is not up to par (spelling/grammar). The idea for the book is good, some sequences are exciting, if predictable, and the ending just so-so. Thomas Lourds is not Indiana Jones and is constantly chasing clues while expecting others to protect him. What a disappointment! I wasn't expecting Dirk Pitt, but it would have been nice to have more than running around looking for clues and sex to define the character.
I read the whole book, but it's going into the bag of books for the used book store...not one that I would recommend or keep.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A good but not great piece of literature.

I kept wanting the book to move on. The characters are quite well painted, but the reality portrayed just doesn't quite get there. The bad guys are really bad, the good guys are really good, so there is not much to wonder about while reading this book. I recommend it as a fun read. I won't keep it in my library, in fact, I have already taken it to my local library.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

THE ATLANTIS CODE is a hyperspeed thriller

Cardinal Stefano Murani and his allies believe archeologist Thomas Lourds has found a priceless artifact in Alexandria, Egypt that they want and plan to take from him. Apparently Lourds has found a relic that links the lost continent of Atlantis with the Old Testament.

Meanwhile TV reporter Leslie Crane interviews Lourds for a documentary. However Murani's thugs murder the show's producer and go after the reporter and the archeologist. Lourds and Crane barely escape, but are on the run with Murani's horde in pursuit. As they flee from Africa to Europe, their adversaries chase after them with orders to retrieve the find and kill the finders; collateral damage is no issue to Cardinal Murani or his followers.

THE ATLANTIS CODE is a hyperspeed thriller that races through two continents at a breakneck pace. Filled with action as the pursuers constantly catch up with the lead couple, but like a Houdini, they manage to escape from one peril after another. This is fun to read sort of like a pulp thriller as the constant bad guys' assault attacks on the heroes dramatically overwhelm the biblical archeological premise.

Harriet Klausner

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Atlantis. Not many words inspire so much wonder and mystery as

Atlantis.

Not many words inspire so much wonder and mystery as that one which is why I'm rather obsessed with the myth. I can't help it I love adventure novels that feature the legend so when one of my many library searches led me to The Atlantis Code I was stoked. It sounded awesome and it got reasonably good reviews on Goodreads so as soon as I brought it home from the library I dove into reading it.

Unfortunately diving into it was similar to diving into a pool empty of water. Right from the beginning I was off put by the writing. I hate when author refer to their main characters by their last names, especially when the name is something that sounds kind of pretentious like Lourds (no offense to anyone bearing that last name) but it irked me to know end that the author of the Atlantis Code referred to Thomas the hero of the novel by his last name. I know it may seem like a little thing to people but we all have our pet peeves and the last name referrals are some of my biggest.

Anyways, from the beginning of the novel I was struck by how slow the plot moved. I'm used to my adventure/thriller novels being adrenaline pumping reads pretty much from the get go with expected lulls in the action factor mingled into the plot line which was what I was expecting in this one. While there was some major action in the first 30 or so pages I wasn't satisfied how the first major action scene played out it was very sterile and lacking any feeling which was a feeling that was carried on through out the telling of The Atlantis Code.

The writing was very dense. The story was very detailed, too detailed it was as though the purpose was to explain every little thing to the reader. I like when an author explains certain things in more detail but those things are usually major plot points and things that are extremely relevant to the story but in this case I felt things were needlessly being explained which made the book a very tedious read at times.

The characters were another thing I had issues with and that is because they were all very one dimensional and over the top. Thomas Lourds is a linguist and I do understand that while he is a professor that he doesn't have the typical look of a stuffy old professor but he was far too aloof and unconcerned with his role as the romantic interest to not one but both of the female side characters and was a bit of a playboy but in the stuck up kind of way so there was a ton of eye rolling from me due to his behaviour as well as his overall holier than thou attitude he had about his abilities to solve the code to discover Atlantis.

The other characters were very one dimensional as well. As I mentioned the female leads were overly dramatic and over the top when it came to their character flaws and personalities just like Thomas and it was as though they were ripped from the set of a bad direct to DVD movie. Even the bad guys in the book came across as being inadequate and useless. They were some of the worst villians that I've ever come across in my reading.

The story line though is my main bone of contention. The book was praised as being the next Da Vinci Code while I saw the potential for the story about the myth of Atlantis in the beginning and was willing to look over some things in the beginning by the time I finished the book I felt like I had read a horribly inadequate rip off of The Da Vinci Code. There were some changes but the basic template of that bestseller was one that I saw used in the telling of this book. There were so many things that were similar to the story that they just started piling up in my head and made me more and more anxious to finish the book which I might add had one of the most anti-climatic endings I've ever come across and was such a huge let down but for me the main thing was that my ordeal with the novel was over.

The plot had so many holes that the amount of details used were pretty much used in place of an actual plot line and the poor characters, dialogue, lack of adventure and the lack of imagination of the actual story line drove me to have a great dislike for this first novel in the Thomas Lourds series. While the book is entitled The Atlantis Code I feel like Atlantis was touched on very little considering that and I felt that that lead to much of the deterioration of the plot and characters. However I do realize this was the author's first attempt at a novel so despite my obvious disappointment for it I can see that the bones of a good story were there and I am willing to give the second book in the series a chance and hope that it has more action and less mindless detail than this book.

Overall, I don't think this is one I would read again but I do see how the book does appeal to readers so I'm only going to recommend this on the basis of my believing a book is only as good as the individual reading it thinks it is. While I didn't like it others may find that it's a gem so if you think despite of my review that you make like to try the book out for yourself I say go for it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

REALLY GOOD READ SO FAR

I HAVEN'T FINISHED THIS BOOK YET BUT I AM FINDING IT VERY INTERESTING. ALONG THE SAME LINES AS "THE DI VINCI CODE". MUCH EXCITEMENT AND TIES TO THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH. A LITTLE DIFFERENT TAKE ON ATLANTIS THAN I HAVE HEARD BEFORE BUT STILL VERY GOOD AND WELL WRITTEN. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE OUTCOME AND THEN I WILL HAVE TO START ANOTHER OF HIS BOOKS "THE ORACLE CODE"

Interesting... but

I enjoyed this book, but the writing style was rigid and stodgy. That said, I believe the author might loosen up with the sequels (which I have purchased and I do intend to read). This would enhance the story line, which is already great except for the aforementioned rigidity, leaps and bounds. I liked the academic influence, but again it is a bit stiff. I am curious where this author will take this...

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK! I COULD HARDLY PUT IT DOWN, IT WAS ACTION PACKED IT WAS THE DI VINCI CODE MEETS INDIANA JONES! AWESOME READ!

Amazing

Hi ther this book was the best book ever i dieed over it

0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

sweet

just awesome

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Atlantis

Finding Atlants this is what Lourds is trying to do. I have read "Angels and Demons" from that book to this book wow have to say that Atlantis is a lot more fun espeically adventure wise you go all over the place. You get sucked in to what these people are doing and I could not put the book down did not want to put it down.

With the start of the book you get a sense of what a thrill ride the author is about to begin. The characters take on a personal feel as the pages turn and the adventure begins. There is a definitive mix of familiar themes and old villians.

You start in a simple setting that is far from it once you read the first few pages. The characters, at first seem familiar and comfortable, but that is just the start. Circumstance and luck are able to transform the seemingly mundane into a constant battle to stay one step ahead of the villian. The author pulls the reader in with hints of romance, leaps of sheer thrill, and a great mix of main character strengths - all the while showing their 'human' side too. The locations - together with the history are an integral part of the story as it keeps taking expected and unforeseen turns right to the very end. There are pieces of each situation and character that seem familiar to avid readers, but that only begins to fill in what makes up the story, the characters, and a development of plot as you read further. I found myself sitting down to read for a few minutes and seeing that an hour had passed away without notice. Again and again, I found myself reading and just about closing it for the time when I decided to read for the typical "just a little bit more." Descriptions of people, places, and actions all seemed real - as if I was even there seeing it happen right before me. I must really congratulate Mr. Brokaw on a great book, a thrilling read, and something that I will strongly recommend to friends and family alike. Well done!

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