The Secret of Secrets” by Dan Brown

 It was nice learning about non-local consciousness theory. But the book was much too long and repetitive, and too often read like a travelogue of Prague or a scientific lecture. The love story between Robert Langdon and Katherine Solomon left me cold. And the revelation that the Golem was actually a split personality and possibly the result of non-local consciousness was one twist too many in this very formulaic book. It did have some exciting sections, but it badly needed a merciless editor.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt

 The writing was pedestrian and the plot had too many coincidences. I detested the 30 year old searching for his father. The chip on his shoulder and his repressed anger struck me as unbelievably juvenile and unbelievable, but I know people like that exist.  Tova, the woman mourning her son, was sweet, I suppose.  The octopus was an interesting gimmick. The book was filled with so many mundane scenes that it felt like a movie. Not impressed and amazed that it was a bestseller.