I finished it, but I knew well before I got to the end I would never read another book by Dan Brown again. I can t think of a book less worthy of its success.
Shame, shame on NPR for a slavishly praise-filled interview with Dan Aw-shucks, did I write a lil ole bestseller when all I cared about was Deep Questions about the universe? Brown.
Totally agree on that NPR interview. I always look for good links for posts and sometimes link to NPR, but I ruled that one out fast.
Also bad: the NYT review by A.O. Scott, who says it might be best to read Brown’s new novel as a tribute to an era when people thought books could change the world. How about: It might be best not to read it AT ALL? You really have the sense lately that the NYT is afraid of offending its readers.
The Da Vinci Code is the second most painful thing I ever read. Only the recent entry of ChatGPT, which now makes my brain explode upon reaching “It’s not …, it’s…” inflicts more pain than that book did.
I listened to the Da Vinci code on audio. I couldn’t have made it through in print—the characterization was so bad as were the descriptions, similes, etc. I decided then: no more Dan Brown for me.
Never read Dan Brown, but didn't care for the movie the "Da Vinci Code". I LOVE War and Peace though, definitely one of the best books I ever read and only cost $12 new from the bookstore.
And it’s free at Project Gutenberg. I think people who haven’t read it imagine it will be more difficult than it is when, in fact, Dan Brown is harder than Tolstoy because a lot of what he says makes no sense when everything Tolstoy says makes sense.
The Des Moines Register op-ed section carries eternal guilt for giving Robert James Waller his start by publishing his long, dopey essays about canoeing down a river.
Register employees tried to save themselves from eternal damnation by publicly mocking Waller after he became an insanely popular author but it was too late.
,By then Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep had cashed in with the "Bridges" movie.
The Great Writer was deeply wounded and moved to the Alpine, Texas, area where he was sighted in his cowboy hat and sporting a new face. Ah, fame.
When one’s mind is toast, it’s a long flight or that first day of a beach (“I Officially Do Not Exist”) vacation, I’m all for fluff, for simple distractions. I binged every Agatha Christie mystery as a kid and there are still nights when I’m stressed out that I’ll climb into bed with cookies and a well-worn Christie mystery just to have that internal sabbatical: I know the story, I’m not even aware I’m reading half the time, it just shuts my brain up for a couple of blessed hours. The books were fun the first go, and comforting now; they don’t need to be literary and they were never intended to be. I am honestly not trying to be elitist here — Dan Brown may be one of the worst authors I’ve ever come across. Absolutely unreadable. Is he trying to be some cheap version of Umberto Eco? I don’t know what’s worse: a recent statistic that Americans will only read one fiction book this year or that this will be the book they choose. Thank you Jan for being the voice of reason.
If anyone could use a palate cleanser, here’s an oldie but a goodie:
I gave up on The Da Vinci Code after 25 pages or so. I don't find his writing entertaining--or compelling. The new book was in the windows of every bookstore I saw in Rome last month. The way it is selling should give people a glimpse into what the masses want.
It really is a glimpse of that. Off the point, but were you surprised to see two S&S poetry books on the NBA shortlist (all finalists are either from Copper Canyon, which wasn’t a surprise to me, or from S&S, which was)?
This is why I write. For all I know, I'm no better than Dan Brown, but in case I am, I'm hoping people find my stuff after I hit the high heavens and people stop reading slop.
I know. Small chance of that, too. But maybe another sentient species will follow us that doesn't Kardashian everything in sight. Ha! I bet none of you knew "Kardashian" was a verb! Or would that be "Kardashiate?"
I’ve always liked the scene in the TV show The Good Place where Chidi in heaven has read everything good that’s ever been written and finally decides to read Dan Brown’s trash. After that, he’s ready to cease existing.
I resisted reading the Da Vinci Code, but when it came out in mass market paper I decided to give it a go. I think I made it three chapters before Brown's horrid writing became too much for me.
I remember that at the time I commented to a friend of mine that had I submitted those chapters to my writing professor when I was in college that he'd have returned it covered in red ink and with maybe a C- grade.
Jan, very funny article with valid points, some of which I countered/pondered about here. I'd love to know what you think :)
https://substack.com/@followthemani/p-180303035
I have a deep dislike of Da Vinci Code.
I finished it, but I knew well before I got to the end I would never read another book by Dan Brown again. I can t think of a book less worthy of its success.
I knew to avoid Dan Brown's books when he said that he never reads anyone's fiction but his own.
Shame, shame on NPR for a slavishly praise-filled interview with Dan Aw-shucks, did I write a lil ole bestseller when all I cared about was Deep Questions about the universe? Brown.
Totally agree on that NPR interview. I always look for good links for posts and sometimes link to NPR, but I ruled that one out fast.
Also bad: the NYT review by A.O. Scott, who says it might be best to read Brown’s new novel as a tribute to an era when people thought books could change the world. How about: It might be best not to read it AT ALL? You really have the sense lately that the NYT is afraid of offending its readers.
The Da Vinci Code is the second most painful thing I ever read. Only the recent entry of ChatGPT, which now makes my brain explode upon reaching “It’s not …, it’s…” inflicts more pain than that book did.
I listened to the Da Vinci code on audio. I couldn’t have made it through in print—the characterization was so bad as were the descriptions, similes, etc. I decided then: no more Dan Brown for me.
Never read Dan Brown, but didn't care for the movie the "Da Vinci Code". I LOVE War and Peace though, definitely one of the best books I ever read and only cost $12 new from the bookstore.
And it’s free at Project Gutenberg. I think people who haven’t read it imagine it will be more difficult than it is when, in fact, Dan Brown is harder than Tolstoy because a lot of what he says makes no sense when everything Tolstoy says makes sense.
I enjoy both Dan Brown and "War and Peace," and I think that's healthy. As long as people are reading, we really shouldn't judge the book they choose.
The Des Moines Register op-ed section carries eternal guilt for giving Robert James Waller his start by publishing his long, dopey essays about canoeing down a river.
Register employees tried to save themselves from eternal damnation by publicly mocking Waller after he became an insanely popular author but it was too late.
,By then Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep had cashed in with the "Bridges" movie.
The Great Writer was deeply wounded and moved to the Alpine, Texas, area where he was sighted in his cowboy hat and sporting a new face. Ah, fame.
When one’s mind is toast, it’s a long flight or that first day of a beach (“I Officially Do Not Exist”) vacation, I’m all for fluff, for simple distractions. I binged every Agatha Christie mystery as a kid and there are still nights when I’m stressed out that I’ll climb into bed with cookies and a well-worn Christie mystery just to have that internal sabbatical: I know the story, I’m not even aware I’m reading half the time, it just shuts my brain up for a couple of blessed hours. The books were fun the first go, and comforting now; they don’t need to be literary and they were never intended to be. I am honestly not trying to be elitist here — Dan Brown may be one of the worst authors I’ve ever come across. Absolutely unreadable. Is he trying to be some cheap version of Umberto Eco? I don’t know what’s worse: a recent statistic that Americans will only read one fiction book this year or that this will be the book they choose. Thank you Jan for being the voice of reason.
If anyone could use a palate cleanser, here’s an oldie but a goodie:
https://onehundredpages.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/dont-make-fun-of-renowned-dan-brown/
Thank you! I’m grateful to Christie, too. She is so dependable in a way Brown never will be.
I gave up on The Da Vinci Code after 25 pages or so. I don't find his writing entertaining--or compelling. The new book was in the windows of every bookstore I saw in Rome last month. The way it is selling should give people a glimpse into what the masses want.
It really is a glimpse of that. Off the point, but were you surprised to see two S&S poetry books on the NBA shortlist (all finalists are either from Copper Canyon, which wasn’t a surprise to me, or from S&S, which was)?
Yes, that was surprising. On the other hand, S&S probably published the books with the NBA in mind.
This is why I write. For all I know, I'm no better than Dan Brown, but in case I am, I'm hoping people find my stuff after I hit the high heavens and people stop reading slop.
I know. Small chance of that, too. But maybe another sentient species will follow us that doesn't Kardashian everything in sight. Ha! I bet none of you knew "Kardashian" was a verb! Or would that be "Kardashiate?"
Oh, no, I hope that is NOT a verb.
Lol :-)
Midlist commercial author here, pining for some of that sweet, sweet DB success. I'm sure I have written enough dubious metaphors to qualify.
True, although my latest book was a hardback and I told them it would be a tough sell. We're doing trad paperback for the next two. :)
Long live those paperbacks :).
Ha. And I’d bet you have the good sense not to charge $38 a pop for those metaphors.
I’ve always liked the scene in the TV show The Good Place where Chidi in heaven has read everything good that’s ever been written and finally decides to read Dan Brown’s trash. After that, he’s ready to cease existing.
You have company skipping this book! Mine.
I'm guessing that with that $38 price tag, the publisher is expecting a lot of people to buy it as a holiday gift. But who would want it?
I resisted reading the Da Vinci Code, but when it came out in mass market paper I decided to give it a go. I think I made it three chapters before Brown's horrid writing became too much for me.
It truly is horrid, Steve. And so it that price tag.
I remember that at the time I commented to a friend of mine that had I submitted those chapters to my writing professor when I was in college that he'd have returned it covered in red ink and with maybe a C- grade.