Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol

[RabbieBurns]

First bookshop I went to had sold out, and the 2nd had closed by the time I got to it. Will need to pick it up tomorrow instead.

 

Read all his other 4, and enjoyed them all.

 

Been a while since I read a book, I seem to go through stages of reading loads and loads and then not reading for ages.

[alan-d]

Got mine on order - should be here this week.

[StewartKnight]

I HATE Dan Brown!

 

When I followed the crowd and read the Davinci Code, I was sorely disappointed.

I know it's fiction, and badly researched fiction making HUGE leaps of inaccuracys, but people really believed that most of what he said was true, and just weaved a story round it.

 

Poorly written pseudo-intellectual bull, in my opinion, but I'd best be careful, the last time I did a "book review" (Greetings in Jesus Name), the author signed up to edugeek to complain to me!

[mortstar]

Writing style of a 6 year old...

 

"...and then the Pope came out on to the roof and then the Pope got in an helicopter, and then there was a big bang...and then a submarine appeared and everybody was OK"

 

soul-destroyingly bad.

[beeswax]

I HATE Dan Brown!

 

When I followed the crowd and read the Davinci Code, I was sorely disappointed.

I know it's fiction, and badly researched fiction making HUGE leaps of inaccuracys, but people really believed that most of what he said was true, and just weaved a story round it.

 

Poorly written pseudo-intellectual bull, in my opinion, but I'd best be careful, the last time I did a "book review" (Greetings in Jesus Name), the author signed up to edugeek to complain to me!

 

If you like Dan Brown, then I'm not here to spoil your enjoyment, but - The week in books: Tribulations of a Booker judge; the Dan Brown error count; and literature meets rap | Books | The Guardian if you scroll down to the section on Brown...

 

As an aside we were in the south of France earlier this year and visited a vineyard for a tour and tasting, part of the tour took us to the vineyard chapel, where the guide pointed out a carved shield set in to the chapel wall saying that it was the shield of the Knights Templar. As the vineyard was called Chateau Sainte-Roseline and my wife is a big Dan Brown fan you can imagine the conversation (one sided) for the next half hour.

[featured_spectre]

I got the book from Tesco, they made a cock up on the pricing (£3.99 when it should be on sale for £7.99 or something) so I took the bargain. Read it cover to cover yesterday, a good book in general, but his best is still Digital Fortress.

[jcollings]

To quote the legendary Stephen Fry on the Davinci Code -

 

"Complete loose-stool-water. Arse-gravy of the very worst kind."

[JJonas]

im waiting for next years car boot season - should be lots of them on sale

[sidewinder]

Ive not read any of his books (they look incredibly boring) but I just dont understand the hype that surrounds some book releases? Im sure a lot of people just go and buy it because its being talked about! Theres countless good books released, why do 1 or 2 get such massive hype?

 

Also, if I was reading a book on say the train, I'd feel like a bit of a sheep if I looked up and saw 15 other people reading the same thing

[jamesb]

I was indifferent to Dan Brown, right up until I was dragged along to watch Angels and Demons.

 

The amount of anti-matter in that little tube would have been enough to sterilize half the planet. Probably more. The moon most likely wouldn't have gone untouched either. And since when was anti-matter all glowy and shiny? For that matter, why did a priest have training in flying a helicopter? Why would anyone store anti-matter in a little glass tube which can actually be taken away, and is hooked up to a battery which only lasts 24 hours?

 

Then I watched the Da Vinci code again, and nearly cried at what he'd done to Da Vinci.

[Hightower]

why did a priest have training in flying a helicopter?

 

Because he'd learnt to fly when he was in the forces?

 

I actually love Dan Browns style of writing. Yes, it may be simple but at least he can talk about seemingly complex things and allow anyone to understand them.

 

I got my Lost Symbol as soon as it was released. Started reading it last night .........

[jamesb]

Because he'd learnt to fly when he was in the forces?

 

Good thing he hadn't got rusty at all, and that he'd flown that particular model.

 

I actually love Dan Browns style of writing. Yes, it may be simple but at least he can talk about seemingly complex things and allow anyone to understand them.

 

I got my Lost Symbol as soon as it was released. Started reading it last night .........

 

I've no objection to Dan Brown in principle. Its just in practice that I don't like his work.

 

That and the fact that it gets raved about, while geniuses like Max Frei and George Mann go unremarked.

[witch]

I think the problem is the hype- there are countless other books (and films) in which lots of things happen that couldn't possibly work in reality - but as Dan Brown is rammed down our throats all those inconsistencies get a bit wearing.

[Hightower]

I think the problem is the hype- there are countless other books (and films) in which lots of things happen that couldn't possibly work in reality - but as Dan Brown is rammed down our throats all those inconsistencies get a bit wearing.

 

I think the reason it's hyped up is because a lot of people like Dan Brown. If people didn't like him then there wouldn't be all this hype would there?

 

I'm not saying his books are perfect and that everything is possible, or even that they match up, but I do believe (in my opinion) he makes for a good read.

[JJonas]

 

Also, if I was reading a book on say the train, I'd feel like a bit of a sheep if I looked up and saw 15 other people reading the same thing

 

I guess this is another plus for an eBook reader.

 

Sony EBook Reader: On the train nobody knows you are reading Dan Brown.

[jamesb]

I think the problem is the hype- there are countless other books (and films) in which lots of things happen that couldn't possibly work in reality - but as Dan Brown is rammed down our throats all those inconsistencies get a bit wearing.

 

For me I guess its not really that, I was working in a bookshop when the Harry Potter craze hit and came across the same problem. People would come in and ask for Harry Potter, which is a good thing no matter what you think of the books, at least people are reading.

 

But at the same time the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix was coming out, along with the Edgewood Chronicles, the Darren Shan books, Goodknyght series, and many others. These were pretty much crushed by the ridiculous hype that surrounded Harry Potter, so people bought Harry Potter, read it, and didn't even pause to think that there might be other books they could sit and read rather than just going back to relying on the television.

 

I'd much rather the publicity for these 'blockbuster' books were parcelled out a little more, preferably to books with a little intelligence, but Hollywood publishing seems to be the big thing these days so I can't see it happening.

[witch]

I think the reason it's hyped up is because a lot of people like Dan Brown. If people didn't like him then there wouldn't be all this hype would there?

 

People do like him and he is a reasonably good read but the hype is there because, primarily, someone took a risk and made the Da Vinci Code film, which was at least a bit different, and then paid lots of money for publicity. This then extended to Dan Brown's other books - even the earlier ones, and now it has spiralled into a big hype.

The hype came first. Then people read the books.

It is a matter of luck whether a book gets taken up by someone who thinks that they are worth publicising and indeed has the money to do so. There are many many authors out there who are absolutely brilliant but are never really 'out there'.

As for Harry Potter - again a reasonable read, but I think that many bits are a close imitation of other books - eg 'The Worst Witch' and I never really understood what all the hype was about - again, someone wanted to throw money at it and it worked.

Getting people reading though, especially children, that's a wonderful thing. I think that some children (and adults) go on to read other things - schools helped there - my children were pointed towards the Philip Pullman books and have never looked back!

[sidewinder]

For me I guess its not really that, I was working in a bookshop when the Harry Potter craze hit and came across the same problem. People would come in and ask for Harry Potter, which is a good thing no matter what you think of the books, at least people are reading.

 

But at the same time the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix was coming out, along with the Edgewood Chronicles, the Darren Shan books, Goodknyght series, and many others. These were pretty much crushed by the ridiculous hype that surrounded Harry Potter, so people bought Harry Potter, read it, and didn't even pause to think that there might be other books they could sit and read rather than just going back to relying on the television.

 

I'd much rather the publicity for these 'blockbuster' books were parcelled out a little more, preferably to books with a little intelligence, but Hollywood publishing seems to be the big thing these days so I can't see it happening.

 

Yeah thats kind of how I feel. Its good that anyone reads any books, because its bloody rare these days, but so many people would list Harry Potter as their favourite book simply because they've barely read anything else since they left school.

I cant criticise too much, I only manage 2/3 books a year (yet I buy like 4 times that many...stupid) but I like reading in general..couldnt just read one author and then not bother with anything else

[Hightower]

People do like him and he is a reasonably good read but the hype is there because, primarily, someone took a risk and made the Da Vinci Code film, which was at least a bit different, and then paid lots of money for publicity. This then extended to Dan Brown's other books - even the earlier ones, and now it has spiralled into a big hype.

The hype came first. Then people read the books.

It is a matter of luck whether a book gets taken up by someone who thinks that they are worth publicising and indeed has the money to do so. There are many many authors out there who are absolutely brilliant but are never really 'out there'.

As for Harry Potter - again a reasonable read, but I think that many bits are a close imitation of other books - eg 'The Worst Witch' and I never really understood what all the hype was about - again, someone wanted to throw money at it and it worked.

Getting people reading though, especially children, that's a wonderful thing. I think that some children (and adults) go on to read other things - schools helped there - my children were pointed towards the Philip Pullman books and have never looked back!

 

I came across Dan Brown before the hype, and read his books because I like them - not because someone said I should like him. However, I do understand what you are saying about the 'following' he has and that's fair kop - I'm just not one of those people

[jamesb]

I cant criticise too much, I only manage 2/3 books a year (yet I buy like 4 times that many...stupid) but I like reading in general..couldnt just read one author and then not bother with anything else

 

I read too much - its why I ended up buying an e-reader as I literally have no more space for books or bookshelves in my house. On average I probably get through four or five in a busy week, more if I'm not doing much else.

 

Travelling's the worst. Having to take a dozen books for a week's holiday really uses up your weight allowance fast.

[witch]

I read too much - its why I ended up buying an e-reader as I literally have no more space for books or bookshelves in my house. On average I probably get through four or five in a busy week, more if I'm not doing much else.Travelling's the worst. Having to take a dozen books for a week's holiday really uses up your weight allowance fast.

 

Yes, me too, and mrwITch is the same...we deliberately don't buy books because if we did we would have no room for furniture. We get books out of the library - libraries are a great and underused resource.

As for holidays - I get books from charity shops and car boot sales so that I can leave them behind, and I do find myself picking books because they light - in weight, not content!!

[sidewinder]

Travelling's the worst. Having to take a dozen books for a week's holiday really uses up your weight allowance fast.

 

a dozen for a week?! Do you take your head out of the book to see where you actually are?

[jamesb]

a dozen for a week?! Do you take your head out of the book to see where you actually are?

 

I read fast when I have nothing else to do - generally I can get through two on the plane if its a long flight. Even on a short flight I'll usually finish off one.

[Hightower]

See, I'm a very slow reader - I like to imagine the story, not just blitz through it, which can often mean reading the same paragraph 2 or 3 times until I get it right in my head.

 

We always go to the same place on holiday though, and they have a book swap shop. Basically take one book, read it, swap it for a new one as many times as you need throughout the course of the holiday, and go home with whatever book you have - leaving the one you took initially for someone else to read.

[webman]

I don't jump on any of these band wagons because I don't read