But isnt that really a question of expectations also? As if Dan Brown is supposed to be on the level of a Goethe, Dostoyevsky, Hesse or what? I mean Top Gun is one of the most popular movies ever made and it's neither fantastically acted, nor does it have a deeper meaning to it, it's cheesy, it's 'pop-trash' but it's pure actiona and entertainment. Same with Dan Brown, I mean people are chasing the Holy Grail, there's Vatican conspiracy, super hi-tech computer conspiracy, government conspiracy, Robert Langdon surviving a helicopter crash... what exactly do you expect from the author?! It's like playing a good video game! So obviously he is very good at what he's doing, there's a mysterious story, every chapter ends interestingly, and no matter how silly it all might be you just want to turn the next page and read on and solve the mystery. And that's it.
Dan Brown returns with Da Vinci Code sequel, The Lost Symbol
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But isnt that really a question of expectations also? As if Dan Brown is supposed to be on the level of a Goethe, Dostoyevsky, Hesse or what? I mean Top Gun is one of the most popular movies ever made and it's neither fantastically acted, nor does it have a deeper meaning to it, it's cheesy, it's 'pop-trash' but it's pure actiona and entertainment. Same with Dan Brown, I mean people are chasing the Holy Grail, there's Vatican conspiracy, super hi-tech computer conspiracy, government conspiracy, Robert Langdon surviving a helicopter crash... what exactly do you expect from the author?! It's like playing a good video game! So obviously he is very good at what he's doing, there's a mysterious story, every chapter ends interestingly, and no matter how silly it all might be you just want to turn the next page and read on and solve the mystery. And that's it.
Ok, can you name five flaws then? Im really interested now, maybe Im just not getting it.
Ok, here's some flaws I noticed when I read Da Vinci Code / Angels and Demons*
- One trick pony - he came up with a succesful plot in one book and has blatantly ripped it off in every book since.
- Really really poor use of language. He has the most restricted vocabulary of any author I've ever read. Keep an eye out for stock descriptive phrases that pop up ad infinitum throughout the book. It's like reading something written by a 12 year old.
- Hackneyed two-dimensional characterisation. Every character is his book is cliched to the point of caricature.
Ok, so that's three, not five. I would probably need to have a quick browse through one of his books to come up with a few more. Point two is unforgiveable for me though. A writer who can't actually write.
*Yeah, i know. Why read his books if you think he's shit? In my defence, I read them on a sailing trip where I under-estimated the amount of books I would need and ended up reading everything else that other people had brough with them. I ended up reading diesel engine maintenance manuals by the end of the trip.
I read 30% of the Da Vinci Code. Bad idea. I've not picked anything he's written since, and I actually like fantasy and science fiction.
His most unforgivable sin is that his plots are shit. The books are actually boring.
His most unforgivable sin is that his plots are shit. The books are actually boring.
Ok I get what you mean. Can you then recommend a much better writer who writes this types of stuff, quick paced mystery blahblah? I thought Angels and Demons was very cool, running from one place to another, all this dark mysterious Vatican conspiracy atmosphere and so on, and to be honest I dont remember it being that crap. My favourite book was Deception Point, the first part of the book there's some good action on the north-pole, dont remember the rest though. My point is simply this, he's good for what he writes, imo. I also like reading Donald Duck comics and I surely dont complain about the unsophisticated literary niveau of the story and language and Donald's one dimensional character.
Ok I get what you mean. Can you then recommend a much better writer who writes this types of stuff, quick paced mystery blahblah? I thought Angels and Demons was very cool, running from one place to another, all this dark mysterious Vatican conspiracy atmosphere and so on, and to be honest I dont remember it being that crap. My favourite book was Deception Point, the first part of the book there's some good action on the north-pole, dont remember the rest though. My point is simply this, he's good for what he writes, imo. I also like reading Donald Duck comics and I surely dont complain about the unsophisticated literary niveau of the story and language and Donald's one dimensional character.
One of my all-time favourite contemporary authors is T.C.Boyle. He doesn't usually do fast-paced thriller novels but he did write one recently that fits the description.
It's called "Talk Talk" and it's actually a long way short of his best work but it pisses all over Dan Brown and is a good fun, rollicking, roller-coaster read. Check it out, if it turns you on to some of his other stuff - and away from Dan Brown - I'll rest happy that I've done a good deed today
Actually, how would you know if you have never read any of his books?
I've read part of one, so it should really have read "plot" and "book". They're all the same anyway.
I read 30% of the Da Vinci code, his most successful book ever, and I swapped it for a history book. It was that bad. I've seen back cover blurbs on the back of the others, and I've never even gotten through to the end of those.
I read a good caper book (actually 2 good caper books) recently which did a much better job of handling the running around and jacking up the suspense. It doesn't matter that they're urban fantasies.
Ok I get what you mean. Can you then recommend a much better writer who writes this types of stuff, quick paced mystery blahblah? I thought Angels and Demons was very cool, running from one place to another, all this dark mysterious Vatican conspiracy atmosphere and so on, and to be honest I dont remember it being that crap. My favourite book was Deception Point, the first part of the book there's some good action on the north-pole, dont remember the rest though. My point is simply this, he's good for what he writes, imo. I also like reading Donald Duck comics and I surely dont complain about the unsophisticated literary niveau of the story and language and Donald's one dimensional character.
Try The Lies of Locke Lamora and the sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies. The first is like Oceans Eleven crossed with Robin Hood, while the second is Ocean's Eleven crossed with Pirates of the Caribbean. Those are proper holiday books.
So many things to point at... but the thing that really stood out for me as shitty lazy writing was how the main bad guy always turned out to be the guy who seemed the most trustworthy.
It's shocking formulaic piece of shit writing.
It's shocking formulaic piece of shit writing.
Bloody hell. Could you have made them sound any worse?
Yeah, some might find them shit. But I actually finished them, which means Scott Lynch 2, Dan Brown -3 as far as I'm concerned...
You will note that I didn't mention Ocean's Twelve
One of my all-time favourite contemporary authors is T.C.Boyle. He doesn't usually do fast-paced thriller novels but he did write one recently that fits the description.
It's called "Talk Talk" and it's actually a long way short of his best work but it pisses all over Dan Brown and is a good fun, rollicking, roller-coaster read. Check it out, if it turns you on to some of his other stuff - and away from Dan Brown - I'll rest happy that I've done a good deed today
thanks for the tipp
Sounds interesting!
Have you read A Tourist in Yucatan? I've heard so much about that one, most of the reviews are either really good or really shit.
Hmm I might bring that on a trip to the Yucatan - for fun...
I didn't say he wasn't popular.
Top Gun is rubbish and all.
... but popular ... like Eastenders, and the X Factor and Big Brother. All very popular but basically shit.
And no I'm not comparing Dan Brown tp them, just discounting popularity as a gauge of quality.
I just ordered this out of spite.
The problem is that he treats readers as idiots. He's made a formula for making books, you see the twists coming from far off, and he's rich off it.
It's a matter of jealousy and standards, for me ;P
And I will order two, one in hardback and one in paperback.
That'll show me.
I have seen what you look like. You have far bigger problems to worry about.
It's just a book Lance.
Ok I get what you mean. Can you then recommend a much better writer who writes this types of stuff, quick paced mystery blahblah? I thought Angels and Demons was very cool, running from one place to another, all this dark mysterious Vatican conspiracy atmosphere and so on, and to be honest I dont remember it being that crap. My favourite book was Deception Point, the first part of the book there's some good action on the north-pole, dont remember the rest though. My point is simply this, he's good for what he writes, imo. I also like reading Donald Duck comics and I surely dont complain about the unsophisticated literary niveau of the story and language and Donald's one dimensional character.
He may not exactly be a mystery writer but if you have an fondness for the fast-paced genre, then read Chuck Palahniuk, highly original and a very capable author.
I bet you like Top Gun as well.
Top Gun sucks shit.
Anybody got their copy yet? Got mine this morning but not had chance to start it yet; will be doing after the United game.
Yeah got mine today, not Dan Browns biggest fan but have read all of his books and all of Lee Childs Reacher novels too, so i will continue to do so.
Yeah I've read them all too. I enjoyed Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code immensly, finished them both within 2 days of starting them.
Deception Point and Digital Fortress weren't as good but still a good read to pass the time.
Deception Point and Digital Fortress weren't as good but still a good read to pass the time.
Mine arrives tomorrow. Out of interest, how much did you pay for your copy?
£9.99 I paid for mine, hardback.
Yeah, same. I ordered mine from Amazon.
i have read all of browns too, and agree with elvis on which ones were best, this one is a good start but only about hundred pages in.
£9.99 too
£9.99 too
finished it about 2 o'clock
£5 in ASDA, I ignored it.
£7 tesco, gonna start it in a bit
Liar. Which chapter are you on now?