Just finished reading the Da Vinci Code. Huge disappointment. I was hoping to have another Harry Potter experience, where I come late to the party but still find myself caught up in all the excitement. Instead, I found the book completely bland. The characters are flat, the mechanics of the quest aren't particularly interesting, and the payoff is poor.
However, the history and research that Dan Brown bases the book on are interesting (in spite of his liberties and errors) and I'd bet reading the straight academic work is more rewarding than sifting fact from fiction within The Da Vinci Code, so I'll be adding some more non-fic to my Amazon.com wish list. Yippee.
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I'm so glad to finally have this confirmed by someone whose taste I can count on. I read the first chapter of two of Brown's earlier books and they were so bad I couldn't even keep reading. I mean like the worst kind of obvious, adverbial writing. Just awful. People said the DaVinci Code was better, but I can't imagine it got much better. Just goes to show. People are stupid.
And how. I hate to admit that I too read this book and it was awful and forgettable. Unfortunately, it has become such a cultural phenomenon that people who never read pick it up and then are so proud at finishing something they just jizz.
Plus, the flock will not tolerate stragglers.
What TDC succeeds at is making you feel like the whole thing could be true. The amount of research that went into it (or, the use of other people's research, as the case may be) is impressive. So the entire book gives you this feeling that Western/Christian history has left us a wondrous and romantic legacy. It's too bad the telling of that legacy is a big thumbs down.
And in spite of that, TDC is now like the Matrix trilogy -- not worth your time, but you've gotta see it just to keep up with the cultural conversation.
The problem with DB is that he's so overly formulaic that its laughable. I actually do enjoy most of his work, but suffer through the formula. Consider that every single one of his four books has:
1. A scholarly male main character.
2. A gorgeous, brilliant love interest.
3. A boss for said gorgeous, brilliant love interest who's allegiance is in question, and who's secret identity is key to the climax of the book.
4. A puzzle that involves one or more characters going to another country and being chased by an unknown shady character.
That being said, the first book I read of his was "Angels and Demons" and I thouroughly enjoyed it (since I hadn't become inured to his formula at that point). The most interesting thing about A&D, like his other books, is his research, but he does bring it together in a compelling way. Also, what makes A&D more interesting to me than DVC is that A&D is based on historical fact, where DVC is based on (flawed) historical theory.
I rather enjoyed it. Technically, I didn't read, but listened to the books-on-cd, which made for a fun car ride to work (LIE hell). What can I say, it gave me & my blue collar dad something to discuss. Now we are interested in learning more about the historical fact. That can't be a bad thing.
I'll check out A&D based on the review above, thanks.
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