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Original poster

Will anyone read Dan Brown's ( yes i did mention he who should not be named) new book?

78 replies

paddington21 · 15/09/2009 15:57

Now deep within my english lecture circles, Mr Brown is a name often said as if you have acid in your mouth. He is despised because of his erm... (in some people's opinions) lax approach to writing.

I know I could of started something really very...

In my opinion I hated deception point but dv code and angels and demons I felt were quite an easy holiday read. A break from the hard hitting literature I was encountering during term time.

I do apologise for exceptionally long post.

please dont verbally abuse me I am only enquiring!

OP posts:
pudding77 · 19/09/2009 21:28

lol flame!

MavisEnderby · 19/09/2009 21:31

No sorry.Not book snob but hated the ridiculously silly plotting and so on that was The Da Vinci Code and would not read any more of his books.

tillyfernackerpants · 19/09/2009 21:34

thanks Flame

HarlotOTara · 20/09/2009 12:29

Thought DVC was a load of tosh and very badly written. Find it sad that such rubbish is so widely read when there is so much wonderful writing to be had. Would never read another book written by Dan Brown. Also wouldn't ever read another book by Jodi Picoult, Kate Mosse or Victoria Hislop but I am evidentally in a minority as I know so many people who love them.

Someone upthreadr said that reading Dan Brown's books means that at least people are reading. I have to reply asking: would eating a McDonald's burger be fine because at least it got people eating? Both are junk IMO. Apologies in advance if I have offended anyone but I stand by my views

Tidey · 20/09/2009 12:43

Yes, I jolly well will, what's the point in being snobbish about literature? Books are there to be enjoyed, not everything has to be deep and meaningful in order to be worth reading.

I haven't bought it yet as I haven't been anywhere that has it at a reasonable price. I looked it up on the computer at my local library and it has already been reserved by 56 people so I might have to wait a while for it to be available there.

herladyship · 20/09/2009 13:13

have read all the dan browns, and was mildly entertained by the da vinci code..

deception point is possibly the worst book i have ever read

will probably read the new one, even though i haven't enjoyed his other stuff i am an eternal optimist

TinaSparkles · 20/09/2009 13:30

Started reading it yesterday and am half-way through it. DH has taken DD along to his mum and dads for a couple of hours so I may well have it finished it by then!

Not a huge fan of Dan Brown per se but it's an enjoyable way to spend a few hours as a real pageturner. I enjoy the quasi-religious/science references and have been googling stuff on my iphone at the same time so I can see what he is talking about.

Some of the dialog is pants though, plot devices which don't make sense, and 2-dimensional character. But it's what I've come to expect and great value for a fiver at Asda.

Not great literature but a right good read!

Monkeygirl69 · 20/09/2009 13:56

Not a fucking chance.

pranma · 20/09/2009 15:08

I'm another cornflakes packet reader and get through several books a week.I am a retired English Teacher and I enjoy a very wide range of books.DV code I read for the story not the writing which imvho isnt good at all and I will read the latest as I cant resist a good page turner.

MamaLazarou · 20/09/2009 15:51

No, I won't read it - I think he is a poor writer, find his subject matter dull and don't enjoy reading thrillers (I am not a book snob, though: I love Marian Keyes).

cheezcurl · 20/09/2009 16:03

I am another that will read everything and anything so it would really have to be unbearable to stop me (Deception point came very close - bloody awful). However DVC and angels and demons were enjoyable easy reads. I got mine for £7 from tescos, wish I had gone to asda

LyraSilvertongue · 20/09/2009 16:10

I'll probably read The Lost Symbol at some point.
I don't get the snobbery about The Da Vinci Code. It's an entertaining novel, easy to read, perfect for holiday beach reading. Far better than all that mindless chick lit so many people are so fond of.
So it's not Shakespeare - so what.
I read a wide range of books from Booker/Pulitzer prize winners to, well, pretty much anything.

LyraSilvertongue · 20/09/2009 16:13

Harlototara, nowt wrong with a bit of junk every now and again. As long as not everything you eat/read is junk.

HarlotOTara · 20/09/2009 20:16

Lyra, you are right - I like a double cheeseburger now and again but Dan Brown just gives me indegestion

MrsRigby · 20/09/2009 21:39

Yes, if my 10 month old DS will let me.

When it comes to reading books I'm no snob. I like Dan Brown and I enjoyed reading all his previous books.

The guy has sold billions of books, his books - especially The Da Vinci Code are very well known and well read by many people around the world and 2 of his books have now been turned into movies.

I think Dan Brown deserves a little bit of credit.

PictureThis · 20/09/2009 22:23

I love all kinds of books and hate book snobbery. I've bought it and I'm really enjoying it. Like LastTrainToNowhere I enjoyed DVC and A&D but didn't like the other two, but so far so good with this one.

squirrel42 · 20/09/2009 22:53

I read it and enjoyed it. Only trouble is that given Mr Brown has at times been a bit flexible with facts when insisting things are True and Real and Definitely Happened, Honest, I'm now never sure what to believe!

There really is a place called Washington DC though, right?

Southwestwhippet · 20/09/2009 23:18

I will read it even though I heard it completely ripped to pieces on Radio 4 the other day. I quite liked the Da Vici Code, it was a easy page turner and killed a dull afteroon.

However, I will wait until 200 copies turn up in my local charity shop and buy it for 50P

HarlotOTara · 21/09/2009 06:36

Why is it snobbish not to like Dan Brown and his ilk?

neversaydie · 21/09/2009 08:46

I read the DA Vinci Code, plus one other. Realised that the plots were identical, and didn't like the slightly hysterical underlying hypothesis that the establishment is out to get you. So no, I won't be reading any more of his books.

mustrunmore · 21/09/2009 08:51

Yes I'll read it, as DVC was such a good holiday read. but I'll wait till ther's a million copies in charity shops, mainly to save money as it'll be about 75p,, and also because I dont want to spend money on a book I wont keep.

Dophus · 21/09/2009 09:40

Not a chance. I have read A andD and the Da Vinci Code. I will admit to finsing them page turners but can no longer differentiate between the books found them ridiculously contrived, poorly written and mind-numbingly simplistic.

Nothing about book snobbery - just didn't like them. I started to watch the film of DVC but gave up aftr 20 min as was really dire!

MrsMerryHenry · 21/09/2009 12:15

I actually think Dan Brown is a genius. And I'm not being sarcastic.

He has proven the power of the written word. I am amazed by the number of people that read his stuff and believe that it's all true!!! I don't care whether you read and enjoy it - hell, I enjoyed the Da Vinci code because it was a good romping page-turner and made me PMSL every other chapter. But that people actually believe this stuff? I have had conversations with people who ordinarily take a highly thoughtful and critical view on life, yet who have been utterly seduced by Dan Brown - primarily because he's saying what they want to hear (so it's actually also about the power of the ego as well as the written word - even better! ).

He is the ultimate blagger - he learns a few facts here and there, then tosses them together with a huge leap of the imagination and presents them as reality. If he weren't a writer, but turned up in a TV interview saying all the crap he says in his books and purporting it to be fact, people would be much more discerning. But because his work is in print, it somehow gets a level of credence which it does not deserve. Sheer brilliance.

Tortington · 21/09/2009 12:21

shall wait for charity shop edition as i wouldnt actually pay for it

i think its a fantastic opportunity for academics to ponce - but they don't need much encouraging now do they!

i know a trash read when i read it - and thats fine - i don't think anyone was sugesting that DBs books were on par with HG Wells ( his birthday today says google)

but i enjoyed DVcode and A&D, it's pulp fiction and there is nothing wrong with that IMO.

furthermore it was such MASS pulp fiction, that lots of people probably picked up a book for the first time in a long time - just to see what the fuss was about, that can't be a nad thing

frostyfingers · 21/09/2009 12:29

Have read DVC, didn't particularly enjoy it. A friend has offered me latest one so will probably have a go. I get most of my books from the library (allowed 12 a time...bliss), so if I don't like them I just put them back - no guilt, no wasted money. My BIL is a book snob, forever reading biographies and hefty historical tomes and sneered at my reading matter and said that he read to improve his mind! I said mine was beyond improving, and I read to relax - I think I won that one.

I do think that whatever you read generally is a good thing. My boys read the newspapers (they're 14 and 10), and I'm always thrilled when they disappear and read books - they get them out from the library in the holidays and read quite a lot now. My DH is not a reader, but I bought him all the original James Bond books and he's working his way through them and enjoying it.

There is so much pleasure in reading, and I hope that my lot stay enjoying it!