Thursday, September 03, 2009

Coming Distraction: The Lost Symbol

On September 15, millions of copies of Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol will hit the streets (where they rightly belong). The buzz about this book is louder than a nymphomaniac Queen bee:

The Lost Symbol is a brilliant and compelling thriller. Dan Brown’s prodigious talent for storytelling, infused with history, codes and intrigue, is on full display in this new book. This is one of the most anticipated publications in recent history, and it was well worth the wait.” *

Boy, is that praise or what? But wait just a darn tootin’ minute. The author of that exalted blurb was the Great Exalted Sonny Mehta, the Chairman and Editor in Chief of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. As the Great Exalted, Sonny could hardly say, “The Lost Symbol is a piece of crap,” now could he.

Lettuce see what Dan himself has to say about his new book:

"This novel has been a strange and wonderful journey," said Brown. "Weaving five years of research into the story's twelve-hour timeframe was an exhilarating challenge. Robert Langdon’s life clearly moves a lot faster than mine." *

Very nice. Langdon, the boring protagonist of The da Vinci Code (note the correct spelling of the title), solves whatever needs solving in a twelve-hour timeframe.

Then why is the book 528 pages long, Dan?

It is probably quite rude to dis a book before I've read it, but I don't give a damn. I read The da Vinci Code (note the correct spelling of the title) when it first came out and I was totally underwhelmed. I think I gave it two out of five stars: one star for Brown writing it (I'm basically kind), and one star to me for reading it.

I have been a fan of the mystery-thriller genre since I was knee-high to a CIA guy. There is no way Brown comes even close to early Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, or Robert Ludlum, just to name three. Brown is a mediocre writer, his research is questionable, and there’s nothing likeable or endearing about his characters.

So I won’t be reading The Lost Symbol because I don’t like Brownie. That’s my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.


* Quotes are from Amazon.com

20 comments:

Unknown said...

The Da Vinci Code was enough for me.

Wandering Coyote said...

I couldn't agree with you more. I couldn't stand da Vinci Code - I thought it was a horrendous pile of cow tripe. I won't read any more of his stuff.

Barlinnie said...

I actually enjoyed his first attempt, it suited my already low opinion of religion and its spin-doctoring load of shite. The filum that followed was a complete wasted 90 minutes of my life, as was the sequel book. Falling for 3 miles out of a helicopter and landing on a rooftop is perhaps more believable in some parts of Amerikay, but not here in Glasgow.

I'll have a wee glance at his latest offering, afterall, isn't it the church itself that encourages us to fall on our knees and blindly follow the herd by taking their opinion instead of thinking for ourselves?

I value your erstwhile opinions Charlie, but I'll still take a look-see for masel just to make sure.

Tiffin said...

I'm wi' you, Jimmy B. I'm going to read it just because I'm curious and opinionated. (But then, my family came from Perthshire, so I cannae help it.)

Tiffin said...

I wish there were an edit feature so I could add a p.s. when I think of them I won't fork out any $ for the book, that's for sure. I'll go the library route.

St Jude said...

I have to say that I am not a fan of Dan Brown. There were so many holes in the da Vinci code that you could have caught fish with it.I don't think that I will be putting myself through that again.

Pat said...

I see I have some Dan Browns which the boys gave me but I didn't get beyond the first chapter. It isn't just the genre. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Cut Short' by Leigh Russell - a fellow blogger - and Sally Hinchcliffe's 'Out of a Clear Sky.'

ditzymoi said...

Yep I didnt care for the da Vinci code either - no matter how you spell it! I was intrigued by Angels & Demons, mostly by the Vatican history I think? But then I will read anything :)

Charlie said...

I'm glad to see that Jimmy B. and Tiffin have disagreed with my opinion, which is not meant to change, convince, or cajole anyone to my way of thinking.

Far be it for me to "tell" anyone what or what not to read—that would be censorship, which I am dead-set against.

Kevin Musgrove said...

Oh God, we're going to have to buy some more of this crap...

Charlie said...

KEVIN: I suspect you're going to have to buy a shitload of that crap; the problem is, I don't know how much crap constitutes a shitload.

Barbara Bruederlin said...

I am not keen to read this either. It's the mullet.

savannah said...

it was is poor scholarship that turned me off dan brown, sugar! 12 years of catholic school and some progressive nuns after vatican II gave me enough background to not want to even bother with the book. now, with all of that, i enjoyed the movie as a piece of entertainment. we did watch it on dvd so we could stop it, laugh out loud and talk during the screening! yeah, we try to stay out of movie theaters for that very reason. xoxox

Peter S. said...

Hi Charlie! That was one good take on Brownie. Hehehe. I also have problems with DB. He's too sensationalist.

Kevin Musgrove said...

Ah, the film: "Quick! We must find a library!"

Charlie said...

SAVVY: So you and the krewe are those kind of people: the dreaded movie talkers. At least you have the courtesy (and common sense) to do it at home.

I know a girl from India who talks during the movie in the theater—and then she wonders why none of her pals will go to the "cinema" with her.

Meg said...

I don't think I'll be reading any more of his books. I enjoyed The da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons (which was faaarrr better, btw). I tried reading some of his other books and just sort of gave up on them. And him.

Simplified Views - Life and Work said...

if there are other Dan Brown fans still living and believing, I urge you to read the lost symbol. in 500 or so pages, you will be either dead or would want to kill Mr Brown, not even a mediocre writer. And did I say - you will cry, scream and would sadly ignore your instinct to save your time time (rather shud hv given up at 150 pages)

Im so pissed, that I want every believer to waste their time and cry ... And I thought Digital fortress was Crap and I wasted my money & time.

I think either Dan Brown hired someone else to write the da vinci code or he is admitting now (by en-cashing one last time his brand) that he is not a writer. Or his 'outsourced' writer is dead or something. And publishers, editors etc. etc. - Mr Dan Brown - those are some lame notes, go back home. This is not a book. do something for a 2-3 yrs, maybe what writers do and then build a "story" - lets see then, maybe.

You were warned !!!

Charlie said...

SIMPLE VIEWS: I like a person with strong, garbled opinions.

Unknown said...

Wow - you would have thought this was a long dead thread...
LOL!
Great stuff...