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I have heard a lot about The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown) in recent months. Mostly it was vague raving about how great the book is and how it is rather "difficult to explain, you just have to read it." That sort of thing. So during a recent trip to B&N, I picked it up.
I'm about halfway through it now and I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. There is no great writing in this book, in my opinion. Each character is one-dimensional and has virtually no discernible, individual identity. In fact I realized today that you could switch the male and female protagonists without the reader really noticing. Their backgrounds are different, but the difference between them is noticable in the explication only and their essential identities in the narration itself are quite similar.
Stylistically, Brown writes like Clive Cussler without the flair. His story is Indiana Jones without the grit and James Bond without the panache.
Furthermore, while the author has clearly researched the subject matter to an above-average extent, an alarming amount of the would-be shocking revelations in this book are already tired, over-used elements extracted directly from pop culture. If you've seen The Godfather Part III or Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade you'll start to understand what I mean when you read this book.
I understand Brown's aim with these elements -- he is trying to tie them with historical facts to create a sort of DaVinci unification theory. One of the repeating themes of the book is the discovery of a revelation that has been right in front of everyone's eyes for years, but no one has noticed.
The problem is that the whole premise lacks surprise. It is painfully predictable. I'm halfway through the novel and I have yet to encounter a "shocking revelation" that I didn't already see coming pages and pages earlier. It's almost like watching a sports race on television in real time, while the announcer is two minutes behind.
I'm eager to get to the end now, because I have tired of the amazing turns of events that are anything but amazing. I'm pretty bored with italics conveying urgency in place of effective writing.
In short, I guess, don't believe the hype.
Posted on February 17, 2004 12:50 PM | Entry Categories: BooksI too have heard the hype... but I can never believe that a book with LARGE CAPITAL EMBOSSED METALLIC letters will be any good... I know I know don't judge a book by its cover but I can't help it when it comes to those kinda of books. Looking back on your older book recomindations I saw you read American Gods... I just finished that the other day... somehow I devoured it in two days.
I recomend The Sparrow & Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. A great SF slash literary fiction set.
I think your opinion on the book is very valid... but you also have to concider who is reading this book. Most people do not know a lot of the little details that are dropped in the book... must people do not realize that matriarcal societies existed once, and still exist. I think what this book does is make people think, specially those that need to things to be masticated by someone else before they eat them.
Posted by: Logtar at February 17, 2004 03:22 PMi picked it up yesterday and have read the first 200 pages so far. i have to agree with what you are saying. this book was way overhyped and i find it really strange that so many people told me how "good" it is.
however, i will say that it's one of those kind of books that makes you keep reading it, really easy to read, and keeps you wanting to see what happens next...even though it's nothing really that exciting when you get to it. this may be one case where the movie could be better than the book.
unrelated, i just realized that you have journal entries...the way your site is designed they're almost hidden!
Posted by: Stephen Caswell at April 26, 2004 02:44 PM
