Admit it, you've read The Da Vinci Code too

I’ve heard The Da Vinci Code described as the "Giant Vortex of Suck". And that comment is edited. Yes, I read it. I enjoyed it. In the same way I enjoy Three’s Company reruns. But that’s another story.

Today author Dan Brown appeared in court to face his literary accusers. This is old news. Other authors have claimed Dan Brown stole their ideas. Or at least left them uncredited for their concepts. I guess when you sell 40 million books you become a pretty big target. From the critics. From other authors. Heck, even from the Catholic Church. (Imagine that guilt).

But will it hurt his book sales? Even if he settled? Probably not I'm afraid. We're about to be carpet-bombed with paperbacks of TDC. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. The only thing that can stop this juggernaut is that faux mullet-thing Tom Hanks is sporting in the film version. What’s up with that?

Comments

[kathie]

I read it in the hospital. I thought it was a page turner. Or might have been the fact I didn't sleep for a week and I couldn't feel half my bod. I liked it. But I'm an easy reader. If I don't enjoy your book, there's something really wrong with it. Not that I'm self-important or anything.

[Maia Sepp]

If Freyapalooza has taught us anything, it's that there is no bad publicity.

I haven't read it, but I want to. I'll likely pick it up secondhand, and I suspect that I'll like it, much the same way that you did. They don't all have to be the Iliad :).

How's the second draft going?

Cheers,
Maia

[erik ivan james]

Thank you for stopping by mine. You have a great site here. I'll come by for return visits.

I haven't read TDC and probably won't.

[DZ Allen]

Read it and loved it. In fact I’ve read all of Dan Brown’s books and was entertained by all of them. I’m not a Dan Brown basher. I’m not an author basher period. The guy gets people to read books and in my opinion that’s great news for the rest of us.

[Jaye Wells]

I read TDC and Angels & Demons. First, TDC was far better than Angels & Demons, but both were *entertaining* reads. He's not trying to write literature. He's trying to put out page-turners. And he does. I couldn't put TDC down. I was so caught up in what's going to happen next that I could overlook some of the complaints others have made. I am glad I read it about three years ago before all this hullaballoo.

I think a lot of his criticism is a classic case of sour grapes. Anyone who achieves that level of success is going to get picked apart under a microscope.

[jamie]

Thanks to all for stopping by!

I read TDC, Angels & Demons, and Deception Point. They were all page-turners. And while you can pick apart the craft, it's easy to see how he sold so many books.

But, I still hate that mullet-thing Tom Hanks has in the movie. That was my exact hairstyle when I graduated from high school in 1986.

[jamie]

Thanks for asking Maia. My wife is reading it, then I'm sending it to a good friend in Seattle for more critiquing carnage. It's nice to take a break and work on something else before round 3.

[dana]

Haven't read it. Well, read the first page and couldn't turn the page. I'll probably rent the movie, though.

[Adam Hurtubise]

I've read TDC, Deception Point, and Angels & Demons.

They were all page-turners. I didn't like Deception Point at all, but TDC was fun. I liked Angels & Demons better.

I wasn't looking for literature when I read them. I was hoping to be entertained. And the books were entertaining.

The guy has sold 40 million books. He must be doing something right.

Adam

[Jamie]

I read Deception Point first, before I'd heard much about Dan Brown. I bought it at a garage sale for a nickel. I got my money's worth.

The other two I read as the whole TDC thing was blowing up. I thought they were entertaining, but as I read I kept thinking, "man, what does this guy have against the Catholic Church?"

Seemed like a sharp stick poking in the eye of the faithful. (And I'm not Catholic).

I think the whole lawsuit is interesting. But British law is different so who knows what will come of it. From afar it looks like one giant publicity gang-bang.