I admit it. I read the da Vinci Code. I further admit that I enjoyed it.I got the book as a gift and was keen to read it because everyone else was. As I said I enjoyed it.
I'm not going to comment on the book but I really would be interested to know why everybody on the planet feels the need to do so. It's not really comment though, it's unashamed and unfair criticism. They say this is a really bad book, and lately a really bad film.
Fair enough if you think that, I'm not going to tell you you are wrong. The part I'm struggling with is that 60 million people (and counting) have read the book. How can this be the case if this is such a terrible book.
So I think we're coming to the nub of the issue. It's about comparison. Everyone who is commenting on the book sees fit to compare it with something. The comparisons are unfair in my view.
Commentators are expecting Dan Brown to have adopted someone else's writing style, maybe Albert Camus or James Joyce perhaps. They expect the subject to be addressed in a more serious fashion, perhaps like The Gulag Archipelago. They expect the movie to be a faithful reproduction of an serious subject in a serious style, perhaps like Schindler's List.
Come on!
This is a thriller. Full stop. Did we have to listen to this rubbish when Raiders of the Lost Ark came out? Did we have to listen to this rubbish when Tom Clancy published Patriot Games.
Some people are so moved to comment that the Wikipedia page for this book has had editing capability suspended due to vandalism.
So what's going on here?
This is not a bad book despite this review (worth reading for the sheer absurdity). This is not a bad movie despite this review or this one. This is what it is. Take it or leave it.
If you don't like it then you don't like it. If you do like it, then you join the other 60 million people who should not have to feel like you have an inadequate viewpoint just because a few "informed experts" tell you that you're wrong to like it.
It's not a bad book and you're not wrong if you like it.
2 comments:
It's supposed to be a fun read, which is why so many people like the book.
Cinthia - great to hear from you!
so don't you think it's kinda sad that so many "experts" are rolled out to one-by-one tell anyone who will listen that this is a dumb book with poor writing style, lousy characters, obvious plotlines.
I read a wonderful book a while back called "Synchronicity", a good friend loaned it to me. In it the author makes the point that as human beings we've lost the ability to see what is right in front of us. We must filter everything by comparing it with our prior experiences.
So when a nice book comes along that is a fun read, exactly like you say, most of us can't see it for what it is. We have to filter it. Some people have some pretty harsh filters and have said some pretty mean things about this simple book.
Sounds like you were willing to give it a chance and take it at face value. Good for you!
Have a great week!
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