The Works of Dan Brown

[Deleted]

I am trying to read Deception Point right now; I say trying because very early in, Brown makes a ridiculous geography error (he's working in San Diego; they buy a house "close by" in Pasadena - come on, buddy, just look at a map.)
But then I remembered that I read his stuff, like a lot of other hacks, purely for the entertainment value, when I don't want to or can't think.
But I have a strict rule; I get them from the library or pay less than a dollar for them. I won't buy them at cover price. That helps with the shame. A little.

[biondetta]

I read Pendulum so long ago -- and I don't think the book made the move with me -- but now I want to reread it, just because of Eco's comments about Brown!

I'm currently reading his newest one (no money involved on my side) and it's just ridiculous. The exposition about the most obvious things as if NO ONE has ever noticed these details or whatever ... It's just painful at times. The characters -- and I use that term loosely -- are so poorly written and developed. I don't remember some of his other books being THIS bad. Well, maybe Deception Point. I remember that one being obnoxiously bad.

[bklynred]

It's really hard to manage Angels & Demons once you've read DaVinci Code...you realize all his tricks and tells. Still, before the backlash, I read DVC along with half the world and enjoyed it. If anyone reads the new book, I'd love to hear a preview. I heard his publishing house was waiting like an extra two years for him to turn in this manuscript to keep the entire company from going under.

[regencydrama]

bklynred: The book takes place in a similar time frame as Angels & Demons, but really doesn't have half the punch of A&D or DaVinci Code. Instead, it just came off as a stale retread/mishmash of the previous two books, only with a different location.

A short list of the similarities between the three books (without spoilers):

- Robert receiving mysterious summons to go help someone? Check.
- A plucky female character who's smart, beautiful and involved in the sciences? Check.
- Does the female character come from an unorthodox family? Check.
- Does she express romantic interest in Langdon? Check.
- Robert constantly being put in situations that tests his clausterphobia? Check.
- A mysterious figure that Robert calls upon for help who has unclear loyalties? Check.
- Government/figures in positions of power acting as antagonists? Check.
- A mysterious, shadowy figure who enjoys self-flagellation and has a vendetta against the other characters? Check.

What I really didn't like about the book is that it seemed like Brown got bored with writing it, and decided to pad the pageswith history facts. He spends a lot of time discussing aspects of D.C. that are interesting - e.g. the background of the Capitol rotunda - but they really didn't bolster the storyline. I would have much preferred it if he had spent more time discussing the history of the Masons, the recruitment of political/historical figures into the Masons, etc.

[biondetta]

I heard his publishing house was waiting like an extra two years for him to turn in this manuscript to keep the entire company from going under.

He's such a Mary Sue. I think he includes a reference to that in the story at one point. Langdon is so annoying, because he's supposed to be super smart, yet is oblivious to the more obvious things. It's kind of an insult to the intelligence of the reader.

And yes, the plot devices are incredibly clunky at this point. It's almost like a Mad Lib -- just fill in the blanks -- but without the humor.

[tabby]

Langdon is so annoying, because he's supposed to be super smart, yet is oblivious to the more obvious things. It's kind of an insult to the intelligence of the reader.

That was one of my biggest peeves when I read DVC. I kept wondering why I was figuring out everything several pages before this mega-smart academic was.

Also annoying? The cliffhangers at the end of all the chapters. It's exactly like the Nancy Drew books are written. I refuse to read this new one, but from a hilarious Amazon review I read this morning, he's continued to this "device."

[kateln]

Sept 17, 2009 22:59:14 GMT -4 @regencydrama said:

bklynred: The book takes place in a similar time frame as Angels & Demons, but really doesn't have half the punch of A&D or DaVinci Code. Instead, it just came off as a stale retread/mishmash of the previous two books, only with a different location.

A short list of the similarities between the three books (without spoilers):

- Robert receiving mysterious summons to go help someone? Check.
- A plucky female character who's smart, beautiful and involved in the sciences? Check.
- Does the female character come from an unorthodox family? Check.
- Does she express romantic interest in Langdon? Check.
- Robert constantly being put in situations that tests his clausterphobia? Check.
- A mysterious figure that Robert calls upon for help who has unclear loyalties? Check.
- Government/figures in positions of power acting as antagonists? Check.
- A mysterious, shadowy figure who enjoys self-flagellation and has a vendetta against the other characters? Check.

What I really didn't like about the book is that it seemed like Brown got bored with writing it, and decided to pad the pageswith history facts. He spends a lot of time discussing aspects of D.C. that are interesting - e.g. the background of the Capitol rotunda - but they really didn't bolster the storyline. I would have much preferred it if he had spent more time discussing the history of the Masons, the recruitment of political/historical figures into the Masons, etc.

It's not just his Robert Langdon books that are like that, but ALL of them.

Only in Deception Point and Digital Fortress the plucky female scientist from an unorthodox background is the lead character.

I've read his books, at the time they were fun Metro reads. I tried rereading them again, and they're awful.

[bklynred]

Yes, I heard Deception Point was worthwhile, I may skip the new one (which sounds like the old ones, sigh) and try that one instead.

biondetta, I think it may have even been more than two years he was behind. He was really absurd about it, and knowing how much cash he'd bring in, his editors were just stuck there sh&tting bricks and waiting for him to send it in while other imprints folded all around them. It would've been the equivalent of Rowling taking an extra three years on Book 7 of Potter because she just wasn't "feeling the spirit of Hogwarts" and not taking any professional calls. And then all of Scholastic being laid off except the Rowling's imprint.

As it is, I think the turnaround time between the house getting his MS and the pub date was crazy short, so if there are bizarre editing lapses...you know why.

[biondetta]

I wouldn't dream of criticizing the editing. I blame the writing in the first place. Silk, sow's ear, etc. What's worse is that he took that long and still ended up with a formulaic piece of crap. The big reveal at the end was pretty lousy, too. I was left thinking, "Eh."

[Deleted]

Okay, I just finished it. To me, DB books are like a box of donuts. I take a taste and I can't stop til the last crumb has been devoured. I know it's bad for me, I know it's not really adding anything of value to my life, but I'm hooked and I can't stop.

So, in a tiny voice, head hung low, toe digging into dirt...

i liked it.