Dan Brown’s first new novel since The DaVinci Code was announced yesterday. Inevitably, it involves a global cult and a race against time to unlock a secret formula.
Details of the plot are likely to remain fiercely guarded until much nearer the publication date of September 15, but intrigue centres on whether Brown’s vast and conspiracy-crazed international fan base can divine any clues about the novel from its title: The Lost Symbol.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/fiction/article6134742.ece
I’m presently reading Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons”. I failed to read “The DaVinci Code” prior to the movie release and therefore have been unable to remain reading it.
I have the unfortunate problem of not being able to stick with a book if I see the movie first. Add to my experience with the “DaVinci Code” that right after viewing the movie I was in Paris for two weeks, inundated while moving through the Louvre’ on several occasions with “DaVinci Code” paraphernalia.
(With over 60,000 works you cannot see the Louvre in one visit.)
Dan Brown’s “DaVinci Code” swept up this amazing museum, former home to French royalty and present home to great works of art, in ways that I still find amazing.
I was in Europe the following summer when J.K. Rowling’s last installment of the Harry Potter Series came out. In my estimation Dan Brown is only second to J.K. Rowling for the kind of effect an author and her/his work can and does have on readers and non-readers across the globe.
And yet there are Americans–writers and readers who find Dan Brown’s works and his writing banal, bland and some have even ventured to say, “Plain out bad.”
I presume others from around the world have voiced these or similar criticisms, but since I live in America I hear these.
And of course similar attacks were launched against J. K. Rowling, and most recently concerning Stephanie Meyer, author of the much celebrated YA Twilight Series of books.
I have not read the Harry Potter Series nor have I any of the Twilight Books. My 21-year old spent the decade between 10 and 2 reading and savoring all of the Harry Potter Series.
The last installment debuted when she was finishing up her studies in Bilbao, Spain. She not only purchased a copy while we visited London before returning home. She also had a copy that she had pre-ordered waiting for her when we arrived back in the States.
Completing this last in the line of 7 installments, she closed the book on a chapter in her life that I’m certain she will forever cherish.
Much in the same vein, but in a shorter time span, my 16 year-old tore through 3 of the 4 books in the Twilight Series last summer after completing her required reading list for sophomore English. She did this while we on vacation despite being dyslexic.
Having digressed let me say that I now make sure to read books that have been turned into movies before seeing the movie adaptation, even if I have to wait to view the movie on DVD. Movies do for me, at least American made movies, destroy all ability for me to imagine.
It seems my children learned this long before me. My eldest and middle read all the Harry Potter Books and Twilight books prior to seeing the movie adaptation.
And even my 10-year-old was careful to read the books of “The Spiderwicke Chronicles” before the first movie debuted as well as Neil Gaiman’s, “Coraline” before the 3-D movie came out.
And so it is with Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons”, I find myself in the interesting and wonderful position of having slipped within less than 150 pages of the end when reading that the sequel to the “DaVinci Code” will be released September 15, 2009.
Hmmm.
Do I now have the impetus to go back and read the “DaVinci Code”?
I doubt it.
But I will finish “Angels and Demons”. The trailer to “Angels and Demons” appeared on the movie screen this weekend as I, and my husband sat waiting to see a movie. Having stopped mid-way the 500-page book I was spurred on to finish the book.
Why had I stopped?
First I am in the middle of final edits of my novel, “The House” due out this fall too. Believe me, there’s no competition between my story and Brown’s “The Lost Symbol”.
Yet however Brown has linked this book with the “DaVinci Code”, his writing for me symbolizes, signifies and exemplifies one aspect of writing critics seem to ignore, or do not recognize.
Simplicity.
And if ever a writer provided evidence of how one might write a novel that could be quite easily adapted to screen, Angels and Demons does that. It rolls like scenes on a movie screen.
I highly recommend this book to beginning writers who have been much influenced by movies, and less so by reading books.
Is Dan Brown’s writing in “Angels and Demons” fancy?
No.
The simplicity of his writing is at times downright boring.
And yet that is the artistry.
On contemplating why I stopped reading in the middle of the book, I wonder if it might have been so I could employ some of his techniques in the editing of my novel.
You know those places where we as writers tend to get complicated and writerly, saying much but signifying nothing? I do that a lot.
Reading “Angels and Demons” has shown me how an entire book can be written with utter simplicity–with what some have called bad writing–but clearly readers differ.
Have you read “The DaVinci Code”? If so, what did you think of it? And why?
Have you read “Angels and Demons”? What were your opinions? And why?
Please, no spoilers. I’ve yet to finish.
I read the Davinci Code and I really enjoyed. I actually liked it more than the movie which at times I found extremely boring. As for the reason I liked it, it was because the word usage allowed me to complete be able to visualize a place I have only seen on television and in books. I was captivated by the edge of your seat type reading. I love mysteries.
I want to read Angels and Demons as well I’m not sure I will get a chance.
My daughter has read all the books in the Twilight series and have watched the movie dozens of times. I try to read all the Harry Potter books before I see the movie. I like to compare how close they came to the actual book. I haven’t gotten around to reading the fifth book and the movie is due out sometime this year. It’s in my to be read pile next to my bed.
It’s really interesting what readers like and critics, those who appropriate themselves as knowing what is good and bad writing elect or declare what is good and bad.
As a reader there are certain genre’s and types of stories I prefer. That is my taste.
As a writer, the only truly bad writing, in my opinion, are stories where subject and verbs don’t agree, typos, poorly structured sentences, hard to follow and unclear plot. And of course those stories wherein I and other readers have simply no idea what is taking place–ie. writing that is confusing.
Thanks so much for following my blogs and for your comments.
I prefer to read any book before I see it’s movie adaptation. it’s a weird quirk I have, but I like to (1) see how the movie conveys the visuals I created in my mind and (2) I like to see what liberties the film makers made in taking out and rewriting parts of the book to fit their movie needs. This is the quirky part of my fascination–my hubby thinks I’m crazy.
Now the downside to this is that most times, I don’t like the movie as much as I wanted to because I see shortcomings that ruin my enjoyment of the movie, since I know how it’s suppose to me, that people who did not read the book will not see.
The Harry Potter movies are a good example of this. Those books are soo rich in detail and so intertwined that they have not been translated that well to screen. The problem for me is when screen writers decide to cut out subplots in earlier movies because it makes that particular movie better, but it negatively impacts subsequent movies because an element or two cut out in movie 1 and 2. effects a part of movie 5 or 6. Not to say all the movies are bad, just one or two in particular, but overall, I still like them.
(anywho, i’m off that soapbox now-LOL)
But I did read the DaVinci Code well before I even knew they were making a movie for it. By the time the movie came out, I had forgotten a lot of the book, but I still found the movie very enjoyable.
I’ve also read all the Twilight books and so far, I think the first movie was translated to film very well, not to say i just LOVED the movie, but I will say it’s adaptation was much better than 1 or 2 of the HP movies.
I read both A&D and TDC, and found Angels and Demons to be the better of the two. Critics may call Dan Brown’s writing style boring, but I totally disagree with those opinions. All of his books are fast paced and easy to read, which are two things “this” reader thoroughly appreciates.
Charlotte’s last blog post..Something…
Remember Hemingway was a ‘simplistic’ author and we all know how successful his books have been.
I think in the minds of most critics, if your work doesn’t have that certain ‘wow’ or erotic factor, it won’t sell. I believe Brown and Rowling have proven that you don’t have to write a sensual tale or an exaggerated story to get the most sales. Isn’t that the measuring stick these same critics go by?
I haven’t seen the DaVinci Code and probably won’t see Angels and Demons either, my choice. But whenever I see a novel converted into a movie, if it’s done right, it will more than likely convince me to be curious about the story in question.
Either way, I believe Mr. Brown could care less what the critics think. He’s laughing all the way to the bank.
Thanks so much for speaking up as a reader.
Editors and other writers, writing teachers, peer writers, etc. are constantly goading writers, students and fellow writers to add more of this and that–smell, taste, sounds, spice up scenery, paint a large picture, etc.
Surely we must pay attention to these things along with ensuring our dialogue is not stiff and sounds unreal, or too real.
For sure reading is entertainment. And the reader wants to have fun, relax
But that’s it. A book provides entertainment, an escape from the ho hum drum of every day life.
The reader should not have to work to get beyond the writer’s words for the story.
And that’s what most readers want–the story.
As writers many of us need to lighten up. This is especially true for those of us who are, shall we say, “anal” writers, who also carry a tincture of perfectionism.
We don’t need to paint the entire picture.
Movies provide that and more.
Readers, I think are very smart. And in so being they require very little in the way of storytelling.
I am now coming to see is that the true art of art of storytelling and writing, “…less is more.”
Real artists, whatever their medium know this.
Again, thanks so much for this bit of quite helpful information.
You sound like me. So tell your husband you’re not crazy. And I’m a psychotherapist. Then again… (LOL)
Seriously, I’m always curious after reading a book, to see just how well or poorly a director can or cannot convey the essence of a novel or short story. And we must be certain, directors and producers wer working within very tight constraints. The average movie four years ago cost approximately $200,000/minute to make.
The difference between books and movies is that books convey the mind on the page. Movies convey a director/producer/screenwriter’s version of that someone’s mind on the page.
And while movies can do and present a lot, they have yet to reach a level of development that can encompass the mysteries of the mind–one of which is imagination.
And the funny thing about imagination, is that it’s contagious. One person’s imagination can spur and stimulate that of another. Unfortunately with regards to books and movies, the flow seems to go only in one direction.
Books are usually the impetus for movies. Very rarely do we hear of a movie spawning a book.
Have a great day.
The books are fun if you want to waste a day, but other than that, they are useless.
THey have no literary content whatsoever.
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m curious as to what literary content Dan Brown’s titles lack. It’s always helpful for writers to hear what readers want to see in stories.
I look forward to hearing from you.