The Lost Symbol

[Parkbandit]

Anyone else read this Dan Brown novel? I really liked Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code.. and I just finished The Lost Symbol.

This might be the one of the three that I think will be a better movie than it was a book.

[radamanthys]

Might be what he had in mind when he wrote it. Probably made a killing off the movie rights.

[TheEschaton]

I read it in one night, the night I got it.

It was okay, but eh. Something about it underwhelmed me. It'll probably make a good movie.

-TheE-

[Parkbandit]

I read it in one night, the night I got it.

It was okay, but eh. Something about it underwhelmed me. It'll probably make a good movie.

-TheE-

I felt the same exact way. I read it via a kindle (sp?) on my iPhone.. which was nice.

[Fallen]

I felt the same exact way. I read it via a kindle (sp?) on my iPhone.. which was nice.

I agree on the Iphone Kindle part. I didn't think it would "Feel"? right to read a book on such a small screen, but after downing two novels, I really don't have any complaints.

[Parkbandit]

I agree on the Iphone Kindle part. I didn't think it would "Feel"? right to read a book on such a small screen, but after downing two novels, I really don't have any complaints.

Yea, I wasn't sure I was going to like it either.. but not having to remember then lug around a book to wherever you go is sweet. PLUS, having an extra 5 minutes here or there and being able to just pick up exactly where you left off was a huge win.

Big Kindle fan now.

[Allereli]

Dan Brown is a good researcher, but terrible writer. I'm on the fence on whether to read it at all.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Dan Brown is a good researcher, but terrible writer. I'm on the fence on whether to read it at all.

I'd suggest his success writing is in contrast to your opinion. But that doesn't mean he's a good writer I suppose, just like Keanu isn't exactly a good actor but has been successful.

[StrayRogue]

Dan Brown is a good researcher, but terrible writer. I'm on the fence on whether to read it at all.

Agree totally. He writes trash fiction, just with awesome RL references.

[TheEschaton]

yeah, maybe that's it. The whole point of the first two Langdon novels are the possible sinister ties of some large organization which has suppressed and oppressed some sort of symbolic something. The Illuminati in A&D, and the PdS in DaVinci Code. In this book, he goes to pains from the very beginning to illustrate that the Freemasons are not sinister in any way, but there's no real sinister opposition.

Plus, the whole involvement of the CIA was clunky and not done well.

[Ashliana]

I loved Angels & Demons--but was underwhelmed by The Da Vinci Code. I just started reading the new book (picked it up last night). Too early to form an opinion.

[radamanthys]

Dan Brown is a good researcher, but terrible writer. I'm on the fence on whether to read it at all.

His writing is entertaining rather than good.

Often, I'd rather read a good story than, say, a social criticism by someone like Jonathan Franzen.

In this culture where a well-written book tends to be anathema to the General Public, entertaining writing is what will sell books, not necessarily good writing.

I guess what I mean is that it's possible that he's actually a decent writer, but is taking on the Rowling/Grisham et al. style to sell copies.

[Skeeter]

You mean his stuff isn't true?

[Gan]

Reading it now. Some of my lodge brothers have read and liked it. I have all of Brown's books which are very entertaining fiction and make for good mind movies.

I'm sure the iphone books are cool, but I like the feel of an actual book in my hands.

Still waiting on the next Clancy/Ryan installment to come out...

[Gan]

http://forum.gsplayers.com/images/reputation/reputation_neg.gifThe Lost Symbol (http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?p=1001346#post1001346)09-24-2009 08:59 AM Good mind movies? maybe if you're four.

Feel free to offer up some alternatives to defend that opinion. Especially since Brown has multiple books on the best seller list and movies out on 2 of the 5 books he's written. I'm afraid your opinion has fallen just as short as your nerve to actually back up the critique with a name. Which is probably just as short as your manhood.

[Allereli]

Especially since Brown has multiple books on the best seller list and movies out on 2 of the 5 books he's written.

Transformers 2 was a huge hit at the box office this summer. Does not mean it was a good movie.

[Parkbandit]

I'm sure the iphone books are cool, but I like the feel of an actual book in my hands.


I thought the same thing at first.. but the sheer convenience of the damn thing is too great to pass up.

Plus it keeps my man stack to a minimum.

[Gan]

Transformers 2 was a huge hit at the box office this summer. Does not mean it was a good movie.

You really want to argue about subjective opinions?

[Gan]

I thought the same thing at first.. but the sheer convenience of the damn thing is too great to pass up.

Plus it keeps my man stack to a minimum.

I love my library. I love being surrounded by books. I also love gadgets and technology. So its a battle of technology vs. tradition.

For books - tradition wins for preference. Although I greatly see the convenience of having a book on your phone. ;)

[Allereli]

You really want to argue about subjective opinions?

Pet rocks were really popular once, too.

[Gan]

Pet rocks were really popular once, too.

So how do you quantify (define) what is good?

[Allereli]

So how do you quantify (define) what is good?

In terms of books, dialogue that doesn't make me want to puke.

[TheEschaton]

His dialogue is pretty crappy.

BTW, I would never read a book on a phone, I love the way the paper of a new book smells. Or an old book.

[Gan]

In terms of books, dialogue that doesn't make me want to puke.

Thank goodness its not all about you then!

*Shellfish make me puke. However, I dont have the temerity to impose my narrow definition of whats good upon others but would rather they form their own opinion and act on it without my influence.

[Allereli]

Thank goodness its not all about you then!

His dialogue is maybe at a 2nd grade reading level. Pay a little closer attention to it. Like I said, his research and ideas can be very clever, but the execution is, at times, unreadable (see Digital Fortress).

[Gan]

Are you sure its actually at a 2nd grade level? Have you confirmed that with a 2nd grader? Is there a published study confirming that opinion?

[Allereli]

Are you sure its actually at a 2nd grade level? Have you confirmed that with a 2nd grader? Is there a published study confirming that opinion?

most pop authors write at a 7th grade level, I just find Dan Brown's to be worse, so I estimate 2nd grade. Here's an article about the worst of his worst:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/6194031/The-Lost-Symbol-and-The-Da-Vinci-Code-author-Dan-Browns-20-worst-sentences.html

[StrayRogue]

Most of the reasons given in that article are just whiney BS. Sure some of it doesn't read very well; the first example is very poor and very trash fiction. But complaining about improper use of transitive verbs etc - rubbish. A good writer knows that if the rules need to be broken to get the point across - do so.

[Parkbandit]

For someone who writes such horrible books.. he sure does make a shitload of money doing it.

Good for him, imo. I'll probably buy his next book too.

[Allereli]

From William Bell in the comments section: "To those who site his success as prove of the quality of his stories: this is like saying McDonalds is good food because it outsells real restaurants."

[Parkbandit]

His dialogue is pretty crappy.

BTW, I would never read a book on a phone, I love the way the paper of a new book smells. Or an old book.

I've never had this affection for paper and cardboard with ink on them. I read book for the words.. not the paper it's written on.

You sound so old.

(God, that felt good to say)

[Gan]

For someone who writes such horrible books.. he sure does make a shitload of money doing it.

Good for him, imo. I'll probably buy his next book too.

x2

[peam]

From William Bell in the comments section: "To those who site his success as prove of the quality of his stories: this is like saying McDonalds is good food because it outsells real restaurants."

This.

Dan Brown writes complete shit.

[4a6c1]

The only thing interesting about Dan Brown is how he wraps his ideas around religious symbolism. I read the books and liked them but that is saying nothing. I have practically no standards for books and will read anything about anything, all day long.

[peam]

I have practically no standards for books and will read anything about anything, all day long.

After thinking about it, I DO feel kind of guilty for trashing Dan Brown.

I am, sadly, perfectly content to sit down with a Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance book and waste a day.

/shame

[EasternBrand]

After thinking about it, I DO feel kind of guilty for trashing Dan Brown.

I am, sadly, perfectly content to sit down with a Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance book and waste a day.

/shame

This. Dan Brown's work is consumable entertainment, and there's nothing wrong with enjoying it. He's never been my cup of tea, but I'd argue that John Grisham isn't exactly a titan of literary fiction either, and I've devoured most of his books.

Will Dan Brown be on the canonical syllabus of 21st Century Literature when it's being studied as a serious discipline by later generations? Probably not. Only Lord Paco knows for sure. But . . . so what?

[TheEschaton]

Anyone actually want to discuss the book, writing notwithstanding?

[RichardCranium]

From William Bell in the comments section: "To those who site his success as prove of the quality of his stories: this is like saying McDonalds is good food because it outsells real restaurants."

There's a difference in that you can prove the food isnt good for you but you can't prove that it doesn't taste good since taste is subjective.

[Parkbandit]

Anyone actually want to discuss the book, writing notwithstanding?

Not much you can talk about without ruining some of the story.

I will say this though.. I knew from the very beginning.. at first mention.

[Gan]

Since we're starting to discuss the book, I'll stop reading this thread now. :(

[Khariz]

What amazed me most about the book, as with all Dan Brown books, was not the writing itself, or even the storyline, but just how amazingly accurate and well researched he was about everything. He really took that research to the next level this time.

It actually makes me wonder if Brown understands even half of what he is talking about in this book, or if he is a skilled poser that craftily regurgitates the views of others via fiction. It doesn't really matter to me either way, but I'm just curious.

[Warriorbird]

Dan Brown does some decent research and has some excellent help. He taps conspiracy theories well. By technical standards he may not be a 'great' writer, but most lit fiction authors are pretty damn jealous of Rowling and King.