Yes Camilla, i'm looking at you
Dan Brown writes airport novels. You're bored in an airport, you look for a book, this seems interesting, pulls you in from the start...sold. And Dan Brown had been doing that for several years largely unnoticed (and largely unsold) until the Davinci Code.
For some reason, that no-one can pinpoint (after all if we could we'd all be doing it), that book at that time in that place, had the x-factor for want of a better word. No it isn't the greatest literature ever, not it isn't entirely factual, not it may not be the greatest thriller on earth...but somehow it grabbed societies imagination and it didn't let go. Just like Rowling, just like Meyers...no one can plan it, it just happens.
Over 80million copies later there is little doubt it is a truly great airport novel.
Of course a lot of people jump on the FACT element and tear it to pieces *cough*Camilla*cough*, however lets actually look at that:
Firstly, it's a fictional book, it's a story, from front cover to back, and anyone who is going to get uppity about what he says inside it. Well really. It's called immersion people, say it's true at the start and you are hooking the audience from the get go. Hollywood does it all the time, with their stories 'based on truth'. But somehow when a book does it the snobbery comes out.
Secondly. Yes Dan Brown did say it was 99% true in an early publicity interview for the book...an early publicity interview for the book...go back and read that part again...PUBLICITY. Get it yet people? He was a struggling author selling about 10,000 copies each of his 1st 3 novels, at that stage you do anything to get publicity as you are trying to sell your book! And it worked, he finally became a great salesman (something many 'better' authors simply cannot do), who cares if it wasn't entirely accurate, it got books off the shelves.
He's since gone back and used words more akin to "alleged" and "rumored", and said he hopes his book stimulate debate etc. All fine by me.
So yes. Pure literary snobbery, that a 'hack' author can attain what many here would consider 'better' authors cannot. But really, the book isn't meant for a lot of people here. It's an airport novel, it's quick, fast entertainment. I quite liked it, it isn't great but it hits a spot.
The real miracle though is my father, and he probably is the intended audience in many regards. He's read less than 10 books in his life since he left school. Some car racing biographies, he gave lord of the rings a go after the movies, and Dan Brown...
Like Rowling, Dan Brown gets people to read. It fires their imagination, it creates debate, outrage, snobbery. It makes a big noise, a big fuss, and so more people pick it up to see what it's all about, my father being one of them. He quite liked it, so he read Angels and Demons, then Deception Point, he's looking forward to the new book. If the books get him to read more, well that makes me smile. Nice one Dan.
Dan Brown writes airport novels. You're bored in an airport, you look for a book, this seems interesting, pulls you in from the start...sold. And Dan Brown had been doing that for several years largely unnoticed (and largely unsold) until the Davinci Code.
For some reason, that no-one can pinpoint (after all if we could we'd all be doing it), that book at that time in that place, had the x-factor for want of a better word. No it isn't the greatest literature ever, not it isn't entirely factual, not it may not be the greatest thriller on earth...but somehow it grabbed societies imagination and it didn't let go. Just like Rowling, just like Meyers...no one can plan it, it just happens.
Over 80million copies later there is little doubt it is a truly great airport novel.
Of course a lot of people jump on the FACT element and tear it to pieces *cough*Camilla*cough*, however lets actually look at that:
Firstly, it's a fictional book, it's a story, from front cover to back, and anyone who is going to get uppity about what he says inside it. Well really. It's called immersion people, say it's true at the start and you are hooking the audience from the get go. Hollywood does it all the time, with their stories 'based on truth'. But somehow when a book does it the snobbery comes out.
Secondly. Yes Dan Brown did say it was 99% true in an early publicity interview for the book...an early publicity interview for the book...go back and read that part again...PUBLICITY. Get it yet people? He was a struggling author selling about 10,000 copies each of his 1st 3 novels, at that stage you do anything to get publicity as you are trying to sell your book! And it worked, he finally became a great salesman (something many 'better' authors simply cannot do), who cares if it wasn't entirely accurate, it got books off the shelves.
He's since gone back and used words more akin to "alleged" and "rumored", and said he hopes his book stimulate debate etc. All fine by me.
So yes. Pure literary snobbery, that a 'hack' author can attain what many here would consider 'better' authors cannot. But really, the book isn't meant for a lot of people here. It's an airport novel, it's quick, fast entertainment. I quite liked it, it isn't great but it hits a spot.
The real miracle though is my father, and he probably is the intended audience in many regards. He's read less than 10 books in his life since he left school. Some car racing biographies, he gave lord of the rings a go after the movies, and Dan Brown...
Like Rowling, Dan Brown gets people to read. It fires their imagination, it creates debate, outrage, snobbery. It makes a big noise, a big fuss, and so more people pick it up to see what it's all about, my father being one of them. He quite liked it, so he read Angels and Demons, then Deception Point, he's looking forward to the new book. If the books get him to read more, well that makes me smile. Nice one Dan.
This message last edited by Wibble on 15/09/2009 at 11:14:55 PM
Why is it that so many people hate Dan Brown?
14/09/2009 09:24:31 PM
- 2180 Views
His prose is bad. Very bad.
14/09/2009 09:28:28 PM
- 1034 Views
It's not any worse than Robert Jordan's prose. I'd say it's better, in fact.
14/09/2009 09:30:17 PM
- 907 Views
Re: It's not any worse than Robert Jordan's prose. I'd say it's better, in fact.
14/09/2009 09:32:44 PM
- 1057 Views
In defense of italics...
14/09/2009 11:58:35 PM
- 999 Views
Re: In defense of italics...
15/09/2009 08:02:56 AM
- 1014 Views
Thereby...
15/09/2009 10:31:44 PM
- 959 Views
I have a problem with comparing those italics.
15/09/2009 10:33:53 PM
- 960 Views
Oh probably
15/09/2009 10:40:15 PM
- 956 Views
Hehe
15/09/2009 10:42:23 PM
- 1046 Views
In defense of nothing in particular...
15/09/2009 11:16:09 PM
- 1042 Views
Ah. Leroux did publish it as a serial in magazine first so that makes sense. *NM*
15/09/2009 11:19:40 PM
- 470 Views
Jordan didn't have the good sense TO FINISH ANY FUCKING PLOT THREAD
15/09/2009 04:46:06 AM
- 939 Views
Wow, the vehemence.
15/09/2009 05:55:38 AM
- 959 Views
Riddle me this, Batman - if he weren't dying, would he have even done that? *NM*
15/09/2009 01:53:57 PM
- 566 Views
Re: Jordan didn't have the good sense TO FINISH ANY FUCKING PLOT THREAD
15/09/2009 08:05:26 AM
- 973 Views
His attitude to history isn't really any different from that of most writers
15/09/2009 01:54:55 PM
- 931 Views
I vehemently disagree with this!
14/09/2009 09:33:05 PM
- 1223 Views
How many chapters of Aes Sedai dresses and horse names did we go through in his books?
15/09/2009 04:45:04 AM
- 972 Views
I'd have a slow moving plot to fast moving nonsense any day.
15/09/2009 05:36:20 AM
- 1031 Views
With Jordan, that movement was glacial
15/09/2009 01:58:08 PM
- 926 Views
So plot progression is all that matters? What about the other stuff I mentioned? *NM*
15/09/2009 04:50:06 PM
- 439 Views
Jordan's characters are just as two-dimensional as Brown's
16/09/2009 02:17:19 AM
- 888 Views
Bull...
16/09/2009 03:15:49 AM
- 935 Views
No, I think you're just blinded by liking WoT
17/09/2009 03:00:28 PM
- 897 Views
No, you seem to be blinded by disliking him, more like.
17/09/2009 06:25:21 PM
- 915 Views
It's not hyperbole.
17/09/2009 08:13:47 PM
- 946 Views
Yes, it is, and you're really going to have to back your stance up with arguments.
17/09/2009 09:21:56 PM
- 952 Views
Yeah like that's not the case with you and Dan Brown.
17/09/2009 06:56:37 PM
- 962 Views
Because he is shit?
14/09/2009 09:38:59 PM
- 1161 Views
Camilla, you've read shit before and liked it.
15/09/2009 04:43:24 AM
- 949 Views
Re: Camilla, you've read shit before and liked it.
15/09/2009 08:04:18 AM
- 933 Views
Hate is a strong word.
14/09/2009 09:44:02 PM
- 1042 Views
He still didn't dick around with us as long as Robert Jordan did. *NM*
15/09/2009 04:41:01 AM
- 465 Views
Elitism and frustration he sells so much and better authors don't?
14/09/2009 09:51:39 PM
- 877 Views
Given that I know nothing about Dan Brown
14/09/2009 09:54:15 PM
- 1024 Views
A couple of the above points, and Suspension of Disbelief.
14/09/2009 10:23:26 PM
- 981 Views
Good point about the "Ridiculous Things", that bugged me too.
14/09/2009 10:35:32 PM
- 1047 Views
there is a difference between a book, which is a respectable medium, and a hollywood movie.
14/09/2009 10:41:06 PM
- 893 Views
There is really only a difference if you're looking for some higher learnin'
14/09/2009 10:52:39 PM
- 964 Views
Only to the strangest of elitists. *NM*
15/09/2009 12:49:53 AM
- 496 Views
I accept your points, but also your final statement
15/09/2009 04:38:46 AM
- 878 Views
More to the point then... people don't really need a good reason to hate something in particular.
15/09/2009 06:00:33 AM
- 934 Views
To put Brown's mediocrity in perspective, read Da Vinci and then Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco. *NM*
15/09/2009 01:32:11 AM
- 492 Views
Eh, I enjoyed DaVinci better. You can all crucify me now.
15/09/2009 01:49:28 AM
- 876 Views
As someone who appreciated Foucault's Pendulum I don't argue his mediocrity.
15/09/2009 04:30:31 AM
- 771 Views
He was over hyped to me.
15/09/2009 04:15:32 AM
- 893 Views
Da Vinci, not "Da Vinchi". The latter would be pronounced like "Da Vinki" in English. *NM*
15/09/2009 04:32:40 AM
- 478 Views
I will fix it for for you. I just didn't care enough to look up the spelling on it.
15/09/2009 02:49:08 PM
- 1003 Views
The thing I hate the most is actually the fans who suddenly "know" stuff....
15/09/2009 07:49:22 AM
- 1023 Views
I try to avoid stupid people like that altogether
15/09/2009 01:49:53 PM
- 836 Views
My take on why Dan Brown is so disliked.
15/09/2009 08:51:04 AM
- 999 Views
As I've said before, I don't disagree that he's a mediocre writer
15/09/2009 01:52:23 PM
- 881 Views
He 'true' book claims 5 million women were killed during the witch hunt
15/09/2009 11:55:40 AM
- 883 Views
I think it's more the totally inexplicable nature of his success
15/09/2009 03:48:28 PM
- 1063 Views
Eragon and Twilight indicate all that is evil to me in the world
15/09/2009 04:33:29 PM
- 1031 Views
Honestly, his works play on a very basic fact of human psychology.,
16/09/2009 02:23:56 AM
- 988 Views
Misplaced superiority.
15/09/2009 05:10:34 PM
- 973 Views
Well, regarding goodkind...
15/09/2009 05:23:34 PM
- 936 Views
It's pure literary snobbery
15/09/2009 11:08:44 PM
- 932 Views
Where does the rule come from that you can't read good books while travelling? It is nonsense!
18/09/2009 10:16:56 AM
- 1138 Views
I think you'll appreciate this Tom
16/09/2009 03:03:24 PM
- 1061 Views
I don't. I think he's just average, though occasionally fun for an easy read/skim *NM*
17/09/2009 12:39:05 AM
- 505 Views
Plenty of them probably don't. They just don't have the guts to say what they truly think. *NM*
17/09/2009 10:10:39 PM
- 452 Views
And yet there's still no "Why do so many people hate Faile?" post on the WoT board... *NM*
18/09/2009 04:05:26 PM
- 624 Views
How do you know? *NM*
18/09/2009 04:57:15 PM
- 498 Views