The Da Vinci Code

Well, I spent most of last night and today reading The Da Vinci Code.

Interesting book. Plotwise, it's relatively average. I spent a fair amount of my youth reading Robert Ludlum novels so "man solving convoluted secret one step ahead of the bad guys" isn't exactly a resoundingly new plot. Then again, it's always a serviceable one. I liked that the hero was rather nerdy. Anyone this deeply steeped in research would have to be somewhat nerdy (and reading the book, I think that Tom Hanks, who has been cast in the role, can be a believable fit for the character as written). Still, the plot in itself isn't really innovative. The twist of who is the true villain isn't that shocking. And the ultimate resolution of the plot is... well, to be honest, it's a bit anti-climactic ( cut for vague spoilers )

In the end, I'm not sure how much has been solved (then again whenever a story is about finding the Holy Grail you sort of know it will prove somewhat elusive in the end). What makes the book interesting isn't the plot or even the characters (characters who seem to function primarily to provide a dizzying amount of exposition) but the research.

Boy, Dan Brown must have done a hellacious amount of research. ( Read more... )

Anyway, touching on all these subjects-- history, religion, art, architecture, math/science-- is what I found interesting about the book. Then again, I also think a lot of the fun of the novel for me was this tour of paintings and architecture as it reminded me of the study abroad tour. We went to museum after museum and cathedral after cathedral analyzing composition and symbollism so I had some affection for the characters' quest. Even if the quest for the Grail wasn't as satisfying as it could be, I found the book as a whole to be interesting in its areas of speculation and research. Honestly, the questions are more interesting than any answers anyone could come up with anway.

The Da Vinci Code

Well, I spent most of last night and today reading The Da Vinci Code.

Interesting book. Plotwise, it's relatively average. I spent a fair amount of my youth reading Robert Ludlum novels so "man solving convoluted secret one step ahead of the bad guys" isn't exactly a resoundingly new plot. Then again, it's always a serviceable one. I liked that the hero was rather nerdy. Anyone this deeply steeped in research would have to be somewhat nerdy (and reading the book, I think that Tom Hanks, who has been cast in the role, can be a believable fit for the character as written). Still, the plot in itself isn't really innovative. The twist of who is the true villain isn't that shocking. And the ultimate resolution of the plot is... well, to be honest, it's a bit anti-climactic ( cut for vague spoilers )

In the end, I'm not sure how much has been solved (then again whenever a story is about finding the Holy Grail you sort of know it will prove somewhat elusive in the end). What makes the book interesting isn't the plot or even the characters (characters who seem to function primarily to provide a dizzying amount of exposition) but the research.

Boy, Dan Brown must have done a hellacious amount of research. ( Read more... )

Anyway, touching on all these subjects-- history, religion, art, architecture, math/science-- is what I found interesting about the book. Then again, I also think a lot of the fun of the novel for me was this tour of paintings and architecture as it reminded me of the study abroad tour. We went to museum after museum and cathedral after cathedral analyzing composition and symbollism so I had some affection for the characters' quest. Even if the quest for the Grail wasn't as satisfying as it could be, I found the book as a whole to be interesting in its areas of speculation and research. Honestly, the questions are more interesting than any answers anyone could come up with anway.

The Da Vinci Code

Well, I spent most of last night and today reading The Da Vinci Code.

Interesting book. Plotwise, it's relatively average. I spent a fair amount of my youth reading Robert Ludlum novels so "man solving convoluted secret one step ahead of the bad guys" isn't exactly a resoundingly new plot. Then again, it's always a serviceable one. I liked that the hero was rather nerdy. Anyone this deeply steeped in research would have to be somewhat nerdy (and reading the book, I think that Tom Hanks, who has been cast in the role, can be a believable fit for the character as written). Still, the plot in itself isn't really innovative. The twist of who is the true villain isn't that shocking. And the ultimate resolution of the plot is... well, to be honest, it's a bit anti-climactic ( cut for vague spoilers )

In the end, I'm not sure how much has been solved (then again whenever a story is about finding the Holy Grail you sort of know it will prove somewhat elusive in the end). What makes the book interesting isn't the plot or even the characters (characters who seem to function primarily to provide a dizzying amount of exposition) but the research.

Boy, Dan Brown must have done a hellacious amount of research. ( Read more... )

Anyway, touching on all these subjects-- history, religion, art, architecture, math/science-- is what I found interesting about the book. Then again, I also think a lot of the fun of the novel for me was this tour of paintings and architecture as it reminded me of the study abroad tour. We went to museum after museum and cathedral after cathedral analyzing composition and symbollism so I had some affection for the characters' quest. Even if the quest for the Grail wasn't as satisfying as it could be, I found the book as a whole to be interesting in its areas of speculation and research. Honestly, the questions are more interesting than any answers anyone could come up with anway.