Kudos, Mr. Pereira. It's about time somebody pointed out that the Emperor has no clothes. Dan Brown is good at winding research into a plot, but he is an awful writer. The example you picked - how can a silhouette's eyes be visible in such detail? And yes, it's high time somebody pointed out that books of the Chicken Soup ouevre are pabulum. For readers of minimal intelligence. Can we have a regular column on bad writing?
The article was extremeyl critical to this classic piece. A lot of little and finer thinking has gone behind the writing. I am eagerly waiting for the Celluloid version of the same.
It always makes me wonder. Celebs always have a answer to this question - "What are you reading nowadays?", and they never go beyond the title of the book, or at most a few lines from the book's preface. It certainly shakes my self-confidence as here is a celeb, super popular, so much work and still always finding time to have time for one or two books, and here I am, managing a tiny career, still not much time even for filmy gossip magazines.
I do NOT think that the Da Vinci code is a "yawn" !! How could anyone possibly describe it that way? The Da Vinci Code is an un-put-downable book and I think its simply fantastic.I dont think you should publish such an article and misguide people about such an awesome thriller.
So, what do you consider good writing?? And please don't give such blase answers like Crime and Punishment.
Agreed what you say about the celebs and also that The Da Vinci Code is never going to win the Booker, but it has everything a thriller needs and that is what it is supposed to be. And in my honest opinion, a book that keeps a reader engrossed is far better than that which only the critics admire.
Hence I suggest that you keep your opinions about bad writings to yourself and let the readers decide what is good and what not.
Da Vinci Code ? What a Yawn! or is it. I could'nt for the heck of it understand whether the writer was Anti Dan Brown, his novel or the "celeb" factor. After dismissing the entire novel on the basis of some rather flimsy grounds, the writer wishes to impress on us that the fact that we have read and enjoyed the novel is based on the emotional/intellectual worth of some bimbo. Hey common, so we may not be as well read as the author makes us believe that he/she is, but that surely does not qualify for some off the cuff remarks ,just for the sake of it. The author probably is not very clear about what it is that is to be written about. Was it to rubbish something or was it to get people like me who liked the novel to react. Or perhaps it was something to do with the authors particular dislike for anything or everything to do with celebs. Perhaps the most plausable reason surely was to get the attention of everybody by quoting the "current bestseller", in order to present some half baked ideas. Next time the author would be well advised to know exactly what is to be baked, before turning on the heat.
Dont get me wrong dear writer...but i highly disagree with you on this one.i found "Da Vinci Code",...simply unputdownable.now does that sound like colloquial enough for you??agreed, that the story is a bit far fetched but the twists and turns of the thriller kept me sitting upright at the egde of my seat. when i read your article i had a feeling that all you wanted to do was lash out at the celebs.well if you are writing about a book that u read,..whether you liked it or not,..atleast dont deviate from your subject. what next...pick up "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho.i'm sure you will hate it but it is one of the most inspiring reads of our times.
RE:What i feel.
by Dr (Lt Col) Y N I Anand on Mar 03, 2005 01:14 PM Permalink
In which case, both of you read either "Odessa File" or "The day of the Jackal" and then you will know what an ordinary stuff is this book, or for that matter even the book titled, "Angels & Demons".
RE:What i feel.
by pineapple on May 08, 2005 02:28 AM Permalink
agreed.as far as 'the alchemist' is concerned,it makes you just think and think,and that is when you decide your course of action and your plan your path in life.
it is a short read,a simple story and should be read at certain point or the other.
as far as 'da vinci..yawn' is considered,the writer of this article should try commenting on charie and the chocolate factory.but i still believe,the criticism would be negative in every sense.Sleep time,geez!
