Celebrities talking about Da Vinci Code irked her because it has become a cliche is understandable. But to go ahead and say that it is a bad novel is ridiculous! why Saunière staggers, why does he lunge to the nearest painting, is something a reader needs to find from the novel. The novel doesn't start with this, it is a prelogue which is supposed to arouse reader's curiosity. Worst part is to say that the details about the attacker are coming from the lunging man, c'mon, are you a first time novel reader? It is the author of the novel who is giving a visual and not the curator! I think Rediff should get some more sincere and responsible columnist who have better things to write about and have better logical reasoning.
Da vinci Code is a very enjoyable book. The other books you are mentioning like Holy Blood, Holy Grail, Templar Reveleations, the lady with alabaster jar etc. are not easy to understand and it is natural. We have to consider Rosecrucians, Templars, Coptic and dead Sea scrolls, hidden meanings and discrepency of Gospels and what not to understand the whole thing.
Dan Brown made all this matter very reader friendly and excited people to know more about this topic. Now people who want to know more can go and buy the other books you have mentioned. FYI, Sale of Holy Blood Holy Grail picked up dramatically after publication of this book.
Now you complain about the ghastly prose of the book. Boss, this book is not competeing for Booker prize or anything. Thrillers are like this only. You never read Robert Ludlum or what? The language there is worse, if anything but still Ludlum books are very enjoyable. Grow up, man! don't pan this book just because you want to be different than rest of the people !
u r one of those guys who dont know what a book review is ..also i guess u are afraid of cliche's..
something like if everybody is praising it let me say bad about it..u r trying too hard to be different..n get noticed..too bad..u r a tasteles person.
hi! just wanted to say, since u trashed da vinci code...why don't you try writing one yourself? just in case you didn't know, dan brown's thriller was the most searched item on the internet in india last year!!!!
and Caravaggio is not an unheard name as u assume!
am amazed! i mean - your editor must have been sleeping to let something so inane and stupid get past their scissors! That the author of the article has not read the book is criminally plain (or having read it, not understood a word or having understood despised the book on grounds of religious prejudice). But to take the first few lines of the book and trash it so crassly - come on, the readers deserve better than that. Maybe the author was too busy and did not have time to comment on the book - hence, produced a rubbishy article with lots of name dropping of a lots of other books that she may have read in the past! Just to make the pretense impressive
The clearest point is that she has not referred one bit fo the most interesting aspect of the book - the celebrated work of art by Leonardo Da Vinci, and how new interpretation of it is the core of the book
I have read the book, and Angels and Demons too, and a lot of other books referred to in the article (most of which are acknowledged in Da Vinci Code). I have also made it a point, subsequently, to go see The Last Supper - and the whole thing has a lot of depth
So please read the book; don't be put off by this article
This article seems more of an attempt by the author to show off his literary prowess than to appreciate the skill of a man to pull crowds vide page turners in a day and age where crowds seem to be thronging and getting carried away by nothing more than mere reel dramas.
There is one point at which the critic in a critic ought to give way to appreciation for that which deserves it.
james joyce died as a beggar,edgar allan poe the unsung "sherlock holmes" too lived his life without any means.the greats of literature are always shunned for the pulp fiction...literature is like an art where the artist wants to create an audience, wants the audience to uncover layers to find what is hidden in each line...they expect only 10 out of 100 people to understand them.just like our almighty god the artist will be understood by 10 and the rest 90 will satisfy themselves will pulp fictions of life.
Do i detect jelousy in the tone of the columnist. Mabbe one should learn to acknowledge the fact that celebrities too can be intelligent enough to enjoy literary reading.. Whats with the condescending attitude towards them ? And by the way your arguments against the Da vinci code were pathetic....i admit it wasnt the best english work penned ...but it did make a fast and quick interesting read. Its no business of yours to question each one's choice of a favourite book...
Mr. Uttam is living in his own fantasy world of fancy writing. Great literature has always been relevant to its time, to a great number of people. Great literature is not something which is read only by a select few but that which informs, entertains and educates the masses. Leo Tolstoy has no meaning to a large number of people today, and should not be forced down people's throats, but Da vinci code does and should thus be given its due.
