Anyone read the Lost Symbol

bughut · #1 10-12-2009, 04:19 PM

Completely off topic I know, but Dan brown's done it again IMO and i cant wait to see the film. I read it then had to read it again, 'cos i 1,2,miss a few'd it the first time when it came to figuring out the symbology.

I'm the biggest cynic I know and love conspiracy theories..Got any?

phatch · #2 10-12-2009, 04:55 PM

I'm completely unimpressed with Dan Brown. If you want to see how it's done, read Umberto Eco who basically created what Dan Brown copies, and poorly at that.

Focault's Pendulum is probably the best point. The first chunk of the book is purposely oblique and dense as Eco creates in you the reader he needs for the rest of the book.

bughut · #3 10-12-2009, 05:01 PM

Cheers Phatch,
I'll do that. Dan Brown may be long winded and contain copious amounts of cheese. But I just cant help reading and enjoying his stuff. Plus of course, you know the movie's going to be good.

Thanks for the heads up on Umberto. I love a reccommendation.

bughut · #4 10-12-2009, 05:14 PM

Phatch, I've just googled your man Umberto and it seems i've got meself a challenge. The name of the rose looks like it may take more than one re-read to savvy the concept. But I'll give it a go. If I make it through that I'll order the pendulum.

Cheers once again

phatch · #5 10-12-2009, 07:46 PM

One of the things that amazes me about Eco in English is the transalation job that William Weaver has to do. Eco is Italian. The Name of the Rose is also dense at the beginning and I needed a dictionary to deal with the medieval archaic words. I like it a lot and the movie is also well done.

Ishbel · #6 10-13-2009, 04:08 AM

I'm with Phatch - love Umberto Eco's books!

I cannot STAND Dan Brown's writing style - carelessly written at best. I honestly tried to read the Da Vinci Code - but found both his writing style and the storyline very derivative. He seems to have read hokum books on the Holy Grail by Gardiner and others - and just re-written in modern 'dialogue'. I never finished it!

I love Rosslyn Chapel and whilst the book has brought in much needed cash to effect repairs to the lovely little place, the surge in visitor numbers has to be seen to be believed. I actually saw a tourist trying to prise up a flagstone as he was 'sure' that was the hiding place of the Grail.

Tourists often have to be shhhshed during the services held there - even though there are HUGE signs posted in many languages, explaining that it is still used for religious services.

Edited to add: So, you'll have guessed that the answer to your question is NO!!!

allie · #7 10-13-2009, 05:21 AM

I am currently reading The Lost Symbol. So far, I'm having a hard time getting into it but I always do with Dan Brown's writings. I enjoyed watching The Da Vinci Code but did not enjoy Angels and Demons. It was so different from the book that I got the idea Mr. Brown only cared about the money for the movie and not the integrity of his work.

Koukouvagia · #8 10-13-2009, 07:59 AM

While I don't care for Dan Brown's writing style which seems amateurish at best I do appreciate his stories. I plan to read this book too. His novels so closely relate to my favorite literary genre which is is historical fiction. It's difficult to get past his lack of grace in writing but the stories are good nonetheless. I've been meaning to read Umberto Eco, thanks for reminding me.