Aug 11, 2009

Another Book Review

... Caution... MIGHT be controversial ... but with love ...

I woke up this morning after dreams of the Priory of Sion, cryptexes and trying to escape from the Louvre. That right kids, I am reading the DaVinci Code.

GASP!!! OH NO!

I think that somehow makes me a bad Catholic? Or is it the fact that I am really enjoying it and I super loved watching the movie last night that brings my faith into question?

POSSIBLY it may have something to do with asking my husband Friday night if he thought anyone would be offended if I brought the book into St. John Vianney's with me during the wedding rehearsal. (At which point I got a look that said, "That better be a rhetorical question!" Which it was...but it was entertaining to see his reaction nonetheless! I should have asked the priest if he'd mind....ok ok...too far I know!)

Well in actuality I don't think that enjoying this book has anything to do with my Faith or how good or bad of a Catholic I may or may not be. I mean let's be frank here (why yes, that is your new name for the moment...ok, well you can be Fred if you really want to!) - so let's be Fred for a moment here....nope...see it doesn't work...sorry - So being frank let me say, Dan Brown is a Darn Freaking Awesome writer! And THAT my friends is why I am enjoying the book so much.

I've seen the beginning of the movie a couple times before but never really found it interesting and always fell asleep, but the moment I started reading that book I was glued. And you can bet I didn't take my eyes off the tv the entire time we watched the movie last night!

Being a writer myself (in theory) I am amazed at how this man can spin his own set of historical facts -that aren't actually facts at all - and make them seem so believable. Amazing I tell you! I truly aspire to be as wonderful and talented as him.

So what is the point of this post do you say? Well as always there is absolutely no point to my post or else that would make this a purposeful blog. I merely just wanted to share my little views on Dan Brown as an author. Regardless of how controversial his books may or may not be, definitely worth reading, ESPECIALLY as an aspiring novelists!

Have you read any of his books? Did you enjoy them? Do you find them as controversial as others say they are?

Don't worry, I will return to my regularly scheduled snarkastic and pointless blogging about mommyhood and wifedom tomorrow :)


How I measure Success - A little question and answer time about my views on success during my writing journey.

21 comments:

MeganRebekah said...

I read The Da Vinci Code and really enjoyed it. My Catholic faith never felt questioned, because I knew I was reading fiction. On the other hand, my brother-in-law almost died when I told him I had read the book and enjoyed it. He couldn't see reading anything banned by the church.

I also went on to read all of Dan Brown's book and enjoyed them all. He's a good writer and an even better storyteller. He transported me to a different world for a few hours, and to me, that's the joy of reading.

Unknown said...

Exactly! I know where my faith stands...just reading a "fictional" book isn't going to change that. To bring up that much controversy because so many people believed him...I think that just goes to show he can tell an Awesome story!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I read the book and enjoyed it. I could definitely tell what the hype was about and was amazed at how effectively the book reeled me in. My mom, though, found it too graphic and had to put it down.

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

Unknown said...

I can kinda see the graphic part, but I can't say it really bothered me. There was too much story behind it that I just found myself intrigued.

Unknown said...

I read the book years ago and thought it was awesome...it is fiction so the hype is overrated! We won't got to the Catholicism question since you know my stance on that (I think). I have yet to read Angels and Demons...that is in my pile of 'to read' books which amazingly keeps growing!

Unknown said...

Tobby says Angels and Demons is even better... that has been plopped into my ever growing to read list as well!

And I THINK I know your stance...I just can't remember the details at this moment. LOL

Jessica Nelson said...

I saw the movie and thought it was fine. Not sure why it would offend Catholics since there's some historical facts a lot worse than what might be in the book. But I didn't read the book, so maybe it had more offensive stuff than the movie?
Not that I thought the movie was offensive... LOL! Glad you're enjoying it.

Heart2Heart said...

I can honestly say I haven't read it. I just think the genre isn't something I like. I am not into mysteries or solving crimes so those type of books for me don't hold my interest well.

Glad to hear that you loved it and I too love that writers can make you believe just about anything or create a world that is almost believable.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Tana said...

I haven't read his books, I'm curious how do you find his writing style? He seems to have hooked many people.

Unknown said...

To be honest, I really had absolutely no interest at all in reading this book. Like I said, I'd seen the beginning of the movie a couple times and I just couldn't get into it. BUT having decided to read a wide variety of books to start learning more about the craft I decided to give it a shot (considering it is one of the best selling books of all time) And his writing drew me in write away. I'm not sure if it's his voice, his small sense of humor or just the descriptions he uses. But I absolutely enjoy reading his writing, more than the actual story itself I might add.

So I know what you mean Heart2Heart, I was with you in the uninterested department.

And exactly Jessica, I really couldn't figure out what all the hype was either. It was just a bunch of theories, mostly fictional and it didn't really seem too offensive to me. Maybe I missed something???

CKHB said...

Nooooooo!!!!!

I read The DaVinci Code and hated it. I thought it was sloppy writing, with predictable setups and bad character development. I read it on an airplane because I really liked Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, and I was just so disappointed with this novel.

I'm not a believer, so the controversy didn't really apply to me. :-)

Unknown said...

CKHB really?

Scott said the same thing...too predictable. I suppose I really AM missing the creative bug if I wasn't catching it.

I'm going to have to read Angels and Demons sooner than I was expecting to.

Elana Johnson said...

I liked the book okay. I really liked the movie.

Katie Ganshert said...

I enjoyed the book. I didn't get what all the hype about it was. People saying, "This book will change Christianity as we know it!" Umm.... it's fiction. And who cares if some artist painted Mary Magdalene in a picture? So what? What does that have to do with the Bible? I thought it was an enjoyable read. :)

Billy Coffey said...

I really liked this book too, as well as his other ones. I think a lot of the controversy was blown out of proportion. The book itself says it's a work of fiction. I wonder how strong your faith really is if it's shaken by a novel.

Billy Coffey said...

I really liked this book too, as well as his other ones. I think a lot of the controversy was blown out of proportion. The book itself says it's a work of fiction. I wonder how strong your faith really is if it's shaken by a novel.

Unknown said...

Exactly! I couldn't have said it better.

CKHB said...

I can't imagine you're missing any creativity, MB! Maybe some people just see particular plot pathways better than others? My husband has thought certain books were totally obvious when I found them to be intriguing and unexpected...

Never the other way around, darnit!

CKHB said...

Wait! I just remembered one book he loved that I thought was stupid and obvious. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

Phew!

Tabitha Bird said...

My faith can with stand reading books that come from differing perspectives. I loved the movie, haven't read the book yet. But I will.

CMOM Productions said...

Just because you read something, doesn't mean you believe it to be fact. I mean it's fiction right? It's not real... well, except for Twilight. Right MB? *wink*