This was the first mystery/thriller book I’ve read, and I now have a very high bar for all other books in this category I will be reading in the future.
The story, characters, writing style, and near constant suspense made for a very enjoyable read start to finish. Despite the length of the book, I was pleasantly surprised at how the book kept me hooked and excited throughout the entire story. I thought The characters were well done. Not all had a large amount of depth or backstory, but that wasn’t really necessary for many of the characters. When it came to the story itself, and Brown’s writing style, I was impressed at how he managed to pull together so many complicated elements and make it into a cohesive story. There really wasn’t much that I felt disappointed by or annoyed at, but there were a few things.
The ending wasn’t amazing. It was far from a disaster or absolute betrayal of the reader, but it certainly isn’t an ending to leave you astonished and in awe over. Towards the end of the novel, there were a few occasions where I didn’t fully understand what was going on. There is a possibility that reader error was involved, but that doesn’t explain the fact it happened more than once. While that wasn’t a huge hindrance to my enjoyment of the book, it was somewhat of annoying bump in the road.
When it comes to the controversy surrounding the book, I don’t really want to get into that too much. I can understand apprehensiveness in reading this book for some, but I would encourage those who want to read it anyway to not let the baggage surrounding the book ruin the experience. If you really enjoy mystery/thriller books, this is a must read. If you enjoy history, art, and symbolism, this will probably make for an entertaining read. This book isn’t quite perfect, but it is a great book that I think deserves to be recognized as a classic someday.
For those who have read it, what did you think? How do Dan Brown’s other books compare to *The Da Vinci Code*?
by RevitalizedReading22
9 Comments
I personally don’t read novels as much, but the paradox for me here is that the “The Da Vinci Code” is the only book I ever read in one sitting. I was all in.
Having said that I think that “Angels and Demons” is on equal footing in matters of just about everything, with the revelations in the Da Vinci code maybe pushing it a little ahead in my opinion.
Having read all his novels my scores are:
​
1. Da Vinci Code 9.5;
2. Angels and Demons 9;
3. The Lost Symbol 7.5;
4. Origin 7;
5. *Digital Fortress 4; don’t recommend;*
6. *Deception Point 4. don’t recommend.*
idk. i enjoyed the first book as a fun distraction, but it’s not even in the same ballpark as something like the three musketeers
it’s dan brown’s high water mark. he never even got close after that one, and it’s probably because he stole much of the ideas from other books
i’m not saying that makes it less fun to read, but it does mean that he’s not some kind of literary genius chugging out winners, he’s just good at rearranging other peoples work into a fun new package (well at least once or twice)
> This was the first mystery/thriller book I’ve read
Keep reading! There’s a lot of great stuff out there.
[DON’T MAKE FUN OF RENOWNED DAN BROWN](https://onehundredpages.wordpress.com/2013/06/12/dont-make-fun-of-renowned-dan-brown/) – 12 June 2013
Renowned author Dan Brown woke up in his luxurious four-poster bed in his expensive $10 million house – and immediately he felt angry. Most people would have thought that the 48-year-old man had no reason to be angry. After all, the famous writer had a new book coming out. But that was the problem. A new book meant an inevitable attack on the rich novelist by the wealthy wordsmith’s fiercest foes. The critics.
Renowned author Dan Brown hated the critics. Ever since he had become one of the world’s top renowned authors they had made fun of him. They had mocked bestselling book *The Da Vinci Code*, successful novel *Digital Fortress*, popular tome *Deception Point*, money-spinning volume *Angels & Demons* and chart-topping work of narrative fiction *The Lost Symbol*.
The critics said his writing was clumsy, ungrammatical, repetitive and repetitive. They said it was full of unnecessary tautology. They said his prose was swamped in a sea of mixed metaphors. For some reason they found something funny in sentences such as “His eyes went white, like a shark about to attack.” *They even say my books are packed with banal and superfluous description*, thought the 5ft 9in man. He particularly hated it when they said his imagery was nonsensical. It made his insect eyes flash like a rocket.
Renowned author Dan Brown got out of his luxurious four-poster bed in his expensive $10 million house and paced the bedroom, using the feet located at the ends of his two legs to propel him forwards. He knew he shouldn’t care what a few jealous critics thought. His new book Inferno was coming out on Tuesday, and the 480-page hardback published by Doubleday with a recommended US retail price of $29.95 was sure to be a hit. Wasn’t it?
*I’ll call my agent*, pondered the prosperous scribe. He reached for the telephone using one of his two hands. “Hello, this is renowned author Dan Brown,” spoke renowned author Dan Brown. “I want to talk to literary agent John Unconvincingname.”
“Mr Unconvincingname, it’s renowned author Dan Brown,” told the voice at the other end of the line. Instantly the voice at the other end of the line was replaced by a different voice at the other end of the line. “Hello, it’s literary agent John Unconvincingname,” informed the new voice at the other end of the line.
“Hello agent John, it’s client Dan,” commented the pecunious scribbler. “I’m worried about new book Inferno. I think critics are going to say it’s badly written.”
The voice at the other end of the line gave a sigh, like a mighty oak toppling into a great river, or something else that didn’t sound like a sigh if you gave it a moment’s thought. “Who cares what the stupid critics say?” advised the literary agent. “They’re just snobs. You have millions of fans.”
*That’s true*, mused the accomplished composer of thrillers that combined religion, high culture and conspiracy theories. His books were read by everyone from renowned politician President Obama to renowned musician Britney Spears. It was said that a copy of *The Da Vinci Code* had even found its way into the hands of renowned monarch the Queen. He was grateful for his good fortune, and gave thanks every night in his prayers to renowned deity God.
“Think of all the money you’ve made,” recommended the literary agent. That was true too. The thriving ink-slinger’s wealth had allowed him to indulge his passion for great art. Among his proudest purchases were a specially commissioned landscape by acclaimed painter Vincent van Gogh and a signed first edition by revered scriptwriter William Shakespeare.
Renowned author Dan Brown smiled, the ends of his mouth curving upwards in a physical expression of pleasure. He felt much better. If your books brought innocent delight to millions of readers, what did it matter whether you knew the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb?
“Thanks, John,” he thanked. Then he put down the telephone and perambulated on foot to the desk behind which he habitually sat on a chair to write his famous books on an Apple iMac MD093B/A computer. New book Inferno, the latest in his celebrated series about fictional Harvard professor Robert Langdon, was inspired by top Italian poet Dante. It wouldn’t be the last in the lucrative sequence, either. He had all the sequels mapped out. The Mozart Acrostic. The Michelangelo Wordsearch. The Newton Sudoku.
The 190lb adult male human being nodded his head to indicate satisfaction and returned to his bedroom by walking there. Still asleep in the luxurious four-poster bed of the expensive $10 million house was beautiful wife Mrs Brown. Renowned author Dan Brown gazed admiringly at the pulchritudinous brunette’s blonde tresses, flowing from her head like a stream but made from hair instead of water and without any fish in. She was as majestic as the finest sculpture by Caravaggio or the most coveted portrait by Rodin. *I like the attractive woman*, thought the successful man.
Perhaps one day, inspired by beautiful wife Mrs Brown, he would move into romantic poetry, like market-leading British rhymester John Keats.That would be good, opined the talented person, and got back into the luxurious four-poster bed. He felt as happy as a man who has something to be happy about and is suitably happy about it.
>This was the first mystery/thriller book I’ve read, and I now have a very high bar for all other books in this category I will be reading in the future.
I feel like this sentence contradicts itself. This is the first one you’ve read, but you still think you know where the bar is? Especially declaring it a ‘classic.’ Read a couple more so you know where TDC fits in before you make such sweeping statements lmao.
Like, I’m glad you liked it, it got popular and got a movie adaptation for a reason, but I think it’s generally regarded as more of a popcorn thriller. Which is fine! Reading should be fun! I remember enjoying it as a kid too! But it’s also a book I’ve heard like no one talk about in 20 years, except when the movies came out. I don’t think anyone would call it a classic.
I just think it’s a little amusing that you’re making these big declarative statements while openly acknowledging that you’re a complete noob to the genre.
Da Vinci Code led to me reading Ulysses after 15 years of no reading. I will always be grateful for its gratifying 2-page chapters and Illuminati puzzles that eventually ushered in some great classics.
To me, I regret wasting time on this book. I could have read a good one instead.
People shit on DB for being a bad writer, and rightly so, but I loved his books as a kid. Even the non-Langdon ones. It’s not Moby Dick but it’s pretty damn entertaining, especially if you are young or not a very experienced reader
This is a joke, right?
Please tell me it’s a joke.