In my weekly trip out of my cell, to the local bookstore, I saw the new version of the book WITH PICTURES!!!

I was in my local bookshop this afternoon and noted that there is now a deluxe illustrated edition of this slender novel. Lots of paintings, photos, maps and charts for those who just can't wait for the movie. Perhaps a Da vinci Code comic book is next.

I heard they were giving away Da Vinci code action figures with the Happy Meals.

yes, it will be part of the Un-Classics Illustrated series

I've heard so much about this "novel" that I decided to read it. What a load of clichéd, trite rubbish - awful!

KT, I will not trade my SpongeBob watch from BK for one of those!

Neil,

You'll have to romove the tongue from cheek on that premise and begin the mind to boggling:

Welcome to <i>The Holy Land, The Ride</i>:

http://www.orlandotouristinformation...s/holyland.htm

Well that settles it! La M_K2 has spoken. The cherry is now on the snob cake. Let us put this issue to bed.

I guess I had hoped that some Fodorites could rise above the level of those who can only destroy because they know how to build nothing.

Wreckers are paid less per hour by a long shot than builders.

Think of the time taken to build a building as opposed to the time required for demolition.

As far as I am concerned, the whole situation reminds me of the typical office scene where someone complains about the coffee. He is then stuck with making the next pot and it tastes even worse.

So after you publish your first book whether it be fact or fiction, you have the right to critique. And I don't mean a book that is printed by the Vanity Press!!

Besides, I have heard all my life that War and Peace was a great work of literary art. Do you mind awfully if I fell asleep repeatedly reading it?
And I studied Russian history as a student in college!

As a voracious reader, I guess I'm in the slob category.

I've read and hugely enjoyed - and was hugely influenced - by &quot;Paris 1919&quot;, a geninine history book if ever there was one. A great and wonderful read, if ever there was one, but still a tough go in certain respects.

I am currently reading &quot;Bel Canto&quot; with some absolutely exquisite prose, which must be slowly savored and enjoyed, like good wine. The plot, on the other hand, is absolutely absurd.

I enjoyed reading the DVC. It was a fun read. Not looking for great literature or anything &quot;great&quot;. Just looking for a fun read and that I got. My most favoritest author of this kind is Clive Cussler.

I've just finished &quot;The Double&quot; by Jose Saramago (Nobel Prize for Literature, 1998) and the VERY odd plot of that book stays with me a week after I've finished reading the book. The way Saramago writes is odd, one paragraph making up pages and pages, and the plot is odder still.

As for movies vs. books. I read the Harry Potter books first and then saw the movies. The books are Sooooo much fun to read. The first HP movie was dreadful. The subsequent ones were much better. Different medium, different &quot;feel&quot;.

Now, back to reading my cereal boxes.

Thanks (?), Clifton. Now I wish I'd kept my big mouth shut.

Easy, I thought Bel Canto was based on the real events that took place in Peru a few years ago.

Neil, in all seriousness, I think Zeus was referring to the famous/infamous map currently making the rounds, in which the blue (Democratic) states in the west and northeast are joined to Canada to form the &quot;United States of Canada&quot; while the red (Republican) states make up &quot;Jesusland.&quot;

I dare not give my opinion of this map, since I've never had a map published myself.

Cheers for fiction! For only a library card, it lets us travel the world and be entertained for free.

PS - If France likes Jerry Lewis, I can decide to like Da Vinci code.

PPS - Those of you without kids probably have not heard of the Lemony Snicket series but they are wonderful too.

Just read Bob Brown's comment. What a bunch of pompous, pedantic drivel!

Zeus, I hope you are both reassured and enlightened to learn that people you expected to embrace any literature which you find offensive have not in fact done so. People might be just a little more complex than your expectations, and that seems like a good thing.

And Howard, I find your comment to be a form of arrant pedantry up with which I will not put, at least not without a retort.

I take it you do things that are fair game for group criticism on a regular basis, or do you?

Let me invite you to prepare for review on this forum an essay on a travel subject that affects us all. Then the whole group can take a shot at it.

My point is that it is easy to run down someone else's effort, particularly when you are not exposed to any risk yourself.

Put yourself at risk and lets see how you hold up. Right now you are safe behind the veil of anonymity.

At any rate, your comment upholds my assertion that wreckers are cheap shot artists! And if there is pomposity in that comment, then so be it.

Bob, are you seriously suggesting that no one should discuss the merits of popular culture unless they have written a book or made a film or written music or choreographed a dance? Because isn't that a bit absurd? We would have no criticism at all, no reviews, and very little to talk about at the water cooler (so to speak).

KT, now I get it - Zeus' post was tongue-in-cheek. Sorry, it's morning here and I'm not a morning person.

Haven't seen that map, but I'm not surprised. It would be just like those warlike Canadians to strike while American forces are tied up elsewhere.

Okee dokee. I work in a public library. When DVC first arrived we had one copy. Since part of my job is to read what we're pushing to the public, I read this one. It was fun to read about the locales and the art. No visions of a Nobel. And to be honest, the book sort of sat there for a few months. I can't even remember what set off the bigtime interest. But once it caught on, it has been the most requested book I can remember. (I'm not counting Harry Potter which is in the Youth collection) So then just about everyone started to read it--with the predictable outcome. The IvyLeager's mother who shares my desk was quick to point out that her Junior found all kinds of flaws: Parisian geography, French, history. Some of the religious groups got up in arms, there were seminars, etc. I never said this was great literature. Or even great reading. But from the perspective of my job, it was neat to have people &quot;into&quot; a book. I mean one we could actually put on public display. That's what I liked about the book. It brought people to our reserves desk who hadn't picked up a book in ages. So there it is. I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments. As usual.