I had just gotten back from Rome when I picked up a copy of Angels and Demons. What I really liked about the book was that I could visualized all the places that were mentioned in the book. It was like I was there again, enjoying all the sights.

The Da Vinci Code was OK. Can't believe that so many people think there is some truth in it.

I parted company with religion as a teenager and I think the New Testament itself is largely a work of fiction, so I couldn't care less about the theories advanced in Brown's book. But if nothing else the New Testament (at least the King James version) is well-written fiction. My problem with Brown is simple - he's very close to being the worst writer in the universe. And believe me, I'm no literary snob.

I am so glad I'm not alone. I can only assume that a lot of people must have bought the book to see if it could really be as bad as so many people say it is. And it is...

As my wife manages a major book and music store, we are deluged with free copies of first few printings, a couple of the regular hardbound, the illustrated version and a paperback version (I think this one is a bootleg copy that is just being circulated amongst the bookstore employees for posterity), and I have yet to get the urge to re-start the book after the first 4 or 5 chapters.

It's tough to enjoy it. It's too predictable and the writing is really bad.

I didn't find Angels and Demons nearly as entertaining as Da Vinci Code. If I had read A&S first, I probably wouldn't have read TDVC.

No, an illustratede version is not necessary. When you want to see what something looks like that is mentioned in the book, it is easy to pull it up online.

Keith

Look, it's not great lit and it's not meant to be. The dialogue is laughable and the improbabilities pile up like chicken bones from the very first chapter. The bad guy is a freakin' albino, fer cryin' out loud.

But...

Sometimes you want a Dr Pepper instead of a <i>grand cru</i> Bordeaux. And in that context, it's not so bad. All plot-driven, and that keeps you licking your finger.

I'm waiting for the comic book edition.

I read A/D for escape around the pool and thought it was a b-level potboiler. IMO there are many mystery writers who are much better writers (and plotters). It’s beyond me why the writer has such a following.

However, like Fairoaks Jim, I did enjoy the Roman locale and want to read Da Vinci for the Paris sites. Being stubborn as a mule, I refused to buy the damn thing in hardback, so when I was in Mexico, I got the paperback (it’s been out in pb in the rest of the world for a year at least). So it’s my travel companion on my next flight.

I read it and used the computer to find the various paintings, etc., discussed. Or, you could also go to the author's website.

I read them both, Angels and Demons first intentionally because I knew he wrote it first. Not really impressed with either. I love mysteries (about 75% of my reading) but these were both off the wall IMO. Of course, I don't understand why reality shows are popular either (except TAR, of course LOL). Who knows what motivates Americans' likes and dislikes. I'm afraid I'm totally out of step with lots of what's currently popular in many areas in this country.

I completely agree with Marilyn: &quot;I actually enjoyed the story, but hated the juvenile tricks for maintaining suspense (usually found at the end of a chapter), the cardboard characters, and the mediocre writing.&quot;

Da Vinci Code kept my attention - whether it's all true or not, I did enjoy the historical context of it all. I had a harder time with Angels and Demons, because of the ridiculous ending and the poor writing. I actually started to count the sentences that began with &quot;It was then that Robert realized...&quot;

It was then that I decided not to read anything else by Dan Brown.

Meredith, :-D

&quot;It was then that Robert realized...&quot;

You are supposed to take a shot every time you read that.

Keith

Or even two.

Hilarious. I love the &quot;..take a shot..&quot; game. For those of you who thought perhaps the criticism came from not agreeing with the principles - or perhaps the conjectures about the church, Jesus, etc.: I can assure you that the only argument I had with the book was the stinky writing.

For an interesting article, check this URL:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...NGKIC697H1.DTL

I just finished reading the DaVinci Code.

The mistake the Catholic Church made was responding with any seriousness to the DVC plot. Rather than trying to refute the accuracy of the book, or lack thereof, they should have simply stated something like:

&quot;How serious do you think we take this book when the writer defied logic by having the main character run from the police in order to prove his innocence? Honestly, who does that?

And, don't even get the Holy See started on having someone as conspicous as hulking, Albino Monk involved as though people wouldn't remember seeing a hukling Albino monk with the victims just before they were murdered. We know monks, and I can tell you we can count the large Albino one's one hand.&quot;

1. It's lousy writing.
2. The premise is contrived.
3. Faulty history is used throughout.
4. The characters act illogically.
5. It's a runaway best seller.

What can we conclude from this?

Darwin was wrong.

I'm with Wanderlust. It's pure escapism along the lines of the Bourne Idenity. I enjoyed them both for what they were. For a really cheesy far fetched Dan Brown, try Deception point. Ridiculous.

For those who consider Brown close to the worst writer in history, I suggest you get right down to the library for the inane ramblings of VC Andrews. I read exactly one chapter of her book Flowers in the Attic before deciding masochism wasn't my style.

Better yet, go to Amazon and read the first two pages.