which dan brown book to read first?
 

daVinci Code or Angels and Deamons. i was in paris last year and will be in rome this year. should i read the code first since i have a visual of paris, or should i imagine rome and read A&D. any ideas?

Read Angels and Demons and get excited about Rome. :-)

ucsun:

Can I ofer you an alternative to Dan Brown?

I have read both his books and found THIS one FAR better:

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...s&n=507846

Alternatively, you can read the inspiration for all three books and the original research. Its a far better read than Dan Brown:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=books

Ucsun, other than the fact that the main character is the same in both books, there is no connection between the two code-breaking adventures. The second book, in other words, does not rely on information or a background laid out in the first. You don't really need to read them in the order in which they were written in order to enjoy them! If I were you, I'd read daVinci Code first and relive Paris. Then I'd read the other to get hepped up about Rome, before you actually see Rome. You'll probably do some research of Rome in advance of your trip, so you'll recognize names and places mentioned in Angels and Demons. Then when you get there, the entire book will come alive for you. BTW, these books are fluffy, fun reads. OReilly has given you some excellent recommendations for weightier books.

Just noticed that Fodors has a DaVinci Code tour posted on the main web page listing where to find the sights mentioned in the book.

Happy reading.

Having read both A+D and DaVinci I agree it makes no difference which one you read first.
If you really enjoy Dan Brown you might also want to read his "Digital Fortress" and if you can get it, the more or less book that started it all (not his writing): "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" which is kind of a "prequel" to DaVinci and I see it has been re-released.

Read Angels and Demons, since it focuses on Rome. I read Da Vinci code first and when I got to A&D, I was a little annoyed...Dan Brown seemed to be writing by formula. My husband read A&d first and quit reading Da Vinci code half way through for the same reason. However, DB does have legions of fans, so you might enjoy both...

I would read Angels and Demons first- it sets a context for the Da Vinci Code.

I've read the first and just started the second.

Hi

My wife just read both books and she said that she would have preferred to start with Angels and Demons when she looks back :-) I just read the DaVinci code and it was nice to get a bit of description from Paris...and it makes me want to go back to study the Last Supper a bit closer :-)

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
gardkarlsen.com - personal trip reports and pictures

I would read Angels and Demons right before your trip to Rome (or even on the plane, which is what I did earlier this year). Then it will be fresh in your memory as you enjoy all the wonderful sights of Rome.

Da Vinci Code is by far the worst book I ever read.

I am, however, working on a sequel: 'The Michaelangelo Code'. A draft excerpt:

THE MICHELANGELO CODE
Chapter I
As the police removed the body of Curator B.S. Gnocchi, curator of the Uffizzi Gallery in Florence, Ken and Barbie looked up and discovered that David has six toes on his left foot and that his right shoulder blade pointed toward Siena. 'Who knew? questioned Ken, interpreter of the occult, taro card master and Professor of the Surreal at Bard College. Barbie, master cryptologist and member of the Paris Gendarmerie, sighed 'No one'.

'What did Michelangelo have in mind by sculpting six toes??' What significance does the shoulder blade have? Are they related?'. These and other questions perplexed Ken and Barbie as they rode out to the estate of Sir Nigel Bruce Watson IV, the authority on 15th century Italian sculpture.

Sir Nigel's five thousand acre estate straddled the Arno River. Ken had worked through the years with Sir Nigel on the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle and knew he would know, if anyone did, the significance of the six toes and shoulder blade. They were not the only ones seeking out Sir Nigel!....


For Paris, I suggest "Seven Ages of Paris" by Alistair Horn. This is a witty, intelligent insight in to how Paris came to be what is today.

Anthony Spinelli

I would propose that you not read the Da Vinci Code, since it is shite. This novel is rife with inaccuracies (We in the art world laugh at the premise that John is really Mary Magdalene in the Last Supper.) One-dimensional characters, contrived dialogue, phony idioms, and implausiblities make for a rather inane reading experience. The Da Vinci code is the kind of book one reads whilst waiting for a bus.

I read the Da Vinci Code first. If I had read Angels and Deamons first, I probably wouldn't have tried DVC.

The "formula" of the two stories is almost identical (IMO too identical), but A&D starts much slower and gets more far fetched.

Keith

>We in the art world laugh at the premise that John is really Mary Magdalene in the Last Supper

It is fiction.

From that stand point, my only objection is the author's message at the beginning that claims a number of things are "facts."

Keith

People love to trash these books. I am sure Dan Brown is crying all the way to the bank. Personally, I enjoyed them both. And any book that makes me look up works of art and do further reading on specific artists can't be all that bad.

My daughters and I searched out some of the locales from the DVC in London and it was a great family adventure. The Temple Church was tricky to find and worth the effort.

Of course, Dan Brown is laughing all the way to the bank, because what sells today is "trash." You may not like my opinion, Grasshopper, but I have a BA and MA in Enlish from Dartmouth and Penn, respectively. I think that I have been involved with enough literary discourse to have the credentials to critique a novel. You may read whatever you so choose, and I will critique whatever I so choose. Good afternoon.

John, I didn't say anything about your personal opinion! I just expressed mine. One man's trash is another's treasure. My main point was that anything that inspires further learning can't be all bad. I'll resist listing my academic credentials.

OReilly, i am looking at Foucault's Pendulum, which seems interesting. anybody else with an equally interesting suggestion?

ThinGorjus, i too am a MS, but in technical discipline. i figured a MA in English came along with my Master degree as i did all my course work in English (not Yiddish or Russian). ;)

My husband and I have enjoyed reading both daVinci Code and Angels and Demons. I believe daVinci Code to be our favorite. A good mystery.

I've just finished Da Vinci Code and Thingorgus is right. It IS shite. But enjoyable escapist shite:)

Funny, I just had a conversation about this with a friend. The DaVinci Code is not that well written IMHO and fairly superficial. It isn't very intellectually challenging. A better mystery set in France, US and the Middle East is THE EIGHT by Katherine Neville. It is a much better mystery than DaVinci Code.

I wouldn't waste your time reading either book; Brown is a seriously bad writer.

If you want a well written book about a secret organization within the Catholic church, try Daniel Silva's "The Confessor," a much more intelligent approach to the subject.

Powell, I eagerly await your book.

All: if Brown's prose appeals to you, try one of the books in the "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night" collection of winners of the San Jose State University contest for purple prose à la Bulwer-Lytton. They're a hoot.

>>isn't very intellectually challenging.<<

Does every book have to be "intellectually" challenging? Can't some books be simple fun?

Wow, you must all be really really smart. I am incredibly humbled. I liked both books. Chalk one up to the simpletons. :-)

I'm another one that thought the writing of Demons and Angels was truly horrid and hackneyed. "Dark and Stormy night" cliches is right. But I will give him credit for an interesting plot. I hated trying to read the bad writing, but I was interested enough in his storyline that I suffered through it to get to the end. Which was pretty stupid I thought, but I give him credit for keeping me in the book to the end.

Joelle

I'm with Grasshopper all the way!

If writers had to wait for people with college degrees to approve their writing, they won't get anywhere fast!

And does this mean that people with high school degrees will be totally incapable of appreciating good literature?

A good book appeals to a broad range of people. I happen to like Dan Brown's books. It doesn't seem to matter which one should be read first. If you enjoy fast-paced popular writings, then this writer is for you. The settings in Paris and Rome are bonuses.

I've finished three of Dan Brown's books and am starting on the fourth: Deception Point.

I'm also reading a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, an Asian-related book "Whte Swans", a cookbook, a "mystery" by Patricia Cornwell, and several travel guides in preparation for my summer travels. Each book enriches my life in a different way.

ucsun: enjoy Dan Brown's books! He's popular because he writes well.

Just easytraveler
Just three college degrees which I hope I don't throw in people's faces :)

Easytraveler,

But you don't understand all these "intellectuals" have an absolute right to speak, you see their books are way up there on every bestseller's list! Oh, no, that's right, they haven't written a book, or at least a book a publisher wanted to publish...but of course, that's probably because it's too good for the stupid masses like you, me and all the others who like to be entertained when reading a book. :)

Books THAT are bestsellers, not books WHO are bestsellers. Blimey, take your own advice, slag, and do a better job of editing.

Daft American. No first from Cambridge for you, sweetie, I bet.

I didn't know that gave out DEGREES to high school graduates. I thought they received DIPLOMAS in the States.

Everyone knows that American schoolchildren lag behind European schoolchildren in academics. And I see some of them are posting tonight on this forum. Cheers, Yanks.

Ucsun:

Just to clarify my previous post. The second book link I posted is "Holy Blood, Holy Grail". It caused a sensation when it was released in the mid 80s. It has provides a lot of great historical research on many of the topics Brown touches on in both his novels. The authors then leap to certain conclusions, at times based on a very limited amount of substantiated fact. However, they DO lead you through their thought process and provide a solid bibliography, so you are given sufficient detail to intelligently accept or reject their conclusions. . It covers 2000 years of history and travels from the Middle East to Ireland, and every point in between. You do not have to accept their conclusions to appreciate the history. It is also a RIPPING great read and unfolds like a great detective yarn

The first link I posted, Foucault's Pendelum, is a very enjoyable fiction book, written by a very erudite author, that you either love or hate. I think you would love this book, if you have already read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail. Umberto Eco's most famous work was "The Name of the Rose".

I read both of Brown's books recently and I will give you my honest opinion. I read Dan Brown's books because I had read the above and wanted some escapist fiction. I did feel very cheated. I was annoyed about a lot of things, including the obvious errors that any decent editor should have corrected. I don?t think Dan has EVER been to Paris or Rome and obviously did not have access to a map of either city when he wrote the books. His characters are caricatures, in the most appalling manner. His dialogue is "50's Comic Book". There is no wit, humour or excitement. He wrote scripts that will be turned into movies. Hopefully, the actors will bring more content to their roles than Dan was capable of writing.

Mostly, I was annoyed that he shamelessly plagiarized other, far superior works, and got away with it.

Just my opinion ?

regards ... Ger

>>I don?t think Dan has EVER been to Paris or Rome and obviously did not have access to a map of either city when he wrote the books<<

Actually he has travelled to both cities extensively. I certainly don't think that his books are perfect. I did think that the ending to Angels & Demons, in fact the whole love story portion was kind of silly. But I did enjoy that book, I haven't read The Da Vinci Code yet, and I will read it. I personally really enjoyed Angels & Demons (despite the love story aspect) because I had just returned from Rome and enjoyed being there again while reading his book.

ThinGorjus, I am glad to see you are putting your English degree to work by proofing my post. Thanks, I make errors sometimes.

For easytraveler: You mentioned reading a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez sp? Is is One Hundred Years of Solitude? I have heard (Oprah) that it is a great book but I wanted some feedback from others.

Tulips, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is very good. But I liked "Love in the Time of Cholera" more. Right now I'm reading a book of short stories "Strange Pilgrims". So far they have been in Geneva and Rome.

By the way, since Marquez won the Nobel Prize for Literature, that might make his work suspect to the literati on this board.

I suppose the DaVinci Code is intellectually challenging if you read at a 7th grade level. McDonalds sells the most food in the US of any restaraunt. It doesn't mean that the food is good or good for you. Read whatever you want. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION the book is not worth reading.

TinaRose,

>>suppose the DaVinci Code is intellectually challenging if you read at a 7th grade level. <<

NO ONE said it was Intellectually challenging....it seems you may have a problem with reading comprehension.

I didn't realize you were only allowed to have an opinion about the writing of a book if you were best selling auther.

Oh wait. You can *like* a book if you are not a best selling author. But you can't dislike a book. Got it.

JOelle

I enjoyed Angels and Demons much more than the Da Vinci Code...
I have read also Digital Fortress and found it very boring , but of course ,I dont have a technical mind, and could not relate to the story..
Also I have read The Eight by Neville and the Magic Circle, I believe from the same author..

If you plan to go to Rome, read the A&D first, despite that the author made a mistake in describing the location of a certain church,the book is very interesting..

Blimey, I always thought ThinGorjus was a fashionista. Why all the Cockney slang with degress from Dartmouth and Penn?

I am a Cockney. I was born in the East End of London, coming to the US when I was 10 years old. My father is American, my mother, English.

I was at Buckingham Brown & Nichols, Dartmouth, and Penn, where I learned to drop my Cockney dialect. However, it is still a large part of who I am.

Even though I have a MA in English, I admit that I am no great grammarian. My area of expertise has always been Shakespeare and 20th-century American Literature, especially the Southern writers, Flannery O'Connor and Faulkner.

One of the reasons (and why I am so blatantly criticized) my spelling so is bad is because I am going blind.