toscano
Refugee
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toscano said:
Oh, and as a fellow Italian it pains me to say Eco is a major league snooze-fest
MERGED --> Da Vinci Code - What's up??? + 'The Da Vinci Code' Fizzles at Cannes
- Thread starter Harry Vest
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Oh, and as a fellow Italian it pains me to say Eco is a major league snooze-fest
Well all i can say so far after only reading 10 pages so far is WOW! 
To me, so far it is VERY well written&i can usually tell if a book will be any good from the start! Every page i read is totally hugely gripping&i just feel as if it will only continue
It doesn't hurt either that i found the Louvre an amazing place&so it will be fascinating to read for that reason and for the historical aspect too, of course!
Will definitely be there to see on day of release
To me, so far it is VERY well written&i can usually tell if a book will be any good from the start! Every page i read is totally hugely gripping&i just feel as if it will only continue
It doesn't hurt either that i found the Louvre an amazing place&so it will be fascinating to read for that reason and for the historical aspect too, of course! Will definitely be there to see on day of release
randhail
Rock n' Roll Doggie
toscano said:
good point - "insert plausible conspiracy theme" and write 400 pages of decent stuff with 50 pages of "just end the damn book already" in the conclusion = bestseller
VintagePunk
Blue Crack Distributor
randhail said:
He's like any other formulaic bestselling author (eg: Danielle Steele
), his books are just a little more intelligent and thought-provoking.
randhail
Rock n' Roll Doggie
For me, the best part of the book was the discussion of phi as the golden ratio. That was some pretty nifty stuff.
Angela Harlem
Jesus Online
LPU2 said:
With all due respect, having read Chaucer and Kesey doesn't make an expert opinion on whether this was a good read. Nor does having a degree in literature. If I state I've been reading anything I could get my hands on for over 20 years now, does that make my pedigree good enough to comment on this? Frankly, it doesn't matter. I found it poorly written and the storyline rather neat and trite. The subject matter is of course brilliant. However the subject matter does not make it a brilliant story. If being one of some History Channel Crowd is not elitism, then I don't know what is!
As they say, being an author does not make one a writer any more than being a painter makes an artist.
MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
(Reuters)The director of the upcoming religious thriller "The Da Vinci Code" says he sees no need for a disclaimer labeling the film a work of fiction -- provoking a rebuke on Monday from Catholic group Opus Dei.
Filmmaker Ron Howard has acknowledged the controversy renewed by his film of Dan Brown's best-selling novel, which depicts Opus Dei as a shadowy sect at the heart of a murderous conspiracy to conceal dark secrets of the early Christian Church.
But the Oscar-winning director of "A Beautiful Mind" rejected the notion that his latest film should carry a disclaimer -- as requested by Opus Dei -- stating what he said was already obvious.
"This is a work of fiction that presents a set of characters that are affected by these conspiracy theories and ideas," Howard told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. "Those characters in this work of fiction act and react on that premise. It's not theology. It's not history. To start off with a disclaimer ... spy thrillers don't start off with disclaimers."
Opus Dei, which urged movie distributor Sony Pictures Entertainment in April to consider running a disclaimer, expressed disappointment with Howard's stance.
"A disclaimer could have been a way for Sony to show that the company wants to be fair and respectful in its treatment of Christians and the Catholic Church," Opus Dei's U.S. spokesman Brian Finnerty said on Monday.
The film, which opens May 19, stars Tom Hanks as a Harvard scholar who teams up with a French cryptologist (played by Audrey Tautou) to solve a murder mystery entwined in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and a supposed alternate history of Christianity.
A central premise of the story is that Jesus sired a child by Mary Magdalene, and that a clandestine society has for centuries protected the identity of their descendants from agents of the Catholic Church.
The Vatican, which considers the story blasphemous, has launched its own public relations offensive against the film.
Archbishop Angelo Amato, the No. 2 official in the doctrinal office headed by Pope Benedict until his election last year, called in April for a boycott of the movie. And the Catholic Church has produced a rebuttal documentary titled "The Da Vinci Code -- A Masterful Deception."
A Sony spokesman last month said the studio sees the film as "a work of fiction" rather than a "religious tract" and believed the film "will delight audiences, not offend them."
Filmmaker Ron Howard has acknowledged the controversy renewed by his film of Dan Brown's best-selling novel, which depicts Opus Dei as a shadowy sect at the heart of a murderous conspiracy to conceal dark secrets of the early Christian Church.
But the Oscar-winning director of "A Beautiful Mind" rejected the notion that his latest film should carry a disclaimer -- as requested by Opus Dei -- stating what he said was already obvious.
"This is a work of fiction that presents a set of characters that are affected by these conspiracy theories and ideas," Howard told the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. "Those characters in this work of fiction act and react on that premise. It's not theology. It's not history. To start off with a disclaimer ... spy thrillers don't start off with disclaimers."
Opus Dei, which urged movie distributor Sony Pictures Entertainment in April to consider running a disclaimer, expressed disappointment with Howard's stance.
"A disclaimer could have been a way for Sony to show that the company wants to be fair and respectful in its treatment of Christians and the Catholic Church," Opus Dei's U.S. spokesman Brian Finnerty said on Monday.
The film, which opens May 19, stars Tom Hanks as a Harvard scholar who teams up with a French cryptologist (played by Audrey Tautou) to solve a murder mystery entwined in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and a supposed alternate history of Christianity.
A central premise of the story is that Jesus sired a child by Mary Magdalene, and that a clandestine society has for centuries protected the identity of their descendants from agents of the Catholic Church.
The Vatican, which considers the story blasphemous, has launched its own public relations offensive against the film.
Archbishop Angelo Amato, the No. 2 official in the doctrinal office headed by Pope Benedict until his election last year, called in April for a boycott of the movie. And the Catholic Church has produced a rebuttal documentary titled "The Da Vinci Code -- A Masterful Deception."
A Sony spokesman last month said the studio sees the film as "a work of fiction" rather than a "religious tract" and believed the film "will delight audiences, not offend them."
vervex
The Fly
"People like a conspiracy..." Isn't it what is even said in Dan Brown's famous book ? 
I personaly read it and liked it, even though I appreciated more Angels and Demons because of Vittoria, braver and cooler than our dear Sophie Neveu. This novel tells a lot about the Church. Of course, all of its content isn't necessarly true but the way the Vatican reacted pushed people to believe in the book more I think. Actualy, they OVER reacted. Did they have good reasons to do so ? Who knows... Dan Brown invented nothing, remember - he only used theories already existing and believed by thousands already.
I think that if the Church wouldn't have pointed this novel as an offence, nobody would have noticed it that much. I'm still waiting for the movie to be released. It has potential
I personaly read it and liked it, even though I appreciated more Angels and Demons because of Vittoria, braver and cooler than our dear Sophie Neveu. This novel tells a lot about the Church. Of course, all of its content isn't necessarly true but the way the Vatican reacted pushed people to believe in the book more I think. Actualy, they OVER reacted. Did they have good reasons to do so ? Who knows... Dan Brown invented nothing, remember - he only used theories already existing and believed by thousands already. I think that if the Church wouldn't have pointed this novel as an offence, nobody would have noticed it that much. I'm still waiting for the movie to be released. It has potential
najeena
War Child
I see some irony in people protesting this work of fiction for proposing alternate ideas about what is not fact, but a matter of faith. It's all relative.
susanp6 said:Well all i can say so far after only reading 10 pages so far is WOW!
To me, so far it is VERY well written&i can usually tell if a book will be any good from the start! Every page i read is totally hugely gripping&i just feel as if it will only continue
Will definitely be there to see on day of release
Brown peppered in just enough of the beauty of France, London & Scotland and intrigue of the Da Vinci legend to keep me reading the book! Besides those, the book is on the overrated side.
Have my doubts about Tom Hanks portraying the main character. Would've liked to seen someone like a younger Harrison Ford. Hey, at least it's an interesting movie choice out there - for a change!!
dazzlingamy
Refugee
I put my vote in from Viggo Mortensen... mmmmmmmmmm
i hope tom doesnt over shadow the movie...
i am really looking forward to it...last year when i was in paris i thought about it as i went to the lourve etc hehehe
and i think its a really cool story and much better then the other story....i'd rather think of jesus haivng kids then dying and being reborn.... much more interesting!
i hope tom doesnt over shadow the movie...
i am really looking forward to it...last year when i was in paris i thought about it as i went to the lourve etc hehehe
and i think its a really cool story and much better then the other story....i'd rather think of jesus haivng kids then dying and being reborn.... much more interesting!
bonsai
The Fly
For those who haven't read the Da Vinci Code, without spoiling it for you, it tells the story of a man who made up a secret society and forged genealogical documents claiming that Jesus bloodline can be traced to the Merovingian's, the old French Royal Family. And what's more, there are those who claim that the Merovingian's can be traced to today's British Royal family, meaning that they are the descendents of Jesus Christ (Duh Duh DUH, indeed).
But I honestly thought Holy Blood, Holy Grail was better.
But I honestly thought Holy Blood, Holy Grail was better.
Actually i think Tom Hanks is an ideal choice myself&from the trailers i've seen, he fits into it well
Oh the Louvre it's absolutely amazing and it's a gigantic place! i was there in '99&saw the Mona Lisa so it'd be so great to go back after reading the book&seeing the film the cafe in there is fantastic too! 
Oh the Louvre
it's absolutely amazing and it's a gigantic place! i was there in '99&saw the Mona Lisa so it'd be so great to go back after reading the book&seeing the film the cafe in there is fantastic too! 
Liesje
Blue Crack Addict
I couldn't get the book b/c they're all checked out, so last night I downloaded an audio version (I always enjoyed being read to as a child). It's funny b/c the guy reading it does all these different voices with French accents! Definitely not classic lit, but good for rec reading. I also downloaded a bootleg promo copy of the movie 
Had to delurk to comment on this:
A story of people killings themselves because of what can only be described as religious lunacy showing up in the entertainment section of yahoo.... this is a truly bizarre world. I hope the story is untrue.
kimby said:
A story of people killings themselves because of what can only be described as religious lunacy showing up in the entertainment section of yahoo.... this is a truly bizarre world. I hope the story is untrue.
U2Girl1978
Blue Crack Addict
BrownEyedBoy said:
I thought so too!
It was one of the first books I ever read by him and got me hooked on him. Now I am waiting for his newest novel to come out.Earnie Shavers
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
Bono's shades said:
That's what casting Tom Hanks will get you.
I am having a wonderful time reading all these pooh-pooing naysayers. Now tell me that you will reluctantly go to see the movie only b/c you want to appear "hip" or are drawn by the controversy, and then tell me you won;t see it again
I have a lot to say but won't say it right now....for me, the most provocative thing about the book is probably the only thing that is really true, and the easiest to believe...the broader concept of the book is how the "Founding Fathers" of the Church in its earliest years as a "state religion" (post 314-AD) may have used various nefarious methods to marginalize the role of women in the church, for many reasons, the LEAST of which being (IMO) a population reluctant to abandon goddess-oriented pagan belief systems with their Earth Mother fertility rltuals, including nature worship. It's a powerful argument, even if the details may not square off the way Brown argues them, b/c the baehaviors were not only slow to be abandoned by the authorities but may still be in evidence today. Everything from the whole Mary Magdalene identity bit, (which to me is perfectly believable...her NOT being a whore, anyway, whatever else she may have been..and if you read the Gospels, Jesus sure appears to have quite comfortable with, and known a lot of women!) to outlawing marriage among the priesthood (which didn't come about until only a thousand yrs ago, BTW) to the burning of witches to today's reluctance still to allow women a greater active role in the Catholic Church, in the clergy. It's a basic issue of power, and the visions of the world that those in power perpetuate, and I think this is what upsets Brown most of all. One of the most memorable passages from the book to me is where he tells Sophie how history is written by the winners, etc.
It is interesting to witness the parallel rising of both fundamentalist sects in the world's big religions and the popularity of New Age cults, many of which involve the "sacred feminine." How much of this is an unconscious manifestation of a cultural disconnect from what they may see as a religion that has been used to harm and pollute the earth? Or at least some groping around for meaning when we've done wrong and lost our way. New Age and fundamentlist Chrisianity are not as different as some suspect. They're tow different sides of the same coin. (Funny thing foir THIS "christian" to say. Witness, too, the typically dishevelled Wiccan subsection of the New Age area in yr local bookstore (and I used to work at one, so I know.) That can't all be put down to Harry Potter mania.
It's fascinating how this has shown up in even children's literature. Who here has read Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass" series? (or "the Lyra books" as I call them.) The heroes are witches who care for the earth, and the villians are not only Catholics but actual ANGELS who aid those who desecrate it. You find it very hard not to take the side of the "environmentalists" in Pullman's debate. Read the series: it's a heady, intoxicating, even dangerous brew. If you think DVC is controversial, this might put that to shame--or at least give it a run for its money.
I do agree that Umberto Eco is the better writer. How many times have I read DVC< much as I like it, and not wishing it was he who had written it and that in the 25 or so yrs since The Name of The Rose came out, that in a generation the American attention span hadn't shrunk to the size of a gnat, to the point where he might have felt the need to write those damnabkle 2-pg long chapters?!?! Maybe he has potential but "censors himself" b/c of percived commercial limitations if he fleshed out his plots and characters more. If so, what a tragedy.) It's a classic, yes, but I'm still torn as to whether to call it literature or not. It employs no brilliant literary devices. The 6th Harry Potter Book was better written...Jo Rowling's depiction of Harry's awakening romantic longings and consciusness is brilliant (the whole "monster inside him" thing...how that develops in various stages,etc) Even Stephen KIng's "The Stand" was better written..and THAT qualifiies as "literature" in my book...borderline, though, and the only book of his that does.
I have a lot to say but won't say it right now....for me, the most provocative thing about the book is probably the only thing that is really true, and the easiest to believe...the broader concept of the book is how the "Founding Fathers" of the Church in its earliest years as a "state religion" (post 314-AD) may have used various nefarious methods to marginalize the role of women in the church, for many reasons, the LEAST of which being (IMO) a population reluctant to abandon goddess-oriented pagan belief systems with their Earth Mother fertility rltuals, including nature worship. It's a powerful argument, even if the details may not square off the way Brown argues them, b/c the baehaviors were not only slow to be abandoned by the authorities but may still be in evidence today. Everything from the whole Mary Magdalene identity bit, (which to me is perfectly believable...her NOT being a whore, anyway, whatever else she may have been..and if you read the Gospels, Jesus sure appears to have quite comfortable with, and known a lot of women!) to outlawing marriage among the priesthood (which didn't come about until only a thousand yrs ago, BTW) to the burning of witches to today's reluctance still to allow women a greater active role in the Catholic Church, in the clergy. It's a basic issue of power, and the visions of the world that those in power perpetuate, and I think this is what upsets Brown most of all. One of the most memorable passages from the book to me is where he tells Sophie how history is written by the winners, etc.
It is interesting to witness the parallel rising of both fundamentalist sects in the world's big religions and the popularity of New Age cults, many of which involve the "sacred feminine." How much of this is an unconscious manifestation of a cultural disconnect from what they may see as a religion that has been used to harm and pollute the earth? Or at least some groping around for meaning when we've done wrong and lost our way. New Age and fundamentlist Chrisianity are not as different as some suspect. They're tow different sides of the same coin. (Funny thing foir THIS "christian" to say
. Witness, too, the typically dishevelled Wiccan subsection of the New Age area in yr local bookstore (and I used to work at one, so I know.) That can't all be put down to Harry Potter mania. It's fascinating how this has shown up in even children's literature. Who here has read Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass" series? (or "the Lyra books" as I call them.) The heroes are witches who care for the earth, and the villians are not only Catholics but actual ANGELS who aid those who desecrate it. You find it very hard not to take the side of the "environmentalists" in Pullman's debate. Read the series: it's a heady, intoxicating, even dangerous brew. If you think DVC is controversial, this might put that to shame--or at least give it a run for its money.
I do agree that Umberto Eco is the better writer. How many times have I read DVC< much as I like it, and not wishing it was he who had written it and that in the 25 or so yrs since The Name of The Rose came out, that in a generation the American attention span hadn't shrunk to the size of a gnat, to the point where he might have felt the need to write those damnabkle 2-pg long chapters?!?! Maybe he has potential but "censors himself" b/c of percived commercial limitations if he fleshed out his plots and characters more. If so, what a tragedy.) It's a classic, yes, but I'm still torn as to whether to call it literature or not. It employs no brilliant literary devices. The 6th Harry Potter Book was better written...Jo Rowling's depiction of Harry's awakening romantic longings and consciusness is brilliant (the whole "monster inside him" thing...how that develops in various stages,etc) Even Stephen KIng's "The Stand" was better written..and THAT qualifiies as "literature" in my book...borderline, though, and the only book of his that does.
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Lila64
Blue Crack Distributor
Originally posted by BrownEyedBoy
I thought "Angels and Demons" was the better book. I don't see why there was more hype around "Code".
I don't read much but I did read DVC a couple of years ago, then went and bought the other 3 Dan Brown books. I agree that "Angels And Demons" was a better book. I'm currently re-reading DVC (paperback). It's been so long, and I want to refresh my memory to the story before seeing the movie...
I thought "Angels and Demons" was the better book. I don't see why there was more hype around "Code".
U2Girl1978 said:
I thought so too!
I don't read much
but I did read DVC a couple of years ago, then went and bought the other 3 Dan Brown books. I agree that "Angels And Demons" was a better book. I'm currently re-reading DVC (paperback). It's been so long, and I want to refresh my memory to the story before seeing the movie...bonsai
The Fly
You made some interesting points Teta, especcially your reasons why so called "New Age" religions, especcially those that focus on femininity have become so popular. Besides, most of Christianity rituals are pagan based, or the so calle "old religion" as opposed to "New Age".
I think, IMO, the Catholic Church needs to address these issues, if it wants to prevent further decline in membership to the church. We live in a new era, and with the internet, it's no longer possible for individual countries to ban or censor books. As adults in a free country, don't we have a right to read or watch whatever we want?
I just started to get very interested in this subject, as you may tell from some of my posts. Does anyone have any other books they could recommend?
I think, IMO, the Catholic Church needs to address these issues, if it wants to prevent further decline in membership to the church. We live in a new era, and with the internet, it's no longer possible for individual countries to ban or censor books. As adults in a free country, don't we have a right to read or watch whatever we want?
I just started to get very interested in this subject, as you may tell from some of my posts. Does anyone have any other books they could recommend?
aislinn
Acrobat
If you're interested in reading fiction involving the old religion, The Mists of Avalon is a pretty good book. It's a retelling of the Arthur myths, but there are some good bits comparing the old ways to Christianity and how the Catholic adoration of Mary is nothing but worship of the Goddess in a different package--at least, according to the story.
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Liesje
Blue Crack Addict
Teta040 said:
Yeah, no shit. Every time I read a book about fantasy or religion that's supposedly controversial, I'm left thinking "Good God, what would these people say if they every read Pullman?!?" Come to think of it though, I'd rather his books stay out of the limelight where they can be read and appreciated by those who can discern them.
I read the second Pullman book in His Dark Materials series, The Subtle Knife when I was 12......my dad got me at as a Christmas present...I think I was 12 hmm anyway....I can honestly say at that time the book freaked me out, 'The enemy is God??!!?' bit really ruffled my feathers, twas a brilliant read, and I did love it at the time, but it really sat uneasily with me.....I don't think my dad knew what it was about properly, he just read the back likely...otherwise I don't think he would have got it for me...or maybe he did, as i'm pretty sure he knows who Pullman is and what he is about
Anyway at the time I was a bit too wary of reading the first and third books, but I should get round to them as I really did love the Subtle Knife.
Anyway at the time I was a bit too wary of reading the first and third books, but I should get round to them as I really did love the Subtle Knife.
VertigoGal
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
Earnie Shavers said:
Yep.
I'll probably see the movie...I enjoyed the book a lot just as a fun quick read. I did find parts of it interesting in terms of the history of the church, only because I know next to nothing about that so I liked reading what was at least one perspective on it. The only other book I've read by him was Angels and Demons, and I think I prefer the Da Vinci Code above that one.
good thread though, i want to attempt to check out some of the other authors mentioned here sometime this summer.
Liesje
Blue Crack Addict
LJT said:I read the second Pullman book in His Dark Materials series, The Subtle Knife when I was 12......my dad got me at as a Christmas present...I think I was 12 hmm anyway....I can honestly say at that time the book freaked me out, 'The enemy is God??!!?' bit really ruffled my feathers, twas a brilliant read, and I did love it at the time, but it really sat uneasily with me.....I don't think my dad knew what it was about properly, he just read the back likely...otherwise I don't think he would have got it for me...or maybe he did, as i'm pretty sure he knows who Pullman is and what he is about
Anyway at the time I was a bit too wary of reading the first and third books, but I should get round to them as I really did love the Subtle Knife.
Wait, you've only read the middle one? How does it make any sense?
I think the first one was read to me when I was about 10 or so. It takes a while, probably halfway into the second book, before you start to catch on what the real premis is (his whole notion of who God really is). For kids who can't understand the theology behind it, they are still great reads for the surface plot line alone.
Someday I'd like to read some CS Lewis and then The Amber Spyglass in the same week...
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