Why is a book that's mostly a bunch of historical and theological inaccuracies thrown into a crackerjack plot with a bunch of cardboard characters so ridiculously popular?
Why is a book that's mostly a bunch of historical and theological inaccuracies thrown into a crackerjack plot with a bunch of cardboard characters so ridiculously popular?
"He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors."
-- Thomas Jefferson
http://rationalidealism.wordpress.com/
good question. The same goes for the Bible too.
The answer is people enjoy fiction. Harry Potter is a good example, you get to go hog wild when you talk about the supernatural - anything goes!
It fills peoples imaginations
Good point.Quote by: rez
The Harry Potter phenomenon boggles me as well. Is it some sort of bandwagon effect?
"He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors."
-- Thomas Jefferson
http://rationalidealism.wordpress.com/
Everybody loves to believe a world wide conspiracy. "The reason we have all these problems in our world today is the fault of (pick one-the Jewish cabal, the Illuminati, the Masons, the Church, the CIA/NSA/DIA, wealthy financiers who really run the government). It's not really due to our own greed, attitudes, politics, stupidity."
Conspiracy books almost always sell well.
The Forum Rules
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
[John F. Kennedy]
The principal value of debate lies in the development of logical thought processes, and the ability to articulate your positions publicly.
[Senator Dick Clark of Iowa]
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
[Terry Pratchett]
Um....its interesting to read? Sure it may not be the most well written of books, but some books capture peoples imaginations (like the harry potter ones), and it helps if you have friends saying 'read this book its good'. I mean when I first read harry potter (I think it was in 1998? I can't remember) I found it to be really interesting and gripping. Now that I'm somewhat wiser I see its not particularly well written, but nonetheless its still a good book.
What get's me is which publisher seriously thought that the author was over 12. It's got a page turning rythem, I'll give it that, but it's so poorly written it's astounding.
Harry Potter on the other hand is well written, so don't have a crack at it, it's brilliant.
Oh, and for those interested, Dumbledore is not dead
(formerly G.Adams)
"You can avoid reality but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality" ~ Ayn Rand
The Da Vinci Code is not any sort of historical document.
The fact that people take it as as such, and even worse, attack it as such, is pathetic.
What are you going to attack next? Beavis and Butt Head?
It's entertainment.
I read the Da Vinci Code and was sorely disappointed.
I didn't enjoy it, I thought that the writing lacked any depth. I guess the story was good, as adventure novels go with secret societies, cover ups, conspiricies and murders. But it was nothing special. A fellow on another forum I frequent remarked on irritating him because of the; "melodramatic and juvenile quality of the writing", i have to say I agree with his assessment 100%.
*Spoiler alert*
If you have read one Dan Brown book you have read them all, all the main characters are the same in each book. For example there are always four major characters: -
The always two dimensional goodie, solving riddles and mysteries while being chased by various agancies (law enforcement, cult, etc)
The apparently very friendly character who will inevitably be the bad guy.
The Girl, just as two dimentional as the goodie.
The unpleasant character portrayed as being in league with the plotters, but turns out to side with the good guy.
Predictable rubbish.
Society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, […] no obstacle whatsoever intervenes at this moment except ignorance to prevent such a state of society.
Robert Owen
I've read Digital Fortress, Deception Point, and Angels & Demons.
You're right in that all seem to have the same basic characters.
The one thing I did notice, though:
in DF and DP, the main character is a woman. As far as I know, neither of these books sold many copies.
It wasn't until Da Vinci Code and a male main character that he sold millions of copies.
As a lightweight read over breakfast (my primary reading time), Digital Fortress wasn't bad. I haven't bothered to read his other works except the Da Vinci Code, which I read after it came out in paperback. I have to concur with the opinions expressed above regarding that book. I could never get "into it". (Has anyone else noticed that several new paperbacks are coming out with a $9.99 price point? That's a hell of a jump from the $5.99 to $6.99 price that's held for several years now. Are they producing paperbacks with refined oil or something?)
The Forum Rules
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
[John F. Kennedy]
The principal value of debate lies in the development of logical thought processes, and the ability to articulate your positions publicly.
[Senator Dick Clark of Iowa]
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
[Terry Pratchett]
I think most people pick up the book self conscious of its "infidelity" and not so much for its english mechanics and overall plot. The former could also be a sign of social questioning of what we believe. A few more of these unchristian sources of entertainment that make it big and you'll have the biggest battle of secular vs. religious our nation has ever seen, IMO.
As far as I know, Beavis and Butt Head is not a cult phenomenon. Or am I out of the loop?
"He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors."
-- Thomas Jefferson
http://rationalidealism.wordpress.com/
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