MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Please give a writer harder to put down than Dan Brown

yanfeng · 10-15-2009, 05:48 AM

I've just finished "The Lost Symbol". It took me almost a month. That's something I've not anticipated. All Brown's other books I devoured in 2 or 3 days. Does Brown miss it this time, or simply I have grown up?

In some ways "The Lost Symbol" is "Dan Vinci Code" with a newage flavour, or "Da Vinci Code" with a American background. I seriously doubt it will have much appeal to non-newage people and non-american people.

In "Angels and Demons" and "Da Vinci Code" religious, cultural and historical background is blended quite cleverly with the fast pace of the plot. In "The Lost Symbol" the cultural factors infringe and retard the plot.

Make no mistake, I am not against pantheism, manito, and newage spirituality. Brown just does not present them in a thrilling way. He now behaves more like a preacher, and not a very good one at that.

I can understand he wants more "depth" and more "positive thinkings" this time, but unfortunately that's not his advantage. "Digital Fortress" and "Deception Point" are better read than "The Lost Symbol", and that's quite a criticism.

10-15-2009, 05:48 AM	#267
yanfeng Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: ELIAD	I've just finished "The Lost Symbol". It took me almost a month. That's something I've not anticipated. All Brown's other books I devoured in 2 or 3 days. Does Brown miss it this time, or simply I have grown up? In some ways "The Lost Symbol" is "Dan Vinci Code" with a newage flavour, or "Da Vinci Code" with a American background. I seriously doubt it will have much appeal to non-newage people and non-american people. In "Angels and Demons" and "Da Vinci Code" religious, cultural and historical background is blended quite cleverly with the fast pace of the plot. In "The Lost Symbol" the cultural factors infringe and retard the plot. Make no mistake, I am not against pantheism, manito, and newage spirituality. Brown just does not present them in a thrilling way. He now behaves more like a preacher, and not a very good one at that. I can understand he wants more "depth" and more "positive thinkings" this time, but unfortunately that's not his advantage. "Digital Fortress" and "Deception Point" are better read than "The Lost Symbol", and that's quite a criticism.