Please give a writer harder to put down than Dan Brown

[Moejoe]

Rejoice! Rejoice! 4 more days until you don't have to look for someone like Dan Brown, but you can have the real deal all to yourself.

The Lost Symbol

Dan Brown’s new novel, the eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 international phenomenon, The Da Vinci Code, which was the bestselling hardcover adult novel of all time, will be published on September 15, 2009.

(throws up a little in his mouth)

The Lost Symbol will once again feature Dan Brown’s unforgettable protagonist, Robert Langdon.

(laughter and a little bit of sick coming up through the nostrils)

“The Lost Symbol is a brilliant and compelling thriller. Dan Brown’s prodigious talent for storytelling, infused with history, codes and intrigue, is on full display in this new book. This is one of the most anticipated publications in recent history, and it was well worth the wait,” said Sonny Mehta, Chairman and Editor in Chief of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

(fists balling in anger, swallowing the sick that was already in my mouth)

Brown’s longtime editor, Jason Kaufman, Vice President and Executive Editor at Doubleday said, “Nothing ever is as it first appears in a Dan Brown novel. This book’s narrative takes place in a twelve-hour period, and from the first page, Dan’s readers will feel the thrill of discovery as they follow Robert Langdon through a masterful and unexpected new landscape. The Lost Symbol is full of surprises.”

(feeling queasy)

"This novel has been a strange and wonderful journey," said Brown. "Weaving five years of research into the story's twelve-hour timeframe was an exhilarating challenge. Robert Langdon’s life clearly moves a lot faster than mine."

(projectile vomiting)

-----

Enjoy

[bertold]

Originally Posted by Sonist

But I am beginning to understand, why you stick with Dan Brown.

Your understanding is about on par with your wit, since I have never read
any of Dan Brown's books, thus, I can hardly "stick with him". I am not in
the least surprised by the fact that you don't understand what I took issue
with in this thread. However, I refuse to use smaller words just for your
benefit. Here's hoping you get it on your own one day.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by mikelvdb

Harder to put down:

1 Michaels, Barbara Witch
2 Preston & Child Relic - 1
3 Grafton, Sue Kinsey Millhone A+B+C
4 Francis Dick Straight
5 Smith, Wilbur The Seventh Scroll
6 Rollins, James Map Of Bones
7 Twining, James The Double Eagle
8 Brown, Dan Angels and Demons
9 Berry, Steve The Templar Legacy
10 Sussman, Paul The Lost Army of Cambyses
11 Rowling, J K Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
12 Robinson, Jeremy The Didymus contingency
13 Reilly, Matthew Temple
14 John Twelve Hawks The Traveller

How could I forget Wilbur Smith! Loved River God and the Seventh Scroll.

I also remembered Robert J. Sawyer's The Neanderthal Parallax. Awesome series (all three available in ebook format)

[frui]

I will read it immediately after it comes out. Thank you Kindle DX!
I am a bit nervous. Will it be a flop after so many bluff?
Still I am pretty sure it will be much better than Brown's previous works. Never has he spent so many years in a single work. He should have done much more research than before. And he has a HUGE expectation to meet. Pressure produces the diamond, so it says.
But it's still too early to make judgements.

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Rejoice! Rejoice! 4 more days until you don't have to look for someone like Dan Brown, but you can have the real deal all to yourself.

(throws up a little in his mouth)[/I]

Enjoy

[Moejoe]

Here's a little insight into the writing life of Dan Brown:

Brown's writing day begins at 4 a.m. He writes seven days a week. He keeps an hourglass on his desk and, on the hour, puts aside his manuscript to perform push-ups, sit-ups, and stretches.

http://www.slate.com/id/2138483?nav=nw

[frui]

Hi, kacir. I've never heard of Dick Francis, but your description facinates me. I checked Amazon and found he had written quite a lot. Which one will recommend to a first time reader? As close to Dan Brown as possible, of course. You know my taste.

Originally Posted by kacir

Actually, this part used to be done by his wife. After she died, Mr. Francis said he will not write anymore.

[bertold]

Since you used some idiomatic English in your
post, I took the liberty of translating its key
fragments for readers who aren't native speakers.
I'm sure you won't mind.

Originally Posted by Moejoe

(throws up a little in his mouth)

"I am a wannabe who will never amount to anything as a
writer and this frustrates me quite a bit."

Originally Posted by Moejoe

(laughter and a little bit of sick coming up through the nostrils)

"I can't hold a reader's interest for more than 10 syllables, but my
grammar is immaculate. I don't understand why Dan Brown is such
a success, since his grammar is so bad. This frustrates me quite a bit."

Originally Posted by Moejoe

(fists balling in anger, swallowing the sick that was already in my mouth)

"I spend a lot of time and effort insulting other people's work
on internet forums, while Dan Brown does research and writes
books which sell millions of copies. I don't understand why I
am not as successful as he is. This frustrates me a lot."

Originally Posted by Moejoe

(feeling queasy)

"He also has great hair. This frustrates me a lot."

Originally Posted by Moejoe

(projectile vomiting)

"I am a very sad, frustrated and arrogant individual. I don't
give a damn whose feelings I hurt as long as I get to rant
about writers much more successful than I will ever be."

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Enjoy

Believe me - I did.


And now, if you will forgive me, I will take my leave of this
forum. The thought that someone might associate me with
it one day horrifies me.


Adieu.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by bertold

"I am a wannabe who will never amount to anything as a
writer and this frustrates me quite a bit."



Adieu.

The day you get to call me a 'wannabee' at anything is the day you meet me face to face you arrogant prick.

Oh, and good riddance you arsehole.

[mikelvdb]

Hi Frui,

You can start with the Kit Fielding series: Break In, Bolt. But in eBook format try To the Hilt.

But to have something closer to Dan Brown you may give a try to Map Of Bones from James Rollins (7.99 $ in eBook format).

[kacir]

Originally Posted by frui

Hi, kacir. I've never heard of Dick Francis, but your description facinates me. I checked Amazon and found he had written quite a lot. Which one will recommend to a first time reader? As close to Dan Brown as possible, of course. You know my taste.

Try his Sid Halley series first
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/dick-francis/
http://www.biblio.com/author_biograp...k_Francis.html

I haven't read any of his most recent novels (written after 2000), so I can not tell you about those, all of his books are pretty good.
I did not know that he resumed his writing in collaboration with his son and I am really looking forward to reading his newest stuff. It is amazing that Dick Francis still writes, even as he approaches his 90th birthday.

I recommend his novels to everyone that wants to start reading in English and has read some simplified editions first. People notice that his books are good, fast flowing thrillers (usually about a private detective or amateur detective), set somewhere in horse racing world, but few people realize that his books are very well suited for beginners / non-native English speakers.

[frui]

I don't know much about Horse racing. No such sport in my country. So much of the excitement might escape me.

Personally I like something big.....like conspiracy, world war III, doom of the earth, birth of Jesus, blah blah blah. Now I am a little blushed to admit this kind of shallowness. That can also explain my liking for Dan Brown, who surely knows how to exploit those "big" elements.

Originally Posted by kacir

Try his Sid Halley series first
usually about a private detective or amateur detective), set somewhere in horse racing world.

[Verencat]

Attention to all posters:

This thread, besides containing all sorts of interesting information, has gone way too far into flame throwing and personal attacks.

We demand that everyone keeps the conversation civil, or we will be forced to take action.

Thank you,

Cat, moderator.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by frui

I don't know much about Horse racing. No such sport in my country. So much of the excitement might escape me.

The books are just set into environment of horse racing.
I am not interested in horses and racing. The excitement in DF books is not in racing. It is in some person (usually loosely connected to the racing world) trying to solve a crime or catch the villain.
In fact, most of my knowledge about horse racing comes from little details I have read in Dick Francis novels.

When you are writing a book you have to set is somewhere. North pole (DB), Vatican (DB), village somewhere in Britain (Aghata Christie), a spaceship (countless SF writers), ancient China (Robert Van Gulik), anywhere. It is good when the author is familiar with setting, so the book is filled with small details that are convincing and provide "flesh" to his descriptions.

[Luxi]

You should try Robert Ludlum, every time I read one of his books I can't stop reading until I finish it.
And I could say the same about Michael Connelly

[mikelvdb]

Originally Posted by frui

I don't know much about Horse racing. No such sport in my country. So much of the excitement might escape me.

Personally I like something big.....like conspiracy, world war III, doom of the earth, birth of Jesus, blah blah blah. Now I am a little blushed to admit this kind of shallowness. That can also explain my liking for Dan Brown, who surely knows how to exploit those "big" elements.

Then you have to read Jeremy Robinson: The Didymus contingency.