Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol: 74% discount - Page 2

Dave_S · 09-18-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

If I could write complete tripe and still make millions, I'd sure as hell be doing it too.

I imagine that is the motto that most critics live by, since I can not recall any that have displayed any creativity of their own.

I could be wrong though because I certainly do not know as much as most critics would like people to think that they know.

neilmarr · 09-18-2009, 11:10 AM

Harry: I'm no literary snob and certainly have no downer on a productive scribe like Dan Brown. I always admired him as a hard-working wordsmith, a down-table craftsman who turned in the goods and did the job to a winning formula. I'm afraid that this time, he didn't cut the mustard. Sadly, his publishers have decided to make this weak book the 'publishing event of all time'. I'm sure Brown and his readers could nominate better candidates even from his very small body of work. His other thrillers thrilled ... this one doesn't. It is -- as has been said before here -- un- or badly-edited tripe. A complete waste of reading time. Having said that, I'm sure he'll turn out something better next time. He has the wit. Neil

queentess · 09-19-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_S

I imagine that is the motto that most critics live by, since I can not recall any that have displayed any creativity of their own.

I could be wrong though because I certainly do not know as much as most critics would like people to think that they know.

Hey, if George Lucas can make a living at it... *zing!*

Dave_S · 09-19-2009, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

Hey, if George Lucas can make a living at it... *zing!*

He seems to make more than just a living off his creative work

neilmarr · 09-19-2009, 03:46 AM

***Why did you finish it?***

Goes with the territory, Ocean. I'm a fiction editor and part of the job's keeping an eye on trends. As I said, I've no downer on Dan Brown as a good, jobbing author. I do think, though, that had *The Lost Symbol* been his first novel rather than his latest -- riding on previous success -- he wouldn't have gone far. For a start, any decent editor would have had the clout with a first-timer to ask him to revise the ms to give his characters credible motivation. He would have insisted on better characterisation and more realistic dialogue and done something about the adverbial promisuity. He would also have asked for a beginning, a middle AND an end. *The Lost Symbol* doesn't climax, it merely fizzles out. N

Over · 09-19-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

***Why did you finish it?***

Goes with the territory, Ocean. I'm a fiction editor and part of the job's keeping an eye on trends. As I said, I've no downer on Dan Brown as a good, jobbing author. I do think, though, that had *The Lost Symbol* been his first novel rather than his latest -- riding on previous success -- he wouldn't have gone far. For a start, any decent editor would have had the clout with a first-timer to ask him to revise the ms to give his characters credible motivation. He would have insisted on better characterisation and more realistic dialogue and done something about the adverbial promisuity. He would also have asked for a beginning, a middle AND an end. *The Lost Symbol* doesn't climax, it merely fizzles out. N

He doesn't follow those rules and doesn't use that formula. So what? His 81000000 readers are a wide enough sample that proofs that he is doing something right in this job.

neilmarr · 09-19-2009, 01:17 PM

Yup -- by the same criteria, fifty billion flies eating sh*t can't be wrong, eh? Dan Brown has a gadzillion *buyers* NOT necessarilly *readers*. Folks bought this book on its hype. Relatively few will feel driven to finish it and they will not follow through on future offerings, which is kinda sad, because Brown might do a heck of a lot better next time ... if there is a next time. He's shown in earlier work that he can hack the job well. N

thianliongpatpoh · 09-19-2009, 05:13 PM

The thread title indicates discounts on the new Dan Brown novel. But the content is more about Brown Bashing. Why not change the thread title to what the content really shows, eh? This is getting tiresome. OK, someone make a point, then another reply. Would that be it? Noooo, it keeps on going with another point being stated, and on, and on... bleah!

Bilbo1967 · 09-19-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thianliongpatpoh

The thread title indicates discounts on the new Dan Brown novel. But the content is more about Brown Bashing. Why not change the thread title to what the content really shows, eh? This is getting tiresome. OK, someone make a point, then another reply. Would that be it? Noooo, it keeps on going with another point being stated, and on, and on... bleah!

Hmmm, I guess you haven't used many forum sites Your description ("someone make a point, then another reply. Would that be it? Noooo, it keeps on going with another point being stated, and on, and on... ") is just pretty much what happens forum sites.

Is not your response someone making a point? Is my reply not just another reply? In summary, don't join discussion forums and then whine when people discuss things!

thianliongpatpoh · 09-19-2009, 07:24 PM

Read my post carefully. The thread _IS_ in the Deals, Freebies, and Resources sub-forum. The thread title _IS_ The Lost Symbol: 74% discount. This forum has great classifications/divisions/topics. So, stick to the thread title, thread sub-forum. i.e.: "Yeah, there's also 75% at this store. And 73% at that store."
If someone wants to make a point of how bad Dan Brown latest novel, use proper sub-forums/threads. That's my point.

HarryT · 09-20-2009, 12:42 PM

Our posting guidelines state that the original poster, or a moderator, may request that a thread remain on topic. If it "drifts", and the original poster isn't bothered, that's fine.

Ocean · 09-21-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Yup -- by the same criteria, fifty billion flies eating sh*t can't be wrong, eh? Dan Brown has a gadzillion *buyers* NOT necessarilly *readers*.

Can we stop with the jealous elitism already?

Over · 09-22-2009, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Yup -- by the same criteria, fifty billion flies eating sh*t can't be wrong, eh? Dan Brown has a gadzillion *buyers* NOT necessarilly *readers*. Folks bought this book on its hype. Relatively few will feel driven to finish it and they will not follow through on future offerings, which is kinda sad, because Brown might do a heck of a lot better next time ... if there is a next time. He's shown in earlier work that he can hack the job well. N

You are a human (I think), so I guess the only samples that should matter to you are the human ones.

Anyway, I really doubt that readers who disliked his work would buy other books from him. But guess what? They sold millions as well! And I'm curious to know how much The Lost Symbol will sell. I mean, if people didn't feel driven to finish his last work, they surely won't make the same mistake again and buy this one, right?

Anyway, back on topic, I still wonder how can those publishers sell paper books cheaper than the ebook version, at launch! I'm talking about hardbacks!

I know ebooks aren't mainstream and that can influence proces, but... 74% discount? Is that any indication of their profit margin with books?!

HarryT · 09-22-2009, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over

Anyway, back on topic, I still wonder how can those publishers sell paper books cheaper than the ebook version, at launch! I'm talking about hardbacks!

I know ebooks aren't mainstream and that can influence proces, but... 74% discount? Is that any indication of their profit margin with books?!

As a loss-leader, I'd imagine. Amazon are probably hoping to gain new customers who will buy other - profitable - books from them.

queentess · 09-22-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

As a loss-leader, I'd imagine. Amazon are probably hoping to gain new customers who will buy other - profitable - books from them.

Or hoping to use cheap e-books to sell more devices, much the way Apple used the cheap content in the iTunes store to sell iPods.

09-19-2009, 01:17 PM	#22
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Yup -- by the same criteria, fifty billion flies eating sht can't be wrong, eh? Dan Brown has a gadzillion buyers* NOT necessarilly readers. Folks bought this book on its hype. Relatively few will feel driven to finish it and they will not follow through on future offerings, which is kinda sad, because Brown might do a heck of a lot better next time ... if there is a next time. He's shown in earlier work that he can hack the job well. N Last edited by neilmarr; 09-19-2009 at 01:18 PM. Reason: because at first I only cited forty billion flies

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
MobileRead (annex) Discussion: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (spoliers)	pilotbob	Book Clubs	44	12-28-2010 01:35 AM
Anfrage bei Thalia wg. Dan Brown - Das verlorene Symbol	Fellball	E-Books	26	04-10-2010 10:40 AM
Dan Brown - The Hidden Symbol - Dissapointed!	Rootman	Reading Recommendations	7	01-18-2010 07:22 AM
Unutterably Silly Dan Brown finally reveals the real Lost Symbol	columbus	Lounge	12	09-23-2009 11:01 AM
Dan Brown - The Lost Symbol	PieOPah	Lounge	57	09-23-2009 05:56 AM

09-18-2009, 11:10 AM	#17
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Harry: I'm no literary snob and certainly have no downer on a productive scribe like Dan Brown. I always admired him as a hard-working wordsmith, a down-table craftsman who turned in the goods and did the job to a winning formula. I'm afraid that this time, he didn't cut the mustard. Sadly, his publishers have decided to make this weak book the 'publishing event of all time'. I'm sure Brown and his readers could nominate better candidates even from his very small body of work. His other thrillers thrilled ... this one doesn't. It is -- as has been said before here -- un- or badly-edited tripe. A complete waste of reading time. Having said that, I'm sure he'll turn out something better next time. He has the wit. Neil

09-19-2009, 03:46 AM	#20
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	*Why did you finish it?* Goes with the territory, Ocean. I'm a fiction editor and part of the job's keeping an eye on trends. As I said, I've no downer on Dan Brown as a good, jobbing author. I do think, though, that had The Lost Symbol been his first novel rather than his latest -- riding on previous success -- he wouldn't have gone far. For a start, any decent editor would have had the clout with a first-timer to ask him to revise the ms to give his characters credible motivation. He would have insisted on better characterisation and more realistic dialogue and done something about the adverbial promisuity. He would also have asked for a beginning, a middle AND an end. The Lost Symbol doesn't climax, it merely fizzles out. N

09-19-2009, 05:13 PM	#23
thianliongpatpoh Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 218 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: iPad	The thread title indicates discounts on the new Dan Brown novel. But the content is more about Brown Bashing. Why not change the thread title to what the content really shows, eh? This is getting tiresome. OK, someone make a point, then another reply. Would that be it? Noooo, it keeps on going with another point being stated, and on, and on... bleah!

09-19-2009, 07:24 PM	#25
thianliongpatpoh Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 218 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: iPad	Read my post carefully. The thread _IS_ in the Deals, Freebies, and Resources sub-forum. The thread title _IS_ The Lost Symbol: 74% discount. This forum has great classifications/divisions/topics. So, stick to the thread title, thread sub-forum. i.e.: "Yeah, there's also 75% at this store. And 73% at that store." If someone wants to make a point of how bad Dan Brown latest novel, use proper sub-forums/threads. That's my point.

09-20-2009, 12:42 PM	#26
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,556 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Our posting guidelines state that the original poster, or a moderator, may request that a thread remain on topic. If it "drifts", and the original poster isn't bothered, that's fine.