Please give a writer harder to put down than Dan Brown

[SHOECHICK]

Originally Posted by frui

Brad Thor. I was reading "Blowback", but I could not finish it.

I really like Brad Thor but also had a problem with Blowback. Try one of his other Scott Horvath books, they're pretty good.

[forcheville]

Agree.

It's very hard to put down a book you've not picked up, and having made the mistake of reading "The DaVinci Code" I'd never knowingly pick up another Dan Brown.

It's like stepping in dogshit.

[BearMountainBooks]

Try Carol O'Connell. Great stuff.

[Over]

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

I suspect it was just a form of dismissal. Not everyone who expresses disdain at a popular subpar author do so because of anything related to religion. Perhaps a lot of people do get their panties in a bind when it comes to these kinds of subjects...I remember when I was younger and got angry at every poor rendering of Japanese history and how popular book salesmen became famous pseudo-historians of "ninja" and the like. More recently, I am still a little miffed at Gavin Menzies for pretending to be a historian and promoting a bogus but popular history of the Chinese discovering America. Of course, in these cases it's often that the author is seeking real credibility for their BS, which is not true in Dan Brown's case.

I haven't read enough Dan Brown to make any strong decisions, but those who have are most likely just iconoclasts hoping to tear down an idol they don't view as worthy. Doesn't have to be religious in motive at all.

Then it's general jealousy. If Dan Brawn hadn't sold 81000000 da'vinci books, there wouldn't be such animosity toward him. One thing is to dislike... Another thing is to say his work is shit, toilet paper, to be avoided at all costs, etc. Such strong opinions must come from strong emotions.

[Luxi]

I'd say that Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child's books are the hardest for me to put down. And about Dan Brown, after reading his description of Seville in "digital fortress" I can't take him seriously... maybe he should do a bit research before writing?

[frui]

I read one about a prehistoric creature in a museum predating people. Very monotonous. Blank. Lifeless. Tedious.
Oh how I am picky! Being a Dan Brown fan does not mean I have an indiscriminating stomach.........

Originally Posted by Luxi

I'd say that Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child's books are the hardest for me to put down. And about Dan Brown, after reading his description of Seville in "digital fortress" I can't take him seriously... maybe he should do a bit research before writing?

[Sweetpea]

I really liked The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers. If I start on that book, the only reason I put it down is because it's rather heavy...

[Daithi]

To the original poster's question, I'd recommend Steve Berry as having a similar style to Dan Brown's. I think of it as rollercoaster writing -- even when the thing isn't going fast you can feel the tension building and know you are about to go rocketing 300 mph. Very hard to put the book down.

I don't have a problem with Dan Brown. It kind of like the movies -- sometimes you want Driving Ms. Daisy but other times you just want Spiderman.

[desertgrandma]

When did we start bashing books/authors because of our personal opinions of them? I haven't heard such abuse since the last Ayn Rand fiasco.

"Dune" by Frank Herbert makes me want to run amok with an ax, but I realize there are many who disagree.

So be it.......Different strokes, etc. The fact that I didn't care for it doesn't mean its a bad book.......just that it didn't appeal to me.

Going on and on about the 'historical inaccuracies" is just crazy. These are fictional books people, they portray things that could have been, in the authors mind.

If it doesn't appeal to you, so be it. But don't tell me I shouldn't like it.

I'll decide for myself, thank you very much.

[amjbrown]

Ian Rankin - especially the Rebus novels.

Rankin never planned to write crime books, and they are excellent as a result. Rebus is both deeply flawed, yet has a strong sense of integrity. A very complex character. And if you get into them, there are about nineteen to read!

I think Dan Brown's OK. His writing is lame, but he can really tell a great yarn. Reminds me of Jeffrey Archer! Better than John Grisham for my money - "his lovely wife pulled her lovely long legs into the bed" - yuck!

amjb

[Bilbo1967]

Not that similar to Dan Brown, but a writer I find unputdownable is Iain Banks (not Iain M. Banks, same guy, different style of books).

I defy anybody to not be captivated by 'The Wasp Factory'; if you like more modern stuff try 'The Business'.

For more comedic dark thrillers, try Christopher Brookmyre - great books!

[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

[bertold]

Originally Posted by forcheville

It's like stepping in dogshit.

Saying such a thing in a thread started, and regularly read, by someone
who likes Dan Brown, is discourteous, to say the least. In fact, to use
your analogy, it's like taking a dump on their lawn as they are mowing it.

All of you people ranting in this thread about Brown should really try to
understand the, not overly complicated, subject that the OP has given it.
Not once has he asked for your opinion on Dan Brown himself, yet he has
been force-fed insulting rants for 12 pages of posts. Some have actually
returned 3 - 4 times to excrete their jealousy of Brown's success in vile
diatribes which are more insulting to the OP, than they could ever be to Dan
Brown. It's one thing to express your opinion (even though it wasn't asked
for), but doing it in a way which insults everyone who disagrees with you is
simply despicable. Especially if you also think you're being clever in your
critique, when really, you're just being an elitist banker (or something which
rhymes with "banker", nudge nudge).


Luckily, some people understand the question the OP posed and provided
some great recommendations.

To the OP: I admire the restraint, with which you have behaved in this
thread. You are a better person than the bankers (or something which
rhymes with "bankers", nudge nudge). I salute you, Sir.


PS. I wholeheartedly second the Stieg Larsson recommendations.

[frui]

Originally Posted by bertold

Saying such a thing in a thread started, and regularly read, by someone
who likes Dan Brown, .

Thank you bertold. Your understanding has made my day.

Everybody is entitled to give his opinion. That's no problem. I can live with the rants, and accept some.

But I have the feel that some of the friends here who criticize Dan Brown so sharply have not read a single page of his works. Some might have just read the beginning. That would be a pity. I'd encourage reading a bit further. Maybe your opinion will change.

I remember reading Hugo's Les Miserable when I was a kid. I just can't put up with the first 100 pages, mostly about the life of Bishop Myriel, which is so boring for a 12 year. But somehow I pushed myself further. Then came Jean Valjean. Voila! Everything turned interesting. I was strongly hooked. After so many years, I still feel lucky I miraculously pushed myself through a hundred pages of bordom, or I would lose all the enjoyment that great classic brought me.

Well I really wish the mention of Les Miserable would not bring another contention. I have no intention to enhance Dan Brown to the status of Victor Hugo. It's just a nice memory.

And, yes, Les Miserable is really something hard to put down.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by frui

But I have the feel that some of the friends here who criticize Dan Brown so sharply have not read a single page of his works.

I have read all his works.
And I have criticized his works, especially Digital Fortress in another thread. You can look it up. Very civilized criticism ;-).

I would not, however, criticize people that like to read his books.

I am starting to wonder, what is next. Are we going to start ridiculing people that read romances? Are we going to look down on people that do not enjoy reading Dickens or Tolstoy?