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Main Stream Authors, Dan Brown, and other meditations on high/low brow culture
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Daniel, you have made some very salient points. I confess to having read all the Dan Brown books, and admitting that he is a great story teller but can't write his way out of a paper bag. Do the people who pay full price for his hardbacks really care about that? No. They want an escape, a story.However, isn't it important for some to stand and say the books are poorly written and do not raise the level of literature? Perhaps, or not.
I am glad you raised this issue. You have to admit, it's much more fun to poke fun at him than to give him credit for getting people to read.
As to Harry Potter, my nieces have read every one of the books, and only those books. I'm still happy with that, because one now wants to read more books from the fantasy genre.
I liked Angels and Demons, but the other two... not so much. Actually, I think he had to stop after the first one. I was making fun of some people who were crazy about Harry Potter, and as I like to find out what is all the noise about,one day I began to read these books and.... I fall in love with them. I liked Harry Potter books Very Much, though they were far from being my first books.
Now, about Twilight.I just CAN'T understand why people pay so much attention to this poor-written story. I read it, again for the same reason I read harry Potter, to find what is so special about it. I am not one of the people who hate these books, but I am becoming one. not as much because of the books, but because of the reaction they cause.
Man, oh man, I think I should stay away from Harry Potter. Everyone I've talked to basically admits that it's like reading cocaine. Stephen: "He couldn't write himself out of a paperbag." I'm going to steel that someday in the future if you don't mind.
I have these traumatic experiences from reading Stephen King, where his stories would build these incredible moments of tensions, build you up, and then leave you wondering out in nowhere at the end. Spoiler alert: After 950 pages of reading IT, it's just a freakin' spider at the end.
Daniel wrote: "Man, oh man, I think I should stay away from Harry Potter. Everyone I've talked to basically admits that it's like reading cocaine. Exactly! I was telling it is like a drug, you can't make yourself stop.
Dan Brown makes me want to bite people. But in the good way. ^^In all seriousness though, I encourage reading of any kind, especially people who thought they didn't like to read. If kids get interested in books because they got turned onto manga or urban fiction, fine. Whatever gets them interested in cracking a spine is okay. As long as they eventually venture out and read more. Is it safe to say people who won't expand beyond a certain genre rub me the wrong way? I just don't get that. Even if I find I don't like a certain genre, I'll still try a few books. *shrugs
I can't say much though. I think I needed a mind vacation after reading 6 Jodi Picoult books in as many days to find out what the hype is about. Lately the only thing I have been able to bring myself to read is vampire erotica. Now that stuff is word crack. Eesh, I'm kind of glad I ran out or I might still be reading it.
I thought the first book in the Twilight series was better than I expected.
My husband thinks I'm nuts, because I'm often reading things I hate to see what they are all about. But I love an in depth book discussion, even of things I dislike. He hasn't even read Twilight, but for some reason he enjoyed listening to me dissect the thing. I didn't hate Twilight, but I can't say I liked it. I just have this undeniable urge to understand popular culture and it's reading choices.
Since I was the one who opened the Dan Brown Must Die A Horrible Death thread, I'll re-iterate what I mentioned before: just like Jose Saramago or Thomas Pynchon isn't for everyone, Dan Brown isn't for me. When I read a novel or non-fiction, I don't want to just be entertained; I want the words on the page to represent exactly what the writer is thinking at that very moment. It's one thing to be a good story teller, but if you can't make me truly appreciate your words, sentences and nuances, then, in my opinion, you've failed as a writer.
For example, I don't know jack-shit about anthropology, but Guns, Germs and Steel is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. I still don't know much about anthropology, but I was struck immensely by Jared Diamond's passion for his work. He's like that guy you meet at a social gathering who just NEEDS to tell you about what he does, and he does it in such a passionate, thoughtful manner that you can't help but be impressed and enthralled.
So, impress me, enthrall me. Don't just entertain me.
For example, I don't know jack-shit about anthropology, but Guns, Germs and Steel is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. I still don't know much about anthropology, but I was struck immensely by Jared Diamond's passion for his work. He's like that guy you meet at a social gathering who just NEEDS to tell you about what he does, and he does it in such a passionate, thoughtful manner that you can't help but be impressed and enthralled.
So, impress me, enthrall me. Don't just entertain me.
In that case Gus, you'd probably really like anthropological journals and case studies. They are often well written and very enlightening. I haven't been able to dig mine out recently, but when I do, I'll post them.Edit: Found one. Bridges to Humanity Narratives on Fieldwork and Friendship
I was ready to start my comment with "WHO THE HELL IS DAN BROWN?", but Misha's post answered my question.
I recently read a romance novel that was written quite poorly, but I knew going in that it was a romance novel, so I took it for what it was and enjoyed it. Its okay to have a guilty pleasure once in awhile.
And while I've never read any Harry Potter or Twilight, I say god bless'em for getting young people into reading!!
I recently read a romance novel that was written quite poorly, but I knew going in that it was a romance novel, so I took it for what it was and enjoyed it. Its okay to have a guilty pleasure once in awhile.
And while I've never read any Harry Potter or Twilight, I say god bless'em for getting young people into reading!!
I always take 12-13 books from library and one or two romances to read-rest, have a break from that 12.
I have always said that at least people are reading again when people say "I can't believe people are reading books like Harry Potter!" Hopefully it will inspire them to read more. I file Harry Potter under "fun trashy reads" which everyone needs in between reading books like Finnegan's Wake and Democracy in America.
Mmm, I've got to point out here that Harry Potter isn't trashy, it is solid juvenile fantasy, well-plotted and in a setting that gets kids hoping they'll also discover a hidden world of magic just around the corner.
Jackie "the Librarian" wrote: "Mmm, I've got to point out here that Harry Potter isn't trashy, it is solid juvenile fantasy, well-plotted and in a setting that gets kids hoping they'll also discover a hidden world of magic just ..."Agreed.
Actually, Bun, Gabby may be right. Time can only tell.
Misha wins Comment of the Day!
In the field of International Relations, books written by Thomas Friedman typically get bad mouthed a lot--you know The World is Flat, The Lexus and the Olive Tree. I think perhaps one reason he gets such a bad wrap is because in the Lexus and the Olive Tree he said that out of politicians, academics, and business people, he thought hedge fund managers had the best take on the big picture stuff of international relations. Thus, there are academic article that talk about how his ideas are actually just simplified versions of academic works. The thing about Friedman is that he is a rhetorician--his trade is taking obscure ideas and putting them into easy to digest phrases (almost like memes). I can't complain. He was my gateway drug into International Political Economy. I still can't say I've progressed beyond Friedman so much.
Friedman takes a world of crap because he's well-known and prolific. He later realized his take on hedge fund managers was wrong, and acknowledged it publicly. I admit to liking Friedman, especially when he's humble enough to acknowledge he's wrong - his initial hawkish views on Iraq became highly tempered when he quickly realized Iraq was a bloody quagmire with no end in sight.
Paul Krugman is also starting to get a lot of flak.
Paul Krugman is also starting to get a lot of flak.
Yeah, I like Krugman's stuff quite a bit. Perhaps its harder to be a Dan Brownish author in Economics and International Relations than it is to be a Dan Brown in mysteries. Or maybe the analogy just doesn't fit at all. I don't think I'm up for reading a Dan Brown book to find out though.
I wouldn't compare Friedman as a "Dan Brownish" author of E & IC. Regardless of what one thinks of Friedman's economic & geopolitical philosophies, he's articulate and writes in a language everyone can understand. Perhaps that's why he gets such flak.
So, is that to say that the two authors are too different and thus not comparable?
Never having read Dan Brown, maybe it's best if I refrain from comparing him to anyone. But what is he like, if you don't mind me asking.
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Sally, I'm thinking Friedman is more like a manchego, a little harsh tasting at first, but ultimately a rewarding experience.
I love Crichton and Preston. Cussler has lost me with all his spin offs and the sheer volume of works he has. i still am going to read the new dan brown book
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I think of Dan Brown as one of those fruit punch drinks that contains 100% sugar and no fruit juice whatsoever.
All this just exposes how ignorant I am of Dan Brown AND cheese. I think the best think I can do this weekend is roll up in bed with a box of fruit juice and some, some Valvetta, and read a Dan Brown book.
Just be sure to have someone nearby who'll call 911 once you've OD'd on all those empty sugars.
just started reading new dan brown book over the weekend :)
Oh, you know, the one about the conspiracy theory, and that professor who knows all about conspiracy theories...
yup. that's it. so far so good. not as good as the divinci code as i think he is trying to hard to write a movie out of it (c'mon, bellemy is totally morgan freeman) but a fun read.Cosmic should read this. noetic science, quantum crap, codes, religion, symbolism. thinking of her while reading this
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But Friedman is not Gouda. Friedman is a blob of whipped cream cheese with chives that someone threw up on the sidewalk, after reading a column by Tom Friedman.
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Knarik doesn't come around here anymore.
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But I think it's actually best not to moralize about these subjects too much. I find it hard to judge--since I've never read any of these books. Also, in student essays I get quite a lot of essays about how Harry Potter helped them learn how to read. How do you go up against something that encourages basic literacy? How do you go up against works of art that encourages masses of people to revel in the written word--especially, people who wouldn't otherwise do so.
My first first experiences with the written word: comic books. So, I take my elitist attitudes and cram them down my throat...for the moment.