The Da Vinci Code

I finally got round to reading ’s The Da Vinvi Code. I have to say that it took me ages to get into, by that I don’t mean how many pages I had to read before I was in, but how many times I had to re-start the book to get myself going. The start is so poorly written. I found myself constantly stumbling over the structure of the words. I knew I had to keep trying, and eventually either the writing got better or I got over the issue. Before long I was actually rather enjoying it.
The book is very good as a thriller. I’m not going to make the mistake of judging it on the “content” of the subject matter, because to be honest, it doesn’t really matter to me. The story is well told within the confines of the “revelations” and if nothing else Dan Brown helps to feed you this information in an entertaining way, rather than sitting down to read any serious book on the subject.
I read the illustrated version, because that was the version I was given as a gift. Apart from it really being to big to be practical for reading, it was a little uncomfortable sitting on the sofa with it, I did like all the pictures that gave you that extra bit of help with the visualisation of what Brown was describing. In no way essential to the plot, but educational in its own right.

Wikipedia Dan Brown, The Da Vinvi Code Technorati

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts

War of the Worlds

War of the WorldsJust finished reading , . One thing that I found very interesting whil reading, was my memory of the script written by Doreen Wayne for ’s musical version, or more to the point the brilliant narration by .

If we consider the opening of the book, it takes the first 200 or so words to say what Doreen says so eloquently in about 80.

No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that human affairs were being watched from the timeless worlds of space. No one could have dreamed we were being scrutinized, as someone with a microscope studies creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. Few men even considered the possibility of life on other planets and yet, across the gulf of space, minds immeasurably superior to ours regarded this Earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely, they drew their plans against us.

Jeff Wayne's - War of the Worlds I really enjoyed the book, but it does re-enforce my general belief that older is not necessarily better. As a general rule I don’t enjoy watching old “classic” films, and a number of “classic” books I have read – I didn’t enjoy. It think something that Doreen did in her adaptation of the book was to cut out much of the waffle, like when you buy world of warcraft mounts. Not just as a bridged version, but as a good condensing of meandering narrative. You can read the text of Doreen Wayne’s Adaptation here.

The more I thought about it, the more I considered that Jeff Wayne’s musical is actually a better adaptation of the book that the films. The two films made so far have transported the action to another place and time. Wouldn’t it be much better to have a film set in the time and place that the original story was covering? So am I so glad that I read in a press release

In addition, earlier this year Jeff commissioned a large team of UK animators to begin production of a feature length CGI-animated film based on his Musical Work which is intended to be released in cinemas in 2007 – and the team are making unbelievable progress. The film will sty true to
the HG Well’s novel, being set in Victorian England and will of course make good use of Jeff’s music!

See Also:
You can read the eText version here. 
Official Website for Musical Version.

Wikipedia H G Wells, The War of the Worlds, Jeff Wayne, Richard Burton, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds

 

Technorati , , ,

Related Posts:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

I finished reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time on Thursday. I say finished; I actually mean I read it! It only took 3 hours! I read some extracts from it a fwe years ago and absolutley hated it. It seemed to me to be poor writing. I know the story is told by a boy with but to be honest it felt like that was a secondary excuse for poor writing. However, my wife bought it for me last christmas so I added it to my “to read” pile. Needless to say, I read it and I loved it. It is very simple but it is also very charming and funny. Will go striaght to The Happy Pooch now.

 

Wikipedia Asperger syndrome, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon
Technorati , ,

Related Posts:

Pompeii

Robert Harris - PompeiiI read ’s Pompeii yesterday – yep read it in one day. It’s a bit easier to read than the books I’ve read recently so it kind of flowed easily.

I really enjoyed it, the story is pretty simple but it moves a long at a good pace helped by the fact that you know that is going to blow. The story is set over four days… starting two days before the starts. Having this knowledge gives the plot a sense of urgency because you know something that the characters don’t. That in itself is such a pleasure.

The angle of the story is excellent, as is the detail. I’ve found myself in awe of the of the which is a center pin of the plot. Having visited itself I really enjoyed the way Harris brought the place to life. I very enjoyable read that actually makes me want to learn more on the subject of and their life.

How come there hasn’t been a film of this yet?

Technorati , , , , , , ,
Wikipedia Robert Harris, Pat Conroy, Vesuvius, eruption, Roman engineering, Aqueduct, Pompeii, Romans

Related Posts:

Currently Reading…

Robert Harris - PompeiiJust started reading ’s Pompeii. Don’t know anything about it as all I’ve done so far is place my bookmarker at the start of the book.

 Technorati , , ,
Wikipedia Robert Harris

Related Posts:

%d bloggers like this: