Dan Brown is now one of the most successful authors out there. Every time that he releases a book, it makes big news. His fans wait, seemingly almost literally in breathless anticipation, for his latest work.
There is good reason for this. His novels are exciting, and challenge you to try and think outside the box both in terms of plots, with all of the twists and turns of a great story, as well as much of the actual history (often secretive) that is suddenly revealed by him. It is an attractive combination, and the reason why people keep reading his books.
Of course, he had not gone without criticisms of his work, and of him, personally. Some have dismissed him as smug, even blatantly arrogant. Others have challenged the accuracy of his historical facts, and the arguments that he claims from them. Still others have claimed that he is anti-Christian, which he denies outright on his website.
Some have made the argument that his writing style is clumsy.
Still others feel that he cheapens the intellectual field, catering to a lower common denominator by packaging complex arguments and ideas within the framework of a popular thriller. In the process, it is asserted, he is reinforcing the notion that these ideas, while they should stand on their own and are fascinating in their own right, are nonetheless unable to hold a captive audience (perhaps that has something more to do with our short collective attention span). Or, perhaps, that he is cashing in on popular culture's love of spy stories and novels of adventure, and using these ideas to add credibility to his work.
I might even include my own, small criticism here. His characters often seem a little too perfect, to the point that they are not convincing or realistic. They seem overly idealized, and lack the realism of characters in a book from, say, Stephen King. In short, some of his characters seem a little.....well, paper thin.
That might sound like a harsh judgment, but remember, I keep coming back to read more. I enjoy Dan Brown's writing, enjoy the page-turning excitement and adventure of his novels, and really appreciate that all of this is mixed with some revealing insights and obscure historical facts. Clearly, for that matter, I am not the only one drawn to such things.
Whatever you believe, he ultimately appeals to people for a good reason. Again, his stories are quite fascinating and captivating, and as you read, you want to turn the page to find out what happens next.
Not every author is like that.
Two of his novels, The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons, became mainstream movies. There are continued rumors that his most recent novel, The Lost Symbol, will be next up to hit the silver screen.
There is no denying that the man has enjoyed success. He also has acquired a veritable fortune in the process of that success.
With such a track record, it's no wonder that his newest release has been making news, and generating considerable excitement in the process. People cannot wait until they get their hands on the book.
So popular has he become, that weeks before his latest work, "Inferno", was released, there were books out there already comparing this to other of his works. Also, a book, "Inferno Decoded" was set to be released the very next month.
If that's not a sign of popularity, than I'm not entirely sure what is.
But then again, there's a good reason for it. Reading Dan Brown right now is like reading no other author. The subject matter always seems to be very interesting, and it is often as educational as it is entertaining. Few living authors can make such a claim (Eric Larson and Bill Bryson come to mind, but few others). This has probably contributed no small part to his incredible popularity, and it does not appear to have waned all that much over the course of years, now.
With his latest book, Inferno (which I will be reviewing tomorrow), the momentum that Dan Brown has built hardly seems to be suffering or slowing any. If anything, it seems to be securing his place now more than ever. Already, I find myself looking forward to the next one, as I am finishing this, his latest one now. I hardly think I am alone in that regard among his fans, of which there are quite a few!
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