Sunday, January 21, 2007
Review of “The Testament”
A couple of months ago, I was asked if I’d review the new novel, “The Testament”, by Eric Van Lustbader. I agreed, as I love to read, and love a good thriller/mystery novel. I’ve since hemmed and hawed about writing the review, however, as I just didn’t enjoy the book very much.
I’m drawn to books like “Angels and Demons” because of the mix of familiar history and mystery, and I love puzzles as well. I’d hoped “The Testament” would be similar, but it’s more of an action/thriller novel. The opening paragraph, which takes place in a monastary hundreds of years ago, really caught my interest. When the book transitioned to present day, it lost me. I thought the idea of assassins running through San Francisco department stores was far-fetched but fun, and I was willing to suspend disbelief for that. Then the characters started talking, and I could feel my eyes rolling. The characters spoke to each other in formal, almost stilted English, despite being American. There wasn’t a single conversation which didn’t seem forced and contrived—the characters didn’t feel natural to me. The emotional travails of the father and son were also unimaginative and awkward, “Father is emotionally distant, son becomes distant, father wants to reunite with son but hesitates at last minute, father dies with love unspoken”, etc. I just didn’t care about any of the characters. I was also irrationally bugged that the main character in the book had the nickname of “Bravo”. At least the guy in “The DaVinci Code” was a plain old “Robert”.
If you like action novels, I encourage you to read the book, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. If you prefer something more like a “meaty conspiracy theory”, this isn’t the book for you. Far be it from me to dissuade you from reading it, however, and I hope you’ll take the time to form your own opinions. You can buy a brand new copy of the book from Amazon Resellers for about $6.
Review of “The Testament”
A couple of months ago, I was asked if I’d review the new novel, “The Testament”, by Eric Van Lustbader. I agreed, as I love to read, and love a good thriller/mystery novel. I’ve since hemmed and hawed about writing the review, however, as I just didn’t enjoy the book very much.
I’m drawn to books like “Angels and Demons” because of the mix of familiar history and mystery, and I love puzzles as well. I’d hoped “The Testament” would be similar, but it’s more of an action/thriller novel. The opening paragraph, which takes place in a monastary hundreds of years ago, really caught my interest. When the book transitioned to present day, it lost me. I thought the idea of assassins running through San Francisco department stores was far-fetched but fun, and I was willing to suspend disbelief for that. Then the characters started talking, and I could feel my eyes rolling. The characters spoke to each other in formal, almost stilted English, despite being American. There wasn’t a single conversation which didn’t seem forced and contrived—the characters didn’t feel natural to me. The emotional travails of the father and son were also unimaginative and awkward, “Father is emotionally distant, son becomes distant, father wants to reunite with son but hesitates at last minute, father dies with love unspoken”, etc. I just didn’t care about any of the characters. I was also irrationally bugged that the main character in the book had the nickname of “Bravo”. At least the guy in “The DaVinci Code” was a plain old “Robert”.
If you like action novels, I encourage you to read the book, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. If you prefer something more like a “meaty conspiracy theory”, this isn’t the book for you. Far be it from me to dissuade you from reading it, however, and I hope you’ll take the time to form your own opinions. You can buy a brand new copy of the book from Amazon Resellers for about $6.
Amateur historian finds final resting place of (perhaps) the real “Mona Lisa”
An article about an amateur historian who has discovered the burial place of Lisa Gherardini, the woman some have identified as the model for the “Mona Lisa”: click here to read.
Amateur historian finds final resting place of (perhaps) the real “Mona Lisa”
An article about an amateur historian who has discovered the burial place of Lisa Gherardini, the woman some have identified as the model for the “Mona Lisa”: click here to read.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Dan Brown in the news, January 2007
Here are two recent news stories about Dan Brown, one from Time Magazine, and one from a Scottish newspaper about Dan Brown’s recent visit:
Dan Brown in the news, January 2007
Here are two recent news stories about Dan Brown, one from Time Magazine, and one from a Scottish newspaper about Dan Brown’s recent visit:
Thursday, November 30, 2006
A review of “The Art and Mythology of the DaVinci Code”
Here’s a review of a book called “The Art and Mythology of the DaVinci Code” that was printed in The Norman (Oklahoma) Transcript. Unfortunately the author isn’t named, and the piece is just attributed to a “staff writer”, but you might nevertheless find it interesting: book review. If you want to actually read the book yourself you may be out of luck—a search of Amazon.com turns up no reference to it.
A review of “The Art and Mythology of the DaVinci Code”
Here’s a review of a book called “The Art and Mythology of the DaVinci Code” that was printed in The Norman (Oklahoma) Transcript. Unfortunately the author isn’t named, and the piece is just attributed to a “staff writer”, but you might nevertheless find it interesting: book review. If you want to actually read the book yourself you may be out of luck—a search of Amazon.com turns up no reference to it.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Akiva Goldsman may get $4 million paycheque for ‘Angels and Demons’ screenplay
According to LA Weekly and DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com reporter Nikki Finke, Goldsman has been offered a staggering four million dollars for Dan Brown’s ‘Angels and Demons’ - an amount that will set a new record for a pure screenwriting gig. Finke claims that Goldsman will not do double-duty as producer and screenwriter on the ‘Sony Pictures’ and ‘Imagine Entertainment’ release, reports Zap2it.
Although ‘Angels and Demons’, slated for a December 12, 2008 release, was written before ‘The Da Vinci Code’, its production is not being conceived of as a prequel to the latter. The film will see Robert Langdon, the character played by Tom Hanks in the first film, attempting to make sense of a series of murders that may involve the Vatican and the shady Illuminati.
Besides ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Goldsman writing credits include an Oscar for ‘A Beautiful Mind’. He is also regarded for scripting films like ‘Lost in Space’, ‘Batman and Robin’ and ‘Batman Forever’.
Akiva Goldsman may get $4 million paycheque for ‘Angels and Demons’ screenplay
According to LA Weekly and DeadlineHollywoodDaily.com reporter Nikki Finke, Goldsman has been offered a staggering four million dollars for Dan Brown’s ‘Angels and Demons’ - an amount that will set a new record for a pure screenwriting gig. Finke claims that Goldsman will not do double-duty as producer and screenwriter on the ‘Sony Pictures’ and ‘Imagine Entertainment’ release, reports Zap2it.
Although ‘Angels and Demons’, slated for a December 12, 2008 release, was written before ‘The Da Vinci Code’, its production is not being conceived of as a prequel to the latter. The film will see Robert Langdon, the character played by Tom Hanks in the first film, attempting to make sense of a series of murders that may involve the Vatican and the shady Illuminati.
Besides ‘The Da Vinci Code’, Goldsman writing credits include an Oscar for ‘A Beautiful Mind’. He is also regarded for scripting films like ‘Lost in Space’, ‘Batman and Robin’ and ‘Batman Forever’.
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Most recent entries
- Review of “The Testament”
- Review of “The Testament”
- Amateur historian finds final resting place of (perhaps) the real “Mona Lisa”
- Amateur historian finds final resting place of (perhaps) the real “Mona Lisa”
- Dan Brown in the news, January 2007
- Dan Brown in the news, January 2007
- A review of “The Art and Mythology of the DaVinci Code”
- A review of “The Art and Mythology of the DaVinci Code”
- Akiva Goldsman may get $4 million paycheque for ‘Angels and Demons’ screenplay
- Akiva Goldsman may get $4 million paycheque for ‘Angels and Demons’ screenplay
- Author McEwan denies “Atonement” copy claim
- Author McEwan denies “Atonement” copy claim
- Unlucky Monday the 27th
- Unlucky Monday the 27th
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