jazzy

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A couple of days ago I bought the book "The Da Vinci code" by Dan Brown, presented as #1 New York Times Bestseller. It was a big mistake. After three pages I threw it in the dust bean! How can it be possible that such a crap could sell million of copies and win prestigious prize? Has contemporary english literature any better to offer to an italian reader? Are the Hollywood blockbuster films just enough to poison our cultural lives? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I shouldn'have trust my first impression. Anybody who read the book can give me a good reason to overcome my disillusion, take the book out of the garbage and try to read it? Thank you.

― Antonio De Zanche, Monday, 19 April 2004 08:55 (twenty-one years ago)

My pretentious two cents:

Stop bothering with the most recent stuff; they create disposable culture.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 19 April 2004 09:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Antonio I feel bestseller lists have more to do with the marketing budget the publisher throws at them than any literary merit. Thrillers are particularly susceptible to the crappy writing problem, Patricia Cornwell is an example I would cite of increasing sales = decreasing literary readability (if there is such a thing!)

― sandy mc (sandy mc), Monday, 19 April 2004 09:31 (twenty-one years ago)

My only recommendation to finish it is based on the fact that you can read it in a day, therefore not lose a whole lot of time on it. Personally, I liked the story and was entertained throughout. I don't think this novel is meant to be a masterwork of erudition; I think it's just a beach book.

― Vermont Girl (Vermont Girl), Monday, 19 April 2004 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Just Finished Reading- The Da Vinci Code

We talked about the Da Vinci Code on this thread. I'm with Amy on this one, it's a page-turning thriller, not really a work of literature. If you look at the best seller lists, you'll find that they are always stuffed with crap. Don't look there for good books.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Monday, 19 April 2004 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Why was this thread given the heading "jazzy"?

― Rockist Scientist, Monday, 19 April 2004 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

How can it be possible that such a crap could sell million of copies and win prestigious prize? (People like to read quick easy fasy paced stories with a veneer of erudition.) Has contemporary english literature any better to offer to an italian reader? (yes.) Are the Hollywood blockbuster films just enough to poison our cultural lives? (And yes again, but they only poison you if they are your sole diet.)Anybody who read the book can give me a good reason to overcome my disillusion, take the book out of the garbage and try to read it? (It's a beach book, like Vermont Girl said. Read it if you want some fluff held together by a shred or two of substance. Leave it in the bin if you currently in the mood to improve your soul or other important parts.)

― Rabin the Cat (Rabin the Cat), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 04:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Life is short. Don't waste your time reading something you don't like! Find something you do like. There is an ocean of books out there. (I am sooo glad I am out of school and can read whatever I like!) And nobody's is giving out grades.

― pepektheassassin (pepektheassassin), Thursday, 22 April 2004 18:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I am. And you get a C for that kind of sassy attitude.

Hey, you want an F? Keep talking.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Friday, 23 April 2004 10:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Has contemporary english literature any better to offer to an italian reader?

Has contemporary Italian literature anything at all to offer to an English one?

― jed_ (jed), Friday, 23 April 2004 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

i keep wanting this to be an amusing and literate thread on "jazziness" in fiction and what it might mean, even though i wouldn't really contribute to that one either

― tom west (thomp), Friday, 23 April 2004 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

....

― pepektheassassin (pepektheassassin), Saturday, 24 April 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

believe me, we're glad you're out of school too

― tom west (thomp), Saturday, 24 April 2004 22:07 (twenty-one years ago)

The Da Vinci Code won a "prestigious prize"?

― spittle (spittle), Saturday, 24 April 2004 22:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I can be as sassy as I want to be on a thread called Jazzy. :D

― pepektheassassin (pepektheassassin), Sunday, 25 April 2004 13:19 (twenty-one years ago)

"Has contemporary english literature any better to offer to an italian reader?"

- Zadie Smith, Johnathan Coe, Chuck Palanhiuk, Safran Foer, ...

"Has contemporary Italian literature anything at all to offer to an English one?"

- Scarpa, Montanari, Wu Ming, Genna, Pincio, Moresco, Evangelisti, ...

― demiurgo, Sunday, 2 May 2004 09:10 (twenty-one years ago)

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