The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

If Jerry Bruckheimer commissioned a novel I would imagine that the Da
Vinci Code would be it. On a recent trip overseas I bought this book to
read on the thirteen hour flight home.

While not an exceedingly terrible novel it is hardly, in the words of
the Washington Post, "Exceedingly clever. Both fascinating and fun...a
considerable achievement.". Perhaps the achievement is in how much hype
the author has managed to generate about such a mediocre piece of work
and how I was conned (God bless glossy "#1 best-seller" stickers) into
reading it.

The novel follows Robert Langdon, accused of a crime he did not commit,
who, with the help of a beautiful woman, must decipher a series of
cryptic puzzles in his search for the identity of the murder and,
rather melodramatically, the truth about the Holy Grail. It is obvious
that a lot of effort has gone into researching the history of the Grail
and locations in which the novel is set. It is also obvious that the
plot is as thin as the seat of a well-worn pair of underpants.

If you are bored or are having trouble sleeping I recommend this novel.

Greg

Ravelstein - Saul Bellow

Sad news - Saul Bellow died today. I started reading Ravelstein and put it down, but was inspired to pick it up again late last year. It's a fine novel, quite slowly paced, about the life and character of political philosopher Allan Bloom (Ravelstein) and his lasting friendship with the author. It details the latter part of his life when he was suffering from AIDS, and elegantly captures his many eccentricities. Sunday afternoon reading material.