The new Dan Brown novel

[kestrell]

This time Brown turns his hand to interpreting Dante's _Inferno_, which is also the title of Brown's novel. I can't say how it works as literature, but I am finding it a potent soporific, despite the little surges of indignation-inspired adrenaline which it repeatedly produces in my system. According to a doctor in the novel, Malthus's theory of apocalyptic overpopulation was correct, and it can be supported with "potent facts," because it is "the truth." I predict that soon there will be a surge of articles and books exploring this, er, robust theory.

Also, it is the protagonist's super-abilities as a "symbologist" which allows him to interpret literature on multiple levels, as opposed to the rest of us unsophisticated readers who only perceive the literal meaning.

I am taking a page from Umberto Eco's book, however, and trying to read the novel through Eco's declaration that Dan Brown is actually one of Eco's imaginary characters. The suspension of disbelief is not working very well, however, because, to me, Eco's writing is like the most beautiful colorful poetry written upon the most luxurious vellum, complex in both its physical and intellectual forms, while Brown's writing makes me think of beige Crayon on the thinnest of toilet paper.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

And as you know, crayon on toilet paper is a poor intersection: the former tears the latter into little bits.

Here's a gently-porny rec for a Sherlock BBC fanfic, structure courtesy of the Divine Comedy:

http://archiveofourown.org/works/803450
Among the Secret Things by kate_lear

John Watson sustains a serious head injury and fanfic-convenient amnesia. Sherlock Holmes is stunned, and finds himself caring (however unwise that may be) for John in his recovery. The "newish" John falls in love with the "new Sherlock," and Sherlock eventually ... well, you can probably figure the plot from here. I think it's guaranteed to be better than Dan Brown. Also, it's a remix: the original is the same story from John's POV. Something about remixes is deeply satisfying.

It's full of snark and Sherlock finally appreciating the meaning of the Divine Comedy he taught himself Italian to read when he was a lad.