Entry #9,219 in the "It's Just a Novel" Files

Actually, that really should be titled "Entry #9,219 in the 'But I Thought It Was Just a Novel' Files." I may post a few of these over next week or three as I come across representative samples. This one is from an article, "7 Smart Books: The Best Fall Reads", on the The Wall Street Journal's Smart Money site. It does not bode well, of course, that the words "smart" and "best fall reads" are used in connection with a Dan Brown novel; it means something silly and sad is going to follow:

You knew Washington, D.C., held secrets. But in his follow-up to the global phenomenon that was "The Da Vinci Code," Dan Brown shows us that our nation's capital — and the Capitol — possess the kind of dangerous hidden truths that can shape human destiny.

A tall order. But Brown is, after all, the author who had millions of readers re-thinking their views on Christianity. Rather than an epochal examination of a 2,000-year-old religion, Brown delves into the society of Freemasons. But that's only the beginning. Part of the pleasure in this immensely entertaining book (and yes, Brown is a fine storyteller if a sometimes clumsy writer) is uncovering the meanings of symbols that lie in plain sight.

Like its predecessor, "The Lost Symbol" offers a mini-course in arcane historical detail (did you know that the Capitol once had an eternal flame burning beneath the floor under its rotunda?). And yes, the novel once again stars Robert Langdon, symbols expert and inadvertent detective, a hair-raising villain and a story that twists and turns in many short, attention-grabbing chapters. It can all come off as so much folderol, but you'll definitely be flipping on and on, surprised at how much you're enjoying Brown's manipulative finesse.

Phew! Dan Brown "shows us" the nation's capital, causes millions to "re-think" Christianity, and "offers a mini-course in arcane historical detail." But if a former English teacher is "a sometimes clumsy writer"—actually, "it is staggeringly, clumsily, thoughtlessly, almost ingeniously bad"—how clumsy do you think he might be as a researcher and historical guide? After all, this is the same guy who claimed his descriptions of artwork in The Da Vinci Code were completely accurate (and also said he had visited the Louvre), yet couldn't provide the correct size and description of The Virgins of the Rocks. As for "manipulative finesse," I find it enjoyable only when the chiropractor is putting my back into place. Otherwise, keep your distance.

As for 7 Really Smart Books, I'll randomly list off seven sitting on my desk at the moment:

1. Paul: HIs Life and Teaching, by John McRay
2. Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal, by Keith Yandell and Harold Netland
3. The New Concise History of the Crusades, by Thomas F. Madden
4. The Priority of Christ, by Fr. Robert Barron
5. The New Science of Politics, by Eric Voegelin
6. Life Is A Miracle, by Wendell Berry
7. Essays on Church and State, by Lord Acton

Comments

[Kevin]

Of course it was silly and sad. I have yet to see a single example of someone who gratuitously dubs themself or those they agree with as "smart" who actually turns out to be smart. Ditto for those who proclaim themselves as "logical."

[Evan]

Okay, my stab at finding a silver lining... at least this boneheaded reviewer speaks of Langdon as a "symbols expert" rather than that awful term "symbologist" that Brown likes to use.

A redeeming silver lining? Don't get me wrong- it's far from it. It boggles the mind that reviews like this get published.