The November Big Read

Mimpty · Post by **Mimpty** » 26 Nov 2004, 14:29

[quote="bearcub"]Not even STARTED reading it yet, presently reading Patricia Cornwell's latest 'Kay Scarpetta' novel [/quote]

What one's that Bearcub? The last one I read had the little surprise about Benton.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 26 Nov 2004, 18:52

Marya wrote:Cringe That's what happens when you cut and paste instead of using the quote button, muck it up then "sort" it out

Well, it wasn't clear what I'd been intending to write!

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 26 Nov 2004, 22:45

Mimpty, it's called 'Trace'. Think it only came out 4-6 weeks ago. So far, it's been as gripping as they usually are - although AGAIN Sandra read it first so I have to wait my turn

Mimpty · Post by **Mimpty** » 29 Nov 2004, 14:51

I won't have read that one then, Bearcub. I'll check out the library.

Did anyone see the programme last night on BBC2 presented by Denise Mina about Rosslyn Chapel and the Da Vinci code. She seemed quite neutral until near the end! That man crying crying in the chapel? What a wuss!
(Only Elvis is allowed to cry in a chapel)!

MrSpoon · Post by **MrSpoon** » 29 Nov 2004, 16:18

I started reading Da Vinci Code rather randomly, and before I saw this thread or knew anything about its content. I'm afraid to say what WAS looking to be such a fantastic book ran seriously downhill when it got to its 'creative' historical interpretations. As a student of the history of Christianity, I can tell you that most of the book, though vaguely based on some fact, contains nothing but wild assumptions, inaccurate portrayals of historical characters, and is driven by conspiracy nuts.

Still quite entertaining though

- and if you're interested, my avatar is the Emperor (Constantine) mentioned in the book

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 06 Dec 2004, 07:40

French fatigue over Da Vinci Code

The same people who turned up at Meg Mortimer's 'wedding' perhaps? (Sorry, most of my cultural reference points are from the 1970s

)

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 06 Dec 2004, 09:12

OK, I never read the book (and having read the comments on this thread am probably not going to), and I can see how irritating it all must be for that tour guide in the article, but I do take issue with the article's comments on Opus Dei. They are indeed rich and powerful and in my book they are definitely a sect. A scary one at that.

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 11 Jan 2005, 14:38

I actually managed to read this eventually .............................

My comments:- more of the same - writing 'by numbers', lots of really annoying inaccuracies about word derivation, history, French life, British life, Scottish life - and don't get me started on the implausibility that a.) Mary Magdalene kept a diary and b.) it could survive for 2000 years!

- but it does have the 'how will it all end' factor, so I kept reading to the end

- ah well, it whiled away a train journey .......

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 21 Jan 2005, 15:06

Bellybabe wrote:OK, I never read the book (and having read the comments on this thread am probably not going to), and I can see how irritating it all must be for that tour guide in the article, but I do take issue with the article's comments on Opus Dei. They are indeed rich and powerful and in my book they are definitely a sect. A scary one at that.

You might be worried if one were to be in charge of our children then?

Jay · Post by **Jay** » 26 Jan 2005, 15:13

I thonk Tony Robinson is doing a programme on C4 on 'The Da Vinci Code - Fact or Fantasy?' - that should be a hoot

- Tony used to be quite interesting until he did one about the right of succession to the crown which was so, so inaccurate that I could hardly keep myself from hurling the tv out of the window! I had pity on the people in the street below, however, and contented myself with hurling abuse at Tony

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 28 Jan 2005, 10:15

mr magnolia wrote: You might be worried if one were to be in charge of our children then?

Makes me shudder. A lot. Especially this bit:

But he said most Opus Dei members are conservative on the major cultural issues - such as divorce, abortion and homosexuality - and that this was likely to characterise Mrs KellyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s personal views.

They're also not that keen on women - well, they are, in a cooking-cleaning-barefoot-and-prenant sort of way. I studied their founding at Uni, had to do a lot of research. Was a reasonably devout Catholic myself at that time and still found it very scary.