I know that it is a work of fiction, and that many Catholics feel that it bashes the church. However, I am feeling a curiosity to read it for myself. I feel secure enough in my Christianity and knowledge of church history to understand that this is not the truth.

Has anyone read the book? What did you think? Will you see the movie?

I read maybe half of it before I chucked it into a trash barrel and set it aflame. I have absolutely no desire to finish the book or see the movie.

I read it, and was constantly so constantly annoyed by the mistakes (math, history, art, theology) that I could barely follow the story which kept putting me in mind of a "made for tv" movie. It was kind of cheesy and soap-opera-ish.

I will not see the movie.

The most disturbing thing about this book, is not its content, these nonsensical theories have been around forever, no the most disturbing thing about this book is the fact that it is actually SUCCESSFUL, that so many people could actually like such a poorly written book full of cliches and errors. That this book is actually popular says something about the intelligence of the average American reader, and what it says is not exactly flattering.

As one with about 11 years experience in the book selling business, I can concur with the last sentence. I used to marvel at the number of editions that THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY went through in hardback, before the demand softened enough too cause a paperback edition. You'll never go broke underestimating the reading public, apparently.

GKC

I have never read 'The Bridges of Madison County', but I once lived in the part of the country where it takes place, so I can tell you that the main reason it was popular in the midwestern United States is because people were overjoyed to see their region of the country portrayed in a major novel, and portrayed accurately and honestly, that makes midwesterners look like normal human beings and not just dumb hicks, as is the normal cliche. That is one of those books that makes it seem 'romantic' to have an adulterous affair, right?

I read it, I liked it, I plan to see the movie.

Someone gave it to me years ago to read... I read maybe the first chapter and just got too busy to get around to reading it. I had NO idea what the book was about, they just told me it was a good book. Anyway, at that time in my life I probably would have read it however, I don't know how I would have responded.

I would not read the book now though.

My sister sent me the book after she had read it and I read it, kind of. I skipped through a lot because parts of it were either boring or too much liberty was taken with Christian tradition. All the time though I knew it was nothing more than fiction. But I can see now how some people would believe parts of the book to be true if they don't know much about Catholicism and Tradition. The movie trailors that I've seen look boring.

Nope haven't read it and don't plan to.

Fr Groshel had a whole show the other day about this book, two members of Opus Dei were guests.

For something that so tries to destroy the divinity of Christ it makes no sense that Christians want to immerse themselves in reading it or seeing the movie.

Fr Groshel opined that it could be sinful to read the book or see the movie due to the slander, lies and distortions it makes about Opus Dei and Christ.


SV

I read it - got it out of the library, so as not to reward Dan Brown etc. with the money ( ). I made a deal with a sil that I'd read the book if she'd read the debunker. It was a page turner, to be sure. I didn't think it was actually written all that well, but that is probably not that important for a hit book.

Historically, it did raise some questions that I had to remind myself to not trust. I can see how people could come away with general impressions of Church History or Opus Dei, even if they acknowledge that it is a work of fiction. I can see how it could contribute to a shaking of faith of someone who already has a weak faith. And I don't like the idea of reading it just out of curiosity or because I trusted the strength of my faith, since I think the popularity feeds on the controversy. I read much of the Olsen/Miesel debunking book, but I found it was almost too specific in it's criticism - I think a more general critique would sound less "nit-picky" and thus be more effective in convincing someone of the books errors etc. So I didn't end up giving it to my sil. Although I printed off a shorter article, which may be more appropriate.

More than you asked for, I know. I will not be going to the movie. I think it would be pure rubber-necking for me to do so, and I don't want to encourage the film industry by my money or attendance.

I don't have a problem with reading the book - I approach it from a "know your enemy" type of view. But if you do read it, please don't pay for it. Get it from a library, rather than financially supporting anti-Christian material.

And I have no plans on seeing the movie. The trailer was absolutely laughable. Unintentionally, I'm sure.

I am interested in reading the book, if for no other reason that to know what other people are talking about when they use this piece of fiction to bash the Church. I will not, however, pay for a copy of the book and line Dan Brown's pockets further. So I'll just have to borrow it from someone or wait until it is available at the library.

Yep. Makes the dull house wife's life glow.

But a midwestern popularity alone couldn't account for the (50+, was it?) hard back printings it went through. Must be house wifes with dull lives all over the country.

GKC

I read it. It bored me to tears. Not only that it was poorly written. But I want to see the film if only because it has a terrific cast.

You mean your library doesn't already have a dozen copies?

Well - I do live in a smallish county so there are only about a dozen copies in the entire county and they are all checked out pretty much constantly. One must put their name on a waiting list until a copy becomes available.

Thus I must wait until it is available.

Not until they get a copy - but until one is available to be checked out by me. Though I admit to being lazy and not having put my name on the wait list yet.

Heh...I live in a rural area...the county library is in the bottom of an old house donated or bought. They hardly have any books.

The school library got a copy of Davinci Code a couple years ago. As soon as I found out I talked to the principal and librarian who brought the book in. I expressed my concerns about the book and had them look up state law on materials in schools.

Come to find out they must provide an opposing book to balance so I donated a copy of Olsen's book 'Myths of...' at the same time I donated a copy of a Catholic Bible for teens since they didn't have one of those either. This was a nice copy because all thru the Bible it had pages scattered that explained the various teachings of the CC and Scriptural references.


SV

"I rather suspect that most satyr's about life in suburban villas are written in suburban villas" - G.K. Chesterton

I picked up Da Vinci Code in an airport 2 years ago, when i had a few hours to kill, deciding to see what all the fuss was about. I didn't buy it mind you, just literally picked it up of the kiosk where it was sitting with 50 other copies, practically screaming out at the walkway "Look at me"! We're talking about a 20 minute or so perusal.

I found the prose so aweful that it would have been comic if it weren't so pathetic. But still, stiff awkward prose can still hide a quality story underneath it. This one is one of those bad modern detective novels - pulp fiction in it's truest sense of the word. it will undoubtedly make for an entertaining Hollywood blockbuster film, like so many other bad novels do by the likes of hacks like John Grisham, Anne Rice, Stephen King et al. Da Vinci Code almost feels as if it were written specifically to be made into a movie, with the narrative reading like the liner notes of a screenplay (I've seen a few) bland directionals and descriptives designed to "set up the scene or psychology of a character" but with no life in it at all. The hero (and I strongly sense some Dan Brown castle-building here) is a renowned Harvard symbologist (of which there is no such thing) possessing of a prodigious literary and historical erudition - of which none is actually demonstrated by Brown in the novel, which makes his hero all the more of an accidentally comic figure, lecturing and pontificating and unravelling mysteries and conspiracies of ages past like an faux high-sounding academic Scooby-Doo episode. Brown doesn't say much, if anything that would convince anyone of any education, that he has the right to cast himself as an elite scholar. But rest assured, Ron Howard will skillfully fill in many of Brown's shortcomings as an author with Hollywood magic in all it's splendour, and sales of the Da Vinci Code will soar again after the film's release.

Oh yeah, and it's full of lies.

I don't plan to read it or see the movie.

I did read the Bridges of Madison County, though. I've read books where characters have had adulterous relationships that I've enjoyed because, aside from the adultery, the storyline was good. I was bored by the Bridges of Madison County.