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Nicky's Reviews > Deception Point
Deception Point
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The formula is pretty simple:
Big Mystery + Male Protagonist + Female Protagonist + Code to Solve + OMG TRAITOR WITH TWISTED MOTIVES = Best Selling Novel.
And it's worked, so I guess we can't hate on him too much. There are people who swear his books are the best thing they've ever read -- I certainly wouldn't say that. But they are successful and I have to confess, even I like them, and when it comes to books I am Picky with a most definite capital P.
Digital Fortress is the first one I've reread -- I read it yesterday. Coming straight from that into Deception Point, I've noticed very quickly that Dan Brown recycles description/emotional response.
"Although she had practically lived in Crypto since its completion three years ago, the sight of it still amazed her. The main room..." - Digital Fortress
"As Rachel made her way into the maze of bustling corridors beyond, she was amazed that even after six years she was still daunted by the collosal scope of this operation. The agency..." - Deception Point
"Susan waited for the punchline, but it never came." - Digital Fortress
"Rachel waited for the punchline. It never came." - Deception Point
All his characters might as well be the same people -- David Becker (Digitial Fortress) might as well be Robert Langdon (Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code) -- ordinary people caught up in higher things, in over his head and things somehow work out fine. Susan Fletcher (Digital Fortress) is, like Rachel Sexton (Deception Point) a professional woman, pretty, the best in her field, similarly in over her head and somehow coming out okay.
Also, the infodumps get terribly annoying. A brief bit of dialogue and then an absolute shedload of explanation. Another characteristic of Dan Brown's novels -- all very formulaic, as I said.
But hey, it's a formula that works.
Big Mystery + Male Protagonist + Female Protagonist + Code to Solve + OMG TRAITOR WITH TWISTED MOTIVES = Best Selling Novel.
And it's worked, so I guess we can't hate on him too much. There are people who swear his books are the best thing they've ever read -- I certainly wouldn't say that. But they are successful and I have to confess, even I like them, and when it comes to books I am Picky with a most definite capital P.
Digital Fortress is the first one I've reread -- I read it yesterday. Coming straight from that into Deception Point, I've noticed very quickly that Dan Brown recycles description/emotional response.
"Although she had practically lived in Crypto since its completion three years ago, the sight of it still amazed her. The main room..." - Digital Fortress
"As Rachel made her way into the maze of bustling corridors beyond, she was amazed that even after six years she was still daunted by the collosal scope of this operation. The agency..." - Deception Point
"Susan waited for the punchline, but it never came." - Digital Fortress
"Rachel waited for the punchline. It never came." - Deception Point
All his characters might as well be the same people -- David Becker (Digitial Fortress) might as well be Robert Langdon (Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code) -- ordinary people caught up in higher things, in over his head and things somehow work out fine. Susan Fletcher (Digital Fortress) is, like Rachel Sexton (Deception Point) a professional woman, pretty, the best in her field, similarly in over her head and somehow coming out okay.
Also, the infodumps get terribly annoying. A brief bit of dialogue and then an absolute shedload of explanation. Another characteristic of Dan Brown's novels -- all very formulaic, as I said.
But hey, it's a formula that works.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
January 17, 2006
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Finished Reading
June 5, 2008
– Shelved
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Ashley M
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rated it 3 stars
Jul 31, 2009 07:55AM
This is exactly what I thought about the two books -almost verbatim.
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i agree with you comparing...also i can say it that way, it seems like dan brown is trying to tell the same story in different versions.
but the question is which version is the best one ?
It's all true, but I still can't help but get enmeshed in his books. They're not great works of literature, but they are good entertainment.
Oh, agreed. I have a weakness for this kind of book when I'm on long journeys, too.
I also noticed that when I first read Angels and Demons then Deception Point right away. The two books gave a relation of father and daughter tandem in the world of science.
i must buy this novel!! i read your review made me envy that you have read all of the books.
People that say his books are the best they've ever read, probably haven't read any other books, except for Paulo Coehlo, or Twilight. These are certainly not good books, but I can't put them down, they are so addictive.
Totally agree. There's something about his novels I enjoy, even though I feel his writing is poor.
It's just the right level of keeping me interested despite his catastrophically poor writing. (Which wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't recycled so blatantly.)
I picked up this book yesterday, expecting a mindless summer romp. The kind of book I can read half asleep or under a tree. Looks like I made a good choice.
Yup. Especially if you've read any Dan Brown before.
Picked this up to get through an overseas flight. Having read my fair share of Dan Brown, I could relate almost exactly to your comment. Poor writing, but plot twists are always a little fun.
totally agree with you
I totally agree with you hahahaha. My rating was the same as yours and I must confess the narrative of dan brown is kinda newbie xD it's nothing special, it's quite simple, but because of it we read fast xD I like the plot a lot but I think he didn't develop it the right way =/ I expected more of that story >.<
good point. the plot is usually the same. Like the person reslonsible is the one who is trying to solve the problem in the first half of the book.
his books remind me of trilogy movies like BACK TO THE FUTURE and TREMORS, in that they are formulated but if the formula is tasty, people will not hate. its a preference and to me its enjoyable non-the-less.
I can't believe this book became a best-seller. A mountain made out of a molehill
if u have read one u have read all
yeah its right, but i cant stop reading his book.
The sentences you mentioned in your review, are they really there in these novels? I can't believe he uses so much similar sentences!!!
literally the two books are sorta similar. i always say “want to read a short book, or a long book?� (long being deception point, and short being digital fortress)
.... plain formula... yes. But so effective. Makes me think of the most popular meals on earth, that also tend to be so simple but hugely popular. I have come to appreciate to appreciate when an author develops his formula so well. Plain language, fine. But Dan Brown never set out to write a high brow novel, and no one who reaches for Dan Brown should expect a high brow novel. Suspense though is Dan Browns mission, and I admire him for how he is getting it done so well.
