Not being one to shrink from conversation with the masses I have been finding myself at a bit of a loss in not being able to discuss things like The Da Vinci Code and the latest Harry Potter volumes.
So, I have not been blogging as I have had, as they say, my nose in a book.
My impressions of Da Vinci code as a novel were favourable. I do find it amusing that people are turning it into a gospel of sorts… fascinating… But the pace was good, and it will make an interesting movie though quite why they want to make a movie out of a book that EVERYBODY has read is quite beyond me…
Anyway… then to Harry.
I am a long time Harry fan actually, much to the dismay of some of my colleagues (I work in a church right?? (and Flick for that matter)). I was never denied the pleasures of any kind of book as a child and all of us were encouraged into all kinds of literature (ok, with the exception of s*xual content…) without fear of undue influence from ‘The Other Side’.
So one may wonder why it is that none of my family have turned into S*tanists and why we all seem none the worse for wear for having read such things as Roald Dahl’s slightly objectionable short stories and various tales of wizadry and witchcraft such as the Hobbit and LOTR. Maybe the other influences in our home were more, well, influential. I certainly learned early not to believe everything that you read… even in the newspapers. (No offence intended to you fishsoup!!)
I’m yet to read “The Da Vinci Code”: I must be the only one. I must say I have no intent to.
People in my church read HP, though we have our fair share of “WITCHERY! PAGANISM! SATANTIST!” extremists [they’re intelligent and I respect their view, but these are people who have no truck with Narnia — maybe because it’s “Christian”. I find that odd. My sister has nought to do with any fairy tales or HP, which I find a bit more consistent.]
I’m with you on the “other influences”. I think family influences are more important than most others.
I feel a bit left behind that I haven’t read Harry Potter (any of them) but with a thesis looming, I think that’s far enough.
I read The Da Vinci Code last year and quite enjoyed it. I heard an interesting talk about it from some English Church person (informative, I know!) who pointed out the discrepancies about the buildings and parks that are described and said that the only person that hasn’t really talked about it is Dan Brown himself.