tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post113631803498997944..comments2024-03-29T07:15:11.234+00:00Comments on Grumpy Old Bookman: Javier Sierra: The Secret SupperMichael Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11338398159818400930noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-5580900971191677482008-07-07T09:21:00.000+01:002008-07-07T09:21:00.000+01:00To Roman Catholic From Indiana: it's a European ty...To Roman Catholic From Indiana: it's a European type of book, so no wonder you found hard to get through it:)) It's meant for reflection, contemplation, and getting information - as opposed to easy entertainment in the thriller whodunit format. Dan Brown despises research - and indeed, why should his mainly American readers care if he even does not get the plan of Paris even remotely right or if he proclaims that his wife is an art scholar and yet calls Leonardo "Da Vinci" - "From Vinci!" - something that no serious scholar would ever do? In contrast, Sierra has got his facts correct, gives a clear idea where facts end and his hypotheses begin (not all manuscripts have survived, after all). Personally, I find his hypotheses very plausible and even if we exclude them, the new facts and the new way they taught me to look at Leonardo's "Last Supper" are more that sufficient a reason for really enjoying the book. I am now determined to go see the original of the painting! FYI, I am not Catholic nor even belong to any organised religion and, though I read it in English and found it easy to follow, English is not my first language. <BR/>But the publishers have definitely made use of the popularity of Brown's book to promote this one: that's just business. I think the only good thing that came of that shamelessly phony and unresearched book was that it created a wave that also carries other, more deserving works dealing with the fascinating period of the Renaissance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-1162502432357569322006-11-02T21:20:00.000+00:002006-11-02T21:20:00.000+00:00I just finished the book & agree wth the last post...I just finished the book & agree wth the last poster. It was difficult to follow & I also felt that the translator was not really able to convey in English what the original language conveyed. It came out too stilted and didn't really flow. Perhaps if the translator's first language had been English it would have been better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-1149628243511585982006-06-06T22:10:00.000+01:002006-06-06T22:10:00.000+01:00I thought the book was difficult to follow, which ...I thought the book was difficult to follow, which caused me to think that the rave reviews were from critics who read the original text and not the novel that was translated. I was unimpressed and quite honestly don't understand what the big deal about this book is. It's certainly not a whodunit. It's more like a howdoIgetthroughit.<BR/>Roman Catholic from South Bend, IndianaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-1148078483942008132006-05-19T23:41:00.000+01:002006-05-19T23:41:00.000+01:00I enjoyed the book! Well worth reading! If you are...I enjoyed the book! Well worth reading! If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, this is not it. The mystery is secondary to Sierra's insights into the painting. I agreed with him on some and disagreed on others. <BR/> I am thankful that it was not another DaVinci Code. DaVinci code was entertaining, but not to the extent of its publicity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656468.post-1136385844460784312006-01-04T14:44:00.000+00:002006-01-04T14:44:00.000+00:00I saw the ARC of Secret Supper but decided not to ...I saw the ARC of Secret Supper but decided not to read it(never got into<BR/>the whole DaVinci Code craze-didn't get past page one of the book)but I am curious;did your ARC come in a slipcase?<BR/><BR/>The US version does(which caught my eye)which tells me that S&S clearly intends to put alot of advertising cash behind this book,trying to create the next Dan Brown. It's very much like Hollywood,making two or three movies with the same type of plotline at the same time.lady thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16287907577241697874noreply@blogger.com