Dan Brown dissed by Jodi Picoult
In the latest episode of Authors Behaving Badly, Jodi Picoult calls Dan Brown's immensely popular Da Vinci Code "an error in judgment." According to the British press reports, she said, "I don't understand the hype over such a poorly written novel - and as an author who does all her own research, I know better than to consider myself an expert in the field I am writing about. I believe this was an error in judgment for this particular author."
The reports note that Brown has heard harsh words before -- in 2005 Salman Rushdie called DVC "a novel so bad that it gives bad novels a bad name." But I doubt Brown would have heard that over the sound of cash registers ringing up DVC sales.
Picoult's criticism isn't likely to kick up the sort of storm that hit when Stephen King called out Stephenie Meyer, saying she "can't write worth a darn." And it's not likely to slow publicity for Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol, which is scheduled for release in mid-September. Still, it's entertaining.
(While we're on the topic of Picoult, I recently saw the preview for the movie adaption of My Sister's Keeper. I think half the sudience was in tears.)
Comments
Until that last parenthetical sentence, I couldn't have named anything that Jodi Picoult has written. Most probably a deficit in my own character.
I am going to believe that she was asked this question point blank and, so startled was she, found herself unable to formulate an answer in a less petty and jealous tone.
Posted by: Eve | May 8, 2009 3:38 PM
I hate to see one author criticizing another like that. It reminds me of a kid in a sandbox having a temper tantrum. Most people dislike bullies, so I doubt that it's a good business move for the one doing the dissing. It probably creates a lot of publicity (and more sales) for the one being dissed.
Posted by: Gail Farrelly | May 8, 2009 5:43 PM