Klarinet Archive - Posting 000052.txt from 2004/04

From: "David C Kumpf" <dkumpf@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] [OT] Potter
Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2004 12:53:35 -0400

Bill Hausmann wrote:
> So far, Harry Potter is holding up well. I figure anything
> that excites
> kids to READ the way these novels do (and such intimidatingly
> THICK ones at
> that!) deserves all the success it gets!
>
> (He's not really my style, although my wife and daughters are
> fans. I like
> Tom Clancy, John Grisham, and recently finished Dan Brown's
> outstanding
> "The Da Vinci Code."
>

On Potter: well, my view is that Rowling does actually know how to write,
and at something more than a pedestrian level. I've enjoyed every book,
although I have to say the latest shows some evidence of being forced
instead of flowing naturally and rhythmically. (Maybe she should take five
years off before doing the next one?)

On Clancy: I've stayed up all night to read his stuff. But he's made
reference in at least one book to his writing ability - or more
specifically, to being able to construct only serviceable sentences, not
great prose. Clancy wins by doing exhaustive research and demonstrating
insight into the way that governments and military organizations work.

On Grisham: I've read only "The Firm." Have several others but haven't
gotten to them yet.

On Brown: I enjoyed "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons." Then I read
"Digital Fortress" and thought "well, this is *obviously* a first novel by
someone who has only a trivial understanding of computers and encryption."
"Deception Point" was more of the same. Fun beach reads, so to speak, but
not great books. Given that I have some understanding of computers (in
detail) and encryption (a smattering) it occurred to me that the reason I
liked "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons" was either that Dan Brown
knows a lot about art history, that I know very little (true), or both.

If you want to read a novel that discusses encryption technology, read Neal
Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon" instead. Not a trivial book - I think it's more
than 1,000 pages - but it's fascinating. ("Snow Crash," by Stephenson, is
also great. I'm currently reading his book "The Diamond Age," which is
ostensibly about nanotechnology, but from what I've read so far, is really
about society's need to deliver more effective and creative education.)

Dave Kumpf
dkumpf@-----.com

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