Like everyone in Christendom, I read "The DaVinci Code" when it dropped a few years back. And I read it for one reason only: Brown and my husband attended the same small high school and college and - oh, this is fun! - were in glee club together. I just adore ribbing my husband about his having been in something that includes the word "glee" and only included men.
OK, yeah, you're picturing a bunch of guys in little pastel-plaid bow ties, aren't you? I knew it.
But back to the "The Da Vinci Code." So, I'm not big on regular 'ol thrillers even now, but back in 2003, I hadn't converted to romance yet, and was all into no-facile-ending-allowed women's fiction and happy as a clam about it. But everybody's scarfing the Brown and my husband's all "Pleeeeease," and I'm all, "you're such a pathetic name dropper," but I hold my nose and work the Code anyway.
And, oh, my, I really like it! It's got this feminist flavor I've never experienced before when I tried reading Jonathan Kellerman and the like, which I figure is why I'm digging the Brown.. And the Code stands in defense of La Magdalena, and speaks to me of conflicts I've explored in various classes and sitches studying world religions and differing philosophies. Plus...I actually can figure out the codes, even one my husband couldn't get right away. I rock!
So, I'm totally into the decidedly not-Tom Hanks-esque Jack and youthful-Juliette-Binoche-like Sophie wending their ways through Europe when the end arrives and Dan Brown does the unforgivable: He has Jack tug Sophie up close for a big 'ol, pan-in-and-cue-the-John-Williams-closing-theme lip lock.
Oooooh, no, no, no, no, no. Way to ruin a scene, pal! I mean, I love me some sex on the pages, from emotional to purely titillating, but I'm afraid I didn't understand Brown's use of that kiss, I think because I really didn't feel a romance being set up along the way.
Could that have been it? I've not read enough male authors in thriller and mystery to speak about it with great expertise. But maybe you can:
If you read "The DaVinci Code," what did you think Brown was going for with the smooch in the finale? How do the male authors you read handle romance/intimacy/sex in their stories? Do guys need something different in terms of love story? What are your fave Dan Brown reads?
Tomorrow: A day of special "The Lost Symbol " festivities at "Unabashedly Bookish!"
Jessa_Slade
on
The kiss felt, to me, like just another piece of the puzzle. Escape bad guys, unravel ancient mystery, kiss girl. Check, check, aaaaand check. But like some of the rest of you, I wasn't reading TDVC for romance, I wanted the adventure and I got plenty of that!
Monica, Casino Royale was written by men? Huh. That scene with Daniel... I mean, James nekkid in the chair goes on an awfully long time. Not at all complaining, mind you 
