The Da Vinci Code

I am fully aware that we must not judge a book by its cover. I am also aware that we shouldn't pay too much attention to reviews. But I am pretty sure that we are entitled to judge a book by its first 4 pages.

Last night I fell asleep safe in the knowledge that I'm not missing out on anything by skipping the other 496.

Update:
Okay, okay, I am reading the frigging Da Vinci Code afterall. But only out of desperation as I was off work sick yesterday and had nothing better to do. Turns out that I like a brilliantly crafted yet badly written unfeasible pile of bullshit thriller as much as the next person, as I am almost finished it already.

So far, my favourite part of the book is the disclaimer on the first page, which states that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate" – as if stealing all the interesting bits from his art historian wife somehow excuses him from having written little gems such as:

Sophie looked over. 'You're kidding, right? We're going to visit a knight?'

Langdon gave an awkward smile. 'We're on the Grail quest, Sophie. Who better to help us than a knight?'

It's like Scooby Doo for grown-ups (or Harry Potter for kids). But, again, I can hear myself mocking hypocritically. And I'm sure it will redeem itself in the end as, the way things are going now, everything is pointing towards the lovely yet determined Sophie discovering that she is the great-great-great-etc-grandchild of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Marvellous!