Fans have held their breath for six years for Dan Brown’s follow-up to his blockbuster novel The Da Vinci Code, which sold an astounding 80 million copies worldwide. The wait finally ends at midnight tonight when readers can finally get their hands on The Lost Symbol, which follows Harvard’s Robert Langdon as he become enmeshed in a mystery involving the history of the Freemasons in Washington, D.C. Why such a long wait? In a rare interview appearing in this week’s issue, Brown tells Entertainment Weekly that during his long absence from the public eye, he made himself a promise. “I will not write a lame follow-up. It could take me 20 years. But I will never turn in a book that I’m not happy with. Four years ago, I wasn’t happy with the book. Five years ago, I wasn’t happy with the book.” Finally, amidst a flurry of articles trumpeting the 45-year-old author as the white knight come to resuscitate a wheezing publishing industry, he felt ready to return. “And if the book weren’t good,” he says confidently, “I’d be terrified.”
Brown makes it clear he didn’t spent that last six years procrastinating. “I write seven days a week, starting at 4 o’clock in the morning, including Christmas,” he says. “I worked on this book at 4 in the morning in my hotel room while I was living in London and going to court. I’ve probably written 10 novels worth of pages to write The Lost Symbol.” The first review, from the New York Times, has already hit the Internet — and it’s a rave.
Brown, however, knows not all critics are in love with his work, something he learned the hard way. “The Da Vinci Code had the audacity to park at No. 1 for a little bit too long,” he says. “And it became very en vogue just to trash my books.”
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I’m looking forward to this book. I’ve read all four of Mr. Brown’s previous novels, and would actually put “Da Vinci Code” close to the bottom of that list. BUT, I loved “Angels and Demons,” and I appreciate the effort Mr. Brown has put in to making sure he offered a quality follow-up. Should be a great ride.
Did you read Angels and Demons before Da Vinci? I have a theory that whichever one you read first is the one you like best. I’m an Angels and Demons guy myself.
I read DVC first, and A & D after. I like A & D better. It’s just better written, more complex characters, more interesting storyline, IMO.
I also read A&D second, but like it more. It is much more exciting than Da Vinci.
Why do I love his books so much?!? I read a line from the review and laughed out loud!!!!! The reason is that they are just so much fun!!! I need something fun to read right now and I am holding The Lost Symbol at the library in the next tab!!!
I loved both Angels & Demons and DaVinci (A&D was better in my opinion)but; Freemasons?? D.C.?? Isn’t that a movie called National Treasure?? I guess Dan hasn’t had time to go to the movies or read any entertainment news in the past 6+ years.
I was thinking the same thing! Maybe they can get Nicholas Cage to play Robert Langdon in the movie version of this book…i think he has the awful hair to pull it off.
Is next weeks issue gonna have a cover story on Dan Brown??? It said there will be an interview of him in it, just a side thing or a cover story? The books pretty dang popular already so i wouldn’t put it past entertainment weekly to do a cover story on him…
You know…it’s possible to have more than one story about Freemasons. “National Treasure” certainly wasn’t the first one to touch on that subject and I’m sure “The Lost Symbol” won’t be the last. Though I dare say Symbol will probably be a better story.
Yeah I remember getting swept up in his books and being anxious for the DVC movie as I ended my senior year of high school in early 2006. When I looked up on the internet about this book (which was called The Solomon Key back then), I thought the same thing and when I told my chemistry teacher who was also a Dan Brown fan he too said “So it’s a National Treasure rip off”.
And for the record, my civics teacher was so sick of people wanting to play that movie for class. lol.
Well after a 3.5 year wait for me, the book is finally here. Should be good.
Did he really say this in the interview?
“And if the book weren’t good,” he says confidently, “I’d be terrified.”
Uh, nice grammar there, Dan