O.O

[desoto_hia873]

Today at work, we had a used book sale to raise money for the United Way. OK, technically, it was a fundraiser for the 'Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign' because this is government and why use two words to describe a charitable fundraising campaign when you can use six?

Anyway, I picked up a copy of The Da Vinci Code for a dollar - I seem to be the only person left in the hemisphere who hasn't read it and the price was right. I'm about a hundred pages in - the writing isn't terrific, but the plot is certainly cryptical. (Is cryptical a word? It is now. :-)

And so is something else: I was looking at the summary on the flaps of the dustcover (I got it in hardback) and noticed that some of the letters appeared to be in bold. The distribution of the bolded letters seemed random and I wasn't entirely sure that my eyes weren't just playing tricks on me. So I got a pencil and paper and wrote out the sequence of letters that looked a little darker. This is what I got:

Is there no help for the widows son(?) [Capitalisation and question mark are mine.]

The hell? What does that mean? Anyone? Bueller?

If anyone can tell me (unless it spoils the plot somehow), I'd be most grateful.

Comments

[that_mireille]

You aren't the last person to read it. I read one of his other books and refuse to touch any more. *g*

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's not the best writer, that's for sure. I keep wanting to beta it. :-)

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I still haven't read it either, though I did break down and buy a copy awhile back. It's been sitting on my Teetering Pile ever since.

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

Good to know I'm not the only one!

[sunnyd-lite.livejournal.com]

Haven't read it either, but the phrase you quote is a masonic phrase and I believe will be revealled within the book.

Yup, you cracked part of the code, go you!

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

It was quite late when I noticed the darkened letters and I was kind of spooked when I realised they spelled something. Must be all the Halloween in the air.

[flurblewig.livejournal.com]

Can't help there, as I am another of the 'haven't actually read it' minority (although I have bought it for Mr Flurble for Xmas). Will be interested to know what you think - of the two friends whose taste most closely resembles mine, one thought it was fascinating and intruiging, and the other disappointing and anticlimactic. Both agreed the writing was poor, though :-)

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

It seems to fall into the category of 'Not the best writing, but it's holding my interest'. The fact that he ends each chapter (many of which are extremely short) with a little cliffhanger probably helps keep me reading.

It does make me want to go back to Paris, though. I really liked Paris.

[sp23.livejournal.com]

I read Angels and Demons and was disappointed in it - I always hate when the "hero" acts totally stupid, so I haven't read The DaVinci Code yet either. I may one of these days when I don't have any McShep or Spuffy porn to read. :)

[desoto-hia873.livejournal.com]

Is running out of Spuffy porn to read even a possibility? :-)

[sp23.livejournal.com]

My point exactly. *g*

[bookishwench.livejournal.com]

I also haven't read it yet.