![$1.50 Dan Brown Books @ Coles [Burnside, VIC]](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/87/71987.jpg?h=4f4f9aaa)
Saw these Dan Brown Books for $1.50 at Coles Burnside VIC, quite a few left
- The Lost Symbol (Hardcover, Large)
- Da Vinci Code (Paperback, Small)
Not sure if these are available at other Coles
$1.50 Dan Brown Books @ Coles [Burnside, VIC]
340
Related Stores
closed Comments
I bought some of his books from vinnies (they always have some dan browns in stock!) for 25cents. Still overpriced I think…
Beat me to it….
He writes to an intelligent toddler audience.
I read The Da Vinci Code. Once. Trite, poorly researched, badly written. I have no idea why some book publisher decided that he was to be the "next big thing" - it certainly didn't happen based on talent.
Personally I wish I was that book publisher. Deciding that he was to be the "next big thing" was the best business decision they ever made.
Half of its publicity was gained through pissing off the Vatican. Which i approve of.
Yep, just abysmal writing. Atrocious. But a super seller. I wish I could regress my writing that way, unfortunately.
LOL, way to compliment yourself, douchebag.
Talent does not = ability to sell to the mass market.
Classic example is James Patterson (quick chapters) and Matthew Reilly (Michael Bay of novels). Easy to read, pulp fiction. And popular as hell as a result.
Eh… try Tom friggin' Clancy.
You ever read that drivel? Nothing but Rah-Rah-America-Hands-on-Hearts-Unbridled-Patriotism garbage.
Every novel revolves around either a blackmarket Russian nuke falling into the wrong hands or an ultra-nationalist Russian General attempting to start WW3.
Still somehow manages to sell millions.
Because he does his research.
His first several novels were actually well-plotted, well-researched and well-written - a holy trinity for novelists that far too few achieve. In fact, I finished one of his early books and immediately went back to page 1 to read it again.
Unfortunately, you are absolutely right in that he's since gone totally over the top on the patriotism line and US superiority over all.
I'll pass. $1.50 is fairly cheap but Coles BBQ Fuel is only $7 for a 4kg bag so it works out cheaper if you buy in bulk.
Insert Ray Bradbury joke here.
^ Bah!
I just finished reading The Da Vinci Code (yes, so many years behind!) and absolutely loved it. I'm hoping to find The Lost Symbol at one of the local Coles, as it is still $14 elsewhere.
You should stop while you're ahead.
Go for Angels and Demons if you need to read another.Avoid The Lost Symbol.
A&D is actually a better read!
I would stop there though; it's enjoyable enough plump friction in the short term, but Brown's writing style does kind of grate on you pretty rapidly! ;)
Great bargain…shitty books :(
Not a bargain, not very absorbent.
So it is trendy to hate on Dan Brown now?
I've read A&D and The Lost Symbol and they're both pretty entertaining.
That's about the size of it! ;)
I actually really enjoyed A&D and Digital Fortress, I find that if you don't take these things too seriously then you can enjoy a good pulp read from time to time!
I was hating on him before it was trendy. He's a poor writer, who clearly hasn't done his research.
I prefer to read books from authors who've read up on what they're writing about. It's one quality that attracted me to the early Tom Clancy - he really knew about his subject. If you read a good science fiction author, they'll know what they're writing about. Robert Heinlein spends several pages in one book explaining genetics as it pertained to clones.
Then you have authors like Dick Francis, who has always written about racing because he worked in the business. Robin Cook writes medical thrillers - he's a doctor. Or Michael Crichton - also a doctor, and his early novels involved medicine. He branched out later, but always did his homework (read the acknowledgements for some of his books).
In terms of writing skill, compare Frank Herbert with Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson's work. They have destroyed the Dune universe in their shoddily plotted, poorly written "pot-boilers".
Then you have authors like Arthur C Clarke. I have nothing to do with his writing, but rather refuse to read him because of the way he spent his twilight years in Sri Lanka. Likewise, I don't read Jeffrey Archer - he's a criminal. They are the only two authors I discriminate against on grounds other than writing skill.
Back to the subject, Dan Brown is a poor writer. That doesn't change because of trends, it is a simple fact.
Back to the subject, Dan Brown is a poor writer. That doesn't change because of trends, it is a simple fact.
I disagree, that's not fact it's just your opinion.
Like it or not, his success alone suggests that he may not be a 'great writer', but he's not a 'poor writer' in either the literal or metaphorical sense by any stretch. It's just trendy to bag out Brown because he wrote a mildly decent but not great book that became outrageously popular despite having obvious flaws; once a few reviewers pointed out the factual errors in TDVC (a work of fiction, I might add) then everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Now, that's a fact! ;)
I've read most of ACC's work…sick raging pedo or not HE WAS a great writer!!
Dan Brown is an objectively bad writer. I really shouldn't have to relink this
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/6194031/Th…
but there are plenty of other clunkers in Da Vinci Code that I noticed reading it the first (and only) time, that were jarringly awful, tautological, full of bizarre diction and made me wonder if he had an editor. That was the only Dan Brown book I've read, but unless he earned several English degrees between them, I doubt they were much better.
If it wasn't for the hype and controversy, Dan Brown would just be poorly-written pulp fiction. Instead, the conceit surrounding his books elevated them to a higher level of criticism. This isn't all his fault, but doesn't change the fact that this man is a terrible writer.
That was the only Dan Brown book I've read…
Yep, that makes you an expert alright! :p
Unfortunately, while in a lot of cases it is opinion in Mr Brown's case it is fact. He mangles the English language, misuses and misunderstands the meanings of words, and writes things that are totally nonsensical.
These are objective facts.
Quality of writing? Totally different subject, and a subjective judgement.
I'm happy to discuss objective and subjective if necessary. We can also discuss the correct use of English, as it pertains to Dan Brown's efforts.
On the subject of Arthur C Clarke, I'm aware that he's a great writer. I just don't like to pay money to read the books of someone who appears to have been a child molester. It's the same reasoning I use for Chopper Read books.
@Stewballs, are you saying that the other Dan Brown books are significantly better than Da Vinci Code? That if I did read them, they wouldn't exhibit the same fundamental and rudimentary flaws as his supposed magnum opus? If not, then it's a fair assumption that they're all roughly the same quality, and such criticism can be extrapolated to his other novels. Nit-picking the opposition doesn't make Dan Brown a better writer.
As for subjective/objective critism, I'm happy to ignore the content of his writing because it's no more outlandish than most fiction. I'm saying that the man writes at a non-extension high school English level and that much at least, is fact.
Wow, I didn't mean to incite such a heated debate. Anyway, regardless of his bad sentences and whatnot, I found his books thoroughly entertaining. If you enjoy a novel, what more can you ask for?
@Strand,
…are you saying that the other Dan Brown books are significantly better than Da Vinci Code?
Why don't you read them and come back with further armchair critiques!
Nit-picking the opposition doesn't make Dan Brown a better writer.
Not nit-picking, merely pointing out the obvious logical flaw in your argument…let me tell you, it's a doozy! ;)
I'm saying that the man writes at a non-extension high school English level and that much at least, is fact.
Yet he's published, and you're not…that much at least, is fact.
There are plenty of clunkers and various errors in The Bible as well, but it's a major bestseller.
Just because it's not a great read to you or me, doesn't mean it's not a great read to someone else.
Oh, and if it gets non-readers reading, that's always a good thing e.g. Harry Potter. Who knows, they may move onto The name of the Rose within a few years. (Highly unlikely, I know).
@Stewballs, That's an incredibly flawed line of reasoning. From my experience with Dan Brown, I'm making an educated guess that the rest of his work is more or less the same quality. There is no disservice to logic as I'm not suggesting it's anything other than an assumption. I'm welcoming you to propose that his other novels are significantly better and disprove my assessment, but you won't even dare do that.
"Yet he's published, and you're not…that much at least, is fact."
Nice ad hominem. How is this relevant? I'm not proposing I'm a professional writer, I'm critical of Dan Brown as a reader and fan of good literature. Your response is straight from the (incoming Godwin's…) school of "How can you criticise Hitler? I'd like to see you do better running post-war fascist Germany!" It's a completely meaningless and juvenile retort.
You seem to believe that my criticism of this man somehow discredits your taste, when I'm not saying anything of the sort. There's plenty of crap that I enjoy, yet know is terrible and I don't believe my pride is somehow wounded when people criticise them. Grow a thicker skin.
From my experience with Dan Brown…
Sorry, but you appear to have omitted the word 'vast'…don't sell yourself short! :p
I'm not really sure what your point is now. You can't offer a single cogent or sound counterpoint to anything I've brought up, so instead resort to sarcasm, ad hominems and other logical fallacies.
You know, a simple "Dan Brown is a bad writer but I enjoy it regardless" would suffice. It seems you don't have a shred of humility to admit that something you might enjoy might be considered gasp bad or trashy. It reeks of insecurity.
I had another snappy rejoinder all lined up, but honestly at this point Strand I just feel sorry for you. Have a nice weekend! :)
Try Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid's Tale. You'll get an enjoyable novel and very good writing.
On the subject of Arthur C Clarke, I'm aware that he's a great writer. I just don't like to pay money to read the books of someone who appears to have been a child molester.
Margaret Atwood is a winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award…oh the delicious irony! ;)
Update: $1.50 offer isn't just on Dan Brown books, it looks like the entire $5 collection, so titles vary from store to store.
I picked up an Agatha Christie novel and Marsden's 'Tomorrow When The War Began' for both $1.50/each.
Was this at the same Coles at the OP or at a different one?
Different - Forest Hill, VIC
Awesome. I'll go check it out in a bit.
The opposite of this would be "The Death of a Pope" by Piers Paul Read.
$12 ePub iirc
On the plus side, it isn't as bad as 50 Shades of Grey
Wow! Certainly thinking that posting this deal would cause such a heated debate!
Hehehe, it's good for a laugh…don't worry, only one side of the debate seems to be heated! :)
Not sure why you need to make passive-aggressive snide comments like this. It's no skin off my back if someone thinks crappy series #97348 is good or not, but it is amusing to pop back in every now and then to see how even basic tenets of discussion seem lost on you.
Hmm, you're accumulating an awful lot of vitriol here for someone who claims to be indifferent.
Life's too short mate, relax…maybe read a good book or something! :)
I haven't read all the comments guys so apologies if this has been mentioned.
The Coles sale isn't specifically these Dan Murphy books, but rather a wide array of books. About a month ago they were all for $5 and now seemingly the company wants to get rid of them all and they have all dropped to $1.50.
Any book you see with the $5 sticker on it - as you can see in the picture - will scan at $1.50.
There must be a warehouse full of books they are trying to get rid of as just a few days ago my store received about 5-10 boxes worth to put out for sale.
There are many big authors with books at that price - I've personally bought a few Matthew Reilly books (my favourite author) as well as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and so on. You can definitely find some bargains with a quick browse.
As I say, I work at Coles but am in no way representing them with this post - just informing some people about the special.
The Coles sale isn't specifically these Dan Murphy books…
Methinks somebody has been doing a little too much reading at Dan Murphy's alright. Mind you, a drink or three's not a bad idea on a cold night like tonight! ;)
Yea got me there.. one or two ;)
I'm a fan of award-winning Russian novelist Dr. Smirnoff.
He also ghost-wrote for Mr Daniels from time-to-time. Great combination.
♫♫♫♫ Friday, I've got Dan Murphy on my mind ♫♫♫♫
Still overpriced ;)