It wasn't such a dirty limerick after all.

[kippurbird]

Chapter eight reveals the Shocking Dirty Limerick.

13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5
O, Draconian devil!
Oh, lame saint!

It doesn't really scan well does it? I like mine better. Anyway, it's the Draconian devil bit that apparently makes the Bull think about devil worship. They discuss the message and what it could mean, Langdon not having a clue to it. And then the Bull reveals that the most shocking thing about the message is that a French man in France wrote the message in English. Which, actually, I'll give Brown, as something actually strange. Another thing is that with that invisible ink pen of his, the Curator drew a circle around himself. Thus, according to Langdon, symbolizing The Vitruvian Man, by Da Vinci.

Da Vinci, according to Brown and Langdon:

"Was a flamboyant homosexual and a worshiper of Nature's divine order, both of which placed him in perpetual state of sin against God. Moreover, the artist's eeire eccentricities projected an admittedly demonic aura: Da Vinci exhumed corpses to study human anatomy; he kept mysterious journals in illegible reverse handwriting; he believed he possessed the alchemic power to turn lead into gold and even cheat God by creating an elixir to postpone death; and his inventions included horrific, never-before-imagined weapons of war and torture."

And this is why apparently Fache thinks that Da Vinci was a devil worshiper.

Now, I did a bit of research and yes there is some speculation that Da Vinci may have been a homosexual, but there's nothing concrete about it. He certainly wasn't flamboyant about it. If anything that would have been suicide. As for the rest, people have been searching for a way to turn lead into gold for ages and the same for the elixir to postpone death. It has nothing to do with devil worshiping at all. But why should we let facts get in the way?

Also, apparently:

Even Da Vinci's enormous output of breathtaking Christian art only furthered the artist's reputation for spiritual hypocrisy. Accepting hundreds of lucrative Vatican commissions, Da Vinci painted Christian themes not as an expression of his own beliefs but rather as a commercial venture - a means of funding a lavish lifestyle. Unfortunately Da Vinci was a prankster who often amused himself by quietly gnawing on the hand that fed him. He incorporated in many of his paintings hidden symbolism that was anything but Christian -tributes to his own beliefs and a subtle thumbing of his nose at the Church.

Now I work at the American Jewish University. It's the largest Jewish University in America, I believe. We have non-Jews working there. Does that mean they're being hypocritical for taking a job that will allow them to sustain their preferred lifestyle since they're not Jewish? Of course not! They got the job there because it was where they were able to work using the skills that they knew. In Da Vinci's time the Church was the largest client of artwork. Only the really rich could afford it and he wouldn't have made enough money waiting around for the rich to want a portrait. So, it's only logical that he goes to the Church to take their commissions to earn a living. He may not believe in what they believe in, but that doesn't stop him from painting a picture and earning money so he doesn't starve to death. He may have been a genius but that really have anything to do with earning a living.

There's a brief discussion on the fact that the Curator and Da Vinci shared spiritual beliefs and that the fact that Sauniere would want to tell them who killed him by writing down the murder's name, which he didn't but apparently Fuche thinks that Langdon did it.

Bobo is apparently watching the conversation at Fuche's request. Fuche is apparently a Master at... something. I'm not really sure, but it has to do with his ability with suspects and getting them to confess or something. They suspect Langdon and have managed to slip a tracking device -GPS unit- on him.

Suddenly, the Girl Shows up. She's a Cryptographer (unforunately this doesn't mean she studies crypts). Fuche does not like women in the police force. Fache argued, was weakening the department. Women not only lacked the physicality necessary for police work, but their mere presence posed a dangerous distraction to men in the field I don't think Fache gets laid enough. Or at all. And that's his real problem with women.

The Girl is named Sophia Neveu and she barges right into the crime scene without permission. She gives Langdon a note with a phone number saying it's from the American Embassy. Someone wants to get in touch with him. Langdon doesn't wonder why they didn't call him on his cell phone, but instead wonders who it could be. Does the man not own a cell phone? I mean really.

Anyway, he calls up the number on the paper and it's not the Embassy but instead the Girl's answering machine. Confused, of course, he starts to question her, but she insists that he continue on with the phone call. Her eyes can talk, "Her green eyes sent a crystal clear message".

The message on the machine for Langdon is "Do not react to this message. Just listen calmly. YOu are in danger right now.Follow my directions closely."

My reaction to this would be, "Is this some sort of joke?" I imagine this won't be Langdon's.

Comments

[charliesmum.livejournal.com]

I read that book for my book club ages ago, and, as I was fully prepared to not like it, I was surprised that it was a fun read. That's it, though. I doesn't stand up to any kind of closer scrutiny. Once you start thinking about it logically you see how stupid it is and start wondering why the man ever got published in the first place, let alone become a best-selling author.

Loved your point about the cell phone. Love all your points, actually. Especially the one about working for the church.

The thing that killed me was the old guy had time to hide messages, get undressed, paint a symbol on the floor and arrange himself properly before he died, which indicates his wound wasn't that bad and if he, oh, I don't know, used his shirt to staunch the wound and spent the time trying to find a phone or get help, he might not have died. Sheesh.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Personally, I feel that every book should be able to stand up to logical scrutiny. Fun reads or not.

Loved your point about the cell phone. Love all your points, actually. Especially the one about working for the church.

The one about the church was completely and utterly inane. I mean, where else was an artist supposed to get work? It's not hypocrisy to try and earn a living.

The thing that killed me was the old guy had time to hide messages, get undressed, paint a symbol on the floor and arrange himself properly before he died, which indicates his wound wasn't that bad and if he, oh, I don't know, used his shirt to staunch the wound and spent the time trying to find a phone or get help, he might not have died. Sheesh.

Well, if he had done that. Then there would have been no book. I mean, really, geeze. Expecting a character to act intelligently instead of doing something dramatic? What do you want? Reality?

[zoe-i-am.livejournal.com]

That message never did make any sense. Today's lottery numbers, dragon devils and St. Giles, the patron St. of the Lame and Halt. How anyone can figure that to mean Da Vinci is beyond me.

Poor Leo, he must be rolling in his grave at the thought of being connected to this mush!

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

You made the ICON!! YAY!!!

But yes, it's completely confusing. It's a CODE! *GASP!* But there's no clue as to how to decipher it. WHEEE! But no fear, our Hero will figure it out somehow! Because he's just that special.

[andy-longwood.livejournal.com]

Oh goody, you're tackling this one. *claps hands in delight*

I enjoy your literary critiques so much, I really do.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

^_^ You make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[dungeonwriter.livejournal.com]

You do realize that Sophia Neveu means "new wisdom," right? How is that for forshadowing beating you over the head.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

... I'm going to have to start going through everyone's names now, aren't, because he's being "Clever". Oh lovely.

[the-norseman.livejournal.com]

Actually all of the names is him being clever.

Sauniere for instance.

And Wikipedia helps us out with the rest: Bezu Fache and Leigh Teabing are both "clever" anagrams.

[dungeonwriter.livejournal.com]

I can't abide such "cleverness" in writers. I mean, my name means wheat god but you don't see me becoming a farmer!

[authoressarktos.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* Well, it depends. It can be fun in Harry Potter, and it's nice to see someone put some thought and research into their book, but honestly..."new wisdom"? That's going a bit far. The trick is to be subtle; something Dan Brown doesn't seeem to be very good at...

[dungeonwriter.livejournal.com]

Allow me to restate. A cute allusion is adorable, maybe even a bit of a pun. But over-doing it really reduces the enjoyment value of it.

[authoressarktos.livejournal.com]

Very true.

[berseker.livejournal.com]

Don´t complain. I once read a book with girl who was very free and out-going and, you know, strong as they all are bound to be, and she was named Wilder Lawless.

Wilder Lawless!

Sophie Noveu is not so bad.

(then again, the villain in that book was named dr. Friend. I don´t thing I got that...)

[berseker.livejournal.com]

How does he describe the girl? Because he has a thing for long legs and amazing body with, lets not forget, incredible intelligence because, you know, we don’t want to be shallow now, do we?

I hate when this happens. The author knows he’s supposed to be, like, feminist or something, and tries so hard to make the girl resourceful and bright that she becomes more like a pamphlet for egalitarianism than a character. That was what happened in the Fortress. I be it will happen here. Brown tries so hard it doesn’t work.



(anyway, Shana Tova for you.^_^ Guess you´ll be celebrating tonight, right?)

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

I hate when this happens. The author knows he’s supposed to be, like, feminist or something, and tries so hard to make the girl resourceful and bright that she becomes more like a pamphlet for egalitarianism than a character. That was what happened in the Fortress. I be it will happen here. Brown tries so hard it doesn’t work.

Like Paolini's hippie elves?




(anyway, Shana Tova for you.^_^ Guess you´ll be celebrating tonight, right?)

Yes. I am! Same to you!

[brainchild129.livejournal.com]

I don't remember the exact details of her description, but I do recall red hair(?), green eyes, and a general description that basically stated *BEEP BEEP AWOOOGA WARNING: LOVE INTEREST ENTERING STORY! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!*

And I see that DB is being ever-so-subtle again about Fache's total eeeeevilness by making him sexist. Way to go there, Mr. Brown.

[millenium-king.livejournal.com]

"...is that a French man in France wrote the message in English. Which, actually, I'll give Brown, as something actually strange."

Hold on to your hats! You won't believe the REASON the message was written in English.

SPOILER:

Apparently, the ancient order of whatsit (of which the Dead Curator was part of) used English to communicate throughout the ages. The reasoning behind this was - and you'll LOVE this - is that English is the oldest, still surviving language "uncorrupted" by the vile, evil, filthy Latin used by the church.

I will pause for a moment as you laugh your collective asses off.

I cannot believe this GROSS oversight on Dan Brown's part. Firstly, English is absolutely FILLED with Latin words or words with Latin origins. Second ole Dan must have forgot that English is a Germanic language which means its origins lie with another surviving language that has about zero Latin words in it - goddamn fucking GERMAN!!!

[the-norseman.livejournal.com]

Lets make the Dan Brown drinking game!

Take a drink every time:
* A name has a "cute" meaning.
* Someone does something idiotic.
* A character begins a rambling monologue.
* Something happens, but you're not told what.
* He gets something utterly wrong.
* The truth is precisely the opposite (make it a double).

Keep going until the book makes sense, or you pass out.

[brainchild129.livejournal.com]

Just make sure you do it with low proof alcoholic beverages, or else one could be in danger of alcohol poisoning before they reach the middle of the book.