I'm going to see The Da Vinci Code today. My anticipation for this film does not match the rest of the world's. In fact, it's not even close. But I can't not see it so I might as well get it over with.
Tom Hanks looks very unenthusiastic in all the previews. I get the feeling he understands that the story is bigger than anything he could bring to the table. It's actually quite a good story. Have you read the book? If not, you're the only one. All right. I didn't really want to get into it but it looks like I'm here now and I have no choice. So here we go...
There's some wild percentage that says that 75% of people do not read books. I just pulled that number out of my "made-up drawer" so don't quote me on it. But I have heard something along those lines before. I could look it up but I'm feeling lazy. At any rate, only a small portion of the population reads regularly. (Don't ask me how Barnes & Noble is so big.) Out of all the non-readers out there, I guarantee you that many many MANY of them HAVE read The Da Vinci Code. Why? Because when someone asks you if you've read The Da Vinci Code and you say "No", you feel like an idiot.
"Really? Wow. How could you have not read it? It's sooooo good! Oh my God, you absolutely have to read it! I can't believe you haven't read it! What's wrong with you? Why haven't you read it?"
"I don't know. I just haven't."
"I'll tell you what. I'll lend you MY copy. It's a little bent and worn because I've leant it out to soooo many people... but I'll let you read it if you want to. No, even if you don't want to, I'll lend it to you anyway. You just have to read it. OK?"
"OK."
That's how it is. That's how people are about this book. Calling it a phenomenon would not do this phenomenon justice. It's like some kind of literary plague.
