I mentioned yesterday that I'd ventured down to Borders to cash in a gift voucher. The thing I didn't mention, because I hadn't taken much notice of it, was the Borders catalogue that had been tossed into the bag along with the books. I generally skim these things when I come across them - it's a good way to see what's out there - but don't take a lot of notice of the big chain stores.
And then yesterday I happened across a page headed "Borders has everything for The da Vinci Code obsessed mum". And I had to look. I wish I hadn't. Listed on the catalog page are: The da Vinci Code: Illustrated Edition, Fodor's Guide to The da Vinci Code, The Dan Brown Companion, Who Can Crack the da Vinci Code?, Beyond the da Vinci Code, Leonardo's Notebooks, The da Vinci Code Game, and, wait for it, The da Vinci Code Canvas Artist's Set.
You have got to be kidding me. What's next? Bobble-head doll giveaways of Jesus, Mary and Leonardo with Happy Meals down at that Scottish restaurant? Is there no limit to all this crap? I pity the poor librarians who get asked; "Do you have anything else like Dan Brown's book?" Maybe the enquirers should be pointed towards Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock. That should put them off.
