Rating: 
Summary: Why do people want to believe that fiction is fact?
Review: This book, which "everybody" is reading, is truly fiction and not good fiction at that. The author unites fact with semi-fact with fiction to give gullible people a sense that what he writes is all true. Wrong. I mean, really: "Amon-Isis" = "Mona Lisa"? Please. The omelette begins with what, for some reason, "everybody" thinks is sinister: the Pope, the Vatican and Opus Dei. (Yes, OD really exists but is mostly made up of toothless old men less functional that the Knights of Columbus.) Read Perez-Reverte ("Seville Communion") or countless other fictional treatments of the Vatican "secret police" for better entertainment. Add the myth that keeps coming back, the Holy Grail, and stir in another secret society (that which protects the Grail = descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene) and you have what seems to be a plausible story. It ain't, folks: it's fiction. Read it that way and enjoy it that way. But DVC is no more authoritative than "Harry Potter," no matter how much you want to believe it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great plot, but questionable history
Review: I just finished this book last night. It's extremely captivating and well researched. It does have anti-Christian overtones however, which aren't well disguised.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast paced, but stretched credibility
Review: Most of the reviews I've read have been complimentary about The Da Vinci Code, The critics liked the book and it has become a runaway best seller, so I know I'm in the minority, when I say I thought the book was a bit lame.A book full of references to the Holy Grail, Opus Dei, the Knights Templar, the Priory of Sion, the Golden Ratio and symbology in famous art works should be interesting, and the Da Vinci Code was interesting. However I thought the main characters lacked depth, the wild assumptions and conclusions made by Langdon and Sophie continually stretched credibility and I thought the plot was predictable and started to run out of steam about half way through. I regularly read in reviews that this book is 'well researched', however the constant reference to Sir Leigh Teabing as 'Sir Teabing' rather than the correct (as any commonwealth citizen knows) Sir Leigh, gave me the distinct impression that the research was quick and superficial, or at the very least, the book was in need of some rigorous editing. It's a fast-paced easy read, but I could only give the Da Vinci Code three stars.
Rating:
Summary: What I expected
Review: Newsweek recently described this novel as a "blockbuster thriller full of religious mumbo-jumbo and cracker barrel art history." I couldn't agree more. I read this book at the recommendation of my grandmother, who considered it to be a brilliantly crafted work of literature backed by scholarly research. However, I discerned immediately that a novel of such popularity in the masses could not possibly be TOO literary. Our public in general does not like to think. And the book matched my expectations. Brown's prose is utterly graceless and pedestrian, dispelling any pretense of intellect or refinement. Brown does not even make a minor attmept to develop his characters. Langdon and Neveu are cardboard cutouts of "good guys," the pathetic caricature of a British twit made me burn with embarrassment for the author, and the stupid albino giant is just plain laughable. The plot, while undeniably a page turner, is full of inconsistencies and at times is just absurd. The (plagiarized) theories that serve as the backbone of the novel are interesting for a moment but quickly lose credibility in Brown's attempt to relate them to everything in the world. The Little Mermaid as the Sacred Feminine? Give me a break. Brown insists on whacking the reader over the head repeatedly with the same old revelation from a hundred pages ago. And the climax, in which he reveals the least suspicious character to be, in fact, the villain, is so sloppily contrived and cliche that I had to laugh. Dan Brown must truly believe himself to be writing for an audience of imbeciles. And, given the acclaim and hype that has rushed in from the public, I would have to say that his assumption is correct.
Rating:
Summary: A fast read, but...
Review: I don't see what all the fuss is about. This novel is a page turner, no doubt about that, with an intriguing plot. Since there are so many reviews here which go over the story I won't go into it -- However I have to say as one of those people who can look at a painting and NOT see mysterious symbolism and plots all over the place I took this novel for what it was - a work of fiction that was a fast read and that's all. I don't think Catholics have to get upset over all the theories this story puts forth, since that's all they are: theories for a work of fiction. Characters are well-drawn and the descriptions are good. I agree with other reviewers that it reads like a movie treatment - it didn't hurt to compare Robert Langdon to Harrison Ford early in the story, and I agree it was probably intentional. Can an option for a movie starring Ford be far behind??
Rating: 
Summary: The Da Vinci Code
Review: Great book for women - page turner - Makes me want to help bring the balance between the male and female energy.
Rating:
Summary: A good page-turner
Review: You know, kids (and I'm speaking here to the many reviewers who found the book unbelievable), you could use the same arguments to insist that James Bond stories are unbelievable, the Hobbits are just "little people," and that amateur detectives can't solve mysteries better than the police because they don't have the latest hi-tech gear. And if Mr. Brown takes any of it to heart, I'm sure he cries all the way to the bank. If you're going to read *anything!* having to do with Knights Templar, the Grail, the early history of the Church, secret societies, or France in general, you need to just sit back and enjoy the nutty ride. CONS: The "quick-cut, planning for the movie" style does gets old if not done really well (it's done mostly well). The flashback transitions are kind of crude, especially at the beginning. Some of the plot twists (especially at the end) arise from the author's selective portrayal of events in *our* POV (read "misdirection"), rather than the character POV. This left me feeling a bit manipulated (I prefer the author to have the decency to hide his/her manipulations of me and leave it to my wife to point it out later). Those familiar with the core backstory elements will find Brown's portrayal of them simplistic, and the novel's experts' acceptance of a sole track of grail lore a bit bothersome. Those who are unfamiliar with same will find it all very alarming and whacky, especially Christians who've grown up with the "based on historical events" belief set. PROS: It's fun. I stayed up until 4am the other night reading it, and finished it the next night, and I don't usually do that. A page-turner is a page-turner and that gets points. Excellent descriptions of place. People are pretty well-drawn (except Teabing, who comes off as dialog and crutches); but even when you lose track of who is saying or thinking what, they are drawn well enough that you can almost always work it out without back-tracking. Despite my problems with Brown's interpretations of research (and "Hello!" this is a novel), there's been a lot of new research since Holy Grail, Holy Blood was published in the early 80's. It's probably all bunk, but it's bunk that surrounds the very human creation of the Catholic Church in the 3rd century, which is not well-documented, the events of which very much were shrouded in secrecy, and which goes to the heart of the faith that dominates Western thinking. I find this fascinating. VERDICT: A great airplane or beach book. Whether you want to read it as part of your daily dose of novels will probably depend on personal preferences. I'm a one novel every month or so kind of guy, and I sucked it down in four days.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: This book was a good read. It keeps you turning the pages until you finish it. It is provocative and raps many historical facts around its fast-pace. I won't give it away, but the ending is a little weird. Nonetheless, it's a fun read all the way through.
Rating:
Summary: Great and challenging
Review: When I first laid my eyes on the Davinci Code I had my doubts. I wasn't interested in reading a book in the adult category. I'm only 14 after all. When I started reading it though, I literally couldn't put it down. There was adventure, mystery, riddles, interesting facts and even romance. I was stunned that an author could actually put all of that into one book and make it work. The Davinci Code most importantly, raised questions that before I didn't bother thinking about. I know that I couldn't possibly know if the questions raised were valid or correct. All I know is that the book caused people to look at new options and ideas, even when their religion compelled them not to. If a book can accomplish that, cause people to think about explanations they had just taken for granted, then that book is really something. It's up to the readers to think what that something is. So I thank Dan Brown for a new perspective, a fresh way of thinking.
Rating:
Summary: Cliff from Cheers writes a book...
Review: .
Remember Cliff from Cheers - the guy who spouted off a number of obscure facts and tried to establish a hypothesis from them?... how the ancient Greeks, for example, invented the toilet roll by trying to make scrolls pocket-sized...;-) That is what this book reminds me of... Perhaps that's unfair... Cliff could have written a better book. I like what someone said earlier, Brown is really a writer for Scooby Doo cartoons! It has all the makings of the same plot. The 'mysteries' are disappointing grade school material (apple?, come on!) and the 'experts' are pure schlock... Brown's own characters were embarrassed by the 'scientific' explanations and his 'hack' of other peoples work and agendas. Even the most far-fetched theories are immediately accepted as fact, because they are so ridiculous... (Gasp! I guess they MUST be true). Great technique, have your own characters scoff or say they were 'originally skeptic' -- I guess that gives it 'academic' credibility... (not) And secret societies... mysterious albino giant? escaped from prison because of an earthquake? Age of Aquarius? Is it any surprise that Brown is smirking on the cover photo... maybe Leonardo was trying to warn people from buying the book when he is quoted... 'awake mere mortals from the deception' (or some such dribble). That is a more plausible message from the past than what Brown is spouting. This is an obvious attempt by Brown to submit an idea for a movie. It has all the substance of a hour and a half 'B-thriller'. Hopefully, any prospective studios will read these reviews and see what a waste of time this would be on the screen... Unless, of course, it starred Cliff as Langdon and Scooby Doo as his sidekick... then you'd have something...
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