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Summary: AN INTRODUCTION TO GREATER THINGS
Review: Excelent piece of fiction. A real page turner. Save the weekend to read this one. This work was greatly researched, not only the historical background, but the places and settings in which the plot develops. I have lived in London-and frequently visited Paris- and the book really brought the sights and sounds back to me. It actually made me reflect on the wealth of symbolism present in most European landmarks and churches: secret orders, ancient catholic and pagan rites. What is wonderful about Mr. Brown's book is that he uses his fictional plot (based on completely accurate and researched facts) to unveil a world unknown to the rest of us. I am sure this book, although a piece of fiction, will spark reader's interest of other books and works on the divine feminine, history of Art, the Vatican, Da Vinci and secret religious orders.
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Summary: fantastic!
Review: I just couldn't put it down.Characterization may not be perfect but as a suspense book it's more than fantastic.It also teaches you something about history and actually my view of Christianity is changed by this book. It's very good!
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Summary: the da vinci code
Review: Excellent reading, exciting story and very informative regarding myths and legends surrounding the vatican and christianity.
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Summary: Great Premise but lack of character development
Review: I admit I couldn't put the book down. It challenged my assumptions about religion, about art history, about women's place in the world, but it did not engage me emotionally. The plot and the premise keep your interest, but the main protagonists barely register as human beings on the page. I was barely interested in their fate at the end of the book. Mr. Brown is better with his villains, he gives them motivation and meaning that he denies the main characters. The premise of the book has led me to interesting conversations with fellow readers, and to further research on Mary Magdalene and Leonardo DaVinci. On that basis I would recommend the book as a good read and great conversation starter.
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Summary: verty interesting
Review: This book is a must read for anyone that reads the Bible or whatever inspirational book your reading. It made me want to research even more about the historical Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Its a great book that keep you guessing until the end. Great book!!
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Summary: Fascinating, amazing book - intelligent, imaginative
Review: I've just finished The Da Vinci Code and I must say that it was one of the most amazing books I've read in a long time. It is an intelligent thriller that I just could not put down. It opened my eyes up to a great deal of history of which I had not been aware AND kept me gripped by the plot as well. I am not in the States so I dont know all the hype that had surrounded this book (which I've only learned about from reading other reviews on here). I find it interesting that the reviewers on here appear to either love this book or not think it was worth their time. I wonder how much of that has to do with one's already existing beliefs? I am not here to say whether anyone is right or wrong. I just hope that this book is read as I think it has a lot to say. It is a work of FICTION based on historical facts and theories yet some appear to take issue with the fact that everything that can be is not absolutely historically accurate. Many movies are based on a single fact with 1 1/2 hours of events and dialogue created and there seems to be fewer problems with those that with this book. This book was recommended to me by a dear friend who was excited about it and expressed that excitement to me and I am very glad that she did. The plot was unique and did move quickly, totally capitivating me. The use of 1-4 page chapters did not distract and it isn't the only book to ever use this technique so I dont know why people had a problem with it. It was just a different way of doing things. I dont dispute the fact that there were flaws, but I've read very few books that havent had flaws. I just wonder what was expected from this book and whether anyone could have fulfiled the expectations. For me, it was an eyeopener, one that has answered some questions for me and has lead to others that I will now pursue in answering for myself. I think that the beauty of this book is that it is a fascinating read, a really good thriller that takes you away and immerses you in other lands successfully and makes you turn your brain on and leaves it on even when the last page is turned. Ultimately it is Dan Brown's theory so I think it best to remember that. You dont have to agree and many don't. But for me, it all makes a lot of sense. Another issue that people had problems with were the codes. Some say that they were childllike riddles, some say they couldn't believe that they could be solved "on the run". Well taking the second issue first, I would just say that these were scholars who had spent years dealing with these issues, accompanied by a woman who had been schooled in code breaker practically here whole life. There was also a lot to gain and lose by breaking the codes so I'm not surprised that they were able to do it. I also couldn't say that the riddles were childlike - only that it kept me captivated.
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Summary: A good read, BUT....
Review: The problem with Brown's story isn't the material it covers. That alone makes a stellar story. And therein lies this author's problem: why did Dan Brown not create a story based on the Priory of Scion and its connections to mystical Christianity? The other plotline is superfluous and silly. The short chapters--most of which are no longer than 4 pages, some not even one page--are irritating. It's a gimmick the author employs to give the reader the sense the novel is moving at a lightening pace. But because each chapter--over 100 of them-- is so short, the reader is also never given a chance to pause, breathe, reflect. And Brown may have done this on purpose. The writing throughout the book is lazy. Characters are underdeveloped. Foreshadowing is weak. If Brown's book were truly intelligent and genius as it is being touted, the author would not have to go back and explain to the reader the whys and hows when he reveals the identity of the Teacher and his major accomplice at the end, a la a "Scooby Doo" episode. The trademark of a good writer is showing a story, not telling it. Mr. Brown has not accomplished that with this book. However, it is a good "read" if you like fast paced, commercial, plot-driven books. The historical material covered in the book is fascinating. It is obvious that Brown spent exhaustive hours researching for his book. Fast paced? Yes. Intelligent? Yes with regards to the research the author has done. A good read? Yes. A good book? No. The Da Vinci Code is interesting because of the religious and historical themes it contains...not because of its story.
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Summary: Da Vinci Con
Review: Interesting background viz. the sacred feminine. Horrible mystery writing. Spend your time and money reading Neal Stephenson.
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Summary: Disappointing
Review: I am not an expert on the historical backdrop of the book. Even if one were to assume that the background the author provides is accurate, the book itself is very poorly written. The book feels like watching a really bad action movie. Each chapter in the book is approximately two pages in length. Furthermore, successive chapters are different threads in the plot. This leads to disruptions in your thought process. In my opinion, the hype surrounding this book is unwarranted and the book is certainly not worth a read.
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Summary: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
Review: The subject matter that is contained within the pages of Mr. Brown's book is stellar. For most readers, it will be obvious that he spent an enormous amount of time researching material for his book. And therein lies this author's problem. The story is not as much a story as it is a commercially-driven plot gimmick. The chapters are rarely more than 4 pages a piece. Sometimes, they are not even an entire page. This is to take the reader's breath away, so that s/he feels as though the pace is "lightening fast" (to quote one of the glowing reviews from the back of the book). Yet, this gimmick is incredibly annoying, especially when the intelligent reader knows that half of the time Mr. Brown's chapter breaks are entirely unnecessary and understands that Brown never lets his readers breathe. For over 300 pages. The characters are underdeveloped and the foreshadowing weak. At the end of the story, when the identity of "The Teacher" is revealed, along with one of the accomplices, Mr. Brown has to go back and explain to the reader the hows and whys of who did what, a la a "Scooby Doo" episode. Yet, the information contained in the book is what propells Mr. Brown's story and saves it. It's not a horrible book. Just disappointing because this is interesting, historically accurate material...and Brown completely misses the mark by telling--not showing, the trademark of a good writer--his readers a loose, lazily written story. But the information that drives the plot is fascinating. If you don't mind gimmicks and commercial fiction, then by all means buy this book and enjoy. But if you are interested in it solely because of the information it is based on, I suggest purchasing a piece of nonfiction that deals with the same material. You'll skip the unessential stuff. Fast-paced thriller, yes. Intelligent...hmm, maybe in regards to research and time the author put into his book. Good read? Probably. Good book? No.
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