Rating: 
Summary: Educational!
Review: This book is an interesting read! I am not a very religious person, mainly because modern christianity just doesn't make sense to me. I understood why after reading this book. The story is a good one. I feel like the characters and their actions were a little too predictable but I found the knowledge of religion and history in the book to be extremely fascinating. I learned things that I wasn't aware of which have spurred me on to read more about the Priory of Sion, Opus Dei and the Knights Templer. Fascinating material!
Rating:
Summary: Very pleasantly suprised
Review: I'd seen the author on the Today Show, but somehow got the impression that this book was about biblical codes. Over the holidays, I decided to rent a book on CD to entertain me during a four hour drive. It was either "The Da Vinci Code" or any number of really bad romance novels. As much as I love to read, I figured this book would be better than a four-hour repeat of my music CD collection. After the first CD, I was pretty excited. It was a very well written story and started right in the middle of action, just the way I like it. By the last CD, I was counting myself a new fan of Dan Brown's. Granted, I took the easy way out and "listened" to this book, but it was so good that I'm considering reading it anyway, despite knowing the story already. One comment on the audio version, though. Colin Stinton had quite a task in front him... many different characters with varying accents. I applaud him on a job well done. Just one tiny hint though... Sophie's accent (English with a French accent) could have been a lot better. I cringed every time he pronounced "Robert" with the "t", since the French would not say it that way. I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Brava
Review: I bought this book after reading the first chapter on Amazon.com. I was hooked, after the first two chapters. I could not put the book down, my husband would have to remind me to come to bed. I have since recommended it to many members of my family and friends, and they all have had the same reaction. This book will be one of my all time favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Could not put it Down
Review: Loved it! I would like to see the book in a movie- Indiana Jones style! Could not put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: Think as you read this book
Review: The suspense in this book makes it riveting in parts. However, one should remember that it is a work of fiction. Undoubtedly, when you mix reality (e.g. names of famous historical figures and the existence to the Church)with fiction, a book becomes controversial. As I read, I actually felt like making marks in the margin where I thought the author was not making too much sense or was simply wrong. For example, claims of pro-feminine aims on the part of the Knights Templar (an exclusively male organisation!)are certainly suspect. In addition, the assertions relating to male-female influences/relations before the time of the Church are clearly seen as incorrect if one has a knowledge of BC world history.
The book appears to assume a significant degree of credulity (as opposed to 'imagination') in the reader, which is unfortunate as it makes the reading experience less pleasurable. One needs to remember that although containing many factual snippets, this is primarily a work of fiction. Keep the brain in gear while reading this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Page Turner, YES. Historically accurate, NO!
Review: The Da Vinci Code is a perfect airplane book: not terribly well written, but a good read that keeps you engrossed for a short time. Its incredible popularity seems to be the result of a media blitz (some 10,000 advance copies were circulated to the media prior to its release -- an unprecedented number). However, Dan Brown's supposedly meticulous research is riddled with holes. Furthermore, his theories about Christianity and the Catholic Church are downright wrong -- and offensive, I might add. Others are simply lifted from the work of others. Perhaps he is jumping on the bandwagon of Church bashers left over from the recent abuse scandals involving priests. This book has been billed as a cerebral thriller that offers a history lesson to boot. This could not be further from the truth. There is little if any original information in The Da Vinci Code. Read this book if you must, but please do not substitute it for accurate Church history, art history and original philosophical theory. Instead, refer to real scholarly works -- NOT a work of fiction -- and then draw an informed conclusion. Dan Brown seems to have a virulent anti-Christian agenda, and it is about time people stood up and took notice of it.
Rating:
Summary: BAAAD Fiction, worse author
Review: If there was a NO STAR selection, it would have been NO STAR. Interesting premise, incomplete research, hack author. Overuse of adjectives, especially the word SENSED, thin plot line, absurd police chases. Only humorous idea is he made the plot in France so it was the FRENCH police that are so inept.
Rating:
Summary: Big publisher hype . . . disappointing
Review: I loved Brown's last book, DECEPTION POINT, and very much looked forward to reading THE DA VINCI CODE. Alas, this is one of the biggest disappointments I've suffered through in years. I agree with other reviewers about the many plot implausibilities. The prose throughout a lot of the book is stilted and wooden. The characters are all cardboard cutouts who serve as mouthpieces for Brown's (some say others') research. Protagonist Robert Langdon has zero personality, as does each of his supporting cast. Langdon returns from ANGELS & DEMONS, a book I enjoyed, though it too, was marred by several huge implausibilities (Langdon jumps out of a helicopter from several thousand feet up, clutching only a tarp as a makeshift parachute, and survives his fall into the Tiber River, virtually unscathed). THE DA VINCI CODE is burdened with many similar groaners. Previous to this book, Dan Brown couldn't give his first three books away (even though they were all quality). Then he signs a big contract with mega-publisher Doubleday, who props him up with a gadzillion-dollar promotional campaign, and touts THE DA VINCI CODE as the thriller to beat all thrillers. Of course, the sheep buy into the hype and flock to the bookstores to purchase this mediocre effort. I'm afraid P.T. Barnum was right about a sucker being born every minute. Dan Brown is capable of much better. He's proved it in the past. One star for an intriguing plot and comprehensive research, zero stars due to the less-than-stellar writing and lack of character development. The guy I feel sorry for is author Lewis Perdue, who has written similarly themed novels and yet still labors in relative obscurity (Perdue even authored a novel in 1983 titled THE DA VINCI LEGACY. Hmmmm . . .).
Rating:
Summary: This book blew me away!
Review: I'm sorry but those complaining about his "bad" prose and "unbelievable" characters are missing the whole point. First, he has firmly established the credibility of his characters. I find them to be quite credible and believable - therefore, when they do escape more than once, well, hell, so what? I don't see how this was unfounded. Second, I have researched what Mr. Brown contends in his message (yes, I believe that there is a message here) and after exhaustive research, he is not false in what his basic statements are. I highly doubt he would write such a novel full knowing that the unbelievers who are believers (eat that one) are anxiously awaiting to burn him at the stake. I commend this author for opening in me what I have been yearning for after many jaded adult years - the inner child. I should receive special privileges from Borders for buying out their paganism, Da Vinci and Dan Brown books to give as a gift, not just to myself but to my friends. I bought the Da Vinci code tonight for my dying grandfather in large print. I think it will make a great gift before he goes. As an aspiring author myself, I could only hope that I could create such an impact.
Rating:
Summary: fabulous!
Review: Wow! I have not read a book that kept me glued to edge of my seat as much as this book. I couldn't stop thinking about it even after turning the lights off. Absolutely recommend.
| 
