Rating: 
Summary: A non-fiction disguised as a fast-paced novel?
Review: Reading the book I get the impression that Dan Brown spent many hours researching the Grail legends and its connection to the Priory, and, the Catholic Church. Much of this we can find in books such as Holy Blood; Holy Grail, etc. But - at least in my opinion - Brown does inject some less bandied elements into the subject in general: worship of the feminine principle, the concept the Sekinah, as the yang to YHWH's yin, and such. Brown then pours all these elements into a pretty good action-packed yarn about an American professor specialising in the Grail legends (Brown?) on the run from the French police and albino assassins for a murder of a museum curator. Interestingly the person he's on the run with is none other than the victim's grand-daughter. If you don't like the drama here then at least you might find the non-fiction elements refreshing. Brown's writing style is pretty good too: very short chapters with punchy scenes.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: Codes and secrets drive the plot of this suspense thriller quite nicely. The references to real works of art and architecture will probably be enjoyable for you if you like art history, puzzles, brain teasers, history, etc. Not being Christian, I wasn't bothered by the implications, this is a work of fiction, afterall, not a philosophical treatise, and the author has taken some poetic license. The main thing I didn't like about it was that the end was disappointing to me. Still, it was a fun read anyway, and based on older reviews, I will check out Brown's previous book.
Rating: 
Summary: Da Vinci Code - Mind Boggling
Review: This book is truly one of a kind. I've read many books, and I have delved into this book more than I have for any other book that I have ever read. I started reading it, and immediately, my jaw dropped. The Da Vinci Code has brought many of my classmates, teachers, and other adults together in a way no other book can. There isn't enough stars in Amazon's selection to rate this book. Great job Dan Brown!
Rating:
Summary: A great read
Review: Not much I can say that hasn't already been said. The great thing about this book is that it's one of those books that gets you excited about reading and the subject material. After reading this book I wanted to get my hands on anything related to Da Vinci and Jesus Christ's origins that I could. It ultimately led me to read several other books and watch a bunch of TV specials just try and recapture the enjoyment I got from reading it.
Rating:
Summary: The Da Vinci Code
Review: this book was really great i enjoyed every moment of it. i could not put it down. every page brought with it a new idea that kept me thinking. i am taking a whole new look at my religion now.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Book...Got me back into Fiction
Review: I had never read anything by Dan Brown prior to picking this up. I've read almost nothing but since! Brown is an expert craftsman, and this book kept me thinking and guessing the whole time. I couldn't put it down, and I couldn't stop talking about it after I was done.Brown also went above and beyond the call of duty to research this book. A good part of it could actually be considered "nonfiction", inasmuch as there are scholarly works on the subjects involved, and this one does not fail in being scholarly. However, he went and wrapped the scholarship up in a gripping and compelling murder mystery that had absolutely no quit to it. Long story short, read this book, then Angels & Demons, then the rest.
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended, even with flaws
Review: If you are one of the few people who have not read the book yet - do not hesitate and do it now. Odds are very favorable that you will like it, even be thrilled by it. It is highly entertaining, fast-paced, exiting and informative. The author has the endearing habit of sharing with the readers tidbits of extraneous information - not trivia - he has found in the course of his research. However, do not expect perfection or a future classic work of literature. There are shortcomings. But before I list them, let's deal with some issues which should not worry you: 1. The book is "an attack on Catholic Church and Christianity." The book is no such thing, unless you believe that the Church can never do anything wrong (remember Inquisition?), can never be criticized, and that we already know everything that can be known.
2. The book is based on "completely unfound legend," "crackpot theory." "Anyone who knows art history and Christian history will see this book for what it is - pure garbage." Again, it is neither of those things. While the protagonists, understandably, present an alternative history in more assured terms than someone "objective" might do, there is more than enough evidence suggesting the possibility of their main contention being true, and there are serious scholars who accept the described interpretation of evidence.
3. Minor errors or dubious details that some flaunt as earth shattering evidence of wrongness of the whole book. Examples: Monks and habits not existing in Opus Dei. BIG DEAL! Anyway, even if just about nobody there was a monk and wear a habit, could there not be one exception? "Cargo truck hummed, then the truck roared, then there was hum again." BIG DEAL! Moreover, humming refers to tire noise, while roaring to the engine noise, which can change with time. "Da Vinci is not Leonardo's name." BIG DEAL! Thousands know and call Leonardo "Da Vinci," and even though it is imprecise, using just Leonardo would be equally ambiguous (how many Leonardos have there been in the world), and using always the full name would be cumbersome.
4. Perhaps the most silly objection is that "though some may find the religious topic thought provoking, this book doesn't require deep thinking". How many mystery novels are thought provoking, not to mention requiring deep thinking? The fact that so many people, as shown by the positive reviews, have found the book thought provoking, is an unquestionable testimony and tribute. Disregarding the above, what are the real shortcomings of Da Vinci Code? Here is my list:
A. As mentioned by many reviewers, the characters are poorly developed. Not unusual for a mystery/action story, but regretful anyway.
B. The ending is, in my view, a mistake. The author should have left an open ending, rather than provide a specific, highly unlikely explicit solution to a fictional story.
C. Perhaps most importantly, it might dawn on you in about the middle of the book, if not sooner, that the plot is a logical absurdity. Here we have a dying man, frantic to save an enormously important secret, of which he is the only keeper, from being lost forever, and to transfer it to one specific person. Does he do it using one encrypted, safe message? No, he sends the person(s) on a chase, at each stage of which the secret could be eternally lost! And he has prepared this process in advance, while presumably sane! Essential for the story, but logically unacceptable.
D. The essential premise of the story is that the "secret," which is the main topic, is so earth shattering, that revealing it would imperil the Catholic Church. In reality, as shown most clearly in the ABC Special, very respectable Church notables look at the suggestion regarding Mary Magdalene with complete benevolence. The author has interestingly, and perhaps wisely, steered away from the more radical version of the legend, but doing so he again created a logical void.
Rating: 
Summary: COMMON SENSE PLEASE!
Review: Interesting fiction but this does not pass the common sense test as any sort of real research. Why? ........... Well let's connect the dots: Historical Fact: The most skeptical atheist theologian would accept that at least 4 of the apostles died for their faith. St. Peter being crucified on Vatican Hill will be the example here. Psychiatric Fact: There has never been a case of multiple people hallucinating the same thing at the same time even attempts with modern drugs. ERGO: Christ's appearances were not hallucinations. SO: Jesus was resucitated, pretended to have risen from the dead and and his followers went around starting a cool new but bogus religion while Jesus went to live in the south of France with a babe. AND THEN: Nero thought the Christians were a pain in his rear so he rounded up Peter, their leader and had him crucified (no fun) in the Circus. BUT: Peter could have told where Jesus was and surely bargained his way back to a quiet fishing job on tne Sea of Galilee. But he decided to die a tortuous death to protect a guy with a babe on the French Riviera. RIGHT! Antone who takes this book seriously ............. ?
Rating:
Summary: A Code for The Da Vinci Code
Review: 11 23 47 89 73 26 18 92 55 This is the real code for understanding the depth of Da Vinci.
If you can break it, you are qualified to comprehend what most fail to see.
Rating:
Summary: Overrated, at best.
Review: As suspense thrillers go, this one is ho-hum. The first half of the book really drew me into the novel. Unfortunately, I had to slog through the second half of the book to finish it. Brown's pedantic suspense devices became insufferable, and the plot fell completely apart. His religious commentary is sophomoric, and I am amazed that this novel has gotten the kind of press that it has. This book really doesn't merit a second thought, much less an episode of Dateline. So, I am bewildered by this book's popularity. It is a "just okay" read, so check it out from your local library. I can't imagine why anyone would want to own this one.
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