Rating: 
Summary: Save Your Money
Review: This is NOT an "intelligent and lucid thriller." The materail about the Grail Myth is okay, the symbolic interpretaitions of famous works of art and lit are okay, but after that, the book is just plain dull. The characters are flat, cardboard figures. The plot is a maze of coincidences and last second, farfetched solutions to unbelievable problems, as though the author is just making things up as he goes along. The writing plods forward. I believed the hype. You'd think I was old enough to know better.
Rating: 
Summary: OH MY GODDESS!
Review: I started reading this while killing an hour before going to a Fourth of July BBQ. Well, an hour later I could not put it down... missed the BBQ, fireworks, and my beauty sleep as I stayed up until 4 AM when I finished this marvelous tale. I immediately picked up Dan Brown's "prequel" of sorts, Angels and Demons, and spent the next day reading that. Dan Brown has put a huge dent in my social life this last weekend but it was worth it all. Can't wait for the next book! I would like to recommend another terrific book, a murder mystery by William Freeman, MURDER IN KEY WEST... terrific story, great sex, beautiful locale.
Rating: 
Summary: The Da Vinci Code
Review: This book was particularly offensive to me as a Christian. I could not help but wonder if the author is an atheist - or what. I had to remind myself that this was a book of fiction. The reference to Jesus being married to Mary Magdeline and having a child was ludicrous. If Da Vinci was one of the Grand Master's of the secret society, how did he endure the sexual ritual that involved male and female? And the author's analogy of the church's entrance (can't remember what church) to that of a female vagina with labia and a clitoris was beyond ridiculous. What is this guy really thinking? Come on. Friends of mine recommended the book knowing I am an avid reader. However, I have read much better. I am sorry I started the book. I do finish what I start unless it is totally boring, but I found myself trying to enjoy this book as a work of fiction. I think too many people will read this book and believe everything the author has to say just because some of his historical references are accurate.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointing Pot-Boiler
Review: Having read the reviews, and being interested in alternate, "esoteric" history, I looked forward to The Da Vinci Code. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I found it predictable, somewhat cliche in its plot devices, and at points the thoughts and actions of the characters seemed absurd. Brown's writing was plodding and uninspired with occasional florid moments. Obviously, my opinion is in the minority, so you may still enjoy it.
A pivotal choice that Robert made led to a transparent, over-used plot device. Sophie's "shock" that caused a 10-year rift in her relationship with her grandfather was just not credible. A woman of her age, background, and intelligence would have been more likely to have listened to, perhaps demanded, an explanation from her grandfather, not hidden from it. One other small, but typical, event also made me roll my eyes: experts were looking at some strange writing that looked familiar, but they couldn't place it. This group included an otherwise brilliant cryptologist, but they did not recognize it--I am no expert, but I would have recognized it out of context if I'd just happened upon it on the street. I'd go into more detail, but can't put in anything that would give away too much plot. Hope this helps someone avoid the disappointment and expense of buying this book!
Rating:
Summary: Very intelligent. Definitely read it
Review: This book is my first introduction to a "religious" themed novel and it worked wonder. The story packed a lot of insgihts I didn't know about, which only made reading each page that much more interesting. I also like the brisk pace of the novel. Dan Brown sure knows how to crank it up. Overall, the story is tight, intelligent, and cleverly interwoven, with a villain who turned out to be someone whom I wasn't quite expecting. Definitely read it. It actually peaked my interest in iconography and rekindled my fascination with Leonardo Da Vinci. Well worth the read.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Premise....Cardboard Characters...
Review: The Di Vinci Code is a murder mystery that starts out fast paced and easily pulls the reader into its exciting plot, but somehow falls short of expectations by the end. Don't get me wrong, it is a good summer/beach read but I found the writing predictable, hollow and at points very melodramatic. If your looking for good writing look elsewhere. If your looking for fast paced, Hollywood style characters and a plot with an interesting premise this book is the one.
The books two main characters Robert Langdon a symbologist and Sophie Neveu a cryptologist meet in an unlikely way; at the murder scene of her grandfather. The story runs away from there when the two discover an ancient secret tied up with a centuries old society that worships the goddess. On the run from the police, Sophie and Robert on limited time try to figure out the code and discover what is hidden. Interesting enough characters to begin with, but they are never really developed and fall into a predictable sequence of boy meets girl patterns. Other characters in the story include; an albino monk, a knight named Sir Leigh Teabing, a bulldog French police captain and a mysterious, faceless character called "the teacher." The greatest strength is the research and attention to detail that Brown uses in his plot. It is fascinating, to read about Da Vinci, the Priory of Scion, Opus Dei and the hundreds of details he works into the plot on religious and pagan symbols. An interesting, fast read but a bit slow during the second half of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired me to create my own code
Review: Dan Brown's book is really great. So many reviews have been done that I will not repeat the same thing again. Just think that it motivated me to create a small game inspired by the book. If you read it well you can solve the code easily...or not. Check it ... and tell me if it's a tough one :)
Thanks and enjoy the book!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: A great work of fiction. Very entertaining. The issues Mr. Brown fictionalizes in the book are probably much more complex than he deals with them here, but he's a novelist, not a historian. In a way, his blatant disregard for providing "balance" in the book is refreshing. Pseudo-counter arguments would have given the novel a greater sense of legitimacy but also would have bogged down and ruined the book. Perhaps the best thing to do is to suspend your logic, prepare to be entertained and read. Ultimately, this book could inspire many to do some real research into the mysteries it addresses.
As a layperson, I'm not sure how accurate Brown's research was. My instincts tell me that much of it was at least "stretched." A strong argument could be made that Brown should have put some sort of disclaimer or explanation into the book, either at the beginning or the end, that either made it clear that he exagerated some of the historical aspects of the book or offered some real reporting on the current research being done on the topics he fictionalizes - i.e the Holy Grail, Mary Magdaline, Knights Templar, etc. Thus the four stars from me instead of five.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of Time
Review: The book is a waste of time for any serious reader. If you want to learn about the many interesting historical, symbological, and religious factoids that are sprinkled throughout the text, read a synopsis. But you will not be entertained by this novel. The author can undoubtedly turn out a respectable academic paper, but he should have had collaboration in writing a work of fiction. Quite simply, he cannot construct a plot that builds tension and drives the story. His characters are shallow and give the reader little reason to care about them. The heroes aren't heroic and the villains are bland. The worst part is the dialogue, which is unrealistic, stilted, often inappropriate, and rather juvenile. The author also shares a flaw with Robert Ludlum... whenever a seemingly insurmountable problem arises, he pops up a new character who has the solution. After a while, we anticipate this and lose any feeling of tension, fear, dread, excitement, etc. that would normally keep us turning the pages. As for the main theses of the book... the "truth" regarding the life and death of Jesus, the meaning of the Holy Grail, the suppression of the feminine roots of Christianity, and the roles of various secret societies... again all of this can be learned about in a few minutes' works on the Internet. I regret the hours I spent plodding through this clunker... I'd have done better reading Harry Potter!
Rating:
Summary: Un-put-down-able
Review: This book will grab your interest from the first chapter. Dan Brown is able to bring da Vinci's work to life in full-color and he adds history and conspiracies behind the works of art as well. Although the book is at times cliched and transparent, the main plot will keep you hooked to discover as much as you can about the history of the Holy Grail and what (or who) it is.
|
