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Summary: A puzzle for you guys:
Review: I just channelled Mary Magdalene and she sent me a secret message: Unscramble the so-called "title" of this book and you'll get the REAL title...THE DAVINCI CODE
DAN ETHIC VOICED Coincidence or conspiracy? You be the judge!
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Summary: Amazing Read
Review: This book was great. There. All of my thoughts put into five words. It was so good that I managed to finished of in two days. Whats more, I was only able to do that with the Harry Potter books. Every one should read it.
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Summary: Fact Fraught with Fiction
Review: I was recently reading a message board setup specifically for readers to discuss Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. I was shocked by the prevailing ignorance of most of the posters - Christian and non-Christian. I just can't believe that people would take a piece of fiction so literal. Then I remembered why - because of the pompous statement by the author at the beginning of his book stating that "All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate." Since when does a conspiracy THEORY become fact - I'll tell you when - when you're trying to sell to an unassuming public. This book is to be read with a grain of salt. Mr. Brown mixes fact with fiction and uses his characters to tout it as absolute truth. I will admit, this is a page turner - a definate thriller at the core. But this is far from any reputable history book. There is no second-guessing why this is in the FICTION category on Amazon.com. A few examples: 1.) Something called the Order de Sion existed in the Middle Ages up until, at the latest, the 17th century; something called the Prieure du Sion existed from at least 1956 to 1984; whether these two groups have any actual relationship to each other, we will never know. The duties and responsibilities of the Order de Sion is still unknown to this day. The idea that their purpose was to protect the secret of the Holy Grail is FICTION - THEORY. 2.) The Knights Templar were arrested on charges of heresy by the church because they were going to reveal the true meaning of The Holy Grail. Another piece of FICTION - THEORY. The Knights Templar WERE involved in heresy. King Philip the Fair was also after the wealth they had amassed by becoming bankers, diplomats, masons, etc. He used the heresy charge as an excuse to obtain that wealth. 3.) The Nag Hammadi Library which includes The Gnostic Gospel of Philip is taughted as one of many lost manuscripts predating the New Testament and early Orthodox Christianity. Supposedly, these documents reveal the true nature of Christ and His relationship to Mary Magdalene. According to Mr. Brown, Constantine canonized The Bible, burning documents like those of The Nag Hammadi Library only because Christianity was on the rise and paganism was out the door. This is FICTION - THEORY. Constantine converted to Christianity and was disgusted by gnostic pagan ritual. This wasn't a strategic business move as Dan Brown asserts. As far as the Nag Hammadi Library being a prelature to Christianity - this is a gross misrepresentation. Christianity predates Gnosticism, no matter how old the Nag Hammadi Library. Read the New Testament. You will quickly understand that Gnosticism is a sect, broken off from the early Christian church. Their beliefs were skewed and they mixed pagan ritual with Christian thought. Those are just 3 simple examples. This book is an interesting and fun read, but far from fact. If you read it, take the time to do the research for yourself and figure out where Dan Brown's fact becomes FICTION.
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Summary: Wow...fastest read ever.
Review: Super summer reading! There is SO MUCH that keeps the reader focused and engaged. Brown writes detail, but keeps the story moving. I confess...after reading this book, I looked at Da Vinci's Last Supper for quite a long time. Who knew?
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Summary: Great book
Review: Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. This is the best book I have ever read. It really made me want to see everything the book was talking about. Although this book is fiction, almost everything in it makes sense, so it's not unbelievable. The DaVinci Code is a unique, well-written book. It's great trying to figure things out before the characters do. I recommend this book to everybody.
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Summary: Shocked and Awed!
Review: Dan Brown digs deeper into the origins of Jesus and religion in "The Da Vinci Code." Borrowing heavily from "Holy Blood Holy Grail," Brown semi-fictionalizes information regarding the true source of the Holy Grail in this latest thriller. With enough plot twists to start his own pretzel factory, Brown shocks and awes with deft precision in this wonderful mystery. While I wasn't personally impressed with his previous work, "Angels and Demons," after reading "...Da Vinci...", I may very well return and reread his other work. But this one is strongly recommended!
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Summary: Great Summer Read
Review: Yes, some of the facts are inaccurate, the romantic points of the story are a waste of time (don't worry there aren't too many of them), and the ending is disappointing.
However, I found this book to be very engaging from the start and built up enough momentum a long the way that the ending and other "flaws" seemed to be of little consequence.
Dan Brown provides enough solid facts to compensate for those that seem to be skewed in the name of plot development. Had the author taken the time to explain every side of every arguement the characters make in regards to history the book would have not moved nearly as fluidly. Remember, this book is meant to be read for enjoyment, not to base your college thesis off of. In the end the reader is left with a heightened interest in the works of art and groups mentioned in this book and has been entertained in the process.
If you are looking for a fun book to read this is a great choice. It moves you along quickly and keeps your interest. It may cause you to want to review some history and I think that it is wonderful when a book helps to develop new interests.
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Summary: Perfect beach Book
Review: This summer's hot bestseller is fast-paced, well-written and fun--just take it all with a grain of salt! Create a rather tweedy American professor, a gorgeous red-headed Italian detective and a bizarre murder, and you have the stuff of hundreds of mysteries--but toss in the current fad for art-related novels ("Girl with the Pearl Earring") and interest in the seamier side of Catholicism, and you have a winner! The "DaVinci Code" presents a timeless theme, the search for the Holy Grail, as a search to uncover the truth about the sacred feminine in Catholicism, which the male dominated establishment Church has supressed for centuries. Brown's introductory footnote regarding the truth of much of the material in the novel overstates his case--even the most cursory search on the internet suggests that the facts are highly disputed, Brown's interpretations of Leonardo's work hardly mainstream, and even the existence of a group like the Priory of Sion is a lot murkier than the novel suggests. Much has been written about factual inaccuracies in the book--"The Last Supper" is not a fresco for example, and the "Madonna of the Rocks" is painted on wood, not canvas. But never mind--it's a great read. The book will send you to the library to look at some of Leonardo's works again, and I'm sure there's already a big increase in tourists at Rosslyn Chapel in England and St. Sulpice in Paris, not to mention the Lourve. The action incredibly takes place all in 24 hours, and at the end all the villians but one get let off the hook in a rather simplistic conclusion, but don't let that spoil the fun. Brown has hit on a winning formula---one we're sure to see at the movies soon!
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Summary: Excellent Novel
Review: I was "assigned" the Da Vinci Code for my book club, and did not know what to expect. What i got was a fantasic story, well written, with so many references to real life and history that I was constantly on the internet doing research! The book is a well-written mystery which ties famous pieces of art to the bible and general history. Many of the speculations I have heard before, and it was excellent to hear a new twist. I loved the characters, and could not put the book down. I highly recommend to any mystery/history/general fiction lover!
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Summary: Loved it
Review: I couldn't put the book down -- I really enjoyed it. A very entertaining and educational book. Helps to have traveled to the same places.
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