The Da Vinci Code

Rating:
Summary: A fast-paced, plot twisting, murder mystery.
Review: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

To state the obvious, this book is a great page-turner, full of puzzles, foreshadowing, suspense, mystery, character surprises, humor and even a happy ending. To some, it will disturb the foundation of their faith and others may be launched into a study of the alternative theories of the history of Christianity. Although written as fiction, this author bases his novel on historical religious facts and controversial issues.

Not so obvious is the name the author gives to one of the leading characters, the curator of the Louvre, Jacques Sauniere, unless one has read "The Tomb of God" and "The Hiram Key," both of which are not mentioned in this novel. It may be that the author picked this particular surname because it is tied into those similar religious mysteries found in the other books. Abbe Berenger Sauniere (1852-1917) was the parish priest of the church of St. Mary Magdalene at Rennes-le-Chateau, France where he discovered certain parchments buried in a wall and allegedly turned the Abbe into a very wealthy person. It is also alleged that this was the church where one of the kings of the Merovingians, Dagobert II married Visigoth princess, Gizelle de Razes. Why the connection? It is about the Priory of Sion and Mary Magdalene's connection to this town. For more on that mystery, read the "Tomb of God."

The first name of Jacques is also the historical name of Jacques De Molay. In 1292 he was the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. In 1307 after the infamous Friday the thirteenth round up of the Knights, he was crucified, but not killed until seven years later. For more on that mystery and the Rosslyn Chapel, read "The Hiram Key."

Brown toys with names, such as Bishop Aringarosa, the character who goes around in circles, perhaps suggesting the song, A ring around the rosie...We all fall down. Further, could it suggest sub-rosa, a ring for the Rosa? Still other names and places point out character traits and connections to the mystery.

From Fibonacci's numbers, Lewis Carroll's mirror code, Da Vinci's work, the Priory of Sion and other religious, controversial issues, this author knows where Newton's apple falls and has come up with this fast paced plot twister and best seller. "How dark the con of Man." ...smiling all the way to the bank.

Jack Mellone 6/29/03

Rating:
Summary: A REAL Page Turner!
Review: I try to read as many books as I can, and honestly, I have found few books written in the past decade that I can truly call "page turners" - books you just can't put down. I had heard about this book through some friends who praised it profusely. I bought a copy and haven't been able to put it down. I read the first 150 pages or so without stopping. This book is a masterpiece of suspense and intrigue. Mr. Brown has shot to the top of my list of outstanding authors, and if he writes another book like this one, you can bet I'll be the first in line to buy it. A VERY important novel, destined to be a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Just silly bigotry
Review: I read this book on the recommendation of a professional acquaintance. It was poorly written and substantively odious. I am tempted to recount the book's astonishingly vast number of factual errors, but for the most part they have been adequately digested in other reviews. The book's worst element, however, is the obvious bigotry oozing from its pages. Bottom line: If you liked the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," you'll love "The Da Vinci Code." Or perhaps more disturbingly, if you liked "The Da Vinci Code," you'll love "The Protocols...."

Rating:
Summary: Familiar
Review: I read this book after having read Lewis Perdue's _Daughter of God_ a couple of years ago, especially after the recent articles about Perdue's charge that _The DaVinci Code_ was based on his own. I was prepared to side with Brown, after all on the surface they share the common theme of early Christianity.

After finishing, I think my first impression may have been wrong.

Rating:
Summary: Best read I've had in years
Review: Mr Brown has taken the research of scholars and produced a thriller/mystery that's bound to entertain and educate. The book is fast-paced and impossible to put down. A hard-core mystery fan, I haven't enjoyed a read like this in...a very, very long time.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating mystery
Review: i'm not typically one who gets engrossed by books, because frankly, most of those daunting, thick, best-sellers bore me. But this was great. i really couldn't put it down. before i knew it, i was 70 pages into it in my first sitting. It appeals to so many people. If you like reading about religion, art, mysteries, suspense, history, or even crime chases, you'll really like this. My only complaint was that i didn't really like the last chapter..i thought it was a bit of a cop-out into a cliche novel. the epilogue was good though. also, i think maybe it was a tiny bit too quickly paced. I was nice to see things move swiftly, and have the plot grab you and jump into full swing almost right away, but the pace got a little too frantic for my taste in some parts. but still, i'm 99% satisfied, and being quite a cynical person, i'm a tough critic to please.

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent and Fun Read
Review: This book was great. The mysteries in the book will keep you reading well into the night. It's very fast paced and exciting to read. The facts are well mingled with this fiction and are blended to keep you thinking about the book even after it's through.

Rating:
Summary: Arrrrrrrgh!
Review: Well, I must be an army of one, but this is the most wretchedly written book it's been my misfortune to encounter in many a long day. I'm a lifelong mystery and thriller afficionado, and it's rare that such an interesting concept has been presented in such a banal, pedestrian, stultifying, and often ridiculous style. Phooey.

. . . but many others have loved it, so . . .

Rating:
Summary: SIZZLES
Review: I'm more of a self help book reader than fiction. But I do have my share of fictions. My favorite author has been Tom Clancy. Till now. The Divinci Code boiles with suspense and makes you want to know more and more. I think this tops any of my Clancy books. As for the self help, The Little Guide To Happiness is and will always be my favorite. Whatever your genre. You can't go wrong here.

Rating:
Summary: Very well written and plotted, but
Review: I found it distracting in his obvious agenda/bias re the Roman Catholic Church. Not that it is an inappropriate one, it just seems to be a thread woven in two of his books I've recently read.

Putting that aside the book is great and the premise possible, and it's tightly written. Hard to put down as you want to find out what is coming next!

I shall continue to buy Mr. Brown's work and I recommend his work on my own web site.

He's educational too about arcane and archaic thoughts/theories without being pendantic. One's sense of history is enlarged by reading Mr. Brown's book. His fiction does seem to be based on facts in my opinion.