Rating: 
Summary: CREEPY
Review: Chilling fiction with enough religious realism to creep the jeebers out of you. And replace it with the Heebs. Great, creative, work that will have you in suspense from page one. And once your done getting creeped out, try, The Little Guide To Happiness. This book is also a great book. The difference is that one will give you a good clean scare and the other will lift you up and have you smiling. Both great books I picked up at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing!
Review: Besides going deep into the history of Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus Christ, Dan Brown uncovers the mysterious and secret, religious Catholic sect: Opus Dei. I had often heard similar rumors about their bizarre religous beliefs and this book confirms many of them. The DaVinci Code is carefully researched and the author has taken the time to include specific facts and details, which makes it all the more fascinating, e.g. the history of the tarot cards and astrology. I learned so much while being fully entertained. This was my first book that I've read by this author and I plan to read his other books as soon as possible. The mathematical & word puzzles are a delight. Women of all ages will adore this book because the author confirms what we have known all along: women are sacred. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: And I learned stuff too!
Review: This book was one not to put down. It was the first of Dan Brown's books I have read, and I guarantee it will not be the last. The way in which the author weaves in facts and historical theories is amazing. I enjoyed the story and learned a lot too. Perhaps Mr. Brown should try writing texts books, I guarentee students would retain a lot more knowledge if he did!
Rating: 
Summary: An Intriguing Attempt To Change The Fundamentals Of History
Review: Although an interesting read, I do NOT encourage anyone to read The DaVinci Code. This book is a blatant continuation of a centuries-old attack on the deity of Jesus Christ and a call for the return of paganism. The "proof" that Jesus Christ is not God, nor claimed to be God, is none other than the works of Leonardo DaVinci...of course, the fact that DaVinci lived 1500 years after Christ does not deter Dan Brown from concluding that DaVinci's work is more credible than the contemporaries of Jesus Christ who recorded Jesus Christ's own words, such as, "I and the Father are one," which is the reason why the religious leaders of the day sought to kill him (see John 10:30 & 31).To refute the Gospels that were written by eye-witnesses, Brown alludes to the gnostic gospels which were not written during the first generation of the Church and were written as the first attacks against the deity of Jesus Christ. Surprisingly, although Brown considers Jesus Christ a pivotal person in history, he never brings up the most significant reason that Jesus Christ changed time as we know it (B.C. and A.D.): over 500 people, including the Roman soldiers guarding his tomb, witnessed his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven a month and a half later! What makes this an intriguing read is that in trying to build a case for worship of the goddess, Brown uses imagery from the Garden of Eden-a biblical theme. The innocent Eve, Sophie Neveu, is being tempted by both the knowledgeable but naive Adam, Robert Langdon, and by the devil himself: the deceptive and terribly capable, Sir Leigh Teabing. In Brown's story, Adam prevails over the devil because of Eve and Eve is exalted as the pinnacle of creation. That's a noble story but Brown creates it by debasing the deity of Jesus Christ and the history of Christianity. In Brown's tale, Mary Magdalene, not the Apostle Peter, is the rightful "head" of the Church (which is not an accurate statement of St. Peter's role as defined by Jesus Christ anyway). Mary Magdalene, the supposed wife of Jesus Christ, is the beloved disciple, not the Apostle John. It was the male disciples who, in Brown's tale, are anti-women and who in order to build an empire, suppressed the truth about Jesus and Mary and about Mary's rightful role. However, Brown fails to re-state that for this empire, all of Jesus Christ's disciples (except for John) suffered excrutiating deaths for their belief that Jesus Christ was God come in the flesh (St. Peter was crucified on a cross up-side down; others were boiled alive, cut in half, fed to lions...and so it continued for three centuries under various Roman rulers!). Apparently, Brown hopes his tale will convince nominal Catholics, Mormons who accept "extra-scripture" texts, and other religiously-minded people who are vaguely aware of who Jesus Christ is and who recognize DaVinci, Mozart and Newton, among others, as historical and therefore credible figures. My advice: Don't spend the money.
Rating: 
Summary: If you've done 'the reading'...
Review: If you've read any non-fiction books dealing with the Grail and the Priory already... Well...
When I first saw this book in the store, I grabbed it (thinking it was non-fiction), read the inside flaps of the dust jacket and put it back. I didn't think too much of the book until I heard more praise for it, then I purchased a copy.
I will agree with most of the other reviewers and say this: it was definately a quick read, not a bad book at all. BUT, as a big fan of the 'alternate history' genre (or whatever they call it these days) I had already done all, and much more, of the reading behind this book. Basically nothing new in there (if you've read books like: Holy Blood, Holy Grail; The Templar Revelation, etc...) But I do like the fact that someone has finally written a good novel dealing with the information that's been out there for a while but relegated to the 'fringe'.
So actually, I would give this book a 4 and a half star rating if I had been completely unfamiliar with the subjects covered. I was also pleased to see a listing of several books 'for further reading' given at the outset of one of the chapters. A worthwhile experience either way.
Rating: 
Summary: Paper-thin characters prop up a slow-moving plot...
Review: ...which is really only intended to showcase a set of outrageous historical howlers. This book is a transparent attempt to undermine the faith of Christians -- and to pad the author's bank account. What begins as a fairly nifty thriller -- the first 75 pages or so are diverting, I do admit -- quickly gets bogged down in wildly inaccurate claims about the Catholic Church which any casual student of European history will be able to see through. The characters are totally static, standing there like featureless beaches upon which bogus historical "explanations" hammer interminably, wave upon wave upon wave. I only finished this bilious pile because relatives asked me to. I think they secretly feared that the "fascinating esoterica of history"-- as, I believe, the above review put it -- was true. But not to fear. This book is neither "fascinating" nor historical. It is pure fiddle-faddle, and don't waste your time or your money.
Rating:
Summary: Pick up a used copy
Review: Don't believe the hype. This is a very basic thriller, containing information that's standard in an introductory college-level art history class. The "puzzles" are laughable at best, character development is nil, and the writing style is about ninth grade. Plenty of artistic license has been taken with history. If you enjoy formulaic stories, you'll like it; if you want more substance, you probably won't.
Rating:
Summary: Don't be fooled by the hype!
Review: Argh. I was very intrigued by this book - at first. Da Vinci. Code. Murder. Conspiracy. Mmm, tasty. Then I read it. Initially, I put up with some of the initial very contrived plot points (some events are just WAY to convenient). And then I tolerated the characters' overwrought inner monologues ('Wait! How could he possibly know that? Yes, that happened to be my grandfather's secret little favorite thing to do that no one ever knew about and now convienently allows me to tell you something I could not possibly have known otherwise that enables this ridiculous plot point to actually work out!'). But I just can't keep going on. This book reads like a bad TV movie, or worse, like a bad soap opera epsiode where *every* inner thought of each character is revealed as though we were idiots. Revealing subtle plot points is one thing; beating the reader over the head with a club of patronizingly innane dialog is entirely another. Not to mention the contrived 'cliffhangers' at the end of each chapter, conveniently developed because a character insists on concealing information for no other reason than to conceal information to develop a cliffhanger for the chapter. The whole thing reads like a really cool idea for a rough draft as told throught the eyes of a high school student. The book reads as though the author stumbled across some wild research by someone else and decided to make a book that used that research without really knowing what it was all about. The plot is so stinkin' contrived that I found myself on *numerous* occasions rolling my eyes and shaking my head in disbelief that the author actually expected me to buy what I just read. It seemed as though the author realized he had boxed himself into a corner after creating a weird twist that he just thought was cool, so instead of reworking the twist into something more plausible, he just manipulated things into a convenient resolution that suddenly made everything 'okay' (like a convenient backstory about a certain logo on a certain key plot piece that justified a certain childhood nickname ). Please. Some of the stuff might 'make sense' for the moment and serve to keep things afloat (though gasping for breath) and temporarily block a gaping plot hole with duct tape and a wad of Bubble Yum so the reader doesn't completely lose it and run sreaming for a refund, but they ultimately only serve to pacify the need for something deeper and more substantial, much like drinking sugar water. Sorry, I'm just not into this kind of thing. Fun reading is one thing, but I can't do this. I just can't do it. It's mindless summer reading that requires no thought by the reader to engage it. The reader is told what to think and where to think it. In fact, someone could zone out for several chapters and not really miss anything, much like skipping a few weeks of your favorite soap opera. Even with all the mysterious conspiracy theories that the author attempts to weave into the book, it still reads (literally) like a rough concept draft that would need serious revision before ever going to press. Sure, as a novel it has all the classic elements (no blaring plot contradictions (they're all conveniently resolved, remember?), multiple parallel story lines, hero vs. villain, good vs. evil, etc., etc.) that at the very least make it competent (thus the 2 stars), but the writing is choppy and juvenile with participial phrases out the wazoo. You're time could be just as well spent reading the latest issue of Cosmo. And at least then you'd walk away with potentially applicable information... I must admit I am surprised this book sits atop the bestseller list. (But then again 'Kangaroo Jack' was the number one movie the first week it was out.) If you are considering this book, please, please, please be aware of what you are getting yourself into. It's not a fantastic work of literary insight. But if you enjoy literature that patronizes you into a corner of disbelief, then by all means, pick up your plastic page marker and dig in!
Rating:
Summary: Territic thriller!
Review: The Da Vinci Code is a perfect summer read. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways while historic connections weave everything together. I couldn't put this book down.
Rating:
Summary: The book rocks, BUT
Review: Hi! I thought this was a great book, it was a real eye-opener to those who had yet to learn about the origin of the church and whatnot. The book was very overwhelming for me, it challenged much of what I've been taught, but also opened quite a few doors. I'd recommend this book to anyone. Not only is it full of real information, but it's fiction and tells of an awesome adventure story. A real page-tuner! Most people might take the time to write in about tiny details about certain paintings that do not allign correctly. I too have a corection to make! The character Robert Langdon claims one of his students came to him bearing The Lion King on DVD. Hardly possible! The Lion King isn't out on DVD yet, silly Dan Brown......
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