The Da Vinci Code

Rating:
Summary: Paranoid
Review: This book will have you paranoid and looking over your shoulder. Turn all the lights on in your house at night while reading it. I also recommend The Little Guide To Happiness. Totally different genre, but it's my favorite and I simply must mention it.

Rating:
Summary: Good idea--amateurish writing
Review: No, I'm not here to comment on any aspect of Brown's treatment of Christianity. When I read this book, I was merely looking for a gripping historical novel. Unfortunately, this book fell far short of the mark. The major weakness is Brown's unaccomplished writing. He displays just about every habit of a poor writer: characters tend to overreact to obvious events, the author feels compelled to explain every simple idea to the reader, unnecessary excuses for necessary plot elements (e.g., French characters speaking English) are introduced repeatedly, the author attempts to create tension through the tired cliche of ending each chapter with a pseudo-cliffhanger ("she couldn't believe what she was witnessing!") which is resolved later in the book, the dialogue is stilted, and so on. Even the main theme of the book (obvious from the start), which is intrisically interesting regarless of your religion (or lack thereof), cannot overcome the author's incompetent writing. To be fair to Brown he does seem to have researched this book, but he just didn't have the skill to put it all together.

Rating:
Summary: Re-hashed Templar & New Age conspiracy theory
Review: Brown is a competent writer - and he has some cursory knowledge of the history of icons & symbols. But if ever there were proof that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing" then this is it. Similarity in symbols doesn't prove conspiracy. Some of the leaps to make connections are quite ludicrous. And the author's smug denunciation of Christianity is quite grating at times. The howlers about the Council of Nicea, the Crusades, & the gnostic gospels have been noted in other reviews. One particularly egregious mistake is the repetition of the charge that DaVinci was a homosexual. This is the sort of innuendo that the modern age loves - though there is almost no evidence for it outside of some nasty comments by Leonardo's enemies. Leonardo would be incensed by the charge (though perhaps amused by the charge that he was Grand Prior). The facts of Leonardo's career are fascinating without having to invent a second, secret career for him.
The charge that Christianity has suppressed the "divine feminine" because Christians are hung up about sex would be laughably funny if it were not so ludicrous. Symbology professors should be required to read up on the marriage of Martin & Katy Luther before piously assuming that only modern liberal members of the literati have really understood sex.
The other reviewers are correct in referring readers to Umberto Ecco for a better job at this genre. The Name of the Rose is well worth the read! (and the history is actually good - not concocted!
Rating:
Summary: A masterful work...
Review: This novel is a amsterful work that combines a realistic story of fiction with an amazing buffet of facts. I love books that take common knowledge and show how it could be/in fact is otherwise. This book fits that description in every chapter within. I hope to read his other works as soon as possible.

Rating:
Summary: I can't stop talking about this book !!
Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read! It was a first
Dan Brown for me and certainly won't be my last. After reading it, I immediately ordered a copy to be shipped to two of my out of town friends, insisting they read it. This book is so entertaining and so thought provoking. I found every word to be SO interesting and could not put it down. The story was fast paced and exciting, but I especially loved all of the factual stuff in it. I was online immediately, excitedly looking up the works of art, math facts and the religious societies the book discusses. I haven't been so excited about recommending a book in a long time. This is a great book, no matter what your reading taste is. Truly a book for everyone. Thank you Dan Brown.

Rating:
Summary: Good Summer Fun
Review: I thought this was a good book. Of course most of the book will turn most conservative people way off, but it was fun to hear some thoughts on the other side of things, some of the items talked about could very of well happened. Look for yourself at the "Last Supper", I was surprised I didn't catch one of the things before. Overall a good chase mystery novel.
The author is not "pushing" any particular views on you, it is just a novel afterall.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible - mind-blowing - thought-provoking - excellent
Review: This is by far one of the best books I've read in a very long time and I am an avid reader. I will have to say I picked it up and didn't literally put it down until the end. Where would you stop? The author isn't against the Christain faith as some have written. I believe he actually confirms it. Many scientists, artists and brilliant minds were ridiculed in their day and have been clearly accepted today. Is it a book of controversy? Absolutely. Does it make you think, look and pick up copies of old masters to see what you've never seen before. Definitely. Does it get people talking around the coffepot about a subject long forgotten? You bet. It is exhilirating. My favorite line was about the greatest book ever written - "you mean Harry Potter is about the Holy Grail?" - "I was speaking of the Bible." I would love to meet this writer. Kudos to you sir. And thanks from a female fan. May your tribe increase.

Rating:
Summary: I Couldn't Put The Book Down
Review: Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down! It was captivating. I can't wait to read another of Dan Brown's books.

Rating:
Summary: The Da Vinci Code
Review: This intricate web of fact and fiction is quite possibly the best book I have ever read. Dan Brown does a great job of keep the mystery suspenceful while also showing you things from almost everyone in the novels perspective. I learned more from this book than I have in any other, the fight between the Priory of Sion and the catholic section Opus Dei leads to an interesting climax and alot of action.

Rating:
Summary: It Twisted Nicely
Review: I bought this book after watching Dan Brown interviewed by Matt on the Today Show. It was a good interview and the premise of a religious symbologist as a main character interested me. That coupled with my interest in the Knights Templar and the Catholic Church made it a necessary read for me.

It was a good read. The premises it played with were fun, thoughtful and on occasion the author even managed to confuse me a little with his twists. I mean confusion in a good way. However, there were certain "symbols" which arose that I picked up on immediately and which took his main character far to long considering his profession. The cryptograms were fun to play with and the final twist was delicious although that was telegraphed a little as well.

The writing is fast paced, very literate and I never got the feeling that the author was trying to show how bright he is, which is often the case in this type of thriller.

It's a good, fun read...I recommend it. This was my first novel of Dan Brown's and I have just ordered Angels and Demons. He's not Umberto Eco...but who is?

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