Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but vastly over-rated
Review: I admit my feelings about this book may have been colored by having recently read a far superior, and much more exciting, one that has virtually the same over-view, Daniel Siva's "The Confessor". While the history and erudition contained within "DaVinci" cannot help but be fascinating (hence the 3-stars), the book itself is overlong... and for no good reason! Further, it is hampered by an annoying "tick" that, ultimately, becomes infuriating. Mr. Brown seems to feel that one builds suspense by NEVER revealing anything of importance to the plot without first taking page-upon-page of digression after we have been told that something important IS going to be revealed. While this can be effective when used sparingly, it truly becomes irritating when it is used constantly! One example, which occurs right at the beginning: We are told a murder victim has placed himself in an odd position before dying. We are told this two, three, four, times. Yet we have to go through page after page of description of the Louvre museum (where the body is) before we find out what the position is! And there is no reason for this (it's just the tip of the iceberg) except for Brown to show off his knowledge of history.
In short, while I'm sure many will find this tour of ancient culture fascinating (I did myself), as a thriller it fails.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Views Sure to Spark Much Debate
Review: I work at a bookstore. A little over a month ago, we got an advanced copy of this book and a letter from the publisher and thought nothing more of it. The next week, we got a letter from our home office asking us to read the book before its release. I was the first to read it. I was completely amazed, suprised, and delighted to find The Da Vinci Code a very refreshing read.The book is based on the idea that the Holy Grail is actually Mary Magadaline and that the early church hid documents and changed who she actually was in order to further its own cause. Taken from actual historical and theological works and ideas, Dan Brown crafts a remarkable story around a 2000 year old controversy. Robert Langdon is a professor at Harvard suddenly finding himself mixed up in the bizarre murder of the Louvre's curator. As the story moves on, there are many twists, turns and shocking suprises that are completely unexpected. Helped by Sophie, a French cop, Langdon helps to unravel the mystery of the Holy Grail and the secret society that watches over it. This book is truly amazing and has lead me to consider other books with similar ideas like "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" and the "Templar Revelation" among others. If you have any interest in Christianity at all, read the book!
Rating:
Summary: Mind-Blowing
Review: It is such a cliché in popular fiction today for over excited readers to exclaim, "I couldn't put this book down!" Seriously, what kind of life do you have that you cannot afford to never put a book down? That said, I have rarely had a book grip me as this new novel from Dan Brown has. It really is addictive, I avoided such trivial things as school and eating just to read some more of this book, any chance I could get. After I read Brown's earlier Robert Langdon thriller, Angels and Demons, I knew he had a real talent as a thriller writer. The DaVinci Code solidifies this opinion, as it puts Brown on the pedestal as one of the best thriller writers going. Brown?s stories are so great because the settings and the history behind them are absolutely intriguing. This is evident on almost every page of the book. The main thrust of the story is the mysterious death of an art academic at the famous Paris museum, the Louvre. At first, it seems to be a fairly simple homicide, but it becomes much more confusing when Harvard symbiologist Robert Langdon gets to the scene, at the request of the French National Police. Upon examining the body, he begins to realize that there are mysterious messages all over the crime scene, some connected to the masterpieces themselves. Aided by a French police cryptologist, Langdon begins to put the pieces together. The puzzle paints a disturbing portrait, and powerful international interests begin targeting Langdon. For the conspiracy Langdon has discovered is no simple matter of politics or money, he has come upon the basis of Western Civilization itself. Hidden in the works of master painter Leonardo Da Vinci is a secret so controversial, it would change the world forever. Guarding the secret and the power it possesses is a shadowy ancient brotherhood, known as the Priory of Sion. For centuries, this group of men has passed the secret down through the ages, guarding it by taking extreme security measures. The secret, now, is up for grabs, and everyone wants to get their hands on it. The real life Catholic sect known as Opus Dei is also in the mix, with a group of their officials conspiring to bring ruin to the hated Priory and seizing the power themselves. They employ a horrifying assassin to hunt down the ancient secret. Langdon finds himself stuck in the middle, with groups following him and the police hot on his trail. He and his companion never give up though, and, using their combined knowledge, begin to unlock the maze of codes and clues that lead to the secret of the ages. The best part about Browns novels is that they are just non-stop excitement and intrigue. Every page has something going on, some new code, some new development. It is just insane. Some might complain that he throws in too much history, but I found the informational really enthralling. Another attribute of this novel is its mysterious and haunting tone, the reader feels like he or she has been let into a secret chase for an amazing artifact. Also, his setting descriptions are wonderful, I fully plan on taking Angels and Demons with me when I go to Rome, and The DaVinci Code would be good for a trip to Paris or England. It is clear that Brown really goes the extra mile for his readers by giving them well-researched and exciting books. You really learn a lot when you read his books, including little snippets of information you will just shake your head at. Nowhere is this more evident than when Brown describes some amazing mysteries in the actual paintings. I guarantee you will never look at the Last Supper the same way again. There are some downsides. I did not like how Brown portrays "the secret" as if it had some basis in fact, real life. In reality, the idea he presents has been disproven many times. I wish he had included a bibliography of his research materials, I would really enjoy reading those also. The ending is way too incomplete, I wanted to throw the book against the wall in frustration. How could you do that to us Dan? Oh well, I will just have to wait patiently for the next novel.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!!!
Review: I was given an advanced readers copy of this book by my boss.I will forever be in her debt!!
While I read this book I became very anti social, refusing to talk to anyone or even acknowledge their presence when I had this book in my hand, all I wanted to do & did with any free time I had was read this book. It is glaringly obvious that Dan Brown did alot of research on this book and was extremely thorough. It's not often that I come away from a book and want to learn more about the subject matter. When I realized how much I was enjoying the book (after chapter 2, I think) I went and bought all his other books, I'm now reading angels & demons and I'm loving it!! I have found a new author whose books I will buy blindly from now on!!The only draw back is that judging from the amount of research that went into his books it might be a while before we hear from Prof. Langdon again!! If you like your books filled with facts, intelligence, suspense and an oppurtunity to learn about new subjects too DaVinci Code is the way to go.
Dan Brown you have a new fan !!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This book is definitely a page turner, fast-paced and suspenseful. Be prepared to think of nothing else except reading this book during every spare moment you have once you start it. The plot is filled with interesting characters, puzzles and historical information. You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: The first book I've read in a day since "Harry Potter"!
Review: Brown's narrative style is like great chocolate: rich, seductive, and seriously addictive. I read this one in a single day, and look forward to reading it again! I absolutely love Grail fiction, so finding this novel was like finding...well, you get the idea. The ideas may not be totally new, but they are presented in a gripping and fascinating manner. I'm sure that there will be knee-jerk reactions from many Catholics, but even though I am a Christian I found Brown's ideas about the role of political manipulation in the history of the Church to be intriguing food for thought. Here's to thinking outside the box!
Rating:
Summary: An amazing and insightful book
Review: This book was a page turner from moment one. It is filled with so many factual, and interesting information that it really gets you thinking. I had to look up the painting of the first supper and really look at it. I was so impressed with this book and its fast-paced, keep you guessing edge that I'm going back to buy his other books!
Rating:
Summary: Inventive and exhilarating
Review: The most clever novel I've read in yesrs! Brown has created a labyrinthine plot full of suspense, style, and damned good writing. If you read only one book this week, make it The Da Vinci Code.
Rating:
Summary: Inventive and exhilarating
Review: The most clever novel I've read in years! Brown has created a labyrinthine plot full of suspense, style, and damned good writing. If you read only one book this week, make it The Da Vinci Code.
Rating: 
Summary: 4 1/2 Stars...Everything is Suspect
Review: Not since the breathlessness of "The Day of the Jackal" or "The Bourne Identity" have I read a thriller this riveting. Dan Brown sinks the hooks in and drags us through the night hours with a plot that won't let go. "The Da Vinci Code," like Ludlum's classic "The Gemini Contenders," deals with secrets within secrets of the Catholic Church. In this case, the Church has tried to suppress certain relics that would cause embarrassment and doubt for many of its billion believers. The relics, discovered by the Knights Templar during the Crusades, have been entrusted to a line of guardians to this present age. The problem: the guardians are being murdered, threatening the knowledge of this ancient secret. When a renowned symbologist and a female cryptologist find themselves joined at a murder scene in the Louvre, they are about to go on a twenty-four hour dash for their lives and for the survival of the secret, as hinted at by the Da Vinci Code. Brown not only keeps the pace at a gallop for the full 454 pages, he deals out clues and deceptions and word games like a Vegas dealer flipping cards. (In fact, the origin of the four suits of cards is even broached in this fascinating book!) Somehow, with mesmerizing skill, Brown draws us deeper into the mystery without setting our heads spinning. But you might find yourself nodding, smiling, and gasping in reaction. Ultimately, "The Da Vinci Code" swings the pendulum from run-of-the-mill thriller to a discourse on religious roots. Yes, I believe the Church has put forth a male-dominant view of God that is inconsistent with the Bible. The Bibles states in Genesis that both man and woman were created in God's image. Where Brown, or his Knights Templar, might swing too far the other way is in asserting God as the sacred goddess instead. Biblically, yes, God is spirit, encapsulating all the traits of man and woman in the divine. However, "The Da Vinci Code" dips into pagan practices and gnosticism, calling into question the veracity of Scripture. As a thriller, this book can hardly be beat. As a treatise on spirituality, it comes up suspect on factual and theological levels.
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