The Da Vinci Code

Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: I am a christian man and I found this a very good read. I know there are a lot of reviewers bombing this book due to its content. That is only due to the fact people cannot seperate Fiction and NON-Fiction. Dan Brown is a excellent researcher and he is masterful in the way he ties facts together to wield a truly good read. So decide for yourself. Thumbs up on my personal book of the month :)

Rating:
Summary: A gripping read and a shallow story
Review: Ok, I'll admit it, I couldn't put it down! Honestly, from page one you're there - following Langdon everywhere. There's no way that you'll stop until it's all over and then you'll wish it wasn't! That's that kind of book. Aside from this,however, this book has no artistic value at all. Brown is a new Sidney Sheldon, that's all. Well... the new Sidney Sheldon who wans to be Umberto Eco but he can't.
Recommended for a light, afternoon read.

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother...
Review: From www.opusdei.org
The Da Vinci Code is a fictional work. Notwithstanding the book's marketing promotion and its pretension to authentic scholarship, the truth is that the novel distorts the historical record about Christianity and the Catholic Church and gives a wholly unrealistic portrayal of the members of Opus Dei and how they live.

For example, the Da Vinci Code presents as fact the absurd notion that the fourth century Roman emperor Constantine invented the doctrine of the divinity of Christ, when in fact the New Testament and the very earliest Christian writings manifest the Christian belief in the divinity of Christ. Likewise, the novel asserts that it was Constantine who chose to include the four Gospels in the Bible, when in fact they had always been recognized as authentic.

The Da Vinci Code likewise gives a bizarre and inaccurate portrayal of the Catholic institution Opus Dei. The numerous inaccuracies range from simple factual errors to outrageous and false depictions of criminal or pathological behavior. For example, the novel depicts members of Opus Dei practicing gruesome corporal mortifications and murdering people, implies that Opus Dei coerces or brainwashes people, suggests that Opus Dei has drugged new members to induce religious experiences, and insinuates that Opus Dei bailed out the Vatican bank in return for its establishment as a personal prelature. All of this is absurd nonsense.

In short, the Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction. Promoting it as anything more would be dishonest to the novel's readers, and disrespectful to the faith of millions of Catholics and other Christians.

Rating:
Summary: How is This Book a Bestseller?
Review: It is remarkable to me how the success of "The Da Vinci Code" has catapulted Dan Brown's career. It has caused his previous under read works to hit bestsellerdom years after first being published. And as a matter of fact, it was based solely on this book's significantly long ride at the top of the New York Times Bestseller list that finally (after nearly a year) convinced me (against my better judgment) to see what all the interest was about. And to my deep disappointment (not in Dan Brown but rather in the seemingly abhorrent taste in fiction that pervades our culture and has been cemented by pitiful works of fiction such as this one) this novel is little more than a fictional account of some historical research, dragged along for 450+ pages with extremely bad prose, truly one-dimensional characters, and what can only be considered barely plausible action. If you want to read a good book (one that is actually written well, has good characterization, and a meaningful and plausible plot) then please, please do NOT read "The Da Vinci Code".

Rating:
Summary: A Literary Masterpiece
Review: Dan Brown writes a mind boggling, intriguing mystery that questions the beliefs of many. The Da Vinci is a must read for those with a open mind to the worlds of religion, art and culture. The Da Vinci Code is a perfect mix of history and a modern murder mystery.
When the curator of the Louvre is found dead the French Judicial Police are on the trail to pin point the murderer. Robert Langdon, an American symbologist is brought into help decipher the curator clues. When Sauniere is found out to be linked with the Priory of Sion, a secret society the matter changes and a treasure hunt around Europe begins.
The Da Vinci Code is written in such a way that advanced vocabulary is not needed. It is an easy, enjoyable read.
The characters are definitely different and each have their own flaws and talents. Their ability to solve the puzzles and link one story to the other is amazing and blows my mind. The characters have a voice of their own and are well developed.
The plot is a bit predictable but the puzzles, clues and mystery aspect of it makes up for the weak plot. In some parts it is confusing but as the book continues the pieces fall together well. The book does have the potential to create a controversy.
The book is like no other I have ever read. The Da Vinci Code stands in a category of its own, setting the bar high for those authors that wish to enter. I believe that The Da Vinci Code will set a trend with books and short stories. I think that The Da Vinci Code will be made into a motion picture in the next few years. Whether or not it would be the best thing depends on the audience. Personally I feel that the book should remain as it is because if it is made into a movie Brown's voice will be lost within the translation from novel to script.
Overall this book has been the best book I have read in a long time. It was refreshing and a wonderful idea. Dan Brown puts together a wonderful masterpiece just as Leonardo Da Vinci and his Mona Lisa. I admire Dan Brown for putting together this wonderful mystery and I encourage all of you to read The Da Vinci Code and experience this story!

Rating:
Summary: Combines a Good Plot with Fascinating Symbolism
Review: After finishing the DaVinci Code, I have to say that this is one of the best novels that I have read in awhile. After reading the first few pages, I quickly became engrossed in the story. At its core, the plot is pretty basic, but the extra details and twists that are added in along the way, definately make this novel unique.
The DaVinci Code is written in a style that flows well and makes it easy to read, the author is able to write a realitively complex plot without confusing the reader. The chapters are pretty short and are written in several different points of view, that keep the story moving along, with out getting too repetitive. The mini history lessons that accompany the plot are actualy quite interesting, and those alone make the book a worthwhile read. The plot is interesting and enough to hold your attention, but around the end it does lose some of the excitement that it initialy had. As for the characters, there definately are several unusual ones in the book, and I found the majority of them to be both realistic and interesting.
While the book isn't perfect, it is definately entertaining and teaches the reader quite a bit in the process. In a way, it reminded me of the movie, The Ring in the sense that they Both started out as pretty basic plots, but along the way you see new details unfold, which transforms it into a much more complicated, and detailed story. The DaVinci code adds a new, more intelligent twist on the classic suspense novel.

Rating:
Summary: Mystery of Mysterys
Review: Unlike many reviews I found the book quite compelling.Mystery, Crytography and riddles throughout kept your mind busy.With a plot of religious background it makes this quite a thinking person's novel. I strongly recommend it and will look forward to reading his other books.

Rating:
Summary: RELIGION DEBUNKED
Review: The search for the Holy Grail. This book was too good to put down. If you've ever wondered about the roots of religion, you need wonder no more.

Most entertaining, very well-written.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating topic; predictable story
Review: The topic of this book was new to me, but I found it absolutely fascinating and eye-opening (the only reason for the 3 stars)! I immediately went out and bought some informational books on the Priory of Scion and the premise of the Holy Grail. If this book had been about some other fictional topic, I would have put it down after the first few pages. The murder mystery plot was predictable and the "leave-you-hanging" endings to every chapter got old quickly (especially with the large number of chapters in this book). The speed at which this fast-paced mystery and its cryptographic puzzles was solved was completely unbelievable and, quite frankly, insulting. Admittedly, I did find the Epilogue alittle surprising, but nothing else caught me offguard. I'm not one for reading murder mysteries, but because this came so highly recommended by many, I did. Now I've confirmed for myself why I won't be reading anymore.

Rating:
Summary: If You Read "Angels And Demons", Skip This One.
Review: I won't even go into the historical or theological inaccuracies of this hack piece of work. What I will tell you is that this "novel" is his previous work, "Angels And Demons", just with different character names.

The beginning involves the murder of a prominent intellectual figure by a secret society. The book's main character, Robert Langdon, a Harvard Sybologist (semioticist?) is yet again brought in to assist on the esoteric clues left behind.

We have Langdon yet again thrown in with a female character who is related to the murder victim. He has to deal once more with thick-headed law officials possessing no imagination. Once more there is a race against time...

Reading this book was a bad case of deja vu!

Mr. Brown, please think of a different plot and more complex characters for your next novel. Also (most importantly), do better research if you're going to continue doing these so-called "religious/conspiro" thrillers.