Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Good Mystery but..... Review: don't expect to care about what happens to any of the characters. Brown does not spend any time on character examination; you know little about each character's history and care even less. The book is a well constructed mystery, however; the plot moves along so quickly its reminiscent of a Hollywood movie and frankly, could have almost been written as a screeplay. In addition, it appears that some of Brown's research is flawed. The scariest part of this book is knowing, absolutely, that some non-Christians will believe it to be based on fact which it absolutely is not....
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: A Personal Top 3, and a must have for all Review: After harassment from friends to put down my Grisham books and expand my library, I finally picked up The DaVinci Code. While reading at work I would becopme visibly irritated at customers who interrupted my reading. Although it does have one or two slow parts, overall the book is rediculous. Brown questions and almost criticises the bible, but does it in a way in which the most faithful can't get mad, by explaining and in questioning and in some ways adding validity to it. Again, one of my top 3 along with "Pillars of the Earth" and "The Partner"
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Couldn't put it down! Review: My first time to read a Dan Brown book as it was suggested to me by three different people. I simply could not put it down. It was refreshing to read a book that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Indeed a Suspenseful Thriller - But It's Just a Novel Review: Working at a bookstore for the last six months, most of the customers who come in are either asking for Dan Brown's book or they are talking about it. The talk is what caused me to want to read the novel in the first place. Several people I had overheard made claims that the novel was based on fact and that Dan Brown had really done his research well. So, I thought, it must be worth reading.As for the novel as a novel, it reads like all the great suspense thrillers read (i.e. Ludlum, Grisham, Clancey, etc.): fast paced, a real page turner, well formulated and put together, and had a great plot and story line (albeit its certainly not great literature). For these features I would rate the novel at least four stars. Simply put, Dan Brown has written a real page turner that carries the reader along quite nicely. However, as for content, in so much as it transcends fiction to become fact, its rubbish. Of course this book is loosely based on two works: 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' and 'The Templar Revelation.' Moreover, these two books are actually mentioned in the Da Vinci code as a part of the story line. But, as for solid historical texts, the two aforementioned books are speculative at best, and are filled with a great amount of guesswork and hypotheses. Having said that, I go back to the customers I overheard who were taken in by the so called 'facts' of this work. I am not sure if Dan Brown intended to write this novel with the idea that what he was writing was indeed fact. If that is the case then he should have written an historical account and not a novel. Let the historians sift through it and then determine whether the facts stand of fall based on current trends of research in the field of history. This, however, is a novel and should be taken as such. In fact, I once heard a famous fiction author declare, "Fiction writers are simply good liars." That being the case, the Da Vinci code is one of the best lies ever written. Too bad people are falling for it.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: A Must Read for Everyone! Review: To be honest, I'm not much of an avid reader, but one day however one of my friends had this urge to force me into reading this book. After some research I discovered this book had pretty high ratings, and was on many top-selling charts for days. I gave in, and finally got my copy in which I didn't start a few weeks later. However, I was amazed how once I picked this book up I never seemed to put it down again. The book starts with a simple but intriguing murder case of the curator of a museum at night, where nobody knew what had happened. Coincidently, this man was also a member of a secret society named "Priory of Sion" that had existed long ago and consisted many famous characters in the Renaissance and the Enlightenment such as Sir Isaac Newton and Botticelli. With his life nearing an end, he left in the form of a cipher that appears to be a form of ancient coding. Thus this ignites a series of events and clues being discovered in Da Vinci¡¦s works that would ultimately draw two people to the answer the ancient secret society was seeking. It¡¦s a simple storyline, and a simple plot. But the character development and the plot twists were so appealing since it wasn¡¦t completely obvious. I liked the way the author had cliffhanger endings to each chapter in order to further develop the plot. It had added this sense of suspense and curiosity within me to know how the plot will continue to develop and how it will become. What was much more fascinating were, the details throughout the story of various artworks, culture, and individuals. I was surprised to find that all the content in this book about various people and artworks were all true and do exist! However, I have to say that it did become easier to put down this book towards the end. The cliffhangers started to get annoying occasionally and I¡¦d get tired of reading the next page just to find out the solution to the conflict. Never the less, it¡¦s a great book for everyone, but do beware that it does have blood and gore in a few areas.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: What a fun read Review: I try to read many different kinds of books, but rarely read blockbuster best sellers because they are so formulaic. Based on a recommendation, I read this one and was pleasantly surprised. Now keep in mind, this is no great work of literature. It is what it is. A fast paced thriller with twists and turns and lots of adventure. While I do not profess to be an art or religion expert, it seemed to be well researched. This books was just plain fun, a great read for the plane or on the beach. You get hooked quickly and its hard to put down. You'll love it!
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Such buildup I had to read, that will teach me. Review: This seems to be the book of the year and shows no signs of slowing down. I was excited to read it, but that came to a grueling end as I trudged through Brown's "research." My college freshman English professor would of marked down my paper with such flimsy research. It took me all of two minutes to find on the internet that the sect Opus Dei does not even have monks. One of the main characters of the book could not even exist, so much for Dan's research. I also would question that five million women were killed as witches in the Middle Ages. My research could only find that maybe 15,000 died, while sad, not close to the 5,000,000 stated in the book. As for the story of Mary Magdalene and Jesus' marriage, that has been around for years and is nothing new, as most of the reading public seems to believe. And just because Dan says it is true does not make it true. I had such hopes for this book and was sorley disappointed.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: A twist to the very end......... Review: Since the book has been out for almost a year, guess I'm a late bloomer on this one. I'd have to say it's THE best book I've read in ages. The subject matter is fascinating and illuminating. Brown did a tremendous job taking the topic and weaving a superb suspense novel. It's classified as fiction, however, it certainly has some very valid points. With the world situation as it is, it made this reader pause and think. I already have Angels & Demons sitting here ready to start. A genius of an author with a unique twist on an old subject. The story gripped me till the very end, as one twist after another was revealed. Well done!
Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: The Da Vinci Code Review: I think 1 star is a little bit too high a rating for this book that is a non-stop sermon on the merits of Goddess Worship. We are told in the beginning that all of the facts are accurate. Really, Mr. Brown, you couldn't find one real source to list for your gullible readers in a bibliography? We are expected to ignore 4500 manuscripts of the New Testament pre-dating Constantine, just because your make believe Harvard professor tells us to trust him? I hope your readers who have no previous knowledge of church history will be led to begin educating themselves. I would suggest A Case For Christ by Lee Strobel, or The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell; two good historians rather than a novelist with an agenda. Reading from their list of source materials will keep one busy for years and hopefully away from trash like The Da Vinci Code. I would also recommend C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity; there is a real Oxford University professor for you. Funny how the fictitious professor never does find the evidence that everyone, even supposedly the big bad church knows exists. I'm waiting for the sequel, Mr. Brown.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: a rebirth of suspense and mystery to literature Review: its hard to find a good suspense and mystery novel these days. well its hard to find one with the eloquance of dan brown who has put thought and research into the story's locations, art, and cultural aspects. even if you have never heard of opus dei before opening the book dan brown explains it in the way that everyone can understand it. the beginnings mysterious "he did this to himself murder" creates suspense for the famouse louve currator. i love the cultural aspects to the novel in its french point of view. "what do you think of the pyramid (the one at the louve designed by im pei)?" made me laugh on the french's view of their own culture. for a fan of mystery with the promise of not a plot to flop like other mysteries then dan brown presents to you a novel of greatness.
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