Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining read with lots of interesting information
Review: I have so far read 4 of Dan Brown's books (Angel & Demons, DaVinci Code, Deception Point & Digital Fortress) and three features of his writings stand out. First, audacious plotlines; Brown does not believe in small measures but goes out on a limb- heck, this guy re-defines audacity! The plotlines are way over the top but have just that crucial amount of credibility to draw in a reader, even when he knows it is fiction. Second, the pace is mercilessly quick; the entire plot of the book plays out over a few days at most. Last but for me the best of all, his books have a wealth of esoteric information that one would not normally read about. I found myself enthralled by a never ending series of factoids that had me rushing to the Internet for explanation or elaboration. I like books that teach me something new, or even give me a new perspective on something I already know, and Dan Brown manages this easily. DaVinci Code for my money is his best effort till date and it features all the above 3 characteristics. The mysterious death (and its perplexing manner) of a respected Louvre curator sets symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptographer Sophie Neveu (also the curator's granddaughter) on a quest whose twists and turns are guided by a series of cryptic clues. To reach their journey's quest, Langdon and Neveu have to solve the puzzles using history, language and ingenuity, while hard on their heels follows the killer, a misguided monk. I was totally enthralled in the cracking of the various codes, spiced up by Brown's customary dose of history and intrigue, art and artists. I found the book absolutely fascinating. There have been complains that the book is anti-Catholic and about the accuracy of Brown's research. I am not qualified to comment on the research accuracy and while the Catholic Church does not exactly come off smelling of roses, well, this is classified as a work of fiction after all. Don't take it too seriously people, lighten up! This is not a research thesis but a novel. If it sets you thinking, fine, but mainly, it is an entertaining read with lots of interesting information, much (though not all of it) true. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Da Vinci Would have Written it Better
Review: The Da Vinci Code is a good story. If it had been better written it could have been a great book. However, to my mind, the author took a deep subject and glossed over so much interesting material, it felt as though he were writing a screen play. I could almost see Harrison Ford reprising his Nevada Jones role with a shallow, red headed bimbo instead of a blond one. That isn't fair to the female character who is, of course, brilliant as well as beautiful. Since the book is all about the female as a religious power it seemed a poor way to treat the female protagonist.
It really is a good story. The author has taken an arcane subject with numerous dimensions and woven a good tale. He has a good imagination. Unfortunately, he is not a good enough writer to turn his good story into a great book. His characters are flat and pretty much the usual fare. It could have been a Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, probably much better. These books use a lot of the same imagery and historical/mystical metaphor. Nicolas Flamel, who invented the Philosophers Stone in Harry Potter, turns out to have been a one time Grand Master of the Knights Templar or Priory of Sion from 1398-1418. Other Grand Masters were Botticelli, Da Vinci and Isaac Newton.
I was disappointed, after all the hype, but what else is new? Dan Brown turned a fascinating subject into a glossy bit of frippery and left an ending that is clearly designed to allow for a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Waste Your Time
Review: As an occasional fan of the "thriller" genre and an avid reader, I was looking forward to reading this much-publicized book. I was severely disappointed. While some of the background information regarding early Christians and alternate gospels is interesting, it cannot begin to make up for the poorly paced and developed plot and the cardboard characters. Even by the standards of mystery and thriller writing (admittedly not as high as the standards for the literary novel), this novel is badly written. Such popular novelists as John Grisham, Stephen King and countless other mystery and thriller writers are much better writers than Dan Brown. It is a sad comment on the level of expectation of the reading public that so many readers consider this novel well-written.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical 'Who done it?' ...
Review: As previously mentioned, "The Da Vinci Code" is not your typical "Who done it?" novel. Well researched and expertly written, the book presents an age-old religious secret under the guise of a tantalizing mystery. Definitely not an easy book to put down, the twists and turns wind you toward the solution, which is not as easy to figure out as some reviewers will have you believe. Of course, that is a relative statement. ;) I highly recommend this work to anyone wishing to take an exciting journey through the pages of a book, which will exercise also their mind. I might also recommend "Angels & Demons," the first of Mr. Brown's books to feature Robert Langdon. "Tight Lines!"
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Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but......
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. None of the "revelations" are new, but I enjoyed the story and found it to be a page-turner. The one thing that sticks in my craw is that Brown has equated the possible marriage of Jesus with sex cults and pagan worship. This doesn't fly, in my opinion. I have no qualms about accepting a married Jesus, but nothing points to his own carrying on of ancient sex rituals and the like. It seems Brown was attempting to tie in too many things.
Rating:
Summary: False Doctrine, False teaching, FALSE BOOK
Review: (1)If your Roman Catholic like I am, DON'T read this book. If your a devout Christian like I am,DON'T read this book. This book in its entirety is anti-Christian, anti-pope,and a "twisted" history in it. Dan Brown,whose name sounds like a hundred bells ringing, writes a "true-false" book; he has some truth about some of the things in this book but, he puts some "made-up" things in there too.
(2)The plot itself is wrong also. The clymax comes right after the first two pages and stays there for eight more pages.
It is a shame the a newley discoverd author (Dan Brown) would makes such a false book.
P.S. The star I put for the rating is for the publishers. I work for them.
Rating:
Summary: ????
Review: I'm extremely surprised that such a mediocre (meaning BAD) writer as Dan Brown can have this type of publicity. Besides the fact that the story is full of clichés and it basically does not make sense, Mr. Brown simply has no idea of how to write anything, let alone a book. I would strongly suggest him to read, I don't know, Borges, Umberto Eco, but the mere notion of having these authors associated with Brown is ridiculous. He should definitely find another line of work. This is one of the worst books I have read in my life.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling
Review: Couldn't put this book down - the author uses little known historical theories to create a compelling story that excites from beginning to end. He successfully crafts a riveting thriller, and makes the reader consider history, art, and religion in new ways. But this book is not to be taken as fact; it is a novel, and those who critize it for being too outlandish or historically inaccurate are missing the point. This is brilliant work, and definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Intruiguing!!
Review: The climacteric of this book got me hooked. Made me questioned what's real and false about life and our society. This book definetly rubbed some wake up call to the average Joe. There's about 3 scenes to the book where it jumps back and forth which can be a little confusing. After reading the beginning the 2nd time around, it was crystal clear.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money for a better book
Review: About half-way through this book I began to regret the purchase. Dan Brown is overcome by his 'research' and the story never really gels. When an untrained person like me can decipher the anagrams faster than the characters who are experts, there is something very wrong. Brown doesn't sell the romance angle at all. Finally, he tries to un-do his shots at The Vatican and The Priory with a few apologetic sentences toward the end. With all the hokey rose symbolism rampant throughout the book, I felt surely the culprit would turn out to be Pete Rose.
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