Rating: 
Summary: Overrated, Overblown and Overhyped
Review: I had such high expectations. Really I did. But the plot was ridiculous (yet I guessed most of the twists long before they came anyway), much of the "research" was sloppy, the premise was ill-defended, and the characters were absurd, absolutely and totally absurd.Sorry, but it's true. Maybe I've just read too many mysteries. I know it's fiction, but even in fiction, people are supposed to act like people. And while disbelief can be suspended, readers shouldn't have to suspend all logic as well -- particularly in a mystery, for goodness' sake. And that's what this silly book requires one to do. I don't know much about the Knights Templar, but I have to think that this book is a complete and total disservice to them. And to Paganism and the Catholic Church, for that matter. It did make me want to find out more (particularly about the Knights), but mainly because I feel a near-obligation to correct the vast amount of misinformation that I undoubtedly picked up from this book. My advice is: Don't waste your time.
Rating: 
Summary: WELL CRAFTED FOR IMPACT & MERIT
Review: What is most impressive about "THE DA VINCI CODE" is that it takes strong stands. The author takes risks with confidence. As with other books in the same league of impact and merit ala "MY FRACTURED LIFE" or "THE LOVELY BONES," "THE DA VINCI CODE" is a book that will either amaze you or offend you. This is not a "safe" book that treads lightly to not offend anyone as with "THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN." Nor, does the author deliberately try to offend as with "DUDE, WHERE'S MY COUNTRY." The author is merely concerned with crafting a story, and a finely crafted story it is. Judged on impact and merit, this is a story that is in the same league as "MY FRACTURED LIFE", "THE LOVELY BONES", "MIDDLESEX", and "RUNNING WITH SCISSORS."
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring - Captivating - Absolutely Superb!
Review: Wow! I am so turned on to the interesting factoids about Leonardo Da Vinci, Religion, Paganism, the Roman Catholic Church and more! I couldn't put this book down. It was a fabulous read, educational and full of suspense. I admit, it reads as if intended for a movie (wouldn't be a bit surprised!),but it's so damn good anyway. It truly charged me with interest in the topics mentioned above, I'm thirsty for more and researching! Take a chance, it's so worth it!
Rating:
Summary: pure popcorn
Review: The Da Vinci Code is a real page-turner, in spite of its adjective-laden, high-school-creative-writing-class style, and I can see why its pseudo-religious goddess-worshipping "historical" background would be appealing to college students and others who seek justification for promiscuity and are unaware of the truths of history. There are a couple of thought-provoking nuggets hidden in the background, but they will probably be overlooked by most readers, either because they lack an understanding of early Jewish and Christian beliefs or because they are just caught up in an exciting story. The whole idea of a harmonious, goddess-loving, Nature-worshipping society existing before the formation of the Catholic Evil Empire is just ridiculous. Though some ancient philosophers did have ideas about "holy unions" and the sacredness of female procreative powers, and there were indeed active fertility cults throughout the ancient world (and a few today, though I think they mainly capitalize on the sexual aspects) the generally poor status and treatment of women in virtually every ancient society is proof enough that these beliefs were not widely held nor practiced. I imagine that Mr. Brown was not seriously presenting a world-view in his novel, but I fear that many will try to create one from some of his "facts."
Also distracting for me was the predictability of the plot - I knew who "The Teacher" was almost from the moment his named alter-ego was presented, and the many riddles and passwords were easy to figure out - and the ludicrous pacing. The implications for the future of the protagonists was annoyingly Hollywood-ized. True love in less than 24 hours, only in a Hollywood novel. The epilogue was also a laugh, though it did make me long to see Paris and the Louvre once again.
I can't believe there's enough here to make an even remotely believable movie out of, but then again, what is popcorn for?
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME-I couldn't put it down
Review: This book is about a murder inside the Louvre. When a Professor meets a cryptographer, They are in for one long adventure! The book never ceases to be exciting, from one journey to the next.
I would reccommend this book to just about anyone!
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: I don't usually "do" fiction. But this book was amazing. The plot is allways expanding, the research is allways interesting, and the ending is superb. Now, i do take issue with some of it... Brown included a whole of real research in the novel, but it is mixed in with superstitious conspiracy theories and observations by main characters that look too deep into things. This could lead to a reader of the novel to blow up the signifigance of certain things. For those who will read the book, please remember this: Not many researchers beleive Mary Magdalene was married to Jesus, The man sitting next to Jesus in DaVinci's last supper doesn't look like a woman, and there is no evidence that the search for the Holy Grail was the search for the womb of Mary Magdalene, the bloodline of Jesus Christ. All in All, however, this is an amazing Novel and the only one I will probably ever read. It's back to non-fiction for me.
Rating:
Summary: it's fiction!
Review: I think that people are forgetting that this is a novel. This is fiction, not fact, it's just something fun to read, and in that respect it is wonderful. Dan Brown does not pretend that everything that he presents is sound fact, rather he includes a page in the beginning outlining what is fact. Do not confuse this with a historical document, but along the same lines, don't expect this to be historically accurate. What is historically accurate anyway? It is good read, hard to put down, and I loved it.
Rating:
Summary: interesting reviews.
Review: Did all of you actually read the whole book? Dan Brown was not "Catholic Bashing", to quote from some other reviews, in fact, the book shows how the Catholic sect was used, along with other groups, throughout the whole book. Also, the author did not present all the information as fact (hence the page in the front which details exactly what is fact), he merely presents other, well documented and merited points of view. I am not claiming that it was the most intelligent, best written book ever, but it was captivating, and thought provoking. I loved this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Give This One A Chance
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an extremely interesting book. It is also very fun, fast paced, and hard to put down. I thought the research was fantastic, as was the story. Sure it is hard to believe some of Langdon and Sophie's miraculous escapes, but it is worth it if you can get past that point. I almost stopped reading the book after 50 pages. I could not get into it. But after what I thought was a slow start, I couldn't put the thing down for two days and finished the rest of it.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting typo within
Review: I just read the Da Vinci Code this weekend, and enjoyed it thoroughly. However, I just had to share something with other readers who enjoy a good laugh. I tried to email Doubleday, but could find no way to do so, so I'm having my fun here instead. If you check out the first page of the Epilogue of this novel of cryptic messages, you will find the following freudian slip. The hero is at last enjoying a good hot shower after his many travails in pursuit of the Holy Grail, and the book refers to him enjoying the shower's "message" rather than "massage." Does it get better than that? So I got to enjoy a final good chuckle as I closed the book. Perhaps someone will find a way to get this info to the publisher. Or, better yet, let's leave it in!
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