Rating: 
Summary: AMAZING
Review: i might be 12 but this book had me in awe. the fact that Dan Brown could come up with such a plot baffles me. The aspect of Mary Magdalene and the Priory of Sion gives the book unexpected twists of excitement. Read this book and i gaurentee you love it.
Rating: 
Summary: What's the hoopla about?
Review: I must admit I enjoyed reading the book, one of those guilty pleasures. Sure it is mostly nonsense, a dumbed down version of Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, but it makes for a nice beach read. Why it has become such is runaway bestseller is a mystery. Perhaps a clue can be found in some lost Da Vinci masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: The DaVinci Code
Review: I must admit that this book gave me a scare. But I find that it only encreases my very strong faith inthe teachings of my Savior!The book is well written and keeps the readers attention to the very end.
Rating:
Summary: If you like mysteries, you'll love this
Review: I must admit, this is the first review I've ever written. What prompted me to do so was reading the other reviews on Amazon about The DaVinci Code, I'm referring to the bad reviews specifically. It seems some of these reviewers take their reading so seriously that they forget there is a difference between FICTION and NON-FICTION. They are upset that Brown doesn't get all his "facts straight." Just for the record, here is the dictionary definition of the word FICTION: An imaginative creation or a pretense that does not represent actuality but has been invented. Perhaps Brown isn't 100% accurate in all his descriptions of the Holy Grail and the history of the Catholic Church, etc, etc. So what? The truth is, he does a masterful job in suspending belief in the readers mind so that you can't help but get wrapped up in his tale. Isn't that what a good fiction is supposed to do?
The only fault I find with the book is that Brown's characters are too "cookie cutter," and his plot is too "tight." In other words, too much formula. But even that can be forgiven. The bottom line is, it is a page-turner. And just for the record, if you ever studied any of the many non-fiction books out there about the alternate history of Jesus' life and the Holy Grail, you'd find that Brown has enough facts straight in The DaVinci Code to not only make the book believable, but to open the eyes of those readers who aren't so anal retentive to insist that he get every fact straight.
Rating:
Summary: Just don't believe everything you read...
Review: I must be one of the last people on the planet to read this book. It's everywhere. So here goes... This is a masterfully written thriller, truly a 'can't put it down, stay up all night, page-turner' (I read it one day). The fact that it delves into secret societies and the sacred feminine reveals that we just love that stuff. Crafting it into a murder mystery is a stroke of mastery. It's obvious the author has done his homework. There's a reason he has turned it into a fiction book rather than writing non-fiction. Fiction gives him room to express his point of view without stating it as fact. Granted, he has done his research and his facts are easily verifiable; however, his conclusions, if written into a non-fiction account, would probably render him a conspiracy theorist. This stuff is not revelatory, nor is it new. It may be new and shocking to most but that's only because most people don't read the dry, scholarly texts (i.e. non-fiction) where this research is found. Holy Blood, Holy Grail (mentioned in the book) will hit the bestseller list again because of this book. Umberto Eco's works should also gain credence (even though not mentioned in the book). I read Holy Blood, Holy Grail years ago and it all came rushing back while reading this book. The sacred feminine, the power mongering of the early church, the 'other' New Testament and the 'lost writings of the true Christian church' and all the other ideas have been covered (cf. Bart Ehrman and Elaine Pagels, currently both on the bestseller lists with similar lines of reasoning). It's been argued back and forth for a long, long time. And it will probably continue to be so. Mr. Brown did not unearth some hitherto unknown texts that reveals this stuff. It's already out there and he is quite literally walking on the shoulders of giants. It's fun to conjecture but do your homework before espousing this stuff as truth. This isn't to take the fun out of the book. What is clever is how he has taken such a breadth of knowledge and crafted it into a composite whole. If you like codes and word games, car chases and intrigue, spiritual and religious possibility, this is definitely a surefire bet. This book is really enjoyable - as fiction. It's definitely a must read. It's a lot of fun and exciting to see what he does with his material; just don't expect too much depth.
Rating: 
Summary: Anti-catholic fiction: Yes Intellectual: No
Review: I must confess that I found this book to be something of a page-turner in the beginning, but as the true motive of this book came to the surface my interest quickly fell off. This book is just your standard Catholic bashing dressed up as "intellectual fiction". Well, fiction it is but the intellectual description will only sit well with the "aliens killed Kennedy" crowd. Any doubts about the motives of this book quickly disappear when you see the author advertising web sites that also promote his anti-catholic message. Do yourselves a favor and skip this book. If you have any belief in Christianity, you will be offended by this fiction. Even the fans of outlandish conspiracy theories really will have to stretch their imagination to buy this. For those who don't fit into either of these categories, don't confuse this book for truth. It is in the fiction category for a reason.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting themes, disappointingly explored ...
Review: I must say I was disappointed by this book. I had heard such glowing reports about it ... especially about how suspenseful, riveting & insightful it was. The book got off to a good start, but quickly became pretty transparent & (at times)didactic. Brown keeps telling us how "amazing" and "startling" all these revelations are, when most of them have been telegraphed way ahead of time, leaving room for only one actual surprise (and it felt almost like a "cheap trick" -- won't elaborate coz I don't want to be a spoiler). I give this book kudos as a very entertaining way to brush up on the history & lore of the Holy Grail, but its conclusions about the ultimate nature of the Grail fall sadly short of being startling, inspiring or convincing. There are far greater Mysteries associated with the Grail that could have been more daringly explored. Most annoying of all was Brown's attitude that he was enlightening the "great unwashed" on subjects which have been the focus of a great deal of exploration over the past 30 years (at least!): goddess worship, Nature religion, the perils of patriarchy & organized religion, and the history of the Knights Templar & the Priory of Sion. I was reminded of the hype that accompanied the publication of the Celestine Prophecy, everybody going "Wow!" about the obvious. Sigh!
Rating:
Summary: Compelling Enough to Spark Something in Everyone!
Review: I must say that in reading some of the reviews listed here many of you have not read "Angels and Demons." This book by Brown also leads the reader by the strings of the Harvard man and the questionable views of the Christian, and more importantly, the Catholic Church. Having already been introduced to Brown's skepticism I was prepared for this new maze of secrecy and exciting travel. Brown uses his exceptional skills as a novelist to guide you through unknown territory. He makes you think, analyze, question, argue, relent, and hopefully reinforce your true beliefs... whatever they may be. You can reaffirm your faith, entertain immense possibilities or spend time condemning another way of thought - in any case you are completely active in the story. You are completely compelled to turn the page to figure out what lies ahead. Brown touches on so many controversial topics that plague us today that he should definitely be hailed as a great conversation starter! He touches on topics that are not wholly made up nor are only from Baigent's "Holy Blood, Holy Grail." These beliefs/theories/conspiracies are not necessarily common, but they do lie beneath the surface bubbling with intrigue. I have extensive studies and degrees in art as well and if the Last Supper is da Vinci misleading the Christians, it is not a far step to believe his sketches (labeled sketches) were meant to follow in the same path. Keep in mind those who assess the work of others are always ASSUMING they are correct unless there is an essay provided by the artist referencing the exact meaning of the work. I am Catholic and my beliefs are as such. However, I do not find this book insulting, rather an affirmation of what I believe. My research into the topics of this book have yielded interesting FACTS which I continue to study. All in all BRILLIANTLY FACINATING! Fun read - pick it up!
Rating:
Summary: If you like Grisham... maybe. If you like true literature..
Review: I must say this book is one of the most poorly written books I've read in quite a while. I suppose I must say it was entertaining, though not entertaining enough to buy, just borrow from a friend or the library. If serial novels and suspense thrillers are your thing, you might enjoy it. I personally could not even keep it. I bought it and swiftly returned it two days later. If you want suspense that is enriching too I would recommend Khaled Hosseini's "Kite Runner". That is a fantastic book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent fast paced read
Review: I must say, I read a lot, and I usually move from one book to the other without much thought... but I LOVE this book! I finished it on Thurs. and gave it to my officemate on Friday, she's almost done it now. As soon as I get it back from her I'm going to re-read it. It really opens your mind to the possibility that history, especially church history isn't always what it seems. Very well researched and documented.
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