Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I received this as a Christmas Gift. Like other reviewers here, I began investigating some of Mr. Brown's suppositions. That is exactly what they were. Although there is a measure of truth in the fact that these secret societies existed, there is no evidence of the suppositions he makes beyond that. In fact, his 'research' is text from other books. It is a good thing that the book is listed as "ficition".
Rating: 
Summary: I cannot deny it: this book is crap.
Review: I received this book as a gift, and plowed through it in one week. Maybe I'm wrong in thinking this, but I think a good book should take a little longer. It certainly shouldn't take me only a week to read and STILL feel like a chore. This book should have the subtitle "Alternate History for Dummies". It presents a sketchy take on history as fact, and it does so in such a patronizing way that I was just bored. It is poorly written and poorly plotted. The action takes place in what should be some very interesting locales, but the author's poor writing ability make London indistinguishable from Paris, and the environments come off bland and uninteresting. The action may as well take place in an empty warehouse. I didn't care about the characters or their fates. The author followed the formula of "Angels and Demons" to an appalling degree, and the result is a book that is weak in comparison (and that book wasn't great, either). I was not in suspense, and I cannot forgive how patronizing and didactic it was. The idea that people will use this as a place to get their history scares me. Why don't I give it one star? Because I didn't quite hate it. But I don't like it, either. Read something else.
Rating: 
Summary: You Can't Put it Down
Review: I received this book on Friday and finished reading it by Sunday morning. It is one of the best page turners I have come across in a long time. I can't remember when I have been so entertained, enlightened, and engaged in a while. It has all the things that I love in a book: mystery, suspense, a good education, and art!Other reviewers have commented on avoiding this book if you are Catholic. I am Catholic and as long as you are open to hearing about some alternative explanations, whether or not you embrace the ideology, then you will enjoy it. I found the concepts interesting and appreciated the authors use of them in context. While the end is a bit too tidy for my tastes, I can't think of any ending that I would be satisfied wit, especially because I didn't want it to end.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I've Ever Read
Review: I recently bought the Da Vinci Code about a week ago and have already finished it. The author Dan Brown ends almost every chapter with mystery making you not want to put the book down. The book leave you guessing about who "the Teacher" could possibly be and wondering if the main characters do find what they set out for. The end is a wonderfully shocking, I personally have never liked reading, but this book makes me want to read more. I think everyone should read this amazing book that makes you want to go on a quest of your own.
Rating:
Summary: Loving "The Da Vinci Code"
Review: I recently finished "The Da Vinci Code", after three feverish days in which I could barely put it down. Since then, I went cruising the Internet to check out what other people thought of it, and what do I find? Seems like every single Christian website is full of condemnation for this wonderful novel! Here's what I have to say about that: the book was wonderful, very exciting, and if it employed cliches, it did so with such flair that I didn't care or notice. The author employed some amazing theories, some of which may appear far-fetched, some that have a ring of accuracy. If some people are offended by the ideas brought up in the book, it is their loss. Those who choose to step outside their comfort zones, consider that - just perhaps! - some of the ideas brought to light in "The Da Vinci Code" may have their own kind of truth will find it a richly stimulating read. Whether or not you believe it is irrelevant; people who open their minds will discover their boundries are tested, maybe even discover a few points that hit home with them. For the easily deterred, I say give this book a try. You may be surprised at what you find within its fast-paced pages. I certainly was, and I may never see a piece of Da Vinci's art the same way again.
Rating:
Summary: Shocked by all the bad reviews!
Review: I recently finished reading the Da Vinci Code and thought it would be fun to see what other readers thought about it. I personally felt that the novel was one of the best I've ever read. After viewing this page, I was shocked to see so many bad reviews were given to the novel. Most of the bad reviews sound like they were given by people who have never even read the novel.
Like ceruleana, the novel opened new doors for me. I learned so many shocking things about the history of religion that I have begun passionately researching the topic.
This novel is definitely worth reading!
Rating:
Summary: Several important historical inaccuracies in this book!
Review: I recently finished reading THE DA VINCI CODE. I must say, it is a very riveting novel. As a Catholic, however, I noticed that the book did have a decidedly anti-Catholic slant. By this I do not mean that Dan Brown bashed Catholics. I mean that some important things that were said about the Church were, perhaps, not as well-researched as they could have been. THE DA VINCI CODE is, of course, a work of fiction. And, as such, it was enjoyable. Many people will learn quite a bit from this novel. Unfortunately, many people unfamiliar with authentic Catholicism may get a very negative impression of the Church since they might assume that all of the historical references are accurate and meticulously verified. After reading this book, I have come to conclude that this is simply not the case. Which is unfortunate because the book is a runaway bestseller and many will assume that its references to the Church are all accurate. Brown's novel seems to have many historical inaccuracies. One example of this is found on page 233 of the book. A character named Sir Leigh Teabing, who is a Grail authority, is discussing the history of the Grail. He is speaking with two other characters in the story -- Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. Teabing tells them that the belief in the divinity of Jesus was something that the Council of Nicaea, in effect, made up in 325 AD. Leigh Teabing says to Sophie Neveu, "My dear, until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet...a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal." Sophie Neveu then asks, "Not the Son of God?" Teabing then responds, "Right. Jesus' establishment as 'the Son of God' was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea." The fact is that up until the Council of Nicaea, there were a variety of opinions as to the nature of Jesus Christ. The idea of Jesus being human and divine was very difficult for people to fathom back then. And it is still difficult to comprehend today. Some pre-Nicene Christians believed that Jesus was God, but not really a true human being. One of the big reasons that Gnosticism was ruled a heresy by the Nicene Council was ostensibly because they believed Jesus to be divine but not human. Conversely, another group known as Arians were also branded as heretics ostensibly because they believed Jesus to be a human but not God. All Christians, however, believed Jesus to be the Son of God in whatever way they may have understood this at the time. To imply, as I think Dan Brown does, that the Council of Nicaea proposed this new concept of Jesus' divinity in 325 AD is a misleading oversimplification at best. The assertion in this book that Christians did not view Jesus as the divine Son of God until the Council of Nicaea is factually incorrect. Yes, there were diverse opinions about Jesus' nature in the early church. And some Christians did not understand Jesus to be God per se. But, the majority of the Christians did not view Jesus as simply a mortal prophet. And Mary Magdalene certainly viewed Jesus as divine. We see this in both the New Testament and the Nag Hammadi Library. What Dan Brown's character goes on to say about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library can also be very misleading. He says the following: ***Fortunately for historians, some of the gospels that Constantine attempted to eradicate managed to survive. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the 1950s (sic) hidden in a cave near Qumran in the Judean desert. And, of course, the Coptic Scrolls (sic) in 1945 at Nag Hammadi. In addition to telling the true Grail story, these documents speak of Christ's ministry in very human terms.
(THE DA VINCI CODE, page 234).*** The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 (not the 1950s). They do not mention Jesus Christ at all. And they were hidden in those caves c. 70 AD, some 250 years before the Council of Nicaea for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with the as yet unborn Emperor Constantine at all. The Nag Hammadi texts are incorrectly called "scrolls" in this book. They were, in fact, codices. And they do not mention anything about Jesus and Mary Magdalene having children, being married, or having a sexual relationship at all. Mary Magdalene is referred to as the disciple whom Jesus loved and as the "companion" of Jesus. And, granted, some have translated the Coptic word as "consort" rather than "companion." But I think its a leap to say that these documents tell "the true Grail story" based on this. Furthermore, since the Nag Hammadi texts were probably compiled by Gnostics, in them a great emphasis is placed on the divine Risen Jesus who is alive and revealing his divine glory to a select group of people, particularly Mary Magdalene. I would hardly call the image of Jesus in the Nag Hammadi texts as that of a mortal prophet. Normally, nitpicking about the accuracy of statements of fact in a novel would be a bit much. After all, an author is entitled to a certain amount of creative license. However, I comment on these historical innaccuracies in light of Dan Brown's own statement on the first page preceding his Prologue. Under the heading "Facts" he writes: "All description of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate." Clearly, some of them, as pointed out here, are not. On the whole, however, the book was very interesting. I think many people will learn alot of interesting things about the Quest for the Grail, the Templars, Leonardo da Vinci, the secret societies...etc. I was disappointed with the way the book seems to paint the Catholic Church in a negative light with broad brushstrokes. Dan Brown should have made more of an effort to be more historically accurate. I, for one, am not an authority on the Grail history. And I think I learned a lot about it by reading this novel. But, after seeing the way the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Nag Hammadi Library, and the Council of Nicaea were discussed in this book, I now feel the need to double check all of the purported facts outlined in this novel.
Rating:
Summary: The DaVinci Code- Excellent!
Review: I recently finished the DaVinci Code. It is incredible! It is so incredible how forshadowing with small, seemingly insignificant details, become the key to figuring out the code. Everything is intertwined. I was awake one night untill 1 in the morning, because I was so enthralled. I have talked to friends ranging in age from 13 on up; all raved endlessly about The DaVinci Code. If you can read any book, spend you money on this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Da Vinci is Convincing
Review: I recommend this book for anyone - it suitable for all ages. Dan Brown has done a great job. As the grandson of a Mason and whose family members have been in other secret societies, I am glad Brown has brought them to light in a serious, but educating way. Brown uses a hybrid socratic method to keep the reader thinking ahead, while mixing puns, puzzles, and trivia to keep the reader focused on the current story. Brown uses many literary devices well and weaves many biblical allegories into the story itself. I commend the publisher for taking the chance on printing a thriller that has both a serious intellectual investigation and which has a more challenging style than is usual. The story is tightly written and the author does not stray from the plot or the main characters at all. Wondering who is bad and not bad keeps one guessing until the end. The book does not have a bibliography, but the author alludes to critical works on the subject he writes about. The reader can then go read the scholarly works. One thing missing from the book is the political ramifications for the Romans in allowing the unification of the Jews ( and thus Palestine ) such a marriage of Jesus and Mary could have brought about. Another angle would be the economic unification brought about by such a union - and the other economic interests that would have opposed this. Jesus was no ordinary leader and his death at a young age before he could become established and solidify his base no doubt was welcomed by many who preferred the status quo. I am constantly amazed at the number of Christians I meet who evangelize, but who are not familiar with the Masons or the Knights Templar or their role in preserving Western Civilization.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: I reluctantly picked this book up. I just didn't think I'd be interested in the subject matter. My best friend read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. So I bit. WOW! As I was working my way through, I could not tell fact from fiction. Not only am I left with wanting to go to Paris to the museum but I'm looking for a historical biblical course to learn more. In my opinion great book.
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