The Da Vinci Code

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: I'd been hearing about this book from almost everyone I knew, so I got it out of the library (after a 1 month wait, may I add). I opened it last night, expecting to read a few chapters and then to go to bed. Well, luckily I didn't have work today...I was up all night reading until my eyes couldn't stay open anymore.

The central questions of the book revolve around spirituality and the nature of Christian tradition and faith. It throws into question the nature of the Holy Grail, and the version of history that the Catholic Church would have us believe. Granted, these are theories that have been put forth by many scholars, and Brown is merely drawing upon their work, but he weaves fact and fiction together into a rich tapestry.

However, the book is so much more. Brown is one of the few authors who can change viewpoint well. His characters are well written, the plot is paced well, and the two twists at the end surprising. The meat of the book will give you something to think about...well, unless you're a sheep and prefer to follow blindly rather than think for yourself.

I strongly recommend the book.

Rating:
Summary: Hugely disappointing
Review: I'd heard about this book from many reputable sources and was looking forward to diving into what I hoped would be an intelligent thriller. What I discovered was a trite and predictable novel offering little suspense or insight into its subject -- even the pacing was forced. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but this wasn't even a decent read. I just don't understand the hype.

Rating:
Summary: So much buzz for so little.
Review: I'd heard so much about this book from so many people that my expectations were quite high. I was expecting a gripping page-turner that would leap off the pages and knock me on my keister.

Instead, I got a rather mediocre work of fiction whose sole claim to fame was that it explored some dubious alternative philosophy about the history of Christ and the Grail mixed in with some cheesy secret society slop and some toying with da Vinci's symbolism.

As far as an overview of the whole Grail-Magdalene bit, it does a fair job of summarizing it for those who are too lazy to do their own research (90% of the theories espoused in the book I had heard before). As a work of fiction, however, it is sub-par. It is painfully clear that it was more important to the "author" to convey his pet theories than it was to create believable characters and plot.

I was looking forward to finding out why so many people I know had read or were reading this book. Now that I've read it, I still don't know the answer to that question, and I wish I had invested my time in a higher caliber of literature.

Rating:
Summary: Very well written and captivating from beginning to end...
Review: I'd like to start off by saying I've never read anything from Dan Brown before, and after reading this book, I'm very impressed... The book is very well written, the plot is excellent and the excitement keeps on building until a fantastic climax at the end. The book is full of exciting facts intermingled with fiction all throughout the book.

A man is murdered after hours at the Louvre museum in Paris. He's the chief curator of the museum, and he leaves behind clues as to why he was murdered and by whom, for his granddaughter, cryptologist Sophie Nevau, and Robert Langdon, a famous symbologist, to decipher. This unlikely couple ends up on the run from the French Police while searching for the killer or killers. They soon discover that the murder victim was a high-ranking member of a secret society that has been around since the time of Christ, and which have had prominent members such as Leonardo Da Vinci and Isaac Newton. This secret society has guarded one of mankind's greatest secrets for centuries - The Holy Grail.

I could talk about this for ages without really spoiling the story, since it is so complex, so full of twists and turns, and packed with intriguing facts about the history of the world and Christianity.

I can pretty much guarantee that you'll love this book. The book is excellent - a real page turner, and I literally couldn't put the book down until I was done. Without hesitation, I give it 5 stars!!!

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing but doesn't seem to know how to end
Review: I'd say about the first 300 pages of the book were very interesting as all the grail lore was discussed and the writing was admirable but the ending of the book was rushed.

I did not feel a sense of surprise at the end as I expected there to be some revelation. It was a bit of a let down. I did enjoy seeing the symbolism and legends connected in such a way but I am disappointed that something new was not in fact done.

Still worth a read and if you can get it discounted for about $10.00 like I did go ahead and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Very pleasantly suprised
Review: I'd seen the author on the Today Show, but somehow got the impression that this book was about biblical codes. Over the holidays, I decided to rent a book on CD to entertain me during a four hour drive. It was either "The Da Vinci Code" or any number of really bad romance novels. As much as I love to read, I figured this book would be better than a four-hour repeat of my music CD collection. After the first CD, I was pretty excited. It was a very well written story and started right in the middle of action, just the way I like it. By the last CD, I was counting myself a new fan of Dan Brown's. Granted, I took the easy way out and "listened" to this book, but it was so good that I'm considering reading it anyway, despite knowing the story already.

One comment on the audio version, though. Colin Stinton had quite a task in front him... many different characters with varying accents. I applaud him on a job well done. Just one tiny hint though... Sophie's accent (English with a French accent) could have been a lot better. I cringed every time he pronounced "Robert" with the "t", since the French would not say it that way.

I highly recommend this book to mystery lovers.

Rating:
Summary: fun page-turner, but patently absurd FICTIONAL assertions
Review: I'll admit it - it's a fun suspense novel. But the author knows just enough to be dangerous, sounding plausible with the absurd claims he makes. May God help him if he leads just one person from their salvation with his irresponsible work of fiction. As a Christian with a degree in art history, it was easy to spot all the places that Brown gets it wrong on so many counts. An example: page 246 has an excerpt from the fictional Gospel of Phillip in which the disciples call Jesus "Saviour." Yet the core of Brown's assertion is that Jesus' divinity was decided in a council vote 300 years later for political gain by people who claimed to have proof it wasn't true, and that the disciples knew Jesus was "just a man" like them. If that's so, then why would they have called him Saviour? Another example of his inaccuracy is his description of Da Vinci's painting "Madonna of the Rocks" where he mistakenly reverses the identities of Jesus and John the Baptist as infants. Jesus is the one holding up two fingers, an internationally known symbol for teacher/rabbi, and it is John the Baptist who is kneeling in prayer to Christ, and the "talon-like claw" that Brown sees in Mary's hand is actually her blessing Jesus, as a clergyperson blesses communion elements. Caught you at your own game, Brown. Try to get it right next time. The book is filled to the brim with inconsistencies in Brown's self-created world. Enjoy this fiction, but read the real truth for yourself in the Bible.

Rating:
Summary: YUK!
Review: I'll be blunt: If you liked this book you are an idiot. You know nothing about good writing OR about the Bible. I made it 2/3 of the way through before I tossed the book against the wall. The charactors are made of wood, got sick of the cliche bad guys and cliche cops, and got relly tired of all the facts being distorted or just plain wrong. What a waste of time.. The more I hoped it was going somewhere, the more nowhere it went..

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I'll keep this short, as I already wasted too much time reading the book. I admit I read this hoping that there was something unique about it. Sadly disappointing in its predictability. Anytime the sleeve notes say something like "wickedly clever" or "a must read", run, run far away.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing storyline and characters
Review: I'll keep this simple. Dan Brown is a gifted writer but, as a storyteller, he basically sticks to similar 'rules' throughout all his books. Due to the hype, I was hoping The Da Vinci Code would be different ... it wasn't.

To set up the story, and get the main characters together, Brown made some huge leaps, in my opinion. His whole set-up seemed forced and extremely unlikely if we are to believe we are dealing with everyday, intelligent, professional individuals. Poorly, poorly done.

I did like the research done and presented in this book. Obviously, there will be a great deal of debate as to the accuracy of the premises but that's been going on since Jesus came on the scene two thousand years ago. Overall, Brown's presentation was well-done and easy to follow (whether or not you agree with the argument).

His character development is pretty much non-existent and, again, disappointing. With this book (as with all his books), Brown created a cast of, basically, static characters that I never really came to care about. But then I like character development - if it's not important to you, disregard my input.

Mr. Brown would do well to change his formula for his antagonists. In every single book, the 'bad guy' is obvious due to one simple rule that Brown follows. Pick the least likely individual, or the nicest and most dedicated individual (outside the hero/heroine) and you've got your antagonist. The Da Vinci Code was yet another disappointment in this regard.

The ending was mediocre though better than his previous work. I keep wondering when he'll get the hang of tying up a story tightly. Maybe with his next book? Doubt it but we'll see.

Do not buy this book in hardcover unless you want an underdeveloped storyline, static characterization, and the other things I've mentioned. Check it out from the library, borrow a friend's, wait til paperback, whatever. Just don't pay hardcover prices for a very mediocre story. Good luck!