The Da Vinci Code

Rating:
Summary: Hoary ideas + New Age Feminolgy = Pot Boiler BS(best seller)
Review: If you want genuinely literary exploration of Dan Brown's Merry Magdalene rehash, read Nikos Kazantzakis magnum(gnostic)opus:THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. Our Zorba-the-Greek man was excommunicated by The Greek Orthodox Church for this foray into theological sci-fi in an age where gnostic adepts "owned-up" to would be initiates.

Dan Brown pushed his story telling energies to admirable limits in James Bond flavored entertainment, ANGELS & DEMONS[where dreaded ILLUMINATI essay to destroy the Catholic Church by assassinating prime candidates for Papacy on Prime Time TV; and finish the work with an anti-matter(get it?)implosion bomb]. HOLY BLOOD-HOLY GRAIL is well-known Masonic/Templar fairy tale Brown richly plunders in cobbling together this made-for-major-motion picture ersatz book of Revelation. Had Alan Moore done a graphic novel treatment of this material, its merits would be amusing entertainment because Moore is king of the ironic, literary Deconstructionists(and professess he's crafting COMIC BOOKS). Dan Brown fans seem to think he's illuminating them with hoary ideas + New Age Feminology stewage. If you enjoy literature of ilk of Laura Craft,TOMB RAIDER, this is the book for you.[OPUS DEI are bad dudes here...instead of ILLUMINATI...but it's the same tried/tired Mason mythology). If you really find Orthodox Christianity-under-attack fascinating, read POWER ON EARTH,the almost biography of "late"(as in assassinated-while-in-prison) Mafia/P-2 financial magus Michele Sidona by Nick Tousche. Otherwise, recognize DA VINCI CODE for New Age VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, Jacqueline Susann reprise it is. (2 stars)

Rating:
Summary: debunking the Da Vinci Code
Review: If you want to read something that appears to debunk Christianity, you might enjoy this book.

It is, however, utter nonsense. Surely there are real facts that some enterprising writer could employ to fly in the face of the Roman Catholic Church and Christianity. Or does it matter? What fun! What sport! to undermine the faith of millions. Count me in!

Brown has used easily disproved "facts" to create a harmful mystery novel here. Harmful because he has presented his "facts" as the truth. Which they are not.

I am not a Catholic, I don't even meet the definition of a Christian. I am a believer in the truth, so If you do choose to read this book, I suggest that you do a google search for "debunking the Da Vinci Code" when you are finished with it. If you CAN finish it.

Rating:
Summary: Unconvincing theory.
Review: If you want to see a more accurate theory of what Jesus was about, check out the book titled "Man Jesus Loved: Homoerotic Narratives from the New Testament"

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining plot, but that's about it.
Review: If you're looking for a fast, easy, entertaining read, this book's for you. If you are looking for substance, characterization and plain ole good writing, it's not.
I don't know what Dan Brown was trying to accomplish but I felt as if I was reading an Encyclopedia Brown book.
Honestly, that's how the chapters ended, each with a fantastical cliffhanger that hampered the book's credibility.
Good plot, is all I can say.

Rating:
Summary: Page Turning Plot That's Thin On Character
Review: If you're looking for a page turning can't wait to see what happens next beach read, this may be the book for you. The story is of a Harvard symbologist who aids a French cryptologist in uncovering clues her murdered Grandfather has left behind in the works of Leonardo DaVinci.
Plot supersedes character development, which seems to work in the first half of the book, but as I got closer towards the end it felt like stock cardboard cut outs delivering rather stilted dialogue. Still, it's an interesting and entertaining premise even if it doesn't always succeed in execution

Rating:
Summary: If you've done 'the reading'...
Review: If you've read any non-fiction books dealing with the Grail and the Priory already... Well...
When I first saw this book in the store, I grabbed it (thinking it was non-fiction), read the inside flaps of the dust jacket and put it back. I didn't think too much of the book until I heard more praise for it, then I purchased a copy.
I will agree with most of the other reviewers and say this: it was definately a quick read, not a bad book at all. BUT, as a big fan of the 'alternate history' genre (or whatever they call it these days) I had already done all, and much more, of the reading behind this book. Basically nothing new in there (if you've read books like: Holy Blood, Holy Grail; The Templar Revelation, etc...) But I do like the fact that someone has finally written a good novel dealing with the information that's been out there for a while but relegated to the 'fringe'.
So actually, I would give this book a 4 and a half star rating if I had been completely unfamiliar with the subjects covered. I was also pleased to see a listing of several books 'for further reading' given at the outset of one of the chapters. A worthwhile experience either way.

Rating:
Summary: Overrated / Unoriginal
Review: If you've read Dan Brown's Angels & Demons, you'd wonder why he published this book again, but changed the title to "The DaVinci Code". It's the same story!! I was intrigued when I first read Angels and Demons, and generally enjoyed the story. It is really best suited for airplane reading, etc. I would have liked DaVinci Code if I hadn't read its "prequal". I like the basis for the story, but got very sick of Dan Brown's admiration for himself, as he obviously portrays himself as the main character. I'd rather read about general research on the topic of symbology, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Like "Angels and Demons" sideways
Review: If you've read one, you've read 'em both! That's how I feel about "The Da Vinci Code" and Dan Brown's similar "Angels and Demons." These books are parallel in so many ways that it is almost ridiculous: an "expert" gets murdered in a bizarre, cruel fashion; the beautiful daughter of the "expert" searches for the killer by hooking up with a Harvard professor; there is much religious symbolism; there is a cruel, unstoppable assassin who takes orders from a cruel, all-knowing unidentified director; there are challenging puzzles for the protagonaist to solve (in "Da Vinci" at least the reader gets to play along); there is cliffhanger after improbable cliffhanger; etc.; etc.; etc.

However, all this is not to say that both books are not great reads, wildly entertaining, and frankly, very interesting, in their revelations about the Holy Grail and the Knights Templar("Da Vinci") and the Illuminati ("Angels"). I recommend both books, but you really only have to read one

Rating:
Summary: Great entertainment
Review: If your faith is easily threatened then don't read this book. It questions common religious beliefs but makes the Catholic church out to be a business or governmental organization, which it is. The adventure part of the story was interesting and kept me reading and the historical analysis made me curious about the topics even after finishing the book.

Rating:
Summary: Escapism at its BEST
Review: If your looking for intrigue,mystery, excitement and an extremely well researched read....look no further. I read this book on a suggestion not knowing anything about the plot and was completely and utterly captivated. You will find yourself racing to turn the page. There were actually moments where I gasped out loud!!! If your a die-hard religious fanatic some of the content may upset you...take this book with a light heart...its just superb!!!