Rating: 
Summary: Food For Inquisitive Minds
Review: The aspect of the novel that I found to be the most interesting was that it brought up a very unique interpretation of religous history. Immediatly after reading the book, I wanted to research some of the more esoteric points of the novel myself. The story is fairly clever. So clever, in fact, that I was somewhat dissapointed by the ending because Dan Brown's writing made me expect something more interesting. Overall, I would suggest that someone read this novel if he has an interest in history or will enjoy a read that might be somewhat educational. However, I did not find myself greatly entertained at any point of the novel. My interest peaked at several points in the story, but I quickly lost interest at other points. My general impression is that book merits 4 to 4.5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Deciphering The Da Vinci Code
Review: The attacker aimed his gun again. "When you are gone, I will be the only one who knows the truth." The truth. In an instant, the curator grasped the true horror of the situation. If I die, the truth will be lost forever. Instinctively, he tried to scramble for cover. The gun roared, and the curator felt a searing heat as the bullet lodged in his stomach. He fell forward... struggling against the pain. Slowly, Sauniere rolled over and stared back through the bars at his attacker."
The Da Vinci Code is filled with passages such as the one above, all filled with action, suspense, and mystery. The author, Dan Brown, has masterfully created a story intertwined with codes, riddles, encryptions, and enigmas. He accomplishes this through his amazing ability to put the reader, into the story, with dazzling descriptions of Paris, many multi-dimensional characters, and a spectacularly intricate plot... Dan Brown has spared no detail.
In The Da Vinci Code, the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion, an ancient society sworn to protect the secrets of the Holy Grail, is murdered. In one last attempt to prevent the secrets from falling into the wrong hands, he leaves countless, elaborate clues for two strangers to decipher. The first, his granddaughter, a cryptologist for the Direction Centrale Police Judiciaire, and the other, Robert Langdon, Professor of Religious Symbology at Harvard University, are left with the daunting task of protecting the ancient secret. The trouble is, they don't know what it is they're risking their lives to protect.
Dan Brown has done an astounding job of bringing Paris, France to life in the setting for this novel.
"Outside, the city was just now winding down-Street vendors wheeling carts of candied amandes, waiters carrying bags of garbage to the curb, a pair of late night lovers cuddling to stay warm in a breeze scented with jasmine blossom. The Citroen ZX navigated the chaos with authority, its dissonant two-tone siren parting the traffic like a knife."...
The characterization in this novel is extremely well planned. Numerous characters are seeking the secret that was guarded by the Priory for so long, and they must overcome many obstacles. Sophie and Robert, with the police hot on their trail, rely on the clues left by Sophie's "grand-pere" to make their way closer and closer to the grail. Others, such as members of the organization known as Opus Dei, are also after the Grail and have proved that they will kill to get it.
Throughout The Da Vinci Code there are many things happening simultaneously. This is an extremely fast-paced novel with twists and turns at every flip of a page. With the French Police nipping at their heels, Robert and Sophie must wade through endless encryptions and riddles that seem to beg for answers; all the while, trying to outrun others that have proved they will stop at nothing to take what it is the two possess.
One drawback to this novel is the frequent use of French. At times, it proves to be very difficult and distracting having to "weed-through" the scores of foreign words...
"Bonjour, vous etes bien chez Sophie Neveau," the woman's voice said. "Je suis absente pour le moment, mais."...
"Capitaine, un agent du Department de Cryptographie est arrive."
Sentences, like the ones above are scattered throughout the text and could possibly pose as an obstacle for the reader.
Overall, The Da Vinci Code proves to be a very exciting and entertaining novel. Beginning with the very first page, this book will seize the imagination and never let go. The Da Vinci Code is a remarkable piece of fiction that should not be passed by.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome research!
Review: The author did a terrific job in research and in questioning some widely accepted notions in the Catholic religion. Just because of this, the book is woth to be read.The mystery aspect of the book is fast paced and exciting, but towards the end it turns too farfetched. This is the only flaw I can point out. Definitely worth your time!
Rating: 
Summary: Creatively constructed puzzles, not much else
Review: The author has wrapped the highly bogus "Mary Magdalene and Jesus were lovers" tale around a generic thriller plot. Other reviewers have catalogued that all too well here to go into detail. Suffice it to say that some of the scenes would fit well in the next Austin Powers movie. Hairy-legged feminists and other Christian-haters may enjoy this book. The rest of you should not waste your money. Fortunately Mel Gibson's new movie, The Passion, is coming out soon to tell the real story of Jesus.
Rating:
Summary: :::PoliticsForum.Com Review:::
Review: The author is a true Grandmaster. He manages to mingle a wide variety of facts and historical events along with artistic secrets into a wonderful work of fiction. Chances are you will learn more about the arts, Christianity and religion from this perfect masterpiece than from 4 years at a university. I applaud the author for this fine work. he is pure genius! Bravo! I read the book in 3 evenings because I was unable to put it down until I could barely keep my eyes open. Sincerely, Maximus Illuminati - Author of Islam Exposed P.S. Iti multumim foarte mult pentru ca ai sfirsit aceasta misiune! Acum este timpul sa citestin illuminati manifesto si cartea mortilor.
Rating: 
Summary: Yeah it is fiction but...
Review: The author keeps on insisting that it is based on fact. His references have been debunked over and over again by real bonified scholars. Besides all that. The writing is 3rd rate. It seems this forum is being used by authors to push their own work. Buyer beware!
Rating:
Summary: Novel as longwinded puzzle
Review: The author leverages an intriguing possibility about the life of Jesus and suffocates it under the flimsiest of characters, a thick layer of explication on the sacred feminine, two tons of cliches and a plot with timing so perfect that if the protagonist had stopped to take a pee, the entire novel would have collapsed. Somewhere around page 20 I numbly realized the author wasn't even trying to give each character his own dialogue; conversations only serve to drive the plot 80 miles an hour to the end of this longwinded puzzle. And that's all there is to the "Code": riddles and word games wrapped around a framework of a lite detective story. (I understand the author's next work involves the same code expert in "Buddha Belly", where clues written on fortune cookies point to evidence that the supposed-vegetarian Enlightened One had a weakness for barbecued goat ribs.)
Rating:
Summary: good writing but 100% fictional
Review: The author weaves together secret societies and conspiracy thoeries and anti-catholic rhetoric in order to devieve us into thinking that Jesus had a wife and child. Lets analyze the lies here. Opus Dei is a 'secret' society, in many ways a catholic rival to the masons, meant to promote catholic power among the wealthy and powerful of the worlds catholic nations. Yet the fact that it is mysterious doesnt mean that it preaches false idols or that it is covering up the 'Truth' about jesus being married. Opus Die is simply catholic reaction to a world increasingly secular. the author claims this organization is involved in something vile, yet he shies away from saying exactly what. The 'secret' organization that Da Vinci may have been a member of didnt have any knowledge of the life of Jesus, it based its 'theories' on cult pracices that have no basis in reality. In the end this book is a great fascinating tale of suspense, but it is a fictional book. Lots of people including ABC news have been duped into beleiving this book has 'truth' to it when it is based on NO EVIDENCE whatsoever. The bible and Josephus are the only documents that speak of the life of Jesus. In neither work is Mary magdelane spoken of as a wife of Jesus. In no place is mary magdelane not a prostitute. The bible is clear on this. If you dont beleive the biblet hats fine, but you cant just make up history whern no text or evidence exists. Just because Da Vinci painted a fresco doesnt mean anything. Did Da Vinci know jesus? No. did Da Vinci have access to 'secret' documents that were written in the time of Jesus? No. All Da Vinci had was a secret society with a tradition that had no basis in history and contained no evidence. A good book but please realize its not true and that its not history, its a NOVEL!
Rating:
Summary: The
Review: The beginning of the book was good, and I was excited to read it. But as I got farther into it I realized that it was only a not so well disguised attempt to push the author's views against Christianity. My personal opinion is he's trying to do some major kissing up to feminists. From a strictly literary standpoint, his writing was nothing out of the ordinary and he filled many of the pages with his own ideologies. I was also very offended by his blatant attacks on Christians (He potrayed them as being either narrow minded or fools, covering up the "truth" about Christ)and his seeming glorification of women. He obviously does not know what he is talking about in either of those areas. His views of goddess worship and the like are very far-out. Christiantiy has done more to furthur the good treatment of women than any other religion. And as for all the "facts" presented in the book, I didn't notice a bibliography listing the sources from which he gathered all this "ground-breaking" research. I would not reccomend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this now!
Review: The best book I have ever read. The only way anyone could write a poor review about this book is if they're a religious zealot. If you are, do not buy this. All others will be highly entertained. I have never read a book other than this one that made me rush to the computer to learn more about the subject matter. In all, I probably was on the internet for 15-20 hours. I can't wait for the movie that is in the works and also for the next novel. Thanks Dan.
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