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Summary: The Da Vinci Code
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an eminently readable book that is a tapestry of conspiracy theories arranged to create a mega-conspiracy theory. While many of the theories are based upon half-truths, they are tied together in such a way to make the conspiracies seem plausible. Brown presents this book as based on fact; in reality it is based on theory - and in many cases these theories are flimsy. However, flimsy theories, when presented with confidence, are often the most entertaining theories. Basically, this book is an effective escape from reality by an author with an anti-religion agenda - take the "facts" with a grain of salt. The Da Vinci Code is action packed and filled with surprising revelations. It's a quick and easy to follow read. The chapters are brief and dramatic for those with short attention spans, and the overall package ties together well for a quick, interesting and exciting read.
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Summary: Choose your own adventure
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an enjoyable read, complex and creative, for a page-turner. The characters do not lead normal lives (eat, sleep, experience emotional conflict etc.) The author has a police cryptographer and a symbolist pursuing a murder, chasing grail clues and being chased, by an albino, by the police and, in turn, by the murderer. They take planes, trains, armoured trucks and various automobiles, which are magically at their disposal whenever they hit a dead end. At any rate, the book is flawed and full of misinformation about Leonardo Da Vinci, Mary Magdalene, the Catholic Church and related splinter groups. I don't know how anyone could be seriously offended by such a superficial treatment of art interpretation and religious history. That aside, it was fun to try to solve the codes and clues left along the way and see which path the author chose to take for the next episode.
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Summary: Good page turner
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an enjoyable thriller, and includes a number of interesting alternative historical tidbits. Unfortunately, Brown is no Umberto Eco, who could have done much more with the subject matter. The characters are wooden, and the plot depends too much on explication through unrealistic dialogue (including a number of long discussions in dangerous situations). The short chapters punctuated by cliffhangers seem to form a bit of a rhythm after a while. All in all, though, it is a good and interesting read.
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Summary: It's a great yarn
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an excellent historical novel that combines elements of Umberto Eco - "Name of the Rose" and "Foucalt's Pendulum" - Katherine Neville's "The Eight" with just a touch of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt. No doubt this book has its detractor's especially those who are steeped in theological history, but it is not, nor does it claim to be, a textbook. It is fascinating precisely because it does cast a speculative light on Judeao-Christian history. It's a great yarn too. Robert Langdon, our modern day Indiana Jones and Sophie Neveu, who could be straight out of CSI, a cypher expert are on the trail of the Holy Grail. Clues are presented and solved with such regularity that crossword lovers would adore this book. The pace is riveting and there enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The ending has a touch of Hollywood, but so what? Speculation, History, Religion, Conspiracy Theory. A book such as this has a bit of everything. No wonder the reviews are so diverse. In spite of all that it is a good buy and a good read.
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Summary: Fascinating - but not factual
Review: The da Vinci Code is an exciting race from the Louvre to French castles to England, dealing with bizarre current cults and the heirs of the Knights Templar, linking the last supper of Jesus, the Crusades, Renaissance art, and mean French people. As an historical thriller, it's very well done. The story sheds light on the Opus Dei sect of the Catholic Church, an actual group practicing aggressive psychological methods of recruiting, total salary donations, celibacy, and self-flagellation. It also turns on an interesting interpretation of da Vinci's Last Supper in Milan. For those less rooted in Renaissance iconography, don't be fooled by the theories stated to be commonly understood by art historians. Without giving away the point of the story, for any Renaissance artist to depict a common sacred Christian theme with, say, eleven disciples rather than twelve, is pretty far fetched. And, while Michaelangelo is famous for making his female figures look awfully male, da Vinci is equally noted for making many of his male figures look androgynous or angelic. Different tastes. For those interested in the actual character depicted in this important scene, da Vinci's own notes label the disciple as James; the same James that Jesus entrusted to care for his mother from the cross. Peter was asked to build the church; James to support Mary. In this context, the position and pose makes perfect sense - more sense than the conspiracy, however interesting the conspiracy theory is.
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Summary: A great mystery for those who like to think outside the box
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an extraordinary book for people who prefer the road less traveled. It is an exciting story that encourages you to think about the world we think we know and the possibilities of a world only a few speak openly of. Interwoven into your typical summer mystery is a peek into the world of the religious underground. An exciting, interesting, and possibly controversial book. This has been my favorite book of the summer.
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Summary: Give This One A Chance
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an extremely interesting book. It is also very fun, fast paced, and hard to put down. I thought the research was fantastic, as was the story. Sure it is hard to believe some of Langdon and Sophie's miraculous escapes, but it is worth it if you can get past that point. I almost stopped reading the book after 50 pages. I could not get into it. But after what I thought was a slow start, I couldn't put the thing down for two days and finished the rest of it.
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Summary: MIND CANDY FOR SMART PEOPLE
Review: THE DA VINCI CODE IS AN INTELLIGENT BUT EASY TO FOLLOW STORY. THE BOOK IS SO LUSH WITH OBSCURE INFORMATION ON EVERYTHING FROM RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY TO ART HISTORY TO DERIVATIONS OF WORDS AS THEY ADAPTED FROM DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AS WELL AS HOW POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS WERE ATTACHED TO DIFFERENT WORDS. THE PLOT IS STAND-ALONE INTERESTING, BUT THE HISTORICAL REFERENCES AND TIDBITS TAKES IT FROM INTERESTING TO PHENOMENAL.
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Summary: OUTSTANDING WORK OF IMAGINATION AND RESEARCH
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an outstanding work of both fiction and history. The book starts from the murder of an elderly curator at the Louvre inside the museum, close to which the police find symbols. Come in Harvard symbologist Langdon, late at night, to try to decypher the code. The story goes from there, with Langdon joined by Sophie, the old man's daughter, to uncover clues left by her father that only her could understand. The story mixes a good murder mystery with esoteria collected through thousands of years in Western civilization. Such esoteria include the Holy Grail, Mona Lisa's smile, etc. Without giving much away, Langdon finds out that the curator was involved in a secret society that also included Isaac Newton, Da Vinci, Hugo, among others. This is an intelligent thriller, with a number of great plot twists that follow one another up to the very absolutely great ending. Despite the 400 or so pages, should be a book to read in two or three days...
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Summary: A Work of Genius
Review: The DA VINCI CODE is as layered as an onion. The imagination that author Dan Brown has revealed through his decision to write this story is beyond ordinary comprehension. The plot he has constructed, revolving around millenia old secrets, combined with the quantity of detail he provides and the depth of his research, is "awesome" in the most literal sense of the word--and "awesome" is exactly the appropriate word to describe this novel. The plot is as layered as an onion, the clues he offers are elusive and tantalizing and, ultimately, all but impenetrable. This is one of the best books (if not the best book) I've ever read. Appropriately, there are many who would remind me that it's the second best book, after the Bible. Well, THE DA VINCI CODE is, in many ways, a further exploration of the Bible. A warning: Don't start this book unless you have the time readily available to finish it. Once you get into the story, you will not be able to put the book down until you read the last page!
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