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The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code

List Price: $26.95
Your Price: $17.79
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Interesting Fiction but Historically false
Review: There is No doubt the book is written well and in a manor they cause one to become interested in the subjects but the information in the book is false. Let me give one example. Brown contends that the cannon of the scripture was put into existence in the 5th century AD., but the fact is, Tartillian a Lawyer and Early church father (in Alexandria Egypt) listed the cannon in total in the second century A.D. Most of Browns theories are not from the early church traditions, but from the middle ages, when the knights Templars came up with he holy blood line. Really this is a rehash of a rehash, holy blood holy grail also did the same thing 20 years ago. It would be better if people sake the truth. One good way would be to read the new testament, The Apostle Paul's epistles totally blow brown out of the water; Read Da Vinci if you must but look at is as fiction; Read the new testament if you want the TRUTH.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: More junk for the gullible minded!
Review: There is No doubt the book is written well and in a manor they could cause one to become interested in the subject matter; but the information in the book is false. Let me give one example. Brown contends that the cannon of the scripture was put into existence in the 5th century AD., but the fact is, Tartillian, a Lawyer and Early church father, listed the cannon in total in the second century A.D. The truth is most early Church fathers were in agreement, this book takes a small minority opinion that was considered a hearsay at the time and makes it the dominate belief at the time. That is horrible scholarship. Most of Browns theories are not from the early church traditions, as I just sated he took a semi early heresy; but he gathered most of his information from the middle ages, when the knights Templars came up with he holy blood line BS. Really this is a rehash of a rehash, holy blood holy grail also did the same thing 20 years ago. It would be better if people sake the truth. One good way would be to read the new testament, The Apostle Paul's epistles totally blow Brown out of the water; Read the Lost Shipwreck of Paul for a great Historical book. Read Da Vinci if you must but look at is as fiction and entertainment; Read the new testament if you want the TRUTH.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Interesting premise, preposterous plot
Review: There is no question Dan Brown does his homework when researching a book. I checked much of his data in "The Da Vinci Code" and found it solid. The groundwork is compelling and thought-provoking.

What is less compelling is a plot that dodges and weaves incoherently. It covers enough ground to span a year but purports to be a day in the life of shallow, unbelievable characters. Brown's cliche-ridden writing is tedious and predictable.

As the plot begins to unravel--and "unravel" is the right word--it becomes apparent there will be no satisfactory resolution in this feeble struggle to retell the Grail quest. In the final chapters, the pace quickens in a frantic attempt to tie up all the loose ends. Brown seems to have decided that he had filled his obligatory 400 pages and needed to put an abrupt end to the unsatisfying foolishness he had set up.

As a starting point for investigating the many puzzles of history, the Church and its machinations, "The Da Vinci Code" is a good primer. As literature, it is an abysmal flop.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Unbelievable Book
Review: There is no question that everybody should read this book. It is very entertaining and full of very peculiar facts (assuming that they are true). The writer skilfully turns religious history (highly sensitive and mostly boring subject to read) into a page turning thriller. I highly recommend it.

I have a general advise though, make sure that you read it on a weekend, as you will not be able to put it down. I read it on a business trip with near disastrous consequences.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Incredible!
Review: There is no way to keep this book from pulling you in. There is so much suspense and intrigue that it is impossible to put the book down. Not only is it entertaining, but it forces you to look at the ideas of truth and history in a completly different light. Do not read this book if you are not comfortable with new and radical points of view. For everyone else, I promise you will love it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: rip-off
Review: there is not much to say about this book except that it is a total rip-off of "the book of light" by Michelle Simons. The davinci code uses the exact same premise of the book of light, exept it is written in the style of a 3 year old, it makes sense why it appeals to so many. If you read other low star reviews it explains my reasoning. I do not hae the time to tell you why.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down
Review: There is nothing better than a good novel - especially a mystery - that teaches you things. Hardly a page was turned where I did not learn something. One of the biggest mysteries about this book is where does the non-fiction end and the fiction begin.

This is a wonderful mystery centered around the old faithful hunt for the holy grail. But this takes the grail to several new levels - what it is, who is keeping(?) it and what it means in history and especially to the Christian church.

The plot twists and turns just as any reader of the mystery gendre would like. But there were several things that made the twists and turn special. Good guys turned into bad guys and visa versa and seemingly tangential characters end up playing major roles. The reader can also work on solving the main question - where is the grail? - since he gets the facts the same time as the main characters (what he does not get is all the background maneuverings). Also some of the clues I was actually able to get before the main characters. Lastly, this is the kind of mystery that I particularly enjoy - although one of the characters is a professor so he knows an inordinate amount about the subject matter - the main characters are regular humans with no superhuman qualities. Everything they do is believable.

This book held me in its grasp tighter than any I have read in a long time - it is the kind of book you wish you could just sit and read without interruption.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Whirl of Renaissance Art and Christian History
Review: There is nothing I can say about this book that is bad, except that i can't get it out of my head. Not only does it (attempt) an explanation of Mona Lisa's mysterious smile, but it describes Jesus's life and defines the Holy Grail.
If you love Indiana Jones, Leonardo da Vinci, and twists and turns on every page, there is no reason you shouldn't love this book.
However, i must say that you have to have a fairly open mind to enjoy this book. Since this does put the (alleged) flaws of one of the world's major religions in the spotlight, many people get instantly PO'd. If you start to read this and think "This is offensive to my faith," either 1)stop reading or 2)use your brain and rememeber this is a work of FICTION and not the be-all, end-all of your life. If you want to believe what Dan Brown says, good for you. If you want to burn him in effigy, um, relax and take a deep breath?
Those who SHOULD like this book: adventure novel readers, art historians, people who like books that create a bit of a stir, people who are interested in alternative history (I think that's the word for it)
Those who PROBABLY won't like this book: extrememly orthodox christians, people who have no experience with renaissance art, people who can't stand "super" hero/ines.
Follow your best judgement. Remember, a book cannot do anything to you or your faith if you don't let it.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Fact or Fiction?
Review: There is some disagreement among the reviewers on these pages about the accuracy of the facts that underpin The DaVinci Code. Some bemoan what they say are errors in the book and attempt to set the record straight; others remind the reader that this is a work of fiction and say "chill, enjoy." The latter group would point as evidence of their position to the standard disclaimer on the copyright page that states that "all of the characters and events in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental." So, in other words, it's all just make-believe.

But wait, say the critics who take Mr. Brown to task for his alleged inaccuracies, on page 1 of the book (it's unnumbered) there is a full page note from the author entitled "Fact:" that states "All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate."

So, it seems, the critics are correct and they have every right to alert readers to what they believe are errors in accuracy in the book.

Which leaves me, a not as well-read reader as I would like, wholly confused.

Item: Brown states that the divinity of Christ was made fact by the Council of Nicea by a simple vote. I didn't know this and was taken aback. Then along comes a reviewer on these pages who says it wasn't the "fact" of Christ's divinity that was approved by a vote at the Council but instead the decision to include that fact in the Nicene Creed. Who's right?

Item: Brown states that the "apostle" to the right of Jesus in Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" is in fact Mary Magdalene. I stopped reading when I was told this fact and checked an art book and, well, the flowing locks and the fine features sure look feminine. Then along comes a reviewer on these pages who says that this is utter bunk and that there exist sketches by Da Vinci labeling each of the apostles in the painting and Mary Magdalene is listed nowhere. Who's right?

If these "facts" are called seriously into question, then Brown's edifice starts to look very unstable. What about the alleged arbitrary selection of the books of the Bible designed to tell a certain tale? What about the alleged 80+ other Gospels dismissed out of hand? What about the alleged marriage of Jesus to Magdalene? What's accurate and what's not?

If Brown hadn't included a bold assertion of fact in his work of fiction (and had this promulgated by a well-oiled publicity machine) I wouldn't be sitting here at my computer at 6:22 am discussing it. But I am, because he did. A fact is a fact. Except, that is, when it's a fiction.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: awful!
Review: There is very little to be said in favour of this novel: it is a rehash job with a bad plot added to it, it is badly written, it lacks research (and provides lots of false information) and contains no characterization. Why on earth was this a bestseller? And why are all the main characters so useless at getting the clues?
Anyone can point out the factual errors, but which young French Parisian woman would ever utter the following: "You're kidding, right? We're going to visit a knight?"

What a waste of money! I can only hope it kept a few ignorant Americans amused on their cruises - or that it encourages them to visit the Temple Church (based on the Church of the Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which I suppose is pagan inspired, too ...), etc., etc.


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