Rating: 
Summary: He fell asleep for last half of this one....
Review: What a great premise and outstanding first half. Midway through this one, however, Mr. Brown simply seemed to give up. It's unfortunate because he really stumbled on a cool concept. If at any point you're reading this one and you find yourself dozing off, you should probably put it down.... it just continues to go into a tail spin from there.
Rating: 
Summary: From "The Last Supper" on-- Properly categorized as Fiction.
Review: What a journey I've been on, as a result of this book. Earlier this week, a friend requested that I read it. Did so in one sitting at Barnes and Nobles; would typically purchase those books that I browse, but this would have been $25 illspent. My immediate reaction was that the author is by no means intellectual. His writing is blatantly elementary, as many reviewers have already pointed out- two dimensional characters, rampant cliches, predictable plot points. The man just doesn't have the imagination or intellect necessary for writing. My secondary reaction was that I was glad to have read it, for although his writing provoked many groans, the ideas [though not his own] were enticing. Ever the knowledge addict, I expressed my opinions to my friend, and we two went off on a quest for understanding. It is this quest that brings me here. There was no need, prior to it; I assumed most people would simply enjoy or dislike what they read, and my opinion would be inconsequential. However, at this point I feel it's somewhat necessary to share what we've discovered: that this book is, without question, a work of Fiction. Mr. Brown strikes me as the type of man who delights in the arrogant appeal of 'knowing more than other people'. The type of man who seeks higher education and book learning, so that he might re-introduce the concepts he's discovered to those "less knowledgeable"; the problem being, of course, that he presents the information as undeniable truth. The idea of challenging what he has been taught would not occur to him, as he is a passive learner. By writing the book as he did, he is not only promoting false information- he is encouraging a continued pattern of passive learning. Even his characters never question the information presented to them; no matter their degree of so-called 'intelligence', each consequently smiles and nods in agreement when they are presented with a new concept. I dislike the idea of passive learning, and consequently seek answers and information with a relentless passion. After reading the book, my first experiment in understanding involved the suggested theory of PHI; after some scattered research, I conducted a series of measurements that time and again proved the 'ratio phenomenon' to be false. After searching more, I learned that most individuals attempted this same experiment after reading the book; and, as with myself- were consistently disappointed. PHI is not a natural phenomenon. While I am not a mathematicean, I enjoy the study of numbers; PHI isn't much more more than a representative variable along the lines of 'i' or 'pi'. So. Although my friend and I acknowledged this theory to be untrue, we also recognized that it was one of the lesser ones mentioned in The Da Vinci Code- and continued to explore some of the other concepts presented. Our first involved the much-discussed idea that Da Vinci had painted Mary Magdalene into The Last Supper. Our journey became prolonged due to confusion of names, but in the end came to this result: John the Apostle was, in fact, effeminate. Most artists depicted the man similarly to Da Vinci [you're welcome to do an image search on google for "John the Apostle"]- long hair, youthful features, no facial hair. Coinciding with this is the fact that Da Vinci simply struggled with depicting the male form; during our search we viewed a massive amount of his work, and portraits of men are quite noticeably absent. Those that we did find were undeniably effeminate, or depicting older men; The reason for the former might have something to do with Da Vinci's rumoured homosexuality, as well as his preoccupation with female beauty- and the latter, as I explained to my friend- is that it's easier to draw what you're familiar with. [In this case, men who looked like himself.] This said, I'd imagine that the depiction of John the Apostle is strikingly effeminate, not only because of his natural features- but quite simply, because Da Vinci got 'carried away' with the idea of portraying the man as meek and delicate, and inadvertently incorporated his adoration of the female form. As for Peter leaning across to whisper in his ear, as well as the mysterious dagger; it is said that Peter is informing John of Judas' plans to betray Jesus. [Matthew 26: 14-16; in the painting, Judas is seated in front of the two figures, and turned towards]. Small symbolic subterfuge on the part of Da Vinci, but nothing quite as overwhelming as the author would have us believe. This is not to say that there isn't some truth to the idea that Mary played a larger part than she is credited for- nor is it to say that Jesus absolutely did not have children. Certainly possiblities, [and in the case of Mary Magdalene, becoming increasingly undisputed]; but this book does not provide any particularly compelling evidence in the case of either. As for the "Priory of Sion", our research is incomplete. So far it's not looking too good, and I would be entirely unsurprised if it didn't amount to yet another mistruth on the part of Dan Brown. It's unfortunate that this book has become the bestseller that it is; especially given that most will read his words as reality, and go no further. Please do not let yourself be lulled into complacency. You have been played for a fool, by a fool. Suggested reading: "Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally", by Marcus. J Borg "King James VI and I and the Reunion of Christendom" "In the Beginning : The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language,and a Culture" "New Revised Standard Version: Study Bible"
Rating:
Summary: Madman
Review: What a piece of anti-Catholic psycho-babble junk. The author attempts to fuse feminism and mysticism with a conspiracy run by the Vatican. My wife gave it to me for Father's Day and I worked my way through it hoping something interesting would happen. My sister then gave it to me for my birthday and I refused it. The writing is terrible. If this is what the popular novel has come to it is another sign that the apocalypse is upon us.
Rating: 
Summary: Dan Brown is a master storyteller
Review: What a wonderful read. I enjoyed this book tremendously and have recommended it to several friends. This is one of those books that I will be reading again.
Rating:
Summary: Intellectually Stimulating, Fast Paced
Review: What amazed me about this book was the fact that Brown uses the thriller genre, where every chapter ends in a cliffhanger that leaves you breathless, but it's jam packed with fascinating historical nuggets, ALL of which serve to drive the plot and keep the reader guessing. It's a dozen puzzles within a dozen puzzles, but all of them clearly logical and based on ancient paintings, writings and historical facts. Just when you think he's said something ludicrous, you go to the painting or edifice named and it's all there. And though he demonstrates how much of the Church is based on myth -- all thoroughly documented -- he manages to do it without being sacrigilous or mean-spirited. Once I started reading, I could not stop and had to finish it. A perfect blend of pop adventure and deeply intellectual research. It all fits and it doesn't cheat. Brilliant.
Rating:
Summary: Great, Fast Paced Book!!
Review: What an amazing book. I literally read this book in less than two days. I only put the book down to eat, go to the bathroom, and to sleep. The book is an incredible mix of conspiracy and thrill. This book is recommended by me 110%. For anyone who loves religious conflict and conspiracy, this book is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: An eye opener!
Review: What an astounding book! It grabbed me from page 1 and never let go. Dan Brown has truly written a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: a real stinker
Review: What boring characters these are, running and jumping like little automatons through a nonstop but lame series of chases. Utterly devoid of suspense or good storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: An Author Who Profits from Public Ignorance
Review: What concerns any conscientious observer is that Dan Brown has deliberately chosen sacred subjects -- such as the Divinity of Christ and the history of Christianity -- in order to entice the ignorant into purchasing a book. Sure, its pure fiction, as one of his reviewers reminds us, but it is the worst kind of fiction; the kind that fuels fires of anger and resentment against a 2,000 year old faith, and plants seeds of doubt and despair in the minds and hearts of the uneducated and the unenlightened. In a country where authors and publishers will print almost anything to earn a dime, and so few people around who still place any value on religious or historical knowledge, finding this book on the best sellers list is another example of just how low the American public's opinion of good literature has fallen. Gifted writers like Brown have the unbelievable power to shift our perspectives, expand our horizons, stir our imagination and make us better. This book, on the other hand, is nothing more than a clever manipulation and a terrible waste of talent.
Rating:
Summary: Holy Grail Seekers,,,Read SB 1 or God
Review: What do authors do? They come up with an idea, then they have to build a,,,book,,, around that idea. This idea starts off quite well really. I will summarize my review before I finish, "This is a successful attempt to reach the mass market novel readers based on a single exploited Sacrament that had to be glued together with hundreds of pages filled with random ideas from many sources." One of those sources was definitely Holy Blood Holy Grail. Whether you like this book or not will depend on your taste and level of tolerence. For me the meat of the book is less than I would expect, the premise is fine, however the one great and not so obvious item to so many,,, is very disappointing to me,,,The meaning of the Holy Grail is lost in this and many other books and movies similar. When Christ spoke," He who drinks of this,,,cup". I am neither Christain or atheist, but I at least understand that he meant the Holy Grail was and is within you when you accept Christ. The entire scope of these books knowingly flaunts at the height of disrespect for the intended meaning of the Holy Grail. How do millions fall for basic fluantful entertainment out of something meant so sacramental? Nothing is sacred when it can be eploited for gain. Read SB 1 or God by Maddox, the Grail is inside, and obviously hidden.
| 
