The Da Vinci Code

Rating:
Summary: About Daughter of God
Review: While Da Vinci code definitely lives up to its hype, customers ought to know that a large portion of the novel's plot concepts were lifted from Lewis Perdue's Daughter of God, including the female lead, the Vatican secret society, Magdalene as the Chalice of Christ, and a number of other "coincidences" as listed by Perdue at his website for Daughter of God.

However, in defense of Brown, several reviews attempt to muddle the revelatory ideas proposed by the Da Vinci code throughout the course of the book. While the book's premises are fiction, Brown's preface about the authenticity/historical accuracy of the content is legitimately posted, as the Merovingian order is a moot subject.

For example: someone said earlier that Brown says DaVinci's Mona Lisa was a self-portrait via Langdon, the main character. Apparently, this person didn't read the entire book. Later, Langdon points out that contrary to the rumor that Leonardo created Mona Lisa to represent himself "in drag," Leonardo as a member of the pagan cult involved in the book created Mona Lisa to symbolize the androgynous unity of male/female in the Sacred Feminine.

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Summary: Langdon returns
Review: While Da Vinci Code features Robert Langdon, last seen destroying the Vatican Library in Brown's Angels and Demons, reading the earlier title isn't a prerequisite to enjoying this one; Da Vinci Code stands alone. Like Browns' earlier title, this one is a page-turner that is hard to put down, full of twists and turns at a breakneck pace as the search for the Grail becomes a simultaneous flight from attack. It is also a title that can be re-read, packed with interesting trivia that bears re-examination; while it is a "fun read", full of fast-paced action, there are elements of the novel that themselves might serve as the subject of scholarly analysis; this title defines "intellectual thriller".

Rating:
Summary: Little disappointing
Review: While DavVinci Code keep its promise of puzzle after puzzle, it has a disappointing "continuous car chase" in the first third of the book. The ending was quite a let down.

Angels and Demons was far superior in its richness and art with spectacular scenes as well as scenery. Lets hope Dan's next novel doesn't disappoint as much as this one. I love Robert Langdon and hope we get to see him again soon.

Rating:
Summary: A page-turner that educates too
Review: While fundamentalists will find this book heresy, the rest of us who understand that history is written and re-written by those in power and seeking power will simply enjoy this book as a book. So, as a book, I must say it kept me reading until the wee hours of the night. It's not super complex and epic like "The Eight," which is why I only gave it 4 stars, even though enjoyment wise it is definitely a 5, indeed, the action takes place over about two days total. It's a rollercoaster ride of action and intrigue that manages to impart tons of scholarly concepts and data in an interesting way at the same time.

The basic plot starts with a murder in The Louvre with a message given to a historian and cryptographer about a secret held in safe keeping for centuries. Because they're named by the dead man, the two main characters soon become fugitives on the run from the law as they go on a grail quest.

I really enjoyed the scavanger hunt aspect of the story, with the symbology historian character teaming up with a great female character who studied cryptology. As a team, they're as good or better than Mulder and Scully.

The bad guys are interesting, the facts are painstakingly researched, the author even gives a balanced view of the Catholic Church, which is finally trying to update its views and practices to remain relevant in the new milleneum.

While this is a great summer or airline trip read, it's not ultimately very fulfilling even though the concepts are enlightening. You forget most of it except for the fun facts such as why the Mona Lisa is smiling, as soon as you're done reading. Consequently, I wouldn't recommend that you pay the full hardback price. I'd advise you to wait until paperback or buy it used. Then, take it out to the pool and beware of getting a sunburn!

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Summary: The point is beyond the fiction...
Review: While I agree with some of the other reviews of this book in that the romantic story and forced suspense are mediocre at best, the resonnating fascination for me is the factual undercurrent that binds it all together. This book speaks volumes to anyone who has ever questioned organized religion, and does more justice for DaVinci's genius than most art books I've read. The truths Dan Brown shares in this book will leave you astonished, and good story or not, the possibilities he offers up about the Holy Grail are not soon to leave your conscious!

Rating:
Summary: pretty good... could be better
Review: While I enjoyed the book, I was disappointed by the last hundred or so pages. I found it getting increasingly far-fetched... especially with the revealing of the "Teacher's" identity. THAT was lame. However, the stuff about the Priory of Sion and da Vinci's art work is quite interesting. Too bad the story line doesn't quite meet that level.

Rating:
Summary: Good story v. bad package
Review: While I find myself unable to put this book down, I wish I had not started it. The writing is poor and hackneyed and I have no emotional attachment to the characters. Most of the time it reads like a bad Sandra Bullock movie. An albino villain--COME ON! But the concept, if poorly executed, is still intruiging and I DO want to know what happens. If you haven't read it yet, don't start...that is if you don't want to sit there with a paradoxical reaction--groaning at the cheesiness of it but unable to stop reading.

Rating:
Summary: Efficiently written thriller
Review: While it is doubtful that The DaVinci Code will be revered alongside the likes of William Shakespeare, Dan Brown has crafted a fairly intricate and tight thriller. When reading this work, it is essential to remember this is a murder mystery at heart, not a volume on theology.

The fractured early history of Christianity, the Priory of Sion, Mary and the holy grail and numerous other concepts in this book are not original to the author, but have been freely available for numerous years. The author merely uses them to encapsulate his mystery and make it far more interesting. It is certainly not a book that should be criticized like a non fiction book. Authors are bound to take artistic license here and there to enhance the drama and action in the story.

That being said, the book is efficiently written and the action moves at an adequate pace to keep a reader interested through the 450+ pages. Dan Brown breaks the book into numerous short chapters allowing the reader to have a sense of accomplishment while reading it. Told in a linear fashion with numerous changes of scene, the reader can easily keep up with the plot and many characters. Character development could have been better as we don't really get to know what makes any of them tick. Exposition through narrative is minimal; used only when necessary. Most exposition is handled by the characters' interaction with each other. This is a very effective way to reveal the facts to the reader.

If you like a mystery and have a theological bent, you will probably enjoy this book. The proper midset is essential. If you read this book to criticize it, you will quickly sour on it. It's not very deep so lay back and have some fun.

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Summary: Paint-By-Numbers Conspiracy Drivel
Review: While it's certainly engaging, it's definitely not satisfying. Sure, it's a page-turner that you'll probably read in a week, but in hindsight you'll realize that the author merely took a bunch of interesting conspiracy theories and mysterious facts and figures and sewed them all together in a kind of conspiracy tapestry.

You start by taking the main conspiracy theory, namely the Priory of Scion/Mary Magdelene/Knights Templar theory, then you tie in a mysterious cult, namely Opus Dei (which is seems REALLY out of place, if you think about it), sprinkle on some interesting factoids, IE the Golden Ratio PHI, various forms of cryptography, etc.

Then you realize how Hollywood the whole book is. Reading the plot for one of Dan Brown's other books (Angels and Demons . . . Order of the Illuminati . . . OooOOoohhHh) I realize that this guy makes a living writing these "conspiracy tapestries". Trust me, it's must more interesting reading about these conspiracy theories from legitimate non-fiction books, or watching History Channel specials, then reading them from Dan Brown.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible poor research
Review: While its not that poorly written, this is by far the worst book I've ever seen when it comes to research. People concerned about condemning the church or setting up Mary Magdalene as a cult figure may enjoy it as a potpoiler, however if one is into somewhat real history this is a laugh.

I just can't understand the fuzz about it, whether its from Christians or conspiracy believers. This book is just not worth the effort. People believing this stuff about e.g. church history or "80 gospels" will believe anything, without needing to check facts or alternatives. ...