Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Fictional Thrill Ride but Unsupportable History
Review: Brown's noval is a barn-burner -- you will not be able to put it down, and I'm not kidding. That said, there is a difference between historical fiction (which this is not) and fiction that employs a semblance of history as a fictional artifice. Most of the stuff here that is presented as historical fact was debunked by major-league historians in the 1980s. The ancient Priorie de Sion, for example, was utterly subsumed by the Jesuits in the 1600s and never resurrected until the late 19th century. Les Dossiers Secrets was proven to be a recent forgery by the Bibliotheque Nationale about five years ago. The Knights Templar were persecuted and ultimately eliminated because they were using their unparalleled banking network to essentially blackmail the cash-poor monarchs of Europe who wanted their wars financed. Greed, not religion, prompted their end. So, the novel is terrific, but be wary of confusing it with a historical relevation based in fact.
Rating: 
Summary: A great mystery-thriller
Review: Brown's novel tells a great fictional story, but it is his use of history,combined with numerous puzzles, that make this novel special. I can see how the historical theories presented would be unsettling to those who have never seriously questioned the origins of organized religion, Christian or otherwise. As is true of any great work of art, the novel left me hungry for more information and discussion of the multiple topics introduced. His ability to bring these issues to the masses in a well-researched novel is nothing short of brilliant!
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner of the Year!
Review: Brown's writing is clean, precise, and detached, conveying information efficiently and minimizing its narrative presence in the story. The plot is appropriately full of twists and turns, with plenty of cliff-hanging action and a highly satisfying resolution, although some of the inventions seem a bit much (not only must there be a self-mutilating monk/assassin, but he must be an albino self-mutilating monk/assassin to boot). The character development is pretty much what you'd expect from an action-packed thriller - which is to say, minimal, unless it provides an excuse for more ass-kicking adventure. The focus is upon the ingenious puzzles-within-puzzles that Brown has devised, rather than the characters who try to solve them; for this type of story, that's not a problem, although it does limit the book to entertainment rather than literature. A fast-paced, suspenseful, and surprisingly intelligent thriller, The Da Vinci Code deserves its good reputation. Also recommended: Lovely Bones by Sebold, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez
Rating:
Summary: Read it if ya dare!
Review: Burn it! You can just hear the fanatical fundamentalists scream out their wrath against The Da Vinci Code. I imagine most Christians have a vague idea of the controversy surrounding this book and will steer clear. Too bad. The Da Vince Code will challenge you, irk you, and downright blow you off any safety net you have been holding on to.
Be prepared to have your theology whirl like Disney's Teacups. If you don't want the plot spoiled, quit reading now. Go give your brain something to do besides wondering if Jesus would want you to buy that new BMW. Buy the book.Ok, Brown makes a very convincing argument that the Holy Grail is actually a symbol of Mary Magdelene, wife of Jesus! Yes, His wife! and guess what ? They had a kid. Brown fills his book with historical data, and assumes that the reader will swallow the bait. Its almost a in your face "you're an idiot unless you believe the author" kind of approach. Very effective none the less. And there are quite a number of authors who agree with his Mr and Mrs Jesus idea. Most people won't bother to check his sources and that's scarey because they'll walk away believing every word. I did my homework.
Brown bases his theory on the Gnostic gospels. He states that Christians banned any gospels that made any mention of Jesus being married. Huge problem sir. The four gospels in the Bible were written before 100AD. Even scholars who aren't Christians accept that premise. Also, the Gnostic gospels, on which Brown bases his ideas on, weren't written until after 100AD.
Was the Church hiding the fact that Jesus was married? Lets say they were. There are a lot of non Christian writers who wrote about the life of Jesus. Josephus. Tacitus, Pliny.... They were all pagan. None of them accepted Jesus' claims to be God. But they did acknowledge that: Jesus was born in Bethleham, He had many followers, He did miraculous signs, He was crucified by Romans, and they mention that many of Jesus' followers claimed Jesus rose from the grave. NONE OF THEM MENTION THAT JESUS WAS MARRIED!. Of all people, these ancient pagan historians would surely mention a fact that Jesus was in fact married, especially if the Church was trying to cover it up. Around 600 to 700 AD Muslim scholars brought ancient texts to life. They were some of the greatest scholars of their time. Jesus was and is an important figure in Islam. NOT ONE MUSLIM SCHOLAR STATED or even today states THAT JESUS HAD A WIFE.
There's a reason that this book is in the fiction section. It is historical fiction. A mix of fantasy and some history thrown in. There are some fascinating tidbits of history that are true in this book and made me want to investigate further. Any author that makes the reader want to read more, in my book, (pun) is a great author. Mr. Brown, your historical claims may be shaky but I really couldn't put down your book. You forced me to go back and investigate my own beliefs. For that I thank you.
By the way. The popular Left Behind Series is also in the fiction section. As it should be! Those are another well written, though fanciful, set of books.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Even think Twice!!!
Review: BUY IT! I couldn't put it down...It will make you question whatever Christian beliefs you have...Absolutely the best thing I've read in years...Boot up the 'puter because you'll be searching for so much stuff you're head will spin.
Rating:
Summary: One great FICTIONAL read!
Review: Buy this book, read, enjoy and just try putting it down. Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining, just don't let this book make you start seeing black helicopters. It's FICTION! it was written to entertain, not to inform. Any resemblance to fact is purely coincidental. Think! There's a reason it's not a non-fiction bestseller. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Not "exhaustively researched" at all!
Review: By claiming historical accuracy in a short preface to the novel, Dan Brown's book is no longer "just fiction" but purports itself to be a historical study. As such, it would receive a failing grade in most college history courses. Brown blatantly ignores the careful research of legitimate ancient, medieval, and early-modern historians, theologians, and literary critics and chooses instead to rely upon reactionary, conspiracy-centered, non-scholarly studies from the 1980s. Publisher's Weekly admits its own ignorance by deeming the book "exhaustively researched": obvious factual errors, the absence of notation and bibliography, the mishandling and/or disregard of extant primary documents, and a tendancy to accept new theories without bothering to properly criticize the old ones; this is not "exhaustive research" at all. Other than the mere existence of Opus Dei, nearly every historical "fact" here can be or has already been challenged and proven false by historians (including every "authoritative" book that the character Teabing refers to). The author either knows this (and is thus intentionally spreading misinformation) or is completely ignorant (and therefore has not researched his topic "exhaustively"), but it is you, the readers, who are being misled while paying for the privledge.
Rating:
Summary: Sophmoric Plot, Interesting Facts, a Lot of Misconceptions
Review: By the middle, I knew who the Teacher was and exactly how the story would end for Sophie's "family," all along I was one step ahead decoding the clues, and I was bored with the boy-meets-girl, good vs. evil paint-by-numbers plot. Thrill me it didn't. But I did learn something about global navigation, so there's that. Had Mr. Brown researched Christianity as thoroughly as he did the Sacred Feminine and secret societies, he would not have used it synonymously with Catholicism. It was a fatal flaw to say the Bible was not reliable because it had been passed down by fallible men who bent it toward their own agendas. His credibility evaporated in that one premise early on. Contrary to his assertion that there is evidence the scriptures have been compromised through time and translation, scientists and archeologists have discovered the original stone and papaya writings are identical to our Bible today. Do you really think that, if there is a God, He would allow his Word (or message) to be thwarted by men, evil or otherwise? If He created the universe and everything in it, doesn't it follow that He's certainly capable of protecting a vital message's integrity? (Now you owe it to yourself to check out Chuck Missler's "Hidden Treasures: In the Biblical Text." hidden treasures and "Cosmic Codes: Hidden Messages cosmic codes, et al.) And, if there is a God (a creator) and Jesus was not He come in the flesh to fulfill every prophecy in the Torah Shebiksav (the Written Torah) and the Torah Sheb'al Peh (the Oral Torah), WHY WOULD ANYONE WORSHIP A SPOUSE OF HIS? If Jesus was just a man, OK, but that makes his supposed wife just a woman. Duh! I found it very frustrating that such a self-acknowledged academic "expert" as Robert Langdon would not address that basic philosophical question, but turn around and "explain" the corruption in the Roman Catholic Church. According to Brown's logic, passing down a "truth" by word of mouth, songs, fairy tales, and artwork is only reliable when done by those protecting the "real truth" of the sacred feminine. I threw it away.
Rating:
Summary: Well, I liked it!
Review: C'mon you guys who gave this book a bad review - IT IS A NOVEL! Who reads a novel to study art history! Or Christianity, for that matter, isn't there already a pretty well known bestseller which more than covers THAT angle? This is a fast paced, intriguing story which fascinated me from beginning to end. And I'm always appreciative of authors who refuse to devote at least half the plot to meaningless sex scenes. Don't listen to the negativity, everyone I know loves this book.
Rating:
Summary: C'mon, relax...
Review: C'mon, folks, let's relax...this is one terrific book, not great, but excellent. As a devout Christian, I almost failed to read it, having heard weird things: heretical, sacrilegious, etc. Guys, it's just a NOVEL, wonderfully detailed and meticulously researched, but just a NOVEL. I would not put it in a class with the greatest suspense-thrillers such as LeCarre's Spy Who Came in from the Cold and George Smiley books, or Forsythe's Day of the Jackal, but pretty close.
And anyone who's worried about DaVinci portaying the figure we usually believe to be John,"the beloved apostle" as a woman, evidently it never bothered the pope at the time or the Catholic Church all these years, and it is, of course, a painting, not a photograph. Relax. Like most readers, I researched some of the societies, etc. in DaVinci, and discovered some to be real, others not, and others still in question. Reading ANGELS AND DEMONs later, no one can fail to see a formula: start with a gruesome torture-murder. (Maybe to be sure he's got your attention and to warn off those who are just not into torture and murder.) The female interest is the granddaughter or adopted daughter of the first victim, and the main assassin is really weird, if not a giant albino monk, then an equally unusual character, I forget exactly what. I happened to misplace ANGELS when about two-thirds finished and didn't really worry about it; by that time it was very predictable, especially as far as the least likely person being the villain. I did find it again a few weeks later, kept on reading it and have to say there were some exciting parts toward the end. Again, relax, enjoy, lighten up.
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