Rating: 
Summary: Historical Mysterious and Suspensefull
Review: Dan Brown has done a great job with this novel. Although many premises on which the foundation of this story builds itself, and to which he alludes within his novel are still today of a controversial nature he does a great job of rattling the cage of Christian History. From the birth of Christianity to its modern day state, Brown grips the reader with suspense, mystery and a great deal of enlightenment throughout this history-unveiling book. Although the premises of the story may not be fully founded, and the facts of history are spread thin with controversy, the overall appeal is good because of the authors ability to continuously affect the reader in a way that most other books cannot. Dan Brown went out on a limb to write a book that challenges the history of a popular faith and taking this book for what it is, a fiction novelists latest attempt to write a bestseller, it's a very dynamic book that you won't be able to put down. Without getting into any details of the book (as this is a mystery novel that must be experienced without such give-aways) i'll say that the only thing that i did not like about the book was that, as it went on, the chapters seemed to get too short, and scenes jumped around too much. I would prefer a 10 to 20 page chapter that tags you along a story line more than the 2-4 page chapters Brown has opted for. Historically, no matter what faith you believe in, this book is going to make your head turn with his connection of Da Vinci's life and work to the blood line of Jesus Christ Himself. I would recommend this book to those novel-seekers interested in History, Mystery and Suspense.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Read!
Review: Dan Brown has done a wonderful job with this book. Not only is it a great mystery, it is a historical trip. The knowledge that you gain by reading this book is invaluable. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery and is open to a new side of the past that will definitely leave you wanting more!
Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking reading
Review: Dan Brown has done an excellent job bringing to light new ways of looking at Christ as a human being. Although nothing regarding Dan's primise is biblically subsantiated, it does lead one to think of a Christ with non conventional dynamics. I highly recomend this book to those who like to think and challange the conservitive convention of religion.
David C.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction vs. Non-ficition
Review: Dan Brown has done an impressive job researching the material for the book. He perfectly merges his own story with some of history's most fascinating and yet little known facts: secret societies such as Priory of Sion, symbolism in art, history of paganism, architectural descriptions of museums and churches; everything for an art or history buff's delight. Many fiction books turn into magnificent dust collectors once read. Somehow, few books convey the unique style of entertaining and teaching, simultaneously, and I must say this one could be among the best. "The Da Vinci Code" is a real suspense page-turner that you would most likely go back to again and again for reference. I'm having some trouble deciding where in my library I should shelve the book. I wonder if the folks at the Lib. of Cong. have developed a special classification for a fiction-reference book =) Well done, Mr. Brown!
Rating:
Summary: Dan Brown has the courage to challenge convention.
Review: Dan Brown has done his homework. I read the novel with great interest. He is a writer that has you turning the pages to get to the next exciting event. I highly recommend this novel to all who are turned on by a well written story with exceptional interest and superior research.
More about Richard E. Flanagan at www.rickflanagan.com
Rating: 
Summary: At Least It Moves Fast
Review: Dan Brown has much to say in Da Vinci Code (most of the details which can be found in the very silly, yet richly entertaining, vaguely non-fiction book, Holy Blood and Holy Grail). It is too bad that story crafted around his polemics could not have been more intriguing, the characters stronger, or the writing better. Too often, characters give long speeches about "symbology" (by which I think they mean symbolism), frequently while being chased on foot. I can barely sputter two words while on the tread mill but it is nice to know that a cryptanalyst and a university professor are so much more fit than I. The author does keep The Da Vinci Code's action moving quickly though and has fashioned a very satisfying ending that wraps up all the loose ends in a moving manner. The book is not all it could be but it could be so much worse.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent story and a fun read
Review: Dan Brown has the ability of combining fiction and reality resulting in an interesting blend of suspense and intrigue.
The book is filled with facts about ancient artifacts and their coded meanings that really keeps the reader interested.
Whether his facts are correct or not it really dosen't matter. It's just a fun read and a book I feel is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Great Theme- Humdrum Prose
Review: Dan Brown has the elements of what could be the news story of the common era. There's the possibility that the founding of Christendom was shrouded with the same deceit and treachery that accompanies those other Jesus- come- lately religions. And to think that there's a living group of seers who may have the power to rock the spiritual universe should they choose... What a theme! Most people interested in religious history have probably learned bits and pieces about Gnosticism. This novel takes some of those suppositions as Gospel and stretches the consequences to the present day.
Here's the problem. Such a grandiose theme demands concomitant language. But Dan Brown's prose has all the polish of a daily blog. Too much energy is devoted to word riddles and pursuit. The inner lives of the main characters are so little explored one doesn't much care what happens to them. At the end, I was just sorry that P. D. James didn't write this mystery.
This subject deserves the attention of a competent historian or perhaps requires the sleuthing of an investigatory journalist. I hope The Da Vinci Code inspires someone to do better.
Rating:
Summary: Truth or Fiction???
Review: Dan Brown has the keen ability to mix facts along side fiction blurring "reality". His story is so convincing that one wonders if this all really did happen?? Although, one's suspicion is quickly dismissed by a quick re-reading of the preface where he makes the disclosure that the facts are all true however the tale is fiction. Theologically his "fictious" story makes sense... he builds his story within the framework of often dismissed theories regarding the "Holy Grail" and the "feminine" aspect of God. His facts are all well-researched and documented. I was fascinated by the story and look forward to reading his other novels as well as taking a second look at DaVinci's works. This book is definitely a keeper!
Rating:
Summary: Great Read and Introduction to Interesting Topics
Review: Dan Brown has written a fine little book here. He broaches alot of interesting ideas that encourage people to go out and read more, and I am ALL ABOUT getting people to read more! Now, that said, some of the ideas in the book he puts forward as fact and are not and then some of the ideas that are factual are misrepresented in the book. I guess we'll just have to call it creative license. So when you read the book, don't just swallow it all hook, line, and sinker! REMEMBER: It is fiction. Dan Brown's writing was good, not amazing, not breathtaking, not extraordinary, just good. There was nothing impressive about his structure either, pretty formulaic, the plot flowed pretty well and even and the pages kept turning as the interest built. The worst I can say about his style is that he keeps alluding to the mysteries behind the characters way too much. Like Sophie has a dark secret. He doesnt mention it just once or twice, at least 20 or 30 times you read something like "..and sophie again thinks on that terrible dark secret." And i just feel like strangling the author, "Tell me or shut the hell up!" he does eventually tell you, but you'll have it figured out way prior. Altogether, though, a good read, a good conversation type book that could be a gateway to interests you never knew you had!
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