Rating:  Summary: Fiction, at it's Best Review: Dan Brown, brings together the best of fiction and nonfiction in "The DaVinci Code." The book has a well-developed suspenseful plot, fully developed characters and a strong sense of place--in short, it is believable though we know it is fiction. The pace is quick, making for an exciting read. The way Brown folds in unique discoveries that many of us were unaware of makes the book inspirational and leads us to educate ourselves through additional reading on the topic. Those who are open-minded enough to admit that history isn't alway perfect or truthful will be fascinated to find that there are alternative theories concerning the life of Christ and Mary Magdalene, whether those match your beliefs or not. Personally, this has led to reading more Gnostic texts of an older vintage, an investigation of the tenets of the Gnostic church as well as reading the books that probably inspired Brown, including "Holy Blood, Holy Grail," "The Woman of the Alabaster Jar" and similar titles. It a rare that a work of fiction leading to so much discussion, debate and other reading, is also so popular that it stays on the bestseller list for 49 weeks and counting--kudo's to Dan Brown!
Rating:  Summary: What a dismal failure. Review: Dan Brown, the author, has stolen most of his material from others and has tried to pawn it off as unique. Oh jeez, the writing is sub-par and the content is shallow. If you buy this book, I assure you that you will be disappointed with what you get. The book received a great deal of hype -- but, so did O.J. Simpson's trial. Try another title, like The Tale of the Devil: The Biography of Devil Anse Hatfield, or West Virginia Tough Boys. Shoot, try "I'm A Soldier, Too!" Anything would be better that this hard-bound dissapointment. Ugh.
Rating:  Summary: A Must Read Book. Review: Dan's Brown book "The Da Vinci Code" had me hooked. It was absolutley a great book filled with adventure and thrills. Definitley a page turner. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great book to read. I also recommend "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.
Rating:  Summary: Mediocre? Review: Davinci Code didn't live up to the hype, at least not for me. If I hadn't been expecting so much maybe would have been 3 stars.
Rating:  Summary: Provocative , disturbing, insightful....and a great read! Review: DaVinci Code is a remarkable thriller weaving the common and the mystical. Dan Brown icludes enough familiar references to history, religion, art, and murder to share common ground with the reader. Then he soars into spectaular realms of intrigue, mystery, and science. For example, DaVinci's famous painting of the Last Supper is known to everyone. But on closer inspection, the reader learns, a deep hidden secret is laid bare; to the astonishment of the characters and the reader. Sorting out fact from fiction will keep Christian historians and apologists busy for a while...but in the meantime, the thousands of readers of this book will be curled up, rapidly turning pages, in enthralling suspense.
Rating:  Summary: reply to the christian guy who complained Review: Dear complaining christian, I, myself, am a christian-baptist; by choice. Letting you know this, I have read this book and I sooooo disagree with you. This book is awesome and just as controversial as Jesus himself. I like the book and before you go throwing it or your Bible at anyone else (being a fundie and all...), try having a COMPLETELY open mind before walking into such items as The Da Vinci Code. People, if you really want to read this book from a unbiased standpoint, clear your mind of all things faith and look at it impartially, for it is one of the greatest books ever written; next to The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Rating:  Summary: ready to make into a movie Review: Dear fellow readers: This book, although entertaining, isn't made for people who enjoy a good read. Some chapters are only ONE page long. The book and the plot lack detail, depth, thorough research, imagination, and it reads like something that the author purposely made simple to facilitate its conversion into a motion picture. Kind of like a Sidney Sheldon or John Grisham best seller...P>Moreover, this book is just another story about a secret conspiracy by yet another secret society that is trying to rule over the world. Why are these conspiracy theories so popular? Because, due to the lack of external enemies (Soviets, Nazis, Japanese, etc.), someone feels the need to focus on internal ones (church, government, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, wall street, etc.) and how they are secretly tring to dominate our lives and minds. What I would like to know is, if all this is true, wouldn't those secret societies come crashing down upon us and make us...Best regards AW
Rating:  Summary: It's great if you haven't read Angels & Demons Review: Debates on historical inaccuracies aside (after all, this is a work of FICTION), Da Vinci Code is a thrilling page turner, packed with tidbits and esotheric facts. You'll enjoy it you're a fan of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Umberto Eco's works. That is, if you haven't read Dan Brown's earlier Angels & Demons. The problem with Da Vinci Code is it's almost a rewrite of the earlier novel, it's as if Brown has a template for Langdon's adventures. The plot devices are the same: Both have a mysterious assassin tasked by a faceless villain to carry out a mission based on a historical secret. And both books feature the revelation of the villain as the least person you'd suspect (although he doesn't do a good job of throwing readers off, you'll know pages before the revelation). Another problem is Robert Langdon's involvement in the Da Vinci Code chase. It's so forced/contrived, you can have Da Vinci Code without Langdon! Sophie Neveu is supposed to be a crack cryptologist and she could've solved the riddles without Langdon's help, sooner or later. Again, I'll say it's an enjoyable book IF YOU HAVEN'T READ Angels & Demons. If you have, it's like watching a rerun.
Rating:  Summary: Really cool Review: definatley something worth reading. i enjoyed it very much!!
Rating:  Summary: Pins and Needles Review: Definitely had me on the edge of my seat. The author really does his homework. I like the historical angle. Interesting as well as exciting. A big five stars for this one.
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