Rating:  Summary: Good original story without originality Review: I am not into adult novels (I am a 5th grade teacher I read novels appropriate for their level that do not have bad words-...) but this one has an enterntaining story. It is original in the sense that it takes historical myths (The Holy Grail which is the backbone of this novel) and makes it a novel. Besides that, there many historical assertions that are innacurate (read the previous reviews). At some points I laughed at the absurdity when it refers to Jesus being married, having children with Mary Magdalene etc... As a person with some theological background and a Christian I found it enterntaining. To add to the innacuracies:the phrase "Pálido como una fantasma" is incorrect. Fantasma is masculine and should have the masculine article "un." I should know this because I also teach Spanish.Take this novel as its face value. IT'S A NOVEL! NOT A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT. ENJOY!
Rating:  Summary: An Exciting Page Turner! Review: I am not one to sit down and read a 400+ page book, but I was indeed possessed to do so and I picked it up and read page one - then I was hooked! It is a fasciniating murder mystery that gripped me from the git-go. I found it to be written well - an easy read, yet it engaged my intellect. The book is well researched. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of time and effort that went into researching and writing this book! I will also tell you I loved the ending. It wasn't corny or sappy, but it felt real. It ended in a way that I was satisfied and not left wishing for a different ending. It felt good when I was done. Mr. Brown did an excellent job on this masterpiece. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys an interesting and gripping read.
Rating:  Summary: The best fiction book in years Review: I am not really a big fan of current fiction books but i must say that this book was well worth my money and time...very effective...very well written and well paced.
Rating:  Summary: Naive and quite boring... Review: I am not sure why it is so popular... probably just because some pseudo-scientific remarks regarding Catholic Faith. I could stand only half of it. If you are looking for a good suspense book, you will be better off with Frederick Forsyth.
Rating:  Summary: I love this book Review: I am not the one addicted to detective stories, but I really like this book. Actually, I am not an expect at architectures, arts, history and religions, so I don't know which part of the book is the fact and which part is not. But I can say..this book brings me a different kind of view towards Christianity and Catholicism. Also, I can see the author, Dan Brown, has been much efforts on writing this book and done a lot of research.
Rating:  Summary: What An Amazing Book! Review: I am only 13 and over the Christmas holiday I read this amazing book as did my mother and uncle and I think that we all agreed that this book is one that we will never forget! This is honestly the best book I have ever read (and I read alot!)I recommend this to you greatly! An Amazing book!
Rating:  Summary: Excellent read, mind the snobs below! Review: I am slightly taken aback by some of the negative reviews here. This is a good book in my opinion. Yes, it's got some classic formulas, reads like a movie script, has some great tidbits of known conspiracy theories and yes the chapters are short and sweet... But if you want a great, fast and easy read that will keep you well entertained for a few days, then this book is for you. If you're looking for a complex novel with intricate characters and countless silly details that will take you a month to finish, then you'll be disapointed. Give this book the credit it deserves. It has mass appeal, it is well written for what it is and the story is intriguing to those of us who have not read the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail. In fact, I found it to be a great introduction. I was actually quite surprised when I looked more closely at da Vinci's Last Supper fresco. John is not a man but indeed a woman. Anyone can see this. Does that mean Leonardo knew something we didn't? Perhaps but probably we'll never know. It's still a good mystery to me! So all of you scullers from Oxford who are majoring in English, don't bother and don't write a critique here. For the rest of us mortals, this is a great read.
Rating:  Summary: Don't read any more reviews!!! Review: I am so glad I read this book even though I almost didn't based on the reviews I saw posted on this site. As usual, there are always those who get excited about the inaccuracy of certain facts or believers who are afraid of other ideas... Is it an attack on the Church? No, it's not. It's a work of fiction, folks! Lighten up! Only an open mind can access to the next level. Unfortunately, this world has its share of frightened and close-minded christians. The puzzle itself is a bit weak but the story line is entertaining. Light reading for those nights when there is too much reality TV. Don't be put off by these reviews - pick it up for what it is - a few nights of fun! Enjoy!
Rating:  Summary: A saddening work of hatred and injustice Review: I am sorry I could not give this book less than one star. To see what others write about this being a "great book" not only in the literary but also in the historical and religious sense, makes one sad at the realisation that these people have such a poor culture and idea regarding literature, history and religion. It is also sad to see that whenever someone publishes a book, article, musical album, or anything containing a statement which could be considered racist, anti-semitic, or offensive to women, homosexuals, or any religious or ethnic minorities, the author is disqualified almost immediately and there is great public outrage. However, when someone attacks the Catholic Church and christianity in general, somehow it's OK. How exactly is this fair!? Where is the respect, tolerance, political-correcteness, open-mindedness and all those things which most people and some groups are so zealous to demand but, apparently, unwilling to give others?! As a Catholic, I am taught by my Church not only to respect but, moreover, to LOVE all persons regardless of the sinfulness of their personal actions, which, however, does not at any time mean that I must also condone such deeds. It is also ridiculous to see phrases such as "exhaustively researched" used to qualify the author's work. An example: the author particularly attacks the Vatican (www.vatican.va) and Opus Dei (www.opusdei.org), and he claims, among many other outrageously false absurdities, that Opus Dei has "monks" who wear habits. It would have taken him less than five minutes to visit that organization's website to read a brief description of it and see that there are no such things as monks or habits in Opus Dei, which is a lay organization that promotes a lay spirituality. This book is a work of fiction, and promoting it as anything more is dishonest to readers, and disrespectful to the faith of millions of Catholics and other Christians. His work is based on esoteric and completely unfounded legends regarding Mary Magdalene and Jesus. The author and his readers are apparently more convinced by ficticious and fantasized works about the Holy Grail, the Knights Templar and other such things, than by almost 2,000 years of serious historical and biblical research by respected and qualfied professionals, christian and non-christian, religious and secular, etc. (By the way, --for those interested in these subjects,-- for a professionally researched and objectively presented history of The Knights Templar, I recommend the work of historian Piers Paul Read, "The Templars"). I wish to end with a quote from Thomas Roeser in the 27 September 2003 edition of The Chicago-Sun Times: "The Da Vinci Code is only the latest crude assault, as frightening in its own way as were recent demonstrations by mobs at Catholic cathedrals in New York City and Montreal (no ''hate crime'' sanctions were invoked there). That this erratic tale will soon fade away will be fitting justification for a church whose founder died, out of love, for man's redemption and prophesied its unending persecution -- but also that will endure to the end of time".
Rating:  Summary: Read it and Then Make up your own mind as to what is true! Review: I am sure most of the reviews have given this book great accolades and it is not by accident because the book is that good! Having recently read Deception Point (a totally excellent thriller from start to finish), by Brown it took me a little while to get into this book. It starts off a little bit slow compared to the other book, but it takes off in a new direction. It involves a treasure hunt of sorts as Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu follow ingenious clues in search one of the most famous hidden religious secrets of all time. Meanwhile, they are being pursued by the French Police (for a murder they did not commit) and a zealous religious sect that will stop at nothing to ensure that the secret is destroyed before it is revealed to the world. Brown has put a lifetime of research into this well written and thought provocative story. He explains the symbolism in many of Leonardo Da Vinci's works and other famous artists throughout history including Walt Disney! I am surprised that this book is not talked about like the film, "Last Temptation of Christ," since a lot of what it talks about is totally different than what is being taught by the various churches.
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