Rating: 
Summary: decent, but dragging
Review: I had told my friend how much I had wanted to read this book. I must've been crazy or something. And she just came to school the next day with a huge box in her hands and gave it to me. Yes, this book is not cheap. Borrow it before you buy it. Please, it's a waste of your money.First off, I am Christian, and I knew I'd be insulted by the book, but nevertheless I started reading it. If you're Christian, I suggest you count to a 100 a couple times, bang your head against the wall and realize this book is going to contradict everything you've ever believed. The book is entirely biased, which isn't suprising since it is a piece of fiction. But it annoyed me to a certain point. The middle and towards the end of the book was so boring and dragging, I fell asleep, more than twice. Descriptive, that's great, elaborating, that's fine, dragging, I hate. It's sort of like the latest Harry Potter book, dragging and boring, but you read it because everyone said it was good. One part disturbed me a whole lot. People say that I'm pretty immature to say this, but it was a whole lot disturbing. I don't really know why I thought of it as disturbing, since many other books have similar situations, but the fact that it was some book that was dealing with a serious situation it sort of ticked me off. It's well written, if not, I would've given it a 1 or less than that. I usually read books over and over again. I don't plan on touching this book again any time soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: I had trouble staying with this book at first, but when I got into it, I could not put it down. I love the information presented about Leonardo Da Vinci - I now see him in a different light - and reading about the "secret" behind Mona Lisa's smile and some of his other religious paintings. This book presents some pretty startling answers to questions I have held for awhile about Christianity and the Catholic faith. It helped open my mind to some things while making others more clear to me. Although it is a work of fiction, there is much factual historical information contained in the book, which I found fascinating. Absolutely one of the best books I've read in a very good while!
Rating: 
Summary: Poorly written and silly
Review: I hadn't heard all this stuff about Mary Magdalene, which made the book have a semblance of interest, but it is written in the most elementary, prosaic fashion, with characters who include a pretty woman cryptologist and a Harvard professor symbologist who studies the goddess legend. Jeez, how convenient to move the plot forward. I think the author must have found a cache of old movie serials shown at Saturday afternoon matinees in the early 50s. Each chapter has all the depth and surprise of a Flash Gordon episode--be sure to come next week to find out what happens. Of course the anticipation is always greater than actually seeing how Flash escapes this time--especially if you are over the age of 10. It's kind of a mystery version of one of those "Christmas Box" romances that also seem to do so well. And just as preditable. There are lots better books out there than this one. I give two stars just because I learned a couple of things I didn't know before about the Magdalene legend.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent piece
Review: I happen to be an instructor and really am quite pleased with the piece. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good read with a great deal of action.
Rating: 
Summary: Good for Target Practice
Review: I hate this book. I can't say it enough. I hate it so much that it has produced the "train wreck effect" in me - I'm utterly fascinated to listen to people talk about how much they loved it. It's like a bad accident. Here's the problem. Never mind the research, never mind the accuracy. How about the "fact" that the three main characters - the world's foremost, Harvard-trained, EXPERT symbologist in the WORLD, an Oxford trained scholar and Sophie (what are her qualifications?) are working themselves into a lather trying - trying so very hard - to crack one of the codes that will further their efforts. And they just can't. It's too hard. The code? My 5-year old niece could figure it out - it's written BACKWARDS. How would that stump these super-sleuths? It's such a minor detail, but such an idiotic device, I literally threw the book at the wall. Between that, the ridiculous repetition of "cliff-hanger" chapter endings and the writing, it's enough to make someone wonder - What is wrong with everybody who loves this book? Conversely, this book wins my vote for best marketing of all time. It just makes you wish that Dan Brown would fess up that he wrote this as a joke to see how much money one can make from a brilliantly-marketed, poorly written book...
Rating:
Summary: Just one more historical inaccuracy...
Review: I have already reviewed this book, but I have just remembered what is perhaps one of the most important inaccuracies of this book. It says that the Divine name (YHVH) is taken from Jehovah, a combination of some male God's name and eve, however it is the other way around. Around 400BC the jews stopped saying the divine name, saying 'Adonai' (my lord) or 'ha-shem' (the name) instead. Now, hebrew is written without vowels, so around 1000AD the Masorites (jewish monks) put in vowel points because they realized that hebrew was dying out as spoken language, so they added vowels so that people would still be able to read and pronounce the words of the tanakh (kind of like the Old Testament...same books, differant order. Refers to Torah (law), Nevi'im (prophets), and Ketuvim (writings)) When they came across the divine name, they had a dilema, someone reading the Tanakh out loud may accidentally say the name outloud, defying 1400 year convention and rabbinic law. They had a simple solution, they did not put in the vowels for YHVH (modern reconstruction would say that it was originaly most likely 'Yahveh') but rather added the vowels for 'adonai' making Y+a+h+o+v+a+h = yahovah, this is an unpronouncible word in hebrew (two sylable word, because the 'o' is frequently not written, the first vowel is whats called a 'vocal sheva' something which cant be alone in a sylable-take my word for it) so anyone reading would say 'Hey! I can't pronounce that, must be ha-shem'. So jews (being intelligent people-I'm a christian by the way, we are the 'dumb' ones) knew not to say it, but in 1000-1500AD period, christian (german) monks came across it and without pause, with no regard for the language, simply said 'Jehovah' while I imagine the jews just looked on either shaking their heads or laughing hilariously. So there you have it! The Christians invented the name Jehovah, it's not our God's name after all! Plus, Jehovah came out of YHVH, not the other way round, this male god plus eve stuff is nonsense. So, if you've read to this point, congratulations, you have had an actual history lecture, perhaps Dan Brown should read. If I have inspired you to learn Hebrew, good! It's a great language, I love it, makes Greek look so silly.
Rating:
Summary: Clearly he has found the truth
Review: I have always known that religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) were simply made up by humans to control others. This book explains in a whirlwind suspense fashion approaching pure joy how obvious the synthetic nature of organized religion actually is. Long live the goddess!
Rating:
Summary: Questions your line of faith
Review: I have been a devout Catholic my entire life. I was raised Catholic and have been involved in the Church. When I purchased The Da Vinci Code, I really did not understand what the entire premise was. I am a avid reader and the book looked very interesting.
After I read the book, it made total sense to me about the way the Catholic Church has viewed women. I still believe that Christ is the Son of God, but I also believe that he was a man. I am totally energized by this book to find out more about what has been left out in the last 2000 years. Pick up this book and read it with an open mind. Women especially should pick this up and again feel empowered by there special ability to bear children. The Church has done many great things, but it has supressed women and we have been made to feel dirty when it came to anything sexual.
This is a fantastic book. I could not put it down and have given this book to other Catholics for Christmas. I know there are people who will say this is hypocritical, but I know there is something missing from the Church. It is evident in attendance and the number of priests we do not have.
READ READ this book, it may change your life and the way you feel about being a woman!!!
Dan Brown has picked a great time to come out with this novel. I researched the Opus Dei, and became a believer in what he has written.
Rating:
Summary: Ho Hum
Review: I have been really excited to read all the "religious thrillers" and looked forward to the DaVinci Code but found it slow moving and tedious. I just didn't care about the characters. If you liked it and even if you didn't like I bet readers would enjoy "Sacred Ashes" which is also available on Amazon.com. It was fast-paced and should be read by all who seek twist and turns in a spiritual setting. That said, Dan Brown should be commended for getting everyone talking about a subject that is at the heart of humanity.
Rating:
Summary: Tee hee hee
Review: I have come to love this book. Dan Brown is a novelist of quite extraordinary genius in that while he is very possibly the worst writer of fiction I have ever read, he has produced a work of such hilarity that I could hardly bear to put the book down! Cardboard (well, flimsier than that) characters including the interesting man with the Mickey Mouse watch, the clever French girl, the amazing not-quite-dead-yet museum curator, the crippled English maniac (YAWN! find someone else to do villains America), blindingly obvious plot turns, the lack of any real twist, codes a retarded three year old could solve - and he teaches writers?? Just brilliant... as for his woeful knowledge of Europe - The Aristocats was a more realistic portrayal of Paris! All these massive holes in plot, character, realism are, however, mere quibbles. I cannot think of another writer who has stirred up so much controversy - just look at the number of reviews - from so little. Buy this book and laugh yerself silly. As for me I'm going to read everything he's done. I deserve to be punished.
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