Rating: 
Summary: A dumb book for an ignorant culture
Review: I have found that in religious discussions, people tend to believe what they want to believe. Having once been one who looked at Bible-believing Christians with amused contempt, I know that was true for me. I am grateful I took coursework on the history of Christianity at a time in life when I had an open-mind. It actually stimulated my faith, partly because I was able to approach the subject without the blinders of hatred for Christians or anti-intellectual religious doctrine.That said, Dan Brown's book is a perfect example of how to take advantage of widespread biblical and historical illiteracy in our society. It is an Oliver Stone approach to biblical history. So much of this book shows a general ignorance of core Christian texts and of the history of Christianity. Brown's characterization of conspiracies within the early church
could only be believed by someone with no knowledge of how the early church started, or its theology, or the persecutions it faced in the first 300 years. Brown even gets basic chronologies wrong. This is a work that will play well to nominal catholics who resented their upbringing and never truly chose nor understood the Bible or its teachings. Those are the types who feel the need to respond to a mythical early church as if it were filled with conspiracies and overpowering hierarchy. But those who have read a little history and a little Bible will find this to be a work as laughable as Howard Dean's assertion that his favorite book of the New Testament is "Job." When you acquaint yourself with the humility, the purity, the conviction and the spiritual maturity of the earlier Christians, you'll be embarassed you ever fell for this garbage, and you may look at the apostles and the latter-day descendants of that movement (ie. evangelical Christians) in a whole new light. If you want a real book on this time period, get the multi-volumed set on the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire." You'll be acquainted with historical facts, not sophomoric tripe. It is still the seminal work on the history of Rome and of the rise of the Christian movement. You'll learn historical fact, rather than filling your head with irrational prejudice and conspiratorial thinking from a third-rate author like Dan Brown. Ben in Derwood
Rating: 
Summary: An unexpected pleasure
Review: I have heard many friends rave about this book but honestly didn't think that I would find it interesting, not my type of book. Or so I thought, I started it at 4 o'clock pm and couldn't put it down until I finished it at ten thirty that night. A fantastic read that I suggest to any who like to have their intelligence tweaked! Also love how he weaves truth of our very real world into his books. Have to respect the amount of research he must have done to write the book. Bravo to Dan Brown!!!
Rating:
Summary: Catholic Bashing Lite
Review: I have just finished "The Da Vinci Code". What an utter waste of time! Dan Brown adds nothing to the murder mystery genre with this book. Furthermore, the entire premise is implausible as the key element of the mystery, the "Priory of Sion" and its guardianship of the Holy Grail has been proven to be a complete hoax. Mr. Brown's biblical scholarship is shoddy, his analyses of the artworks of Leonardo are facile and, of course, he provides no motive for the secret, which has been kept for so long, to be kept. I am truly amazed that this book has received as much attention as it has. I am sorry to say that I wasted my money on this book. A much better read would be Umberto Eco's "Foucault's Pendulum" or "Badolino".
Rating:
Summary: How could you not love this book???
Review: I have literally read thousands of books in my time, and this is up there in the top ten. I fail to comprehend how people could dislike this book. I could not put it down - I carried it everywhere with me until I finished it! I thought that after Angels and Demons, which was also unbelievable, that I would be a bit disappointed with this book. Not so! The historical take is so fascinating, whether or not you agree with his premises. The amount of research that went into this book is truly mindboggling. You actually learn as you are enjoying this thrilling read. I am in no way anti-Catholic, as some reviewers have suggested of those who love the book. I am just an individual who is able to enjoy a book for what it is worth. It is not the Holy Grail, but it is a truly amazing read! You will NOT be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but......
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. None of the "revelations" are new, but I enjoyed the story and found it to be a page-turner. The one thing that sticks in my craw is that Brown has equated the possible marriage of Jesus with sex cults and pagan worship. This doesn't fly, in my opinion. I have no qualms about accepting a married Jesus, but nothing points to his own carrying on of ancient sex rituals and the like. It seems Brown was attempting to tie in too many things.
Rating:
Summary: information - internet
Review: I have never accessed the internet as much to find out about a book I was reading. The "Da Vinci Code" caused me to look up the following key words..."opus dei", "priory of sion", "Da Vinci", and others. I loved the fact that there were key words
that I could find out about. I also found it exciting that the
author, Dan Brown, had asked me to write a review of his first
book, "Digital Fortress", back in 1988. I never wrote that review because I didn't really like the book.
I have passed "The Da Vinci Code" onto my friend. This book is totally awesome. Dan Brown has found a wonderful vehicle.
Rating:
Summary: Lame and Disappointing
Review: I have never been so diasppointed with a book. Dan Brown basically takes a few religious theories (that have been around for quite a while and aren't obscure at all) and intertwines them with a lame plot. Don't waste your time reading this book. The fact that so many people like it and find it so earthshattering is only a sad testament to how pathetic, limited, and closed minded we have become.
Rating:
Summary: Denial Ain't Just a River in Egypt
Review: I have never encountered someone who has gone to greater lengths to deny the deity of Christ in order to justify his own misguided morality, or lack thereof. Under the guise of fiction, Brown would have us believe that Jesus Christ was just a man like any other, but his "wife," is someone to be worshipped. Why should she be worshipped? Because she's the woman who was married to Jesus, who wasn't divine. However, Jesus had [intercourse] with her,...so when he joined with this woman, he was able to see God. That's it! All men, except men like his hero (a.k.a. Dan Brown), are unenlightened and/or evil; Women are divine. I'm sure that while Mr. Brown is raking in the dough, he thinks he's helping those women whom he thinks are uptight, endoctrinated, oppressed, and Christian, but most Christian women I know don't need his manly powers. Actually, most of us feel loved--by our friends, our families, and our God. Furthermore, some of us resent Brown's exploitation of women who do feel endoctrinated and oppressed, women who feel they should be honored above others simply on the basis of gender. Isn't Brown fostering sexual discrimination against his own sex so that he can sell books primarily to women? Put all that beside poorly drawn characters, a weak plot, superficial theological research, and abundant anti-Christian rhetoric and you've got one, very human, feminine thumb down.
Rating:
Summary: You'll never look at Da Vinci the same again!
Review: I have never read a work of fiction based on so many fascinating truths. The Da Vinci Code is absolutely the best thriller I've read in years. I can't wait for the next installment!
Rating:
Summary: Boston Mom
Review: I have never written a book review before but I am STUNNED by the one star reviews given by historical experts who expected that a work of FICTION would contain only FACTS about Leonardo Da Vinci. Are these people serious? I totally agree with another five star reviewer who basically stated that if one wants to read a historical account of an event, read a history book! This is a fictional book with enough fact thrown in to keep it interesting! I would highly recommend this book, though it is a tad predictable at times. It is a highly entertaining and fun read.
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