Rating: 
Summary: This is a best seller?
Review: I haven't read Dan Brown before, suspecting that there was little substance vs. style in his writing. However, after seeing this book on the best seller list for so long I gave it a try. Darn it, I was right the first time. As I read, three issues stood out. First, all the research could have been done in two days on the internet. If the author spent more than that, it was not apparent. Second, character development was cartoonish at best. You could not feel sympathetic or engaged in these shades. A cryptologist who can't recognize an anagram? Bah! And finally plot development,as if you could find it. This book is similar to so many others that believe that excessive description will make up for a lame plot with overworked and trite devices. No doubt, Mr. Brown will make more money in the future, try not to let it be yours.
Rating: 
Summary: Throw out everything you believe
Review: I heard a 'blirp' about this book on NPR and there was enough intrigue to draw me in. From the first page you hit the ground running. Brown reminds you of the things you may have learned in Art 101 and then peels back several more layers and all the things you have taken for granted and places a well defined meaning on them. Math IS everywhere. The full scale scavanger hunt kept me up late two nights in a row. He is kind enough at the end to inlude the reader in the scavanger hunt as you develop the character of riddle maker you are able to guess ahead of the main character and feel a part of the story. From a Christain stand point it questions the very beginnings of what you have been taught to believe. The book is a well crafted novel with enough truth included to make it almost a historical trip back through time. A highly recommended quick read that you find your self thinking about days later and as one other reviewer put it; 'worth the second read' for the fine points.
Rating: 
Summary: Challenge your beliefs!
Review: I heard about this book and the stir it is causing on my way to work one day. Hype does nothing for me, but when I received a gift certificate for Christmas, I looked into it. What intrigued me most was the setting. France and the Louvre! What could be better?Not a normal reader of mysteries or thrillers, The DaVinci Code was definitely worthwhile. It is very well written and seems thoroughly researched. After reading it I completely understand the stir it is causing among the Catholic/religious set. It has definitely caused some interesting conversations in my group. While you read you have to force yourself to remember that it is a novel -- in other words fiction. The best fiction is always based on facts, right? It really does challenge you to think about your beliefs. Do you believe in the story or the Dogma? Therein lies the rub! Mr. Brown definitely leads you on a dance though France and London. By the time I was half way through the book I was already wondering where I could get my hands on some of his reference materials. I did find the ending somewhat uneventful, but I really enjoyed the ride. What fun! Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Almost... but not quite.
Review: I heard about this book on a site that I trust. It sounded intriguing and I had a 13 hour car ride ahead of me. This Dan Brown novel sounded like the perfect way to pass the time. It doesn't take long for the action to start happening. Which I appreciated, but what was left behind was a good description of the characters involved. This was something that plagued me through the book. Mr. Brown brings a very creative concept to life by providing enough information about real life places and objects that kept me wanting to hop online and verify their existence. I loved that aspect of the book. I just never felt as though I really knew anything about the characters. They were mere faceless players walking through their parts. With the exception of the eccentric Sir Teabing, no one really stands out. As with most mysteries or suspense books, I like to be given the chance to figure it out along with the protagonist. Toss me a nugget of information every so often to help me out, but don't force it on me. The morsels TDC gave were either to hard to figure out on your own or force feed so that even the slowest could see it coming. There were numerous flashbacks to information throughout the book. They were haphazardly placed and made it confusing as to the current action going on at times. For as much as I may bash this book, I really did like it. It was a great idea that just didn't play out well. I think if it was ever a movie that it might have been a bit better because of the attention span of movie-goers who crave the action and intrigue. It was an easy read and did just what I hoped it would do. The 13 hour car ride passed by in no time.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: I heard about this book on an AM news show and thought that it sounded interesting. This book was fantastic! It makes you think about everything you ever learned in Church. I could not put it down. I stayed up on a Sunday night till after midnight just so I finish it. A great read!
Rating:
Summary: very interesting
Review: I heard about this Book&thought i'd peep it out.I didn't have any Books from before&also I enjoyed Da Vinci's work this book will keep your interest&has alot of interesting takes on the Man&whatnot.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling & fascinating novel
Review: I heard all the hype and thought The Da Vinci Code couldn't possibly be as good as I'd heard. However, it really is...especially for someone not well versed in studies concerning the Holy Grail. I found the parts describing the Grail & all the research that has been done on it fascinating. It really made me want to read more about the topics of the Grail & Mary Magdelene, and it is becoming rare for me to find a book that interests me that much. The Da Vinci Code has two elements that make it great: not only is it a page turning thriller, but it really makes you think. The research Brown must have done (even if he uses all research that is not necessarily his own) had to have taken ages. He really brings a topic that is not widely known to the public eye. I gave the book 4 stars for only one reason. It IS a thriller and starts to employ some cliched ideas toward the end of the novel--after all the information (besides the location of the Grail) is revealed, and Sophie & Langdon are racing around trying to recover the cryptex, etc. The book is still wonderful, and I highly reccomend it.
Rating:
Summary: And addictive and shocking thriller!
Review: I heard how this book was taking the reading world by storm, so I knew it had to put it at the top of my summer reading list. I had also just finished a European History survey class during the school year, so the fact that this book was based on historical European facts also sparked my interest.
After I started the book, I simply could not put it down! Not only that, but I would find myself talking about it to my friends and family. Either some have heard of it before, and are going to read it based on my reccomendation, or have already read it, and interesting conversations ensued.
Whenever Langston would go on one of his historical tangents (which, by the way, were always interesting and thematically significant, not simply a bragging showing of knowledge) I was always able to corroborate facts in the book with what I learned in my history courses, and personally expanded on these facts, which made the book even more enjoyable. However, no enjoyment would be taken away by going into the story with little or no knowledge of history.
Rating:
Summary: Don't call Dan Brown Anti-Christian
Review: I highly recommend this book. Once you think you have solved the mystery, more questions pop up and you are entrenched in the novel once again. I do not think that the writers of the reviews which claim that Brown is anti-Christian understood the book at all. Brown is not trying to stain Christianity. In fact he praises religion and the many ways it helps people all over the world. In fact the different gospels of the Bible do not match up and some contradict each other. I do not see people trying to discourage others from reading the Bible or calling the gospels stains on Christianity. Why can't people just accept the book as it is-- a suggestion of an alternate history. People need to open their minds and challenge their way of thinking; one should not accept everything that has been spoon fed to them.
Rating:
Summary: A Lovely Candy Book
Review: I hope page-turner books like the Da Vinci Code don't induce intellectual diabetes. This is a fun book to read. It will not change your life or personality. Take a bowl of popcorn with you when you're reading it. And just enjoy it! Who needs movies, really? Dan Brown's first book, "Digital Fortress", is not a readable book. I'm not sure if this is because I am in the software industry and could see how bogus the whole story is. If I were an art history student I might have felt the same way for the Da Vinci Code, but hey, ignorance is bliss, right? If you are not an art history student, you will enjoy the adventures of Robert Langdon. You will enjoy the way Brown talks about Paris and its Museums. You will want to actually go and visit Paris if you haven't already done so. You will learn about the Catholic church and, well, art history. Oh, yeah, there is also mystery to solve. What makes Dan Brown good is the same reason that makes Micheal Crichton good: They can teach (or at least give you some sense that you learned something new) while being entertaining. I wish there were more authors like them in all subjects. Enjoy!
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