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Rating: 
Summary: Not bad
Review: Betsy Eble does a reasonably competent job of walking through some of the issues in Dan Brown's novel, but it doesn't compare to Steve Kellmeyer's "Fact and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code" (0971812861). Eble's discussion of Jesus and Mary Magdelene, for instance, doesn't cover the obvious argument that Kellmeyer brings forward. Brown's assertion that Mary Magdelene came from the line of Benjamin is used by Kellmeyer to demonstrate why this simple fact makes it virtually impossible to believe she was wedded to Jesus or given any authority in the Church. Eble misses the whole line of reasoning. Similarly, not nearly enough is done with the fact that much of Dan Brown's "theology" is based in 19th century German anti-Semitic theories concerning the origins of Scripture. Likewise, the Wiccan connections to German influences on England between the two world wars is pretty much overlooked. In short, Eble has done a pretty good job, but Kellmeyer does a better one.
Rating: 
Summary: So so
Review: Depth and Details does provide a bit of both, but for breadth of coverage, I'd have to agree with the other reviewer: Kellmeyer's work is better. Her treatment of artwork, for instance, does not incorporate the same thoroughness that Kellmeyer employs, nor does her investigation of Wicca or the Priory reveal the full depth of Dan Brown's willingness to take dubious sources at face value. The best treatment of the subject is definitely "Fact and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code."
Rating: 
Summary: To Go A Step Beyond
Review: If you loved DaVinci Code or if you hated it, you must admit it did get a reaction from you....which in itself is one definition of a successful novel. Many readers have found themselves more interested in the information detailed in Dan Brown's books, and if so, this book is a good choice to begin to learn about the amazing history of the Christian Church.
Especially Gnosticism and the early Christian Church, and especially the creation of the New Testament Bible. For a different review....here is my review of books that build on these interests, especially the "lost" books of the New Testament Bible and the concepts of Gnosticism.
Nearly all knowledgeable Biblical scholars realize there have been a wide range of writings attributed to Jesus and his Apostles..... and that some of these were selected for compilation into the book that became known as the Bible.....and that some books have been removed from some versions of the Bible and others have been re-discovered in modern times.
The attention focused on Gnosticism by Dan Brown's DaVinci Code may be debatable, but the fact is that increased attention on academics tends to be predominately positive, so I welcome those with first-time or renewed interest. At least first-timers to Gnosticism are not pursuing the oh-so-popular legends of the Holy Grail, Bloodline of Christ, and Mary Magdalene.
This is great......I seldom quote other reviewers, but there is one reviewer of Pagels' books who confided that he had been a Jesuit candidate and had been required to study a wide range of texts but was never was told about the Nag Hamadi texts. He said:
"Now I know why. The Gospel of Thomas lays waste to the notion that Jesus was `the only begotten Son of God' and obviates the need for a formalized church when he says, `When your leaders tell you that God is in heaven, say rather, God is within you, and without you.' No wonder they suppressed this stuff! The Roman Catholic Church hasn't maintained itself as the oldest institution in the world by allowing individuals to have a clear channel to see the divinity within all of us: they need to put God in a bottle, label the bottle, put that bottle on an altar, build a church around that altar, put a sign over the door, and create rubricks and rituals to keep out the dis-believing riff-raff. Real `Us' versus `them' stuff, the polar opposite from `God is within You.' `My God is bigger than your God' the church(s)seem to say. And you can only get there through "my" door/denomination. But Jesus according to Thomas had it right: just keep it simple, and discover the indwelling Divinity `within you and without you.'"
Here are quickie reviews of what is being bought these days on the Gnostic Gospels and the lost books of the Bible in general:
The Lost Books of the Bible (0517277956) includes 26 apocryphal books from the first 400 years that were not included in the New Testament.
Marvin Meyers' The Secret Teachings of Jesus : Four Gnostic Gospels (0394744330 ) is a new translation without commentary of The Secret Book of James, The Gospel of Thomas, The Book of Thomas, and The Secret Book of John.
James M. Robinson's The Nag Hammadi Library in English : Revised Edition (0060669357) has been around 25 years now and is in 2nd edition. It has introductions to each of the 13 Nag Hammadi Codices and the Papyrus Berioinensis 8502.
The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (0140278079) by Geza Vermes has selected works....a complete work is more difficult to achieve than the publisher's marketing concept indicates. His commentary generates strong reactions.
Elaine Pagels has 2 books (The Gnostic Gospels 0679724532 and Beyond Belief : The Secret Gospel of Thomas 0375501568) that have received considerable attention lately. For many, her work is controversial in that it is written for popular consumption and there is a strong modern interpretation. She does attempt to reinterpret ancient gender relationships in the light of modern feminist thinking. While this is a useful (and entertaining) aspect of college women's studies programs, it is not as unethical as some critics claim. As hard as they may try, all historians interpret the past in the context of the present. Obviously there is value in our attempts to re-interpret the past in the light of our own time.
If you want the full scholarly work it is W. Schneemelcher's 2 volume New Testament Apocrypha.
Also, to understand the Cathars......try Barbara Tuckman's Distant Mirror for an incredible historical commentary on how the Christian Church has handled other points of view
Rating:
Summary: Chapter - by - Chapter Reader's Guide of The Da Vinci Code
Review: This book is a compilation of the literary, artistic and historical references in Dan Brown's brilliant thriller "The Da Vinci Code". In much the same way that Dan built his novel on the brilliant, fascinating, and just plain odd stories that make up our history and culture, this compilation is built on the web pages, images and analysis that others have created to enhance your enjoyment of reading "The Da Vinci Code." It is presented in a chapter-by-chapter format so that the reader will be able to see available references and weblinks as they read (or reread) The Da Vinci Code.
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