Rating: 
Summary: Alluring, fascinating and great at cocktail parties!
Review: Not being typically inclined to read murder mysteries, I was hesitant to read this book and ultimately lured in by its surrounding controversy and the 46 weeks it's been on the bestseller list. I must say, overall, I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued by the originality and suspense of the novel. I enjoyed the short cliffhanger chapters because they left a sense of suspense at every turn and seamlessly invited the reader to further become immersed in all aspects of the plot. I did feel that sometimes the turn of events in the story were predictable and (dare I say) cliché, but the fascinating symbolism and cryptic messages more than made up for any minor flaws in plot. The character development of both Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu had depth and sincerity, though the love interest sub-plot between the two was trite and unbearably inevitable. I did enjoy the subtle development and insight into Bezu Fache, who not only serves as the catalyst for the action, but also arouses suspicion
leaving the reader with an uneasy sense of distrust and ambiguity toward the character. He is a modern day Javert from Les Miserables, which is all the more fascinating to think about considering Victor Hugo is mentioned as, at one time, being a predominant member of The Priory of Sion. As for the controversy, it seemed to me that the book made efforts to acknowledge the true and profound meaning of faith while bluntly acknowledging, as any historian will agree to, that the history we learn in school may be slightly askew from the truth. Look at how Columbus Day has turned from a celebration of discovery to an awkward day for elementary school teachers and a great weekend to buy a car! In short, the novel is nothing to get your rosary beads in a knot over and I say that not in a heathenish way, but instead as an educated and devout Christian myself, unscathed by adversity and already aware of my "goddess" status.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read
Review: Not much I can say that hasn't already been said. The great thing about this book is that it's one of those books that gets you excited about reading and the subject material. After reading this book I wanted to get my hands on anything related to Da Vinci and Jesus Christ's origins that I could. It ultimately led me to read several other books and watch a bunch of TV specials just try and recapture the enjoyment I got from reading it.
Rating:
Summary: best in years - this book almost cost me my job
Review: Not only does this book present valuable theories on the subject of Christianity and the Holy Grail, but it is also an amazing piece of fictional writing. I literally could not put it down. Stayed up all night and late into the morning to finish it at the expense of a couple missed meetings ;)
Seriously, though, I'm a novice on Grail theory and know just enough to recognize the basic ideas presented and I found this book enlightening enough on the topic to teach, yet fascinating enough as an adventure to read through and not question the validity of the theories as fact. Amazing. Would (and have) recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Now history is fun
Review: Not only is this a well written suspense/mystery/action packed story, but I learned more about biblical, linguistical and random history reading this book than all my years in college. And I actually liked it! This is a book to jump start your interest in history if it hasn't already been. It's also based around facts that you can (and should) look up for yourself. Interested in Da Vinci? (If you aren't you will be) Interested in the original meanings of loaded words today? Interested in religion in general? Conspiracies? Put down Harry Potter and pick up a rich adult adventure, you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Da Vinci, the travelogue
Review: Not only is this book a great page-turner, it makes a great list of places to visit while in Europe
Rating:
Summary: A book that really makes one think
Review: Not only is this book a superb suspense/adventure novel, but it clearly outlines some interesting hypotheses that really force one to sit down and contemplate the nature of religion and theology. I won't say anything more for risk of spoiling the plot, but take my word for it: if you like suspense, then this book is perfect.
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 Stars...Everything is Suspect
Review: Not since the breathlessness of "The Day of the Jackal" or "The Bourne Identity" have I read a thriller this riveting. Dan Brown sinks the hooks in and drags us through the night hours with a plot that won't let go. "The Da Vinci Code," like Ludlum's classic "The Gemini Contenders," deals with secrets within secrets of the Catholic Church. In this case, the Church has tried to suppress certain relics that would cause embarrassment and doubt for many of its billion believers. The relics, discovered by the Knights Templar during the Crusades, have been entrusted to a line of guardians to this present age. The problem: the guardians are being murdered, threatening the knowledge of this ancient secret. When a renowned symbologist and a female cryptologist find themselves joined at a murder scene in the Louvre, they are about to go on a twenty-four hour dash for their lives and for the survival of the secret, as hinted at by the Da Vinci Code. Brown not only keeps the pace at a gallop for the full 454 pages, he deals out clues and deceptions and word games like a Vegas dealer flipping cards. (In fact, the origin of the four suits of cards is even broached in this fascinating book!) Somehow, with mesmerizing skill, Brown draws us deeper into the mystery without setting our heads spinning. But you might find yourself nodding, smiling, and gasping in reaction. Ultimately, "The Da Vinci Code" swings the pendulum from run-of-the-mill thriller to a discourse on religious roots. Yes, I believe the Church has put forth a male-dominant view of God that is inconsistent with the Bible. The Bibles states in Genesis that both man and woman were created in God's image. Where Brown, or his Knights Templar, might swing too far the other way is in asserting God as the sacred goddess instead. Biblically, yes, God is spirit, encapsulating all the traits of man and woman in the divine. However, "The Da Vinci Code" dips into pagan practices and gnosticism, calling into question the veracity of Scripture. As a thriller, this book can hardly be beat. As a treatise on spirituality, it comes up suspect on factual and theological levels.
Rating: 
Summary: Long on Hype, short on suspense and craft.
Review: Not such great story telling and exhaustive research that can be chalked up to a handful of books.
The NY Time's review states that Brown's latest novel is "Umberto Eco meets Tom Clancy.." This does a great disservice to both authors. Eco's knowledge of the subject matter spans a lifelong academic period. He truly invented the intellectual thriller and has to date been unequaled. Some reviewers have bemoaned the fact that Brown did not included a bibliography at the end of "The Da Vinci Code." It may have been because his so-called exhaustive research could in fact be boiled down into a handful of non-fiction books. HOLY BLOOD HOLY GRAIL, which stirred controversy and raised the holy bloodline issue decades ago. THE TEMPLAR REVELATION by Picknett and Clive Prince discussed almost word for word the DaVinci Hoax: The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper (Mary Magdalene's substitution as St. John and the fact that "...Da Vinci painted himself as the second disciple on the right, looking away from Jesus." And again the veneration of John the Baptist over Christ in The Adoration of the Magi and The Virgin of the Rocks. Add Gilbert's MAGI, Graham Hankock's THE SIGN AND THE SEAL and a quick read of Joseph Campbell and ... there's your "exhaustive research." To this stew we simply include a pinch of the well-known factoids. Being, secret societies have worshiped female [self esteem], and that "sexual secrets" lie at the very heart of Rosicrucianism, Hermeticism, and even fundamental Freemasonry; what's the end result? Modern feminism wrapped in the arms of Europe's Best Known secret: the worship of feminine wisdom.
As a writer, I could overlook all of this and do laud Brown for plunging into the waters of controversy by undemonizing the Gnostic so-called heresy, if it weren't for the fact that this novel fails in it's main goal: the creation of an intelligent and fast-paced thriller. The prose is sophomoric, some of the technical details of real police procedure (even European) are laughable, and the attempt at suspense becomes highly predictable. To compare this to the craftsmanship of authors such as Clancy, Ludlum, or other suspense thriller writers is pure hype. Novelists such as Koontz, Levin, Farris, and even King and Chrichton--bring a sublime and well-tuned racing engine to their work. They hurtle you down the track, easing up on the throttle just enough for you to catch your breath and then, pound you back into your seat with shuddering G-forces. Whereas, Brown barely manages to place you within a soapbox derby.
To say that one should dismiss Brown's poorly fleshed out characters in favor of the plot misses the mark and the purpose of fiction writing. Yes, Langdon and Sophie are merely conduits for information dumping in the form of dialogue, indeed. Langdon, in particular, without motivation, without subtext and background immediately becomes cartoonish. If we don't care about him why the hell should we care what happens to him?
And the action sequences are quite a snooze. Perhaps, only DoubleDay really cares about our hero but in the form of [dollars].
If you want to read something along this line, which is far more original, well-written, full of vivid prose, ... and break-neck action combined with esoteric lore as well as European scenic backdrops--read R. Douglas Weber's PROTOCOL-17.
Dean Koontz's DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART and even, Robert Ludlum's THE SIGMA PROTOCOL are also recommended for ... fans.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for plot, but left me wanting a bit more
Review: Not sure what I can say that has not already been said by the hundreds of reviewers who have weighed in on the subject. But anyway, I will... I found the plot very fast-paced and a good page turner. However, I was a bit dismayed at the lack of depth in the historical backing of many of the details. If you are interested in this type of fiction, I would recommend Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum, which I still reread from time to time.
I thought Brown laid a good foundation utilizing Opus Dei as one of the main antagonists in the book, but so much more could have been done developing this facet of the book, and moreover the last few chapters really had me asking for more.
Nevertheless, Brown has made a good effort, and if you want a book that you can read over the course of a rainy weekend, then this is one for you. I enjoyed it, but would have liked to see Brown develop the plot just a bit more.
Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: yeah, right
Review: Not that 1,597 is better than 1,596 reviews, but ... The writing did not disturb me, or the chapter lengths. The anti-Catholicism was really low-grade heresy tho. Constantine was not responsible for the number of gospels nor the divinity of Christ. And it gets worse from there. The pure English religion stripped the Blessed Virgin as place holder for the most perfect of human beings. Martyrdom and sainthood were equal opportunity occupations until the reformation particularly in England sought to strip women of spiritual careers and forced them to burn their saint books. Perhaps no other religion has a tradition of female geniuses and mystical writers as does medieval Catholicism. Women ruled spiritually not by goddess pretensions but by having a deeper understanding of the message of Christ than those scrambling up one artificial hierarchy after another. Christ came for all women; he had women followers MMagdalen --not the apostles -- got the scoop on the resurrection; and the early church thrived on female support. The Merovingians were Catholic because Clotild converted her husband Lothar, France is Catholic because Joan of Arc chased out Henry VI, Constantine was converted by his mother, Helen and Augustine by his mother Monica. A religion full of viragos -- no feminism needed till post witch-burnings (protestants 2 to 1 over RC's) and socially enforced marriage for all women for economic survival ... Amen.
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