The Da Vinci Code

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fabulous!
Review: The Da Vinci Code is absolutely the best book that I've read this year. The characters are so believable, the research so meticulous, the premise so strong that I had to keep reminding myself that it is FICTION. It definitely rocked my "cradle-Catholic" upbringing! I finished the book in one sitting, you probably will too!

Rating:
Summary: A Treasure! Don't hesitate to pick up a copy!
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an "intelligent thriller" in every sense of the term. Not only is this an intense tale of murder and mystery, but is an art history lesson, a conspiracy theory and an eye-opening provocation all in one. That's not to mention that the characters are very well-developed, interesting and mostly charming and likable. This is a fiction story, but major parts of the book are based on facts that I had never been aware of until now.

The novel opens up at the scene of a murder taking place. The characters and events surrounding the murder are suspicious and uncertain. Over the next few chapters, the pieces start falling into place slowly but surely. You learn that the murdered man, Jacques Saunière was the curator of the Lourve in Paris, France. He was also the Grand Master of a secret society known as the Priory of Sion. This mysterious organization has had the mission of protecting the secrets of the Holy Grail, and members of the society have included such prominent figures as Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo and... Leonardo Da Vinci.

The first few chapters also reveal that 3 other murders had taken place on the same night, all 3 victims being other members of the Priory of Sion. The killer is an albino monk named Silas, a member of a sect of the Catholic Church called Opus Dei, working for a Catholic Bishop, Manuel Aringarosa. Both collaborators are working for a mysterious man who calls himself The Teacher and has revealed his identity to no one.

Robert Langdon is an American visitor in Paris, as well as a Professor of Religious Symbology at Harvard University, in town for a lecture. Langdon had been scheduled to meet with Saunière on the night of the murder, and yet Saunière had not shown up (obviously). Langdon is summoned to the murder scene by the French police captain Bezu Fache under the guise of needing Langdon's expertise. Before Saunière died, he had locked himself in a section of the Lourve and left several clues that suggested that Langdon might able to help the police determine who had killed him and what the motive might have been. However, it isn't Langdon's expertise that was the sole reason for bringing him to the scene of the crime. Langdon is Fache's primary suspect. Before he can be arrested, Langdon is unexplainably rescued by a cryptologist named Sophie Neveu who believes Langdon is innocent... And then all Hell really breaks lose as both of them become fugitives from the law while trying to decipher the clues left by Saunière to determine who the killer really was and why he did it.

The clues Saunière left are nothing short of genius. What's even more brilliant is how Dan Brown is able to intertwine facts and conspiracy theories while coming up with double meanings and applying them to the story line. Most of Saunière's clues are left in the form of codes and symbols, most of which could be found and traced through "pagan" symbols embedded in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, as well as Da Vinci's history, lifestyle and beliefs. There were several moments while reading this book when I had to jump up and run to the internet so I could call up pictures of Da Vinci's paintings, as well as his biographies, so I could see if the symbolism and relationships described in the book were founded... and they are. I was completely and totally astonished and blown away by how much I was able to learn and ponder about Da Vinci from reading this book. I am so inspired in fact, that now I want to get my hands on anything I can learn about the man.

The Da Vinci Code is a smooth book to read. The chapters are extremely short, which makes it convenient to find stopping points - not that you'll want to stop (this book is so engulfing). The flow of the story is really easy to follow, even though it often splits up, switching from scene to scene. Brown is masterful at telling the story from one viewpoint, and then switching and telling it from the eyes of a different character.

I cannot give this book enough praise. Not only is it chocked full of information guaranteed to spark the imagination of the conspiracy theorist in anyone, but it is so complex, with intense and unexpected twists and turns all the way until the end. You will be guessing and trying to crack The Da Vinci Code the whole time. What's best, is that the person behind it all, is the one person I would have never even suspected, not even for a moment - and yet it makes perfect sense. I am blown away.

The Da Vinci Code is one of the most intoxicating, cinematic, thought-provoking books I've ever read. I highly recommend it to those who enjoy a good murder mystery and conspiracy theory, as well as to those who are interested in religious symbolism and are fans of Leonardo Da Vinci. In order to appreciate the brilliant complexity of this story, you simply MUST get your copy and start reading it today! A Must-Read!!! And with the holidays upon us, let me take this opportunity to recommend two other recent outstanding [e-mail] by Tom Grimes, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez. I purchased all these books through Amazon, with no special rush delivery, but received them within a week. Outstanding service, I'll admit. Happy holidays everyone!

Rating:
Summary: The Da Vinci Code
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an eminently readable book that is a tapestry of conspiracy theories arranged to create a mega-conspiracy theory. While many of the theories are based upon half-truths, they are tied together in such a way to make the conspiracies seem plausible. Brown presents this book as based on fact; in reality it is based on theory - and in many cases these theories are flimsy. However, flimsy theories, when presented with confidence, are often the most entertaining theories. Basically, this book is an effective escape from reality by an author with an anti-religion agenda - take the "facts" with a grain of salt. The Da Vinci Code is action packed and filled with surprising revelations. It's a quick and easy to follow read. The chapters are brief and dramatic for those with short attention spans, and the overall package ties together well for a quick, interesting and exciting read.

Rating:
Summary: Choose your own adventure
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an enjoyable read, complex and creative, for a page-turner.

The characters do not lead normal lives (eat, sleep, experience emotional conflict etc.) The author has a police cryptographer and a symbolist pursuing a murder, chasing grail clues and being chased, by an albino, by the police and, in turn, by the murderer. They take planes, trains, armoured trucks and various automobiles, which are magically at their disposal whenever they hit a dead end.

At any rate, the book is flawed and full of misinformation about Leonardo Da Vinci, Mary Magdalene, the Catholic Church and related splinter groups. I don't know how anyone could be seriously offended by such a superficial treatment of art interpretation and religious history.

That aside, it was fun to try to solve the codes and clues left along the way and see which path the author chose to take for the next episode.

Rating:
Summary: Good page turner
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an enjoyable thriller, and includes a number of interesting alternative historical tidbits. Unfortunately, Brown is no Umberto Eco, who could have done much more with the subject matter. The characters are wooden, and the plot depends too much on explication through unrealistic dialogue (including a number of long discussions in dangerous situations). The short chapters punctuated by cliffhangers seem to form a bit of a rhythm after a while. All in all, though, it is a good and interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: It's a great yarn
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an excellent historical novel that combines elements of Umberto Eco - "Name of the Rose" and "Foucalt's Pendulum" - Katherine Neville's "The Eight" with just a touch of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt.

No doubt this book has its detractor's especially those who are steeped in theological history, but it is not, nor does it claim to be, a textbook.

It is fascinating precisely because it does cast a speculative light on Judeao-Christian history.

It's a great yarn too. Robert Langdon, our modern day Indiana Jones and Sophie Neveu, who could be straight out of CSI, a cypher expert are on the trail of the Holy Grail. Clues are presented and solved with such regularity that crossword lovers would adore this book.

The pace is riveting and there enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

The ending has a touch of Hollywood, but so what?

Speculation, History, Religion, Conspiracy Theory. A book such as this has a bit of everything. No wonder the reviews are so diverse.

In spite of all that it is a good buy and a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating - but not factual
Review: The da Vinci Code is an exciting race from the Louvre to French castles to England, dealing with bizarre current cults and the heirs of the Knights Templar, linking the last supper of Jesus, the Crusades, Renaissance art, and mean French people. As an historical thriller, it's very well done.

The story sheds light on the Opus Dei sect of the Catholic Church, an actual group practicing aggressive psychological methods of recruiting, total salary donations, celibacy, and self-flagellation. It also turns on an interesting interpretation of da Vinci's Last Supper in Milan. For those less rooted in Renaissance iconography, don't be fooled by the theories stated to be commonly understood by art historians. Without giving away the point of the story, for any Renaissance artist to depict a common sacred Christian theme with, say, eleven disciples rather than twelve, is pretty far fetched. And, while Michaelangelo is famous for making his female figures look awfully male, da Vinci is equally noted for making many of his male figures look androgynous or angelic. Different tastes.

For those interested in the actual character depicted in this important scene, da Vinci's own notes label the disciple as James; the same James that Jesus entrusted to care for his mother from the cross. Peter was asked to build the church; James to support Mary. In this context, the position and pose makes perfect sense - more sense than the conspiracy, however interesting the conspiracy theory is.

Rating:
Summary: A great mystery for those who like to think outside the box
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an extraordinary book for people who prefer the road less traveled. It is an exciting story that encourages you to think about the world we think we know and the possibilities of a world only a few speak openly of. Interwoven into your typical summer mystery is a peek into the world of the religious underground. An exciting, interesting, and possibly controversial book. This has been my favorite book of the summer.

Rating:
Summary: Give This One A Chance
Review: The Da Vinci Code is an extremely interesting book. It is also very fun, fast paced, and hard to put down. I thought the research was fantastic, as was the story. Sure it is hard to believe some of Langdon and Sophie's miraculous escapes, but it is worth it if you can get past that point.

I almost stopped reading the book after 50 pages. I could not get into it. But after what I thought was a slow start, I couldn't put the thing down for two days and finished the rest of it.

Rating:
Summary: MIND CANDY FOR SMART PEOPLE
Review: THE DA VINCI CODE IS AN INTELLIGENT BUT EASY TO FOLLOW STORY. THE BOOK IS SO LUSH WITH OBSCURE INFORMATION ON EVERYTHING FROM RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY TO ART HISTORY TO DERIVATIONS OF WORDS AS THEY ADAPTED FROM DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AS WELL AS HOW POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS WERE ATTACHED TO DIFFERENT WORDS. THE PLOT IS STAND-ALONE INTERESTING, BUT THE HISTORICAL REFERENCES AND TIDBITS TAKES IT FROM INTERESTING TO PHENOMENAL.