Rating:  Summary: Nancy Drew goes to the Louvre Review: This novel read like a bad Nancy Drew. It is full of cliches and melodrama that aren't really necessary. It is also impossible for any lay-person to participate in solving the mystery. Finally, the characters are terrible. There is almost no character development, every character is a total stereotype cardboard cut-out. Eventually, some of them really grate on your nerves. I found the protagonist Robert Langdon as barely tolerable almost from the beginning. I despised Sofia Neveau equally, though she grew on me a little at the end. And these were the central characters. It is possible I just didn't like the reader's voice or something, but you really have no empathy with any of the characters. You don't believe they are real for a moment.Despite all this, it is a good mystery that is very fast paced. The last 1/4 of the book or so are particularly good, fast, and tight. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. I really was sort of sad when it ended, the plot and mystery were that good. This is despite hokey dialogue, terrible characters, silly get-aways, and the overly melodramatic elements. This novel is not for the easily offended. It passes off a lot of alternative theories and thoughts on the life of Christ, and the early Church in particular, as fact. If you take it as fiction or something interesting, it is fine and actually pretty good. If you are easily offended about alternative theories on your faith, this book is not for you. The author also tends to have some sort of obsession with male nudity. How many times was Silas partially nude or nude when there was nothing about the plot that necessitated such nudity? I mean, the author goes out of his way numerous times to describe Silas' nudity all the time in scenes. Huh? Why? With all this talk of nudity, I was hoping Langdon and Neveau would do their own Proiry of Scion worship routine at the end and we might be treated to some hot action. No such luck, at least within the book's pages. Do I recommend this book? Yes, but don't expect it to be as amazing as it has been hyped. It's a good basic plot and mystery, but certain elements will make you laugh out loud at the hokiness. You might want to borrow it from someone, or check it out from the library instead of buying it. It did keep my full attention for the whole 11 tapes of the unabridged version, so that is quite a feat. But it has many, many flaws as well.
Rating:  Summary: Harry Pott--Da Vinci Code review... Review: This novel relies heavily on facts to complement the fictional plot. The reader can tell that the author is very informed on the subject matter, which is a refreshing discovery. However, some of the plot progressions seem a little too linear and "Hardy Boys-esque." If one should decide to read this book, he or she will not find much of the happenings surprising, yet the author manages to maintain the reader's attention. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys learning about historical occurrences, while not really having one's brain overworked. All-in-all, I would say this book is an outstanding contemporary piece of literature that will be read and enjoyed for years to come.
Rating:  Summary: Pathetic Review: This novel reminds me of a cheap, low production TV mini-series. Distill out the historical data and references and print them in a pamphlet of probably 10 pages. The rest of the book: characters, story line, writing style, use of vocabulary is absolutely pathetic. It's written at the level of an 8th grader. Well, if Mr. Brown is writing for the masses, than at least he has this point right on; seeing how the average reading ability in the U.S rivals that of an 8th grader. Overall, don't waste your time.
Rating:  Summary: Page-Turner Delight! Review: This novel totally captivated me. From the moment I unwrapped it after ordering it from Amazon.com, I was sucked into the story. It is a relentlessly well-told story. I read the first 25 pages standing up in the kitchen, before moving to the living room where I was held hostage by this gripping tale. I was just in the mood for a good, plot-driven book. And this novel delivers. Certainly do yourself a favor and buy this book! Also highly recommended: East Of Eden by Steinbeck, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez
Rating:  Summary: Murder, Mysticism and a modicum of Mathematics Review: This novel uses a conventional thriller/murder mystery as a backdrop to explore the roots of Gnosticism that evolved into modern Christianity. But you don't have to be interested in religion to enjoy this book. As the story unfolds, the reader is invited to solve several riddles that on the surface may appear impenetrable. Yet once explained, the answers seem almost obvious. Mr. Brown uses several traditional methods, including letter transpositions and mathematical series. But even the most seasoned code-breaker will not be disappointed. Each riddle links perfectly to the next and carries the plot to a surprising but logical conclusion. No Hitchcock MacGuffin here. Underneath the mystery and conundrum lies an intriguing commentary on the emergence of one of the world's dominant religions. True believers will consider this book to be more heresy. Feminists will see an ally. The truth is that it can be read on several different levels and interpreted in a number of ways, all of them enagaging even if you disagree with the author's views. Read this book if you like murder mysteries, word or math puzzles, have an open mind about the roots of religious beliefs and like strong female protagonists.
Rating:  Summary: A plot with a roller-coaster effect! Review: This novel was phenomenal! The plot was believable and the characters were great. Dan Brown takes you on a journey through time and codes, art and history, to reveal lost secrets of Da Vinci and the Holy Grail. This book has more excitement than you can shake a stick at, and you won't be able to put it down, I guarantee it!
Rating:  Summary: Code will make you smile (no pun intended) Review: This novel was really really good. This novel was good on 2 levels. First this was an excellent adventure novel. I liked the action with Langdon and Newvel. I also liked how they got along together. Secondly it was a first rate mystery novel. I consider myself a little bit of a mystery buff and this novel was tops in that catagory. Third this novel was almost like a history book. I've always been a history buff. From Adam and Eve to King Tut to Johnny Appleseed and all the men and women in between I love them all. This novel made history more interesting than normal. Alot of the history in this novel was unknown to me. I don't know if I missed some of it in school or just didn't get to that stuff, but this novel taught me alot of history and I thought I already knew it all. Oh well live and learn. I'd like to know if Mr. Dan Brown has a background in history. Maybe a Professor. I guess any novel of any type of genre should teach you something.
Rating:  Summary: As my Scottish friends say...Tha's brillian'! Review: This novel was wonderful. I read it in two days and would have read it in 1 if I didn't leave all my Christmas shopping to the last minute. The mystery is hidden in codes and riddles and I LOVE that sort of thing. They enable twists and turns I never saw coming and when I think I know which direction we are going in we take a 180. And that is how excellent writing should be. I also love the delving into an ancient real-life secret society and into the history of Christianity and of the basis of our current moral code. It definitely opened my mind about some things while at the same time helped me confirm the inklings of my own intuition. There is a tremendous build-up and one may say that the novel runs out of gas (hardly), but I think it unfolds brilliantly, leaving it up to the reader to decide what the character does after the mystery is solved.
Rating:  Summary: Intrigueng, convoluted, and thought provoking. Review: This one kept me going as few others have of late. A very unexpected pleasure to read.
Rating:  Summary: the davinci code Dan Broew Review: THis pdf file DID NOT WORK FOR ME IT WONT PRINT OR READ ITSELF WORTHLESS
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