Rating: 
Summary: DaVinci or Monty Python?
Review: I enjoyed the provocative information about the Magdalene but it was spoiled by a mediocre "who dunnit." The killer (big psycho guy, lacking melanin) was something I'd have attributed to Monty Python. I recommend borrowing it from a friend or the library.
Rating: 
Summary: Some intriguing thoughts
Review: I enjoyed the religious intrigue of this novel and the clever way it blends history with intelligent speculation. Another novel like this is Glenn Kleier's THE LAST DAY, which is also a suspense thriller of the highest order, involved with the even-weightier matters of the Second Coming and fascinating twists on Revelations. Both of these books offer a banquet of food for thought, and I recommend them to readers who like to think outside the religious box.
Rating: 
Summary: BIG LETDOWN!
Review: I enjoyed the setup of this book but got tired of the whole cat and mouse thing and the subject matter of the book -- all about "goddess worship" which has been dealt with much better in other books such as The Red Tent and The Mists of Avalon. I did not like the way this goddess worship is portrayed as superior to Christianity. I was able to figure out several of the "clues" before the characters did and I saw the end twist coming. I barely even read the last few pages. A big disappointment because it had gotten so many great comments from so many people.
Rating: 
Summary: Great page turner, but too many factual errors
Review: I enjoyed this book and read it in a single sitting. As page turning adventure with fun puzzles, it's great. However (and with only 3 stars, there must be a however), the book has three very irritating features. The least important, but most cringe-inducing is that Dan Brown gets lots of details, both minor and major, wrong. For example, GPS doesn't work indoors and most stick shifts don't have a park gear. A more serious flaw in the book is that even if you accept that the Church is founded on a deception foisted upon the world by Constantine, the author's constant polemics demanding a return to the female side of the divine and his blaming of all patriarchal beliefs in all religions on Christianity are distracting and slow the pace of the story. This might be OK if his digressions were interesting, but they repeat themselves and also fail to address the obvious questions raised about the other cult of Mary (mother of Jesus), which was so strong that when Mohammed accused Christians of Tri-theism he listed Mary as one of their 3 gods. There are several places in the book where I felt I was being preached at, and I just wanted to get on with the story. My final complaint is that toward the end, I began figuring out the puzzles about 2 pages ahead of the characters (for example, the cipher related to Newton was barely worthy of a crossword clue), which is in the books greatest crime. In all, it is a fun read, but it is far from perfect.
Rating:
Summary: a page turner, thriller, mystery -- but poor history
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely. I found myself thinking Ludlum in places and Agatha Christie in others. The plot starts with a bang and twists and turns all the way to the very end. Da Vinci Code is a very engaging mystery. And, the mystery can only be solved by following a trail of clues involving very interesting history. An outstanding idea!! From art (Da Vinci!!) to the Catholic Church, the trail winds, twists and surprises. However, I would have enjoyed Da Vinci Code a good deal more if that history had not been so distorted. Brown uses real events. But, he often gives less than accurate -- to state it kindly -- accounts of the events. For example, the account given of the Council of Nicea is ludicisously inaccurate. The Council of Nicea is well documented and bears no resemblance to Brown's tale. Brown's distorted history took a great deal of the fun out of the story. The Catholic Church has plenty to choose from when it comes to embarrasing history. With so much to choose from -- why make things up? Perhaps his changes to history are just one more puzzle to be solved in the Da Vinci Code. Now, wouldn't that be a cool twist!! I gave this 3 stars because it is an excellent and engaging 5 star read but, only a 1 star history.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing, but with missteps
Review: I enjoyed this book until about halfway through. The writing is good, the suspense is maintained and the author has researched his conspiracy theories. But the writer lost all credibility with me, and insulted my intelligence as a reader, when the supposed academic-in-the-field-of-Holy-Grail-lore takes a look at some writing that will supposedly help reveal the location of the Grail. Langdon decides it must be a Semitic language with which he isn't familiar. Now, anyone with the most remote familiarity with Arabic or Hebrew script could tell you that it bears not the SLIGHTEST RESEMBLANCE TO SEMITIC SCRIPT OF ANY SORT. If Langdon had experience researching the Holy Grail, surely he would have at least SEEN things written in Hebrew and Aramaic. A cursory examination of the writing (say, 15 seconds) will make it obvious that it's actually inverted English. That's right, go hold it up to a mirror. Surely a professor and symbologist should be able to see this. After that, it was more difficult to maintain the suspension of disbelief required for conspiracy theory novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Da Vinci Code
Review: I enjoyed this book very much.
It was a well written book and kept me interested through out the entire book.
In fact, I have read the rest of Dan Brown's other books and enjoyed them as well.
Rating:
Summary: Let,'s Chase People Around Paris for 75% of the Book!
Review: I enjoyed this book, but I did not take it seriously. The chapters are too short, and most of the book is just one breathtaking climactic leap to the next. It's pretty easy to figure out who the real villain is after we meet him or her, and it's not that hard to understand why the ending is the way it is. Do not pay full price for this book. Borrow it. Buy it very cheaply--under $10. Could I put the book down, yes. Did I want the book to end. Yes. Now the only question is....uhm...who are going to play the leads when Hollywood gets hold of the rights--Anthony Hopkins is a shoe-in for sure!
Rating:
Summary: Read with an open mind, an intellegent thriller.
Review: I enjoyed this Book, immensly. I believed it to be well written, and fast pace. It is a notch above regulat fiction because it has a point. The book was well researched. The plot involves and ancient old secret society: the priory of sion, the conservatice catholic opus dei, fighting over the greatest cover-up in the history of the world. The Holy Grail, is not as believed jesus cup. The author is a christian, and at Dan Brown's website a bibliography is included. As to wether or not the disciple at the left hand of Jesus, in the painting of the last supper, is clearly a woman. Anyone who claims other ways really should take a look at it. Please do not dismiss this as Anti-Christian, but accept it as enlightnening and if true, an intriguing theory.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not that good
Review: I enjoyed this novel and it does qualify as a "page turner." The plot is certainly more intriquing and original than most mystery fiction. But the characters are straight from central casting and one does get the feeling the book was written with a definite eye towards selling the movie rights. A high-brow plot, but written for the masses. Doesn't deserve the hype, but not a bad read.
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