Rating:  Summary: The New Philosophy Review: This book is a wonderful book for people of all ages to read. It will open your eyes to a new way of thinking. I believe it will change your life if you follow these rules closely and are prepared for your life to be better.
Rating:  Summary: More than worth it... Review: This book is a wonderful examination of many of the beliefs that the world currently accepts as fact. The research and detail transport you through the story at an amazing pace. One of the strange things is that the entire story takes place in about a day and a half. For those reviewers, who have complained about the "expert" forgetting standard DaVinci history at points, neither of the main characters gets any sleep until the last 6 pages. They travel all over Europe on no rest. His forgetfullness can definitely be forgiven. This book definitely ignited my interest in this topic. Be assured that the next time I look at a piece of art, I will remember a lot of the hidden meanings that are revealed here by Dan Brown.
Rating:  Summary: Ignore the Catholic's right wing reviews Review: This book is a wonderful, historical, fictional NOVEL. If read with that in mind, it will fascinate you. Should you choose books based on reviews, then beware that it has twisted the undies of conservative Catholics! You who are looking to give it 1 star in the hopes I would be spared the mercy of reading such lies really do need to get a life! At some points a reader may even question truth from fiction, but at the conclusion I seriously doubt that the Catholic Church is in any jeopardy of losing true believers. A well written mystery for anyone -religious and non-religious readers. Enjoy!
Rating:  Summary: "Historical" Libel Review: This book is a work of fiction contradicted by scholarly writing and historical authorities readily avilable. Yet, there is a real danger that readers will take it as historical fact swallowing whole the sensationalist writing, anti-Catholic bent, and conspiracy plots. Based on a perusal of the reviews here, many readers do take the writing as fact!! On the one hand, it's laughable that Americans rely on novels and Hollywood movies for an understanding of history. On the other, it is very sad and consequently, Mr. Brown should be embarrassed to propagate so much falseness and bigotry. Most concerning, it mocks all that is revered by Christianity by cloaking inaccurate information as fact. Moreover, it defames and slanders real organizations such as Opus Dei and the Catholic Church by assigning them roles as participants in modern-day criminal and deviant acts. Apparently, it is permissible to write a Catholic-bashing book. In sharp constrast, look at the media frenzy that has arisen surrounding Mel Gibson's The Passion for even daring to depict Jews in a bad light. Would a publisher ever dream of printing such a book about Muslims or Jews?! No. But Catholicism is fair game. The novel itself is poorly written consisting of shallow character devlopment and poorly crafted suspense; it relies on silly riddles and cliff-hangers at the end of ridiculously short chapters to ensure the reader will continue reading (in a book that numbers roughly 450 pages, there are 105 chapters). Overall, I am disappointed that Mr. Brown is making a fortune off unwitting readers.
Rating:  Summary: AWESOME-I couldn't put it down Review: This book is about a murder inside the Louvre. When a Professor meets a cryptographer, They are in for one long adventure! The book never ceases to be exciting, from one journey to the next. I would reccommend this book to just about anyone!
Rating:  Summary: Amazing Book Review: This book is absolutely amazing. I'd recommend it to anybody who has the time to sit and read. You might want to read Angels and Demons(also by Dan Brown) before reading the Da Vinci Code though since it is the beginning of Robert Langdon's story.
Rating:  Summary: Reading at a 12th grade level Review: This book is actually quite depressing, because its popularity is based upon a readership fairly unfamiliar with Western history (and Western art history). A few other reviewers are right on target in bringing up the fact that St. John is always portrayed as a "feminine" looking youth and that it is a real rookie move in art class to say "is that a girl in the painting with Jesus?". Folks with any regard for St. John or Mary Magdalene or Leonardo or the Knights Templar or Constantine or Isaac Newton or Victor Hugo shouldn't read this book unless they are looking to raise their blood pressure. Material in this book that hasn't been lifted from a legitimate source like "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" appears to have been copied from Fundamentalist comic books ("Constantine worshipped the sun god, and was not a Christian!"). Other parts are strangely New Age, touting the human nature of Christ and the pairing of the feminine and masculine in the Deity. This book has the capacity to make almost every reader angry. Why is it so popular? If you want make-believe "conspiracy theory" history, read Ishmael Reed's "Mumbo Jumbo", which is at least presented as a joke.
Rating:  Summary: Fantastic Review: This book is amazing, I haven't finished it yet so I'm hoping it continues this way, but if you have the chance to read it, DO.
Rating:  Summary: Okay thriller with fictionalized historical background Review: This book is an adequate thriller complete with a hero and heroine in peril, racing against the clock, a series of secret plots/societies in the background. What Dan Brown has done differently here is to use religious history and religious organizations as the background for his yarn (as opposed to some secret government or mafia group). This makes his work different and somewhat refreshing. There are some minor shortcomings in the plot and a bit in the pacing (he overdoes historical tie-ins at times). Overall, it was a fun read. If you read thrillers, it is probably worth your time as you will certainly here it discussed. That brings me to a second point. It is a work of fiction and even though well researched, the research is used to create a fictional background for this tale. If this makes the average reader curious to look into the background all well and good. However, Mr Brown's fiction and fictionization of historical details should not be taken as facts.
Rating:  Summary: YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN! Review: This book is an amazing thriller! For those of you who still haven't picked up this book that has been at the top of the bestsellers list for ages, what are you waiting for? My suggestion is that you first read Angels & Demons as the main character appears in that book first. It will explain a bit about him during The Da Vinci Code. Just a warning...you may find yourself heading to the art musuem (or at art online for those of you who don't live near one like me) to take a closer look at Da Vinci's work for yourself! This book makes you step back and question 'What would religion be like today if the Bible had been compiled differently?' Interesting book that is a must read! Two other Amazon quick picks I recommend: WILL@EPICQWEST.COM by Tom Grimes, THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez. Special Thanks to previous reviewer who mentioned them.
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