Rating: 
Summary: Yeck....
Review: This is a definite page turner. One which left a bad taste in my mouth. A horrible, predictable plot, shallow characterization and star crossed hints of romance that detract from the plot.The only reason this deserves two stars is because of the way it presents an age old myth, the holy grail, in a different light that the public rarely sees. Now, let's remember, this book is fiction. I'm sure Brown took liberties to make his research fit into an idea that had amazing potential. If you're interested in the grail story, ditch this book and read some of the nonfiction books out there on the topic. For those who are trashing this on the basis of their religion, something to watch out for lest it destroy your faith........ what is your faith without challenges? Nothing. If you're a Christian with blinders on, maybe you should read it, if for nothing more than the challenge it will present to you.
Rating: 
Summary: Pagan-Inspired Fiction Told as "History"
Review: This is a drawn out, poorly written piece of fiction portraying a plethora of pagan opinions as historical fact. It's every
"Woman's Book Club" dream as the plot lures them in with references to the "Sacred Feminine". Written for a mass-market audience, it attempts to discredit not only the Catholic Church, but all Christians, and even Jews and Buddhists. It mocks the very idea of "Faith" in anything, besides the ridiculous notion of a "Sacred Feminine." The author's interpretations of da Vinci's art are distorted and far-reaching as well. Unfortunately, lay readers presumably cannot detect the misinformation and trust in Brown's pagan-inspired "history lesson." He even tries to persuade his readers that the Satanic Pentagram is a beautiful misunderstood symbol of femininity that should be respected. Please spare yourself from this blasphemous piece of trash. For, even if you are not offended by the notion that Christianity was simply a political trick of Constantine, the writing itself is didactic and boring. Sadly, the book has remained a number one bestseller for months because Brown takes the reader down interesting intellectual paths (on which I assume the average reader has never ventured). This instantly excites the ignorant and unsuspecting reader lacking the educational background to see through his faulty logic. So, while any person endowed with a shred of intelligence should not be spiritually affected by this book, at worst, its 449 pages will amount to a colossal waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond the hype
Review: This is a fairly quick moving thriller up until the midpoint, and yet I kept thinking I had read this all before. A voracious reader, I rarely stop reading books until I have finished, but I was sorely tempted with this one. Even ignoring the strong anti-Christian rhetoric, the ending was so weak that I was left asking myself "So what?" Not a good use of your money or time
Rating:
Summary: Hate God? You'll love this book!
Review: This is a fairly well thought out thriller, but it becomes apparent soon enough that the main thrust of this book is that The Bible is not the word of God, but just a collection of fiction. There are plenty of good books that don't make a Christian feel dirty reading them. This one is a waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable Romp
Review: This is a fiction book and it fulfilled all of my expectations. It's not to be taken too seriously, but has in interesting premise, colorful locations, and a good pace.
Rating:
Summary: An attack to history
Review: This is a fiction book that tries to position itself as well-documented, when indeed lots of things are simply invented. Moreover, it attacks the Catholic Church and the figure of Christ telling lies that try to appear as truths to the simple and undocumented mind.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible & made me research after reading
Review: This is a fictional book, but is based on many facts. I was grabbed by this book and stayed up until 3 AM reading it until I finished it (which I normally don't do). Excellent reading. However, I would not recommend this book to my Aunt who is while, not a highly practicing catholic, believes in the New Testament. This would shake her views on her life and faith and I wouldn't like to see that (her life has enough turmoil in it already!). On the other hand, my father and I are not practicing catholics and we both found this book riveting.
Rating: 
Summary: Good one, easy reading, good gift
Review: This is a fun one, read it cover to cover in one weekend. It even kept me a wake very late...
Rating:
Summary: Definitely read, but don't believe.
Review: This is a fun read with lots of puzzles, ciphers and references to art history, and I completely recommend it. My copy is making its way through my office. The only place where this book goes astray is when it tries to come up with a good conspiracy theory. Suppression of the mother cult started long before Constantine (a good starting point is "When God was a Woman" by Stone). Constantine also probably got a good dose of Christianity from his mother, St. Helen. The Knights Templar were a threat to the consolidation of power of Philip IV of France not pope Clement V or the Catholic Church. In fact there was a power struggle between the two and Philip decided the "Bishop of Rome" would be better quartered in Avigon France, under "French protection". In fact the knights were tried in French courts, for religious crimes by an inquisitor who was excommunicated! Something the pope objected to but Philip ignored. Good sources are "The Templars" by Read and "The Knights Templar: A New History" by Nicholson. In "The Templars and the Grail" Ralls points out that the trials were politically motivated and pretty much a kangaroo court. Whenever the Templars were brought before the inquisitors they were acquitted except when brutally tortured. Which meant everywhere in Europe except France and Naples (Charles II of Naples was Philip's uncle..go figure). The outcome is the Templars were only guilty of supporting the church, defending pilgrams, being prosperous and being in Philips way. In an unusual act of defiance Clement transferred the Templar's holdings to the other religious orders primarily the Order of St. John (Knights Hospitallers) keeping them out of Philips hands. A lot of the myths and legends used in the book belong in the "El Dorado" category but it lends an air of mystery to the work. The work has a lot of the spirit of Umberto Eco but without the tedium and academic rigor and is a great summer read.
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Read!
Review: This is a fun, entertaining book. Take it to the beach and start turning the pages! You can almost see the movie as you read this thriller.
Dan Brown has successfully arbitraged a lot of research about the Holy Grail and Mary Magdelene and the Knights Templar with the general public's lack of awareness of all that research into a cosmic whodunit.Along the way, you learn about Fibonacci Numbers, The Codex Leiscester, church and art history and mythology.
If you want to know more about all the issues the plot deals with, buy "The Templar Revelation", by Picknett and Prince, at the same time(published in 1998, the first chapter is entitled "The Secret Code of Leaonardo DaVinci"!). Their non-fiction book describes in depth practically everything The DaVinci Code treats in this fictional representation.
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