Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (2006, Paperback)

Once I began this extraordinary book, I could not put it down. "The Da Vinci Code" is so much more than a gripping suspense thriller. Dan Brown takes us beyond the main plot and leads us on a quest for the Holy Grail - a Grail totally unlike anything we have been taught to believe. With his impeccable research, Mr. Brown introduces us to aspects and interpretations of Western history and Christianity that I, for one, had never known existed...or even thought about. I found myself, unwillingly, leaving the novel, and time and time again, going online to research Brown's research - only to find a new world of historic possibilities opening up for me. And my quest for knowledge and the answers to questions that the book poses, paralleled, in a sense, the quest of the book's main characters. What a trip! What a read!

A violent murder is committed in the Louvre Museum. The museum's chief curator, who is also the head of a remarkable secret society that has existed since the death of Christ, is found dead and gruesomely positioned on the floor near The Mona Lisa. In the minutes before he died, this very complex man was able to leave clues for his daughter to follow. The daughter, a brilliant cryptographer, along with a famed US symbologist, follow her father's codes and leads, hoping that he will, through his death, finally tell her what he wanted to confide in her while he lived. The secret society included members such as: Leonardo Da Vinci, Boticelli, Gallileo, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, Jean Cocteau, etc. These folks really Did belong to this society, which Really existed! This is when I first began my online search.

The mystery, or mysteries, take us through England, France and far back in time. We learn about the secret of the Knights Templar, and the symbolism in many of the world's most treasured paintings, as well as architectural symbolism in some of history's most sacred churches. Of course, we also learn who committed the murder and why - although this is almost secondary next to the real epic mystery the novel uncovers.

Well, the research is correct. The historical events and people explored in the book are real. But no one knows the Truth...nor will we ever, probably. I think that some things are meant to be a mystery. With all the world's diverse religions and each individual's belief in what is Divine - the Truth would have to destroy the beliefs, hopes and lives of many of the world's population. So, perhaps, in the divine scheme of things, there are many more Truths than one. Don't take the book too seriously.

I thought i had better read Angels and Demons first, i like to read things in order, i had been sent the Davinci code on hardback and was looking forward to reading it. Angels and Demons, what a load of rubbish, it seemed to me the characters were terrible, the lead character jumping out of a helicopter clutching a piece of cloth working out the mathematics in his head, give me a break, even Arnie in Commando was more convincing, i was expecting to be dazzled by Dan Brown and Angels and Demons, i was not, dodgy characters who were very unbelievable and i felt it never picked up pace or went anywhere where i was left wondering what was going to happen next, i wasnt that interested to find out either, i did soldier on and finish the book, overall....poor. Next was the Da Vinci code, obviously i was expecting big things although i was hoping he had developed the main character in a more believable and convincing light, which to be fair he had, now i really struggled to get into this book, every page seemed to be a chore, it took me about a year to read after picking up some Robert Ludlum books, eventually i was determined to finish this ' best seller', this time around the pages turned slightly quicker and i did quite like the story, raised some interesting questions but i still was not totally immersed in Dan Browns reality, i found the twists and turns extremely transparent and not very surprising, it does seem i am in the minority as it seems to be Dan Brown fever everywhere, perhaps i have simply read a lot of better books?, Ludlum, Tolkien, King, Cornwell, Hutson, these ladies and Gents simply beat the pants off Dan Browns novels. My current books are the Harry Potter books, makes good reading and is more believable than Dan Brown!

In The Da Vinci Code, art historian and religious symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to the Louvre to help in investigating the murder of its curator. The dead man left a series of cryptic clues and symbols near his body before he died. With the help of cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Langdon discovers that some of the clues are hidden in Da Vinci's famous painting, "The Vitruvian Man." He also learns that Da Vinci, along with Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Botticelli, belonged to a secret society called the Priory of Sion. Also involved are other religious groups and secret societies who are out to stop Langdon and Neveu at any cost. This thriller's breakneck pace, ingenious clues and escapes, and sharp intelligence have already sent it to the top of bestseller lists. The New York Times review of this book is summed up in one word, "Wow." We couldn't agree more. The Da Vinci Code is a fun and intelligent read.

At best Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code is just a mediocre modern day mystery with religious conspiracy overtones. The characterization seems like it came straight out of a 70’s made for TV movies. If you have read any mysteries before the plot is paper thin, the first time the true villain makes an appearance, it is basically a “well isn’t that contrite” moment. But it is a fast EASY reading novel. This book is just fine for lounging on the beach or passing the time on a cross country airline flight.

Some people take the conspiracy overtones to being anti-catholic. I think this is just nonsense but if you are sensitive to this sort of thing you might be offended by this book.

A much more interesting book, in a similar venue (modern day mystery with religious conspiracy overtones), is Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco. Be forewarned, Eco’s novel is a MUCH more challenging read but in the end is a more enjoyable novel. It is analogous to comparing cotton candy (Da Vinci Code) to a 12 course gourmet dinner (Foucault’s Pendulum). Both will satisfy hunger, both are a type of food, but the popular one is something which can be consumed casually and in the end leaves you wondering if you should have made an effort to consume something that would have been more fulfilling.

After giving up on Angels and Demons about 50 pages in, I promised myself I'd stay away from Dan Brown whose writing is so bad he gives new dimension to the word awful. Well, I now have to go to another hand to count the number of books I that I have started and never finished. I'm at six and Mr. Brown can claim 2 of those. I made my way 75 or so pages into Da Vinci Code and quit. I won't attempt to discuss the blatant anti-Christian bias of the book; others have already done that quite effectively. But even for escapist pulp fiction, the plot is contrived and the characters are insipid, stereotypical, and silly. The dialogue is so bad that..... well, enought said. I hated it. Think of it as Indiana Jones lite. Very very lite.