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The Da Vinci Code
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The Da Vinci Code
Author: Dan Brown

Book Information
Book Type: Paperback
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ISBN-13: 9780385513227 - ISBN-10: 0385513224

Book Description:
Amazon.com

With The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of fascinating esoteria culled from 2,000 years of Western history.

A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ. The victim is a high-ranking agent of this ancient society who, in the moments before his death, manages to leave gruesome clues at the scene that only his granddaughter, noted cryptographer Sophie Neveu, and Robert Langdon, a famed symbologist, can untangle. The duo become both suspects and detectives searching for not only Neveu's grandfather's murderer but also the stunning secret of the ages he was charged to protect. Mere steps ahead of the authorities and the deadly competition, the mystery leads Neveu and Langdon on a breathless flight through France, England, and history itself. Brown (Angels and Demons) has created a page-turning thriller that also provides an amazing interpretation of Western history. Brown's hero and heroine embark on a lofty and intriguing exploration of some of Western culture's greatest mysteries--from the nature of the Mona Lisa's smile to the secret of the Holy Grail. Though some will quibble with the veracity of Brown's conjectures, therein lies the fun. The Da Vinci Code is an enthralling read that provides rich food for thought.

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Top Member Book Reviews

Tracey S. (Aerlinn) wrote on 3/30/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

What a load of codswallop this book is. I read this to oblige someone else (a boss; no one else would have gotten me to finish it), and was floored by all the pseudo-learned nonsense Dan Brown throws at his poor benighted reader. I'm no expert - but I'm also not an idiot, and I did have a very good art history teacher when I went to art school. It didn't take me long to spot an ever-growing list of factual errors in the "proofs". I posted a webpage outlining what I found for the benefit of the person who made me read this piece of ... fiction; I wish in a way I still had it, but it never seemed worth wasting the webspace on for more than the time I needed it.

One review said "Though some will quibble with the veracity of Brown's conjectures, therein lies the fun." It isn't exactly "quibbling" when there's solid proof showing he was blowing smoke up our ... eyeglasses, but let that pass. The conjectures themselves were amusing enough, but I've seen them posited in far more convincing and intelligent formats. It still makes me sad that the Vatican chose to distinguish such pure boneheadedness by paying it any attention at all; it so richly deserved to sink into utter oblivion, and so very much the exact opposite happened. "Fun"? Perhaps - if the book had been remotely well-written. I found it absolutely painful.

The only positive thing I can find to say about the book is that it made people look at da Vinci and his work who might not have ever done so otherwise. Perhaps more of the semi-literate now know who da Vinci is than previously. So - yay. But having art education expanded microscopically at the cost of having this great steaming pile of inanity inflicted on a willing public... God help us all.

Dana (daedelys) wrote on 2/28/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was another fascinating read by this author. I didn't feel the need to read it as fast as "Angels & Demons" since I had seen the movie, but that didn't take away from the book at all. It's a story that really makes you think about things that we've been told and how history is written by the "winners" and people with an agenda. The characters in this book are well-written and I really appreciate how Langden is a smart man, but not a know-it-all, so that when he makes mistakes or misses clues it's believable. I hate characters who are the know-it-all types that I've read in some books but always miss the obvious when it counts. I highly recommend this book!

Hannah J. (hannahj26) wrote on 10/17/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn't have very high hopes for it as it's not normally what I like to read because of the heavy religious subject matter. However, I had to read this for an English class and I actually liked it!

The story is pretty fast paced and interesting. I had a lot of fun looking up the different religious organizations that are mentioned as well as the Da Vinci paintings.

worth reading for sure!


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Beth G. wrote on 8/29/2009...


I am not a huge "novel" fan but I did enjoy this book and found it an interesting read.

Amy B. (BaileysBooks) wrote on 7/31/2009...


This is the second book featuring Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. Unlike the movies, 'Angels and Demons' actually comes first.

As far as action thrillers go, this book was good but not great. Yes, it kept me reading. It was interesting enough to keep me engaged. But there was also a lot about the book that I hated.

I understand that this book is fiction. And I would have no issues with the religious animosity and blatant anti-Christian propaganda if this book were strictly claiming to be just a work of fiction. But it's not. Brown clearly states in the opening pages that everything in the book (minus the actual fictional characters and plot) is fact. He attempts to present his fictional story around what he claims to be well-researched, documented, historical and religious fact. People who hate the book because of its anti-Christian content are told, "Lighten up, it's only fiction!" while people who love the book because of its anti-Christian content proclaim, "Look at what the Church has never told us! And all of it's true!" Brown has expertly played both sides and it seems that he has the book sales to prove it.

For anyone with even the slightest understanding of early church history (or any early history at all) they will find the claims in this book to be laughable. Sadly, millions of people have taken this work of 'fiction' as gospel truth (and have used it as 'credible' ammunition when rejecting the real gospel as truth.) Brown's hatred is obviously directed specifically at the Catholic church. I'm not sure why the multitude of Protestant denominations were left unscathed...perhaps he is saving their inclusion for a future book.

In all, if you can completely suspend all sense of accuracy when it comes to history (this is fiction after all, right?) then this book is an interesting read on an Indiana Jones/ conspiracy theory/ international scandal type of level. But the moment you take it as more than fiction, it sinks into poorly veiled ideological propaganda and the story itself becomes nothing more than a means for Brown to attempt a rewrite of otherwise well-documented history.

It's no surprise that so many books have been written in response to this one. Since Brown claims that everything in the book is true, it's only fair for others to point out the difference between what is true and what is embellishment, fabrication, and blatant misrepresentation of fact. For a solid, well-researched, well-documented counterpoint to The DaVinci code, I recommend 'The DaVinci Hoax' by Carl E. Olson and Sandra Miesel.

Trina S. (spunkyone) wrote on 1/18/2009...


I don't know what's wrong with me because everyone seems to like this book, but not I. I had to watch the movie b/c the book didn't hold my interest and then I still ended up not liking the movie! Maybe it was the religious theme that didn't sit well with me, but it just didn't make sense.

Jeremy - NC wrote on 7/8/2008...


I read this book while traveling from Chicago to Montana. It moves quickly and is reasonably exciting, but is ultimately the literary equivalent of cotton candy. Wholly forgettable if not for the massive hub-bub that surrounded it and led to a Tom Hanks movie.

Sharon F. (Cwnnf) wrote on 4/29/2007...


What can I say after all of the publicity this book has had. A Great read.

Meghan B. (MeghanB) wrote on 4/27/2007...


Great adventure story with lots of twists. Very quick read.

Zoribel L. (kittybel) wrote on 3/24/2007...


This book is great!!!

Laura G. (knitsocks) wrote on 8/15/2006...


Almost as good as Angels and Demons.

Valesca L. (FitMommyOf2) wrote on 7/26/2006...


Awesome book!

Tony H. (Tony500) wrote on 6/13/2006...


Excellent Book!


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