The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (2003)

My 6 year old even likes it. It is read remarkably well, with wonderful characters and accents. Took me a while to get into, but once you do...it is gripping. Can't shut it off!

Preferred this to the book. Focuses on the story line rather than all the church and art information. Enjoyed listening to this book more than reading the book.

A right ripping good yarn. The mystery begins with murder in the Louvre. Professor Langdon, having been called to meeet the curator Louvre, Jacques Sauniere is now suspected of his murder by police inspector Bezu Fasche. But this is no ordinary murder. Jacques Sauniere in his dying moments left a trail of clues the hopefully Sophie Nevue and Professor Langdon would solve. Enter said cryptologist, Sophie Nevue, with her own agenda. Worried for his safety and sure he was not the perpetrator of the crime Nevue whisks Langdon away, bemused and struggling to make sense of the intrigue in which he finds himself. The pace picks up rapidly throughout the book as, peice by peice. Nevue and Langdon discover the stories that have brought them both together and the puzzle they have to try and explain. The burning questions about Jacque Suniere's past and the clues lead from Sauniere to Da Vinci to the Priory of Sion and to the to the possible truth about the Holy grail are answered.

A great book! Fantastic plot and de sequence of events will keep you wondering. It becomes interesting to challenge the facts to find out where reality deviates from fiction.
Historical support information is very enlighten, and will take the smart minds to do some Internet reaserch.

JR

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.