The Da Vinci Code, Special Illustrated Edition
by Dan Brown
List Price:
Our Price: $5.97
You Save: $34.03 (85%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Dan BrownEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Illustrated
Published: 2004-11-02
ISBN: 0385513755
Number of pages: 480
Publisher: Doubleday
Book Reviews of The Da Vinci Code, Special Illustrated Edition
Book Review: (three and a half stars) Provocative, but . . .
Summary: 3 Stars
Let me start off by saying that I read the plain hardcover version of "The Da Vinci Code," but this website, for some reason, has not accepted any reviews written after May 29, 2005. An illustrated version sounds like a good idea, and I will browse through one as soon as I spot it in the bookstore.
On my last vacation, I noticed that half the crowd was reading one Dan Brown book or another, so I decided to get on board by reading "Angels and Demons" followed by the "The Da Vinci Code," which both chronicle the adventures of Robert Langdon, part Harvard Professor symbologist (with a sub-specialty in secret societies), and part Indiana Jones. The beautiful, lithe and brilliant Vittoria of "Angels" is now replaced by the equally beautiful, lithe and brilliant Sophie Neveu, top-rate French criminologist. The books both follow the same basic formula: plenty of cliff-hangers, good guys who are really bad, and suspicious ornery guys who are really good.
In short, in "The Da Vinci Code," an albino monk, a member of Opus Dei -- a secret Catholic offshoot where the leaders flog themselves and wear barbed wire anklets (I realize there's more to it than that)-- has been ordered by the "Teacher" to murder the top members of the Priory of Scion, another secret society, which alone holds the key to the real history of Jesus' life and early Christianity. Its military branch, Knights Templar, now long defunct, has hidden the Holy Grail, which is not a chalice (or cup of any sort) but rather secret documents revealing the importance of Mary Magdalene in the Jesus story. Before he is murdered, The most important member of the Priory, Jacques Sauniere (Sophie's grandfather who raised her after the death of her parents) leaves clues for Sophie and Robert to find the Grail, so that the "true" story of Jesus might not be lost. Some of these clues are revealed in the greatest works of Leonardo Da Vinci, who himself was once the top dog of the Priory (hence the title of the book). Sophie hasn't spoken to her poor grandfather in years, after she observed him taking part in a Paganistic ritual, symbolically "joining" Father and Mother Earth. Other, more thinly drawn characters also figure into the plot. As in "Angels," the chapters are short, most ending in a cliff-hanger or a surprising revelation. Pages are turned quickly as the reader races to reach a resolution. I guessed the identity of the Teacher early on, not because I'm particularly insightful, but because I think I understand how Brown creates plot (actually, later in the book, I changed my mind about the Teacher's identity, having been misled by the private thoughts of a character who actually knew who he was, which I felt was somewhat dishonest on the author's part).
Dan Brown is a fairly proficient thriller writer. What makes him so popular, I believe, is that he tackles big and provocative issues such as the "true" life and teachings of Jesus, the nature of the Vatican and Catholicism, and world-wide conspiracies led by super secret societies. Just from browsing the other day in a book store, I think it's obvious that other writers will now attempt to copy Brown by dealing with these subjects as well.
In conducting some research on some of the claims in "The Da Vinci Code" I learned that Brown often relies on questionable unscholarly sources. For instance, although most scholars agree that the figure to the immediate right of Jesus in Da Vinci's "Last Supper" is the Apostle John, Brown claims it's definitely Mary Magdalene, relying on sources who come up with their "theories" largely on pure speculation. It's certainly interesting, but what is it really based on? At one point, the book claims that, in a three hundred year period, the Catholic Church put to death five million women, by burning them at the stake, for being guilty of one kind of heresy or another. Shouldn't a highly disturbing and controversial claim like this be thoroughly documented? It's my understanding that this number is probably wildly inflated (although, for certain, any number is unacceptable).
As a non-Christian, I agree with Brown's assessment that there seems to be a profound disconnect between the teachings of Jesus according to the New Testament (i.e. anti-accumulation of wealth, forgive the sinner, turn the other cheek) as compared with the later practices of the Catholic Church, especially during Medieval times. Brown's overall theme seems to be that women were considered far more important in early Christianity (as influence by Paganism) which later developed into a male-dominated religion that subjugated women. However, many cultures and religions throughout history have, unfortunately, subjugated women, including various forms of "Paganism."
In the end, I appreciate that "The Da Vinci Code" has made me think about these issues. The problem is the slew of books that will follow by less talented writers who re-interpret some major religion or piece of history without any factual basis, or claim some massive conspiracy by some secret society that has little influence in the real world.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Digital Fortress: A Thrillerby Dan Brown
St. Martin's Paperbacks; Published: 2008-11-04; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.59
Price in other shops:
By Dan Brown: Angels & DemonsHardcover; Published: 2003-08-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.00
Inception: The Shooting Scriptby Christopher Nolan
Insight Editions; Insight Editions; Published: 2010-08-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
The Dark Knight: Featuring Production Art and Full Shooting Scriptby Craig Byrne
Universe; Published: 2008-07-22; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.00
Price in other shops:
Angels & Demons - Movie Tie-In: A Novelby Dan Brown
Washington Square Press; Published: 2009-03-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.35
Price in other shops:
Digital Fortress: A Thrillerby Dan Brown
Thomas Dunne Books; Published: 2004-05-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.70
Price in other shops:
Deception Pointby Dan Brown
Atria Books; Published: 2003-09-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.70
Price in other shops:
The Lost Symbol (Dan Brown)by Dan Brown
Doubleday Books; Published: 2009-09-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.49
Price in other shops:
Angels & Demonsby Dan Brown
Atria; Published: 2003-07-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.88
Price in other shops:
The Da Vinci Code (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition)HANKS/MCKELLAN; Release date: 2006-11-14; DVD
Best price: $4.19
Price in other shops: