The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Da Vinci Code
Book Review: "Everyone loves a conspiracy."
Summary: 3 Stars
This was a well put together suspense novel. (Emphasis on the word novel.) I thought I had the villain figured out and then it surprised me, which is a plus! It had quick pacing, until it hit about 40 pages of explanation of the Holy Grail theory which went slightly over the top. However, the pace picked up again for the rest of the story. Overall, a good, fun read, but I wasn't able to see what qualities have left this book up so long on amazon.com's top 10 books sold list. Take it with a grain of salt (after all, it doesn't have a bibliography) and enjoy it for the puzzle-solving and chase elements.Book Review: "Historical" Libel
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is a work of fiction contradicted by scholarly writing and historical authorities readily avilable. Yet, there is a real danger that readers will take it as historical fact swallowing whole the sensationalist writing, anti-Catholic bent, and conspiracy plots. Based on a perusal of the reviews here, many readers do take the writing as fact!! On the one hand, it's laughable that Americans rely on novels and Hollywood movies for an understanding of history. On the other, it is very sad and consequently, Mr. Brown should be embarrassed to propagate so much falseness and bigotry. Most concerning, it mocks all that is revered by Christianity by cloaking inaccurate information as fact. Moreover, it defames and slanders real organizations such as Opus Dei and the Catholic Church by assigning them roles as participants in modern-day criminal and deviant acts. Apparently, it is permissible to write a Catholic-bashing book. In sharp constrast, look at the media frenzy that has arisen surrounding Mel Gibson's The Passion for even daring to depict Jews in a bad light. Would a publisher ever dream of printing such a book about Muslims or Jews?! No. But Catholicism is fair game.
The novel itself is poorly written consisting of shallow character devlopment and poorly crafted suspense; it relies on silly riddles and cliff-hangers at the end of ridiculously short chapters to ensure the reader will continue reading (in a book that numbers roughly 450 pages, there are 105 chapters). Overall, I am disappointed that Mr. Brown is making a fortune off unwitting readers.
Book Review: "Lighten Up": It's a Novel; Therefore, It's Fiction
Summary: 4 Stars
For whatever it's worth! After much discussion about Dan Brown's hot bestselling novel, I'd like to add some summary statements based upon having read the book. There's no point in being verbose about this. Yes, I enjoyed the book with reservations. Here are my observations - by Juliana L'Heureux:1. The Da Vinci Code is an entertaining murder mystery.
2. It's a novel; therefore, it's fiction.
3. Dan Brown is a clever novelist so there's several unexpected twists to the plot, almost all the intrigue stretches to pass the "straight face test" (clever, nonetheless). 4. Although Dan Brown claims the art history, etc. described is based upon his FACT, he doesn't explain why the paradoxes in The Da Vinci Code were never exposed by the Protestant Reformation.
Surely, some people at this point may have made up their mind about The Da Vinci code based upon the reviews and spin off discussions about the book, but without reading it for themselves. Almost everyone who reads The Da Vinci Code enjoys the story. For skeptics who feel the book is
(a) too hyped or (2) too heavily weighted towards the sacred feminine- I'd say, "lighten up" and read it for the story value; or- just wait for the movie to be released.
Book Review: "Outside, the wind howled through the trees."
Summary: 1 Stars
Come on, people. "Stupid" doesn't necessarily equate "Fun". Aside from the fact that the credibility of this book has been consistently trashed by scholars, the writing is poor to the point that it would be laughed out of a high school English class.
I'm wondering if there should be a required "What was the last book you read?" question, for amazon reviewers. I have a hunch the majority of these five star ratings would also include a lot of Danielle Steele and Stephen King.
Book Review: "Pure Genius" is right!
Summary: 5 Stars
The inside cover of The DaVinci Code says "This is pure genius." This couldn't be closer to the truth. In an incredible show of creativity, imagination, and cunning, Dan Brown brings to life an ancient secret the likes of which I have never seen before. To be concise, this is the most interesting book I have ever read - and it has everything a book of its type needs: action, suspense, mystery and everything between. The characters are fanatastic and dynamic, the plot has a blissful mixture of action and information, and the puzzles and codes are unbelievably clever. The way that Mr. Brown ties these seemingly unrelated facts (every bit of information about history and art is true) into a single novel is utterly stunning. Dan Brown is many steps ahead of today's writers. Read this book... I promise you will love it!