The Da Vinci Code

[Luciana]

Should I read it.... should I not...?

What's up with it? iI's currently 3rd in the Amazon sales rank, and the recently translated version in Portuguese is selling more than fresh bread in early morning.

Murder in a museum? That's very juicy, imho.

Has anybody here read it already?

[Lisa Simpson]

I read. It kept me going until I understood what the DaVinci Code is (in the author's opinion). Then I got bored. Still don't know how it ends--Real Life has since gotten in the way.

[Luciana]

So, Lisa, you didn't read the ending? Well, I don't think that's what I would call a raving review. :) Thanks, anyway.

Anyone else?

[shecky]

The english version is a very easy read. It moves like a Hollywood action suspense movie. I'm sure it'll be made into one soon enough.

It's pretty fun overall. I found about halfway through, I began anticipating the twists. Which was a bit of a letdown for good storytelling. But I did finish it, as it reads quickly. I'd read Holy Blood, Holy Grail about ten years ago but mostly forgot it until I was reminded in The Da Vinci Code. Perhaps this is why I thought it a bit predictable. Plus it's kind of cookiecutter fast-paced suspense story.

[varwoche]

Engaging for a while, but once the plotline grows weary all that's left is pulp. Slogging thru the 2nd half was an act of masochism.

[Marian]

I liked it, it's enjoyable. I picked it up at the urging of a friend before the hype (so probably like RIGHT after release hehe).

Beyond some parts just DRAGGING the only other annoyance was if you're at all versed in some of the things he's talking about he takes quite a number of factual elements, but fictionalizes them for his use. Nothing new there, but often it's unclear which is fiction and which is fact in what he's talking about. I just personally found that annoying in areas that I am knowledgable, and more annoying in areas where I'm not extremely knowledgable because then I wondered how much 'twisting' was going on.

That's my main complaint about it though, your mileage may vary. ;) Overall I enjoyed it.

He also wrote Demons & Angels (I may be screwing up the title since I'm too lazy to look it up). I also read that recently and again you have the same twisting occurring, some pretty lousy. It's interesting on one level, but annoying because again you end up feeling that you can't trust any of the references to factual things because so much is twisted or fictionalized.

I personally prefer books that use factual references to be at least accurate. :\

[SteveW]

My only problem with Angels and Demons was I was rooting for the Illuminati to win.

[Charlie Monoxide]

The "Da Vinci Code" is not a bad read. It does grab you quickly but then slog down in the middle. IIRC the entire story takes place over 1 or 2 days. I was amazed at the energy that the protagonist (and his cliche attractive, intelligent female companion) had.

Charlie (Mary Magdelan, Jesus's date at the last supper?) Monoxide

[Luciana]

Ok then... I might read it some time. I'm not above cheap lit, as long as it's enjoyable. I have never read anything by this author. I'll buy the English original, I avoid translations if I can help it.

[Ed]

There is one element of the plot that happens eary on that is so absurd it really destroyed the book for me. I won't say what it is but it is rather like those slasher movies where the hero says "let's split up and investigate". Silly and contrived.

[bignickel]

My mom gave it to me to read. I read the book description on the inside jacket and thought it the ridiculous improbable thing I'd ever heard of (that week). So, I can't really offer much of an opinion on the book, since I never read it.

What I can very heavily suggest if Neal Stephenson's "Quicksilver", which is a much better historical read. And alotta fun too. The thrill of scientific discovery with the thrill of swashbuckling: Super-neato-keen.

[whim]

Originally posted by Ed
There is one element of the plot that happens eary on that is so absurd it really destroyed the book for me. I won't say what it is but it is rather like those slasher movies where the hero says "let's split up and investigate". Silly and contrived.

I found this book to have much less silliness than his previous books. His storytelling is at least improving. It was a fun excercise to go back and look into some of the facts he litters the book with.

[Nasarius]

I loved it until the part where you find out who "the Teacher" is. It's all downhill and silly from there.
I read it in one night - and I mean one night, without sleep, when I should have been studying for exams :)

[RichardR]

There is a review of the book in the current issue of Skeptical Inquirer. I haven't read it yet, but I have heard the book is based on "Holy Blood Holy Grail" by Henry Lincoln. Now I have read that one, and it is interesting but full of holes.

FYI, Holy Blood Holy Grail was discussed Here (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36747) and Here. (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38683)

[Kiless]

Originally posted by bignickel
What I can very heavily suggest if Neal Stephenson's "Quicksilver", which is a much better historical read. And alotta fun too. The thrill of scientific discovery with the thrill of swashbuckling: Super-neato-keen.

My husband got the series that Da Vinci is a part of and says the bad science in it turns him off. Something about the author not knowing what antimatter is. I was turned off by the bad prose. So, we agree on something, which is what usually happens but we always seem to come to our conclusions from different perspectives!

Yes, Stephenson rocks. No argument there. Gave a copy of that book when it was in hardcover as a Year 12 prize to the top Computer Science student. She was thrilled! :)

[BlackBetta]

I thought it was an interesting concept and it starts off good, but it drags on too long. It's just too much of the same trick over and over. Behind this curtain is?....another curtain..and behind that one...another one, etc.

I'll join the Stephenson love-fest and recommend Cryptonomicon for much better crypto related stuff than in the Da Vinci Code.

[Upchurch]

I enjoyed the book and didn't get that it was predictable at all. But then, I read the book over only a couple of days, so I never really had time to stop and think ahead.

[chrisberez]

Originally posted by RichardR
There is a review of the book in the current issue of Skeptical Inquirer. I haven't read it yet, but I have heard the book is based on "Holy Blood Holy Grail" by Henry Lincoln. Now I have read that one, and it is interesting but full of holes.

FYI, Holy Blood Holy Grail was discussed Here (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36747) and Here. (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38683)

It's a good article, addressing the (mis)conception that there's any real historical acuracy to the book, although the reviewer does say that the book is entertaining. I haven't read it myself however.

[Nasarius]

Originally posted by Kiless


My husband got the series that Da Vinci is a part of and says the bad science in it turns him off. Something about the author not knowing what antimatter is.

He's right. I just finished Angels & Demons, the book before The Da Vinci Code. Besides being the exact same story as The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon runs around solving a bunch of ancient puzzles...again), the description of CERN is ridiculous.
I think that the author agrees at least in part with the "science is bad and immoral and cannot coexist with religion" stance of some of the characters.

He did get one detail right, though - by my calculations, 0.25g of antimatter would release energy equivalent to about 5.6 kilotons of TNT. He said 5 kilotons. Close enough :)

[Chris Haynes]

It was a silly book... I found some logic errors that you can drive a truck through (like the fact that the curator could not find a place to hide from gunfire... and then someone is sitting on bench near his body later on, erg... oh, and let's not get into famous museum very flawed security system).

I hate anagrams and word puzzles, yet I knew what the stupid words were to open a couple of the boxes several pages before the characters did.

Ugh... this is why I stick to biographies and history.

Though I did enjoy "The Time Traveller's Wife"... it had some logic errors, but they weren't as silly.

[corplinx]

I read this one, its a short read. The author did something right at the beginning that tainted the book for me. He described the protagonist by invoking the name of a hollywood actor. Not only that, he did very cheesily. Basically, the protagonist looks like Harrison Ford as an egghead college prof.

Its an entertaining read, just not good literature. I suppose the whole templar/mary magdeline/sion thing might be intrigueing to christians and hence the books' popularity. Yes, it is slightly heretical I suppose but its a guilty indulgence for them probably.

[smalltlalk_2k]

If you like Micheal Crighton (bad spelling?) then you will probably like this book. They, in my opinion, both write Hollywoodish action novels.

I did enjoy both of Brown's books.

[Kiless]

[i]
I did enjoy both of Brown's books. [/B]

What were they?

[Anders]

Originally posted by Upchurch
I enjoyed the book and didn't get that it was predictable at all. But then, I read the book over only a couple of days, so I never really had time to stop and think ahead.
Is "the da vinci code" a christian book, i.e a book that promotes christianity, by adding angels, miracles or the like?

[Chris Haynes]

No, it is not a Christian book. It using some of the parts of Christian history as part of a mystery plot.

There are some churches that are quite upset at some of the conclusions assumed in the book.

It is still a silly book.

[Kiless]

There's a session at a conference I'm going to which claims they will address how much value this book has as a work of literature and how it will aid children's literacy in upper secondary.... should I go and pick up a pamphlet so I can tell you their claims? :rolleyes:

[zakur]

FWIW, author Lewis Perdue claims that Brown is a plagiarist:

http://www.davincilegacy.com/Infringement/

I rather enjoyed The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons as escapist fiction. Brown's Digital Fortress, however, is a steaming pile of crap.

[Kiless]

Wow! I wonder if I should bring that to the session... although I'm not that interested in hearing someone waffle about how it's better than other texts on offer that we teach... thanks for the link Zakur!

[Nasarius]

Originally posted by zakur
Brown's Digital Fortress, however, is a steaming pile of crap.

Thank you! Not only is he wildly inaccurate with his computer/technical details, he also seems to think that there's absolutely nothing wrong with the government reading all your private communication. Anyone who demonizes the EFF (http://www.eff.org/) is an idiot.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by Nasarius


Anyone who demonizes the EFF (http://www.eff.org/) is an idiot.

The EFF is partly composed of shrill reactionaries who don't retract when their extreme forecasts of abuse don't pan out.

The EFF isn't the group of saints fighting on our behalf that tech sites like slashdot would make them out to be.

Here's your sign, stupid.

[timhau]

My take on the Da Vinci Code: it's an ideal book for a trans-atlantic flight -- unless you're flying to the US West coast from Europe. It's light reading, it has short chapters so you can easily stop for a snack or a meal, and it grabs you initially, well enough to take you most of the way to Boston or New York, but if you read it until San Francisco or L.A., you'll get to the boring and predictable bits.

One warning, though: if it bothers you that fiction writers play fast and loose with historical facts, prepare to be bothered. I don't have deep historical knowledge of Christianity or Christian churches, but even I could spot some mistakes (like the claim that the Catholic church burned 5 million women as witches).