The DaVinci Code.

[TNDemo]

Has anyone here read this? I just finished and it is a real page turner. It also has that added side benefit of art and church history and some lessons in symbology. Would love to hear what others think.

P.S. I have been gone for several days and away from DU so sorry if this has already been discussed...

[NJCher]

1. nope

But I've heard about it and it's my cup of tea. Hope to get it soon and will email you when I've finished it.


Cher

[Shanty Oilish]

2. Some months ago, maybe in Meeting Room, it was mentioned.

And recommended. I still haven't gotten around to it, but aim to. Thanks for the reminder.

[revree]

3. Holy Blood, Holy Grail

Read the book that started it all! And check out some of the great stuff on these subjects at dagobertsrevenge.com.

[bikebloke]

4. That's the book!

While reading The Da Vinci Code, I was trying to think of the title. Hadn't read it, but glanced through it at the library once.

[NashVegas]

18. The Mother of All Conspiracy Theory Books!

I've read that, and I have a copy of Gardner's "Bloodline of the Holy Grail." He has a take that's absolutely hysterical, or chilling, depending on how paranoid you are. As this Christ-kids fad spreads, it's going to be waaay interesting to see what happens when people connect the bloodline to *.

The main reason I've not been too interested in DaVinci Code is it looks like a lotta stuff I've already read before.

I think the first novel I ever saw put it to fiction was "The Magdalene Scrolls" - that one even preceded HBHG, but came after the documentaries HBHG's authors did back in the '70s, so it may have been based on those.

[TrogL]

20. Holy Blood Holy Grail

is awash in logical fallacy. Stuff that is proposed as theory on one page quickly becomes "fact" on the following page. It's just one huge example of "begging the question".

[Dudley_DUright]

5. No, but just got done with another of Dan Brown's

books called "Angels and Demons". It was pretty good, but some of the physics was a little bit off. Here is Dan Brown's official website:

http://www.danbrown.com/

[dani]

21. I read Angels & Demons too

it was really underwhelming IMO; I probably won't bother to read The DaVinci Code.

[fofer]

6. Read it a few months ago . . .

and was actually disappointed. Great premise, but it could have been better developed, mainly in the characterization and dialogue departments. Robert and Sophie didn't seem all that real to me as the book went on. Fantastic plot, though. Anyone know if the main theory has any basis in reality?

fofer

[newyawker99]

22. Hi fofer!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Shakeydave]

7. My wife, my father and my sister...................

absolutely loved it! Me? I'm ADD and prefer books on CD for my long commute!

[morningglory]

8. I really enjoyed it.

I was glad the author didn't come up with a hokey ending. That would have ruined it for me. The ending was fine. Did you search the internet for Da Vince's painting, The Last Supper or the Lord's supper? Obvious woman to Jesus' right and another woman serving.

[elfin]

9. Fantastic read

Angels and Demons wasn't as good - am on the track of his other books.

Am now finally reading Seabiscuit - another wonderful read.

[Lurking Dem]

10. LOVED it!

I've been recommending it to everyone I know!

[SiouxJ]

11. Yes. It was excellent!

True, he's not the most eloquent story teller but I really enjoyed his theories and ideas. Being an art (not to mention Da Vinci) fan from way back, I may be a little biased though :shrug:. I highly recommend anyway.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

12. Is that the one about how the church limited the role of women

and promoted men through the use of lies, falsehoods and secret societies like the Illuminati and such?

[maxanne]

14. yup, pretty much

The art, the history, the symbolism - was all wonderful. I enjoyed what he had to say about women very much.

He has a vacation home here, and appears at the local bookstore pretty regularly.

[TNDemo]

13. What I want to know (warning: spoilers ahead)

is where the line between fact and fiction is. Obviously the pope was fiction as there is no new liberal pope. The part about Robert Hanssen was fact. Is Opus Dei really the organization he belonged to? Is all the stuff about DaVinci true? What about all the other stuff presented as history - true or not?

I also did not understand really why the family had to split up. That just seemed a little strange to me, although I know they had to protect the grail but there are other priory members who had the knowledge. And what was the point of the final message being at Rosslin if the grail was not really there? I know to put Sophie back with her family but it did not lead to the grail. Details, details.

[MaineDem]

15. I enjoyed it

I thought it was a great read.

It peaked my interest to research more and I like it when a book is able to do that.

[Richardo]

16. Great plot - weak (and dumb) characters...

...for experts in their fields, Robert and Sophie take FOREVER to figure out some pretty elementary clues.

I don't like being smarter than the characters, especially if they are purported specialists in arcane areas like symbology and cryptography.

:thumbsdown: from Richardo

[FlashHarry]

17. Not great writing, but great storytelling nonetheless.

It was a fun 'beach' book. I read his "Angels and Demons," too, and it was more of the same. Buy the paperback, don't shell out the bucks for the hardcover....

[CBHagman]

19. Both my brother and sister-in-law recommended it.

When we were visiting recently, I made some comments about Opus Dei, the Catholic Church, etc. (I'm a practicing Catholic, but they are not), and my sister-in-law said "The Da Vinci Code" was a must-read. I'll have to tackle that soon...

God knows everyone else has, given its place on best seller lists!

:-)