Da Vinci Code: worth reading?

[Emops]

Apparently I'm the only person who hasn't read this yet. My dad gave me a copy and said I absolutely must read it, that it's the most captivating book ever.

But I hear a lot of critics say that it's incredibly silly and poorly written, and I'm actually inclinded to believe the critics over my dad.

I'm in school and don't do much reading on my own, so I don't want to waste my time on a bad book.

Who here has read it? Is it any good?

[Richardo]

1. I'm in the silly/poorly written camp.

The protagonists are idiots. Any reader paying even a little attention will get the 'clues' LONG before the protagonists do. An ambitious plot - certainly. But so poorly executed that it negates that ambition.

Don't bother, or wait for the movie. It can't possibly be any worse. :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

[jedicord]

2. Read it, if only to contemplate the Jesus theory presented.

I personally didn't find it silly or poorly written, but I may not be the best judge. It was entertaining.

The "Jesus Theory" is the best part, though. But then again, I'm a Deist and believe that Jesus was an important philosoper and minister of change, yet merely human.

I think this part is what gets most people up in arms. You don't mess around with Jesus to Christians. Just don't.

[4_Legs_Good]

17. Actually that didn't bug me as much as reading "The divine feminine"

50,000 times. Okay, Dan, we get it, yes yes, move on.

I'm a practicing Cahtolic and I found the Jesus stuff interesting. If this book did one thing for me, it made me want to read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail". I know there are some, though, that definitely will take offense, as you say.

Personally I like my Arthurian myths as just myths, but it's an interesting take on it at least.

david

[American Tragedy]

25. You do realize that Holy Blood, Holy Grail has been debunked, right?

It's pretty much based on an elaborate hoax.

[Lex]

31. Do you have a link for that?

To show that Holy Blood, Holy Grail was based on an elaborate hoax?

The author was just on the History Channel a few nights ago talking about the book and the show didn't mention it was based on a hoax.

Thanks.

[RUDUing2]

36. the parchment has been proven fake...not the legend...which predates the

book...so no Holy Blood, Holy Grail has not be debunked...but people who want the legend to go away have done a fantastic job of misdirectiong and convincing people of that fallicy...

http://www.magdalene.org/holygrail.htm

http://www.newdawnmagazine.com/articles/Gospel%20and%20the%20Grail.html

[American Tragedy]

24. I found the theory a bit awkward.

MINOR SPOILER ALERT


I read it almost a year ago, but as I recall, Mary Magdalene supposedly was married to Jesus (he states this as an established fact, even though there are no actual records that would indicate this; it's total conjecture). Christ is reduced to a normal man, yet Mary is exalted as being the true Holy Grail because of her relationship with Christ, which seems to be contradictory. Then she runs off to France to give birth, and for the ensuing centuries the Roman Catholic Church desperately tries to kill the few people who know the truth and have gone to wildly byzantine lengths to conceal it.

[RUDUing2]

30. guess that is one version....take some time and read some of the gnostic

texts...it is more of a stretch to conjecture that Jesus was unmarried then that he was married..but the majority of christians seem to have swallowed that conjecture hook, line and sinker..

(read Brother Jesus, the Nazarene through Jewish Eyes Schalom Ben-Chorin for a scholarly explanation of why Jesus was almost assuredly married based on evidence both in the Bible and of 1st century Palestinian Jewish culture)
http://www.tcpc.org/resources/reviews/brother_jesus.htm

[American Tragedy]

43. It's not so hard to believe

If he knew or strongly suspected that he was going to die young.

[RUDUing2]

45. for his day and time 33 was not that young...

Jewish men of 1st century Palestine were married in accordance w/the Talmudic recommendation of marriage between ages 18 and 24. (remember average life expectancy was only 45 yrs, with that in mind 33 is not that young..past middle age)

[okieinpain]

61. I enjoy the idea that jesus might just be the worlds greatest con

man. or is it the disciples that have made him into the son of god. very interesting.

when I talk about this my wife just puts her hands over her ears, and starts humming. my mother tells me should would slap the taste out of my mouth if she could get her hand through the phone.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. I liked it, my wife hated it.

Don't think about the plausibility too much with Dan Brown and you'll be OK...just go for the ride.

[hangemhigh]

4. A great beach read. Entertaining. That's all though. nt

[bowens43]

5. I liked it.

[XNASA]

6. From what I've been told, it's not worth the read.

I read another Dan Brown book, "Digital Fortress" and found it hopelessly vacuous. When I asked around to see if The DaVinci Code was any better, the answer was always, "just a little".

[Richardo]

13. My thumbnail review of 'Da Vinci Code' was as follows:

"It's the worst book you will ever read - until you read 'Digital Fortress'."

[XNASA]

18. I picked it up in an airport. It was like a bad made for TV movie.

I'm reading Foucault's Pendulum now and have about 100 pages to go.

Much better. Much, much, much better.

[4_Legs_Good]

23. Yup

The whole time I was trying to figure out who was going to play what role in the movie.

The first page of Focault's pendulum is many times better than The DaVinci Code, IMO.

david

[XNASA]

26. I keep trying to put faces to the characters as well.

So who could play Casaubon? Why Johnny Depp, of course. Well, I'm kidding only a little. Depp is probably too old to play Casaubon.

Anyway, it would be best to cast a movie version with unknowns. Methinks. Although Kevin Spacey would make a great Belbo.

[4_Legs_Good]

54. I had Belbo as that guy whose name I can't remember

who was in the Game and The Thirteenth Floor.

Casaubon is Jean Reno

I thought the main character would be Harrison Ford hands down, but it's gonna be Tom Hanks. Bad choice, IMO.

david

[XNASA]

56. Really? Reno is too old. Too tall in my mind.

Casaubon was young, in his twenties. Not necessarily dark like someone from Naples or Rome, but like a fair-haired Milano. Sort of preppy. Actually, Sean Penn could have pulled it off 10 or 15 years ago.

I had Belbo as being someone who was older, and complicated....and who you could tell drinks a lot. Spacey.

Diotallevi is someone like Tony Shalhoub.

Lorenza Pellegrini? Well that role has Angelina Jolie written all over it.

Actually, I wouldn't want to see any big name actors in a movie about FP. It would never be as good as the book. Big surprise.

[4_Legs_Good]

62. LOL!

Oops! I was getting Focault's Pendulum mixed up with The DaVinci Code in the discussion - meaning my casting decisions were meant for DC not FP Too funny! I even switched up names in my head. I guess I don't remember the DC names.

Main DC Character = Harrison Ford (will actually be Tom Hanks)
French Police Chief = Jean Reno
Lourve Curator = that guy from the 13th floor.

Sorry about that.

I'd rather have an Italian production of Focault's Pendulum staring people I've never heard of. It's too complicated for Hollywood, well maybe not for a good director, but I'd, as you say, keep most big names out of it.

The DaVinci code, however, is an easy Hollywood film.

david

[American Tragedy]

29. Yeah, Dan Brown might as well have written the screenplay

and been done with it.

I particularly enjoyed his not-so-subtle casting suggestion when in the very beginning he describes the main character as resembling Harrison Ford.

[chenGOD]

58. I've never read the DaVinci Code but...

I did recently read another one of his called "Deception Point" and it was laughable.

"Foucault's Pendulum" is a great read though I would expect it to be miles beyond DaVinci Code in terms of quality.

[Richardo]

60. I'm reading 'Deception Point' right now...

(I know - I'm a masochist)

Ice bullets and surviving a ride into the Arctic Ocean on a calving glacier... WooHoo! :eyes:

[4_Legs_Good]

7. Dan Brown is a mediocre writer at best,

but you might enjoy it.

Foucalt's Pendulum is about 20,000x as good, though, if you're into deep conspiracy things.

Personally I found The DaVinci Code to be mildly entertaining, but certainly not a must read

david

[RaleighNCDem]

8. It's a sub-par mystery in my opinion, but I know people who loved it.

[American Tragedy]

9. It was sort of gripping for the first hundred pages, then it declined

I wasn't very impressed with it. I know it's fiction, but it's based in the real world, and it is loaded with glaring historical and geographical errors. Obvious stuff. And the supposed scholars in the story state obscure conjectures as being fact.

If an author is going to do that, he probably shouldn't write in the preface that his book was thoroughly researched and absolutely verified for accuracy.

Anyway, I can't really explain the other reasons why I disliked it without spoiling. I found the plot illogical and implausible, and the main character was an obnoxiously transparent self-insertion. I can't stand it when authors insert a glorified version of themselves into their own novels and use it as an ego trip.

[4_Legs_Good]

20. For one thing, IMO, it was too neatly tied up to take place in the real

world.

If you're going to weave this kinda mystery you simply can't tie everything up so nicely, because people can easily disprove it. You have to leave some unknowns so your story remains plausible, or at least possible.

Alls I can say is that I'm glad I don't work at the Louvre!

david

[gollygee]

10. My husband and I both loved it

It's a very good read. It isn't the best book ever written, but it is still captivating and fun.

Just start it. If you don't like it, don't bother reading the whole thing.

[Maine-ah]

11. read it

it's incredible. the characters may be the spoon in a drawer full of knives, but the content is really awsome.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. I liked it. Read it and decide for yourself.

[Lisa0825]

14. It depends on what kind of reader you are.

Some folks really like to delve deeply into literature, analyze things, etc. You'll probably find a lot of flaws if that is the way you are. But if you like to read for fun and relaxation, and like quick-paced relatively easy to digest novels, then you may enjoy it.

I was given the hardcover illustrated version as a holiday party gift, and it has some beautiful pictures of the cathedrals and other sights. I really enjoyed it, and found myself not wanting to put it down. I didn't really think about any of the flaws until I read about them here. It was a light, fast, fun read.

[RUDUing2]

15. read it...the writing may not be the best in the world..but the

outstanding ability to *tell a story* outweighs all the negatives concerned w/writing, etc..I enjoyed it...

It is hard to put in words exactly what I am meaning..

Tolkien was both a great story teller and a great writer

Rowling is a great story teller but not a great writer..

The Da Vinci Code is a book written in the vein of Rowling not Tolkien..

[MISSDem]

16. I would'nt take it if offered

for free.

[Maine-ah]

21. why?

[DistantWind88]

28. Sorry you feel that way

It's not Shakespeare, but it's a fun, entertaining read.

[Worst Username Ever]

19. I actually really enjoyed it

I read a lot of fiction, I thought it was alright. Yes, I would reccomend it. I found the information of Paganism fascinating.

[salvorhardin]

22. It's a quick, fun read

Not exactly high literature, but then neither is John Grisham. It's a pretty short novel and I read it in a single sitting but your mileage may vary. As far as it being historically accurate, there's a lot of stuff in there that is and a lot of stuff that isn't -- just remember that it is a work of fiction based on a lot of the same stuff you can find in Holy Blood, Holy Grail (a nonfiction book).

Also, if you're a gamer then get a copy of the 1999 game Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned. While arguably the worst of the Gabriel Knight games that included a couple of extremely silly puzzles (anyone remember the damn cat?) it also deals with the same premise as The DaVinci Code and it's fun to explore around the Rennes-le-Château area. Despite not being up to the same level as the previous two Gabriel Knight games it's still leaps and bounds beyond many of the games produced that year.

That was probably way more than you wanted to know. :-)

[American Tragedy]

27. Actually... Holy Blood Holy Grail is almost entirely fictional.

It's still kind of fun, when removed from pretensions of historical accuracy.

[davidinalameda]

32. I'm currently re-reading it

I really like the book

[leftofthedial]

33. worth reading

I found it entertaining and the basic premise to be thought provoking

not the greatest "thriller-mystery" ever, but worth reading.

[bikebloke]

34. A popcorn read

Easily forgotten once you're done. They just went overboard hyping it up. Digital Fortress, I picked up at the library in paperback for a plane trip. It was real bad.

[Paradise]

35. it's okay but doesn't live up to its hype,

and that's my opinion. :shrug:

[Love Bug]

37. It's a pretty good read but Angels and Demons is better

What gets me is all the fuss by the religious community over it. I mean geeze, people, it's a NOVEL. If anyone's faith is threatened by it, well, maybe their faith wasn't all that solid to begin with, eh?

[Threedifferentones]

41. The funny thing is that TDC

is almost a carbon copy of Angels and Demons.

[jonnyblitz]

42. I thought that one was even worse. n/t

[alexisfree]

38. here is not just about jesus but CIA code too

The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown included two veiled references to Kryptos on the back cover of his book's dust jacket. He and his publisher offered a trip to Paris to anyone who spotted the puzzles on the jacket and knew what they meant. In the detail here, Brown hid latitude and longitude coordinates, printed backward so readers would have to hold the book up to a mirror. They appear in light red text on the dark red background, printed vertically in the left margin. The coordinates appear in the encrypted text on the Kryptos sculpture, though Brown has changed one number in the coordinates on his book jacket. Some sleuths say the coordinates in the sculpture's text indicate a location on the CIA grounds near the sculpture.





This image from the back dust jacket of The Da Vinci Code includes text printed backward. When held to a mirror, it reads, "Only WW knows," referring to a passage taken from Kryptos indicating that only one person knows what may be buried on the CIA grounds. "WW" refers to former CIA director William Webster, who received an envelope from sculptor Jim Sanborn containing the solution to Kryptos. But Sanborn says that even Webster doesn't know -- when he gave the solution to Webster, he left out some crucial parts.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2996758&mesg_id=2996758

[Liberal In Texas]

47. And if you go to Dan Brown's website there a little game you can play ...

...using clues hidden on the jacket and other parts of the book.

http://www.danbrown.com/novels/davinci_code/plot.html

click on "challenge"

it was actually quite fun and not something you normally get with most novels. LOL.



I know it's a lot of marketing, but still fun.

[alexisfree]

49. thank you...

I love this kind of mind games....

[Liberal In Texas]

51. Glad to have been of help...enjoy.

If someone is going to read it and hasn't bought it yet, I suggest the new illustrated edition. It saves looking stuff up on Google.

[flamingyouth]

39. I think it's definitely worth reading

I enjoyed it. It's interesting to see what a phenomenon this has become, because I've been interested in this and in related subjects for years.

It's fast-paced enough that you'll be able to decide early on if you don't like it. :hi:

[Threedifferentones]

40. If you're expecting or desiring literarary greatness you will be

dissapointed. The plot is sort of contrived and there were certainly times when I would read something and just sort of go Ugh...couldnt he do any better than that? Still, it was entertaining and I read it quickly. If you're just looking for something to pass the time with I would recommend it.

[Arkana]

44. The Da Vinci Code is amazing

I read that, then got so hooked that I went out and bought the other three of his books--Angels & Demons, the prequel to Da Vinci Code, Digital Fortress, and Deception Point. I thought Digital Fortress was great--I read all 400 pages in 2 days.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

46. I read it in record time. A fabulous mystery thriller that shakes up the

the teachings and foundation of the Catholic Church. I flipped out when I saw "The Last Supper" with new eyes. :)

[mr blur]

48. I wouldn't bother,

Poorly written, indeed very badly written. Tedious stuff.

[msgadget]

50. I'm a mystery fan and enjoyed it.

It's something you can pick up and put down at will or save for later.

[Emops]

52. For me, the most influential critic that dislikes the book,

surprisingly, is film critic Roger Ebert. In his review of "National Treasure" (which he thinks ripped off TDVC), he says of the book,

"That I have read the book is not a cause for celebration. It is inelegant, pedestrian writing in service of a plot that sets up cliff-hangers like clockwork, resolves them with improbable escapes and leads us breathlessly to a disappointing anticlimax. I should read a potboiler like The Da Vinci Code every once in a while, just to remind myself that life is too short to read books like The Da Vinci Code."

Ebert is my favorite movie critic, and I trust his opinion, but I don't know how good a literary critic he is.

I'm in the middle of reading Locke right now, and there's no way The Da Vinci Code can be worse than that. So I might at least read a few pages.

[NV Whino]

53. I made it to page 20

And then said, "Enough of this crap." It is one of the most badly written books I have ever attempted to read.

[Emops]

55. I got that feeling when I read

"The Natural" by Joe Klein, which was about Bill Clinton.

It was such a hideously written book it was painful to read. I can't even remember why I finished it. Probably because it was really short and I was very interested in Clinton.

[ScreamingMeemie]

57. It is poorly written, but I still could not put it down. I say go for it.

Great way to spend a weekend. Then I'd leave it at that. My Mother in Law is in the process of buying any book, magazine etc...even remotely Da Vinci Code related, and keeps thinking I am interested in reading them as well. I finally had to say enough! :hi:

[Stockholm]

59. Someone correctly described it as "Harry Potter for adults"

IMHO

Exciting, good drive in the plot but with a lousy ending.

[Flaxbee]

63. Read it for fun...

but the writing isn't terrific, and there is almost NO character development (though it will be fun to see Audrey Tatou as Sophie). See if, when you read it, you can picture Tom Hanks as the male lead (forgot the character's name).

The ideas are fun, if not necessarily 100% factually correct.

And you'll be thru it in no time.

[noel711]

64. don't bother...

a whole lotta fiction, and no substance. The theories expounded here have existed and debunked in the scholarly arena for decades.

[Nye Bevan]

65. Like eating candy.....

enjoyable at the time, hard to stop until you're done with the whole thing, but not satisfying or stimulating, and immediately forgettable with no lasting impression. Similar to John Grisham.