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The Da Vinci Code

By Dan Brown

(1840)

| Mass Market Paperback | 9780385513227

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Critics

'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown

I would like to say that I disagree with Hepworth. I would like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Da Vinci Code. I would like to say that I have become a Dan Brown devotee. I would like to say I am no longer a book snob. But if I said all that I'd ... (read full critics)

readingmatters published on Mon, 27 Sep 2010

Signs for the times

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 454pp, Bantam, £10.99 The conspiracy thriller, it can be argued, is the purest kind of bestseller. The premise of such books is that there's no such thing as a random happening; meanwhile, though bestsellers aren't exac ... (read full critics)

guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

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89 Reviews

11 people find this helpful

I've given this book one star because there is no facility for giving no stars at all. It's a long time since I've had the misfortune of coming across such a poorly written, mind-numbingly boring and thick tome.
And that daft little reason why the grand-daughter broke off relations wit ... (continue)

I've given this book one star because there is no facility for giving no stars at all. It's a long time since I've had the misfortune of coming across such a poorly written, mind-numbingly boring and thick tome.
And that daft little reason why the grand-daughter broke off relations with her grandfather (the one who gets killed in scene one)! I ask you! (To cut a terribly, terribly long story short, this girl gets a bit miffed because she sees her aged and greying grandparents make love! Come on! Let the old folks have a bit of fun, sweetie! True - seeing they were doing it on an altar surrounded by hooded figures (Were these chanting? Who cares!) might have been a bit iffy, but there you are!)
The book is what is called a "page-turner" and the turning of every page was groan-worthy. It had all the literary pleasure of something churned out by a (not too) cleverly programmed computer.
However, I'll give Dan Brown's Marketing Team FIVE stars - they did a superb job of bringing this mediocre effort to the pinnacles of popularity.
A recommended read for all those who have grown out of "Noddy" but can't quite get around "The Famous Five" as yet.

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Jemimaduck said on Aug 17, 2007 | Add your feedback

8 people find this helpful

30+ million readers CAN be wrong. Terrible writing.

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Cuzzin Todd said on Dec 18, 2007 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

6 people find this helpful

Aside from the questionable theological and historical work, this is a fairly average to low-grade mystery novel. I suspect that the only reason that it has become so popular is due to its controversial topic.

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Netopalis said on Apr 29, 2007 about the Hardcover edition | Add your feedback

"Blockbuster Perfection"

As the New York Times said: "Blockbuster perfection". I think the book is simply brilliant and very engaging, one can't wait to find out the solution to the mystery that professor Langdon and agent will gain only after an adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns.

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Leonardino said on Mar 31, 2012 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Wise to your antics...

“So I read this years ago when I was going through my I-love-Dan-Brown-so-much I-could-die stage. Years have passed and I find myself so much more critical when it comes to him in particular, more so than any other author. I'm not usually the type of person who will look for faults but with him I do ... (continue)

“So I read this years ago when I was going through my I-love-Dan-Brown-so-much I-could-die stage. Years have passed and I find myself so much more critical when it comes to him in particular, more so than any other author. I'm not usually the type of person who will look for faults but with him I do and I'm afraid they aren't hard to find when you look. With his other books after re-reading them they dropped from 5 stars to maybe 2. I was so disappointed with the cliched writing, the totally unrealistic situations and the dismal characters. Plus every Brown book has the same plot. Once you've read one, you've pretty much read them all.
However, yes there is a bright side, the Da Vinci Code was nearly (so close) as good as I remembered it. Yes I can now see that even in this book the cliches and the similarities in plot to his other books do exist but the story behind this book is so gripping you tend to overlook those minor flaws that little bit more easily.
The Da Vinci Code is original, I will never argue on that point (although many have). For what is basically fiction, you get that could this be true feeling an awful lot throughout this book. The setting is brilliant, beginning in the Lourve and then the Swiss bank and onto London and Scotland. I just loved all these 'real famous places' being used as crime scenes and clues in a Holy Grail quest. There was something very Indiana Jones about it. Also never has Brown's style of books being told in real time worked better. It just adds to the atmosphere of the whole story.
I enjoyed this so much I'm gonna give it 4 stars. I'll drop one because Brown, I am so wise to your antics now...

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Lauraolsthoorn said on Mar 2, 2012 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

A bit late to dig out this "bestseller" book, but it is really worthwhile.
It started with two individual lines:
The murder of Jacques Sauniere at Museum Louvre bringing together Robert, Sophie and Captain Fache. The grand-pere left secret verses in hopes of Sophie discovering the truth about ... (continue)

A bit late to dig out this "bestseller" book, but it is really worthwhile.
It started with two individual lines:
The murder of Jacques Sauniere at Museum Louvre bringing together Robert, Sophie and Captain Fache. The grand-pere left secret verses in hopes of Sophie discovering the truth about her family and passing the charge to Robert to safeguard the present hiding place of the Grail. On the other side, under Bishop Aringarosa's desire to save the Opus Dei, Silas was persuaded to carry out the mission of finding the Priory keystone.
As the story developed, the twists unveiled "the Teacher" from behind the scene, who had devoted his lifetime to uncovering the true history of Sangreal.
　
------------------------------------------------------------------
Trace of the route:
Museum Louvre
13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5
O, Draconian devil!
Oh, lame saint!
P.S. Find Robert Langdon
　
Mona Lisa, Grand Gallery, Salle des Estats
SO DARK THE CON OF MAN
　
Madonna of the Rocks, Grand Gallery, Salle des Estats
24 Rue Haxo
　
Depository Bank of Zurich
　
Chateau Villete
the Hawker/Jaguar limousine
An ancient works of wisdom frees this scroll
and helps us keep her scatter'd family whole
a headstone praised by templars is the key
and atbash will reveal the truth to thee
Baphomet --> Sofia
In London lies a knight a Pope interred.
His labor's fruit a Holy wrath incurred.
You seek the orb that ought be on his tomb.
It speaks of Rosy flesh and seeded womb.
　
Temple Church
King's College
Issac Newton tomb, Westminster Abbey
　
Chapter House, Westminster Abbey
The Holy Grail 'neath ancient Roslin waits.
The blade and chalice guarding o'er Her gates.
Adorned in masters' loving art, She lies.
She rests at last beneath the starry skies.
　
Rosslyn Chapel
Carrousel du Louvre, La Pyramide Inversee

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Candy said on Jan 17, 2012 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback