What readers think of The Da Vinci Code, plus links to write your own review.

Well, I suppose I have to give it a 2, because you do want to keep on reading, but what atrociously bad writing! Where was the editor? Someone in my family passed it along to me with a cryptic "Wonder what you'll think of this one?" Incredible number of factual errors, yet the dude can spin a yarn. Have to admit that. Of course, he lifted most of it straight out of "Holy Blood, Holy Grail," but you guys probably know that.

This book presents a mixed bag. As a thriller it is tight and enthusiastic. as history, it is garbled and poor. My problem is that Mr. Brown infuses the book with pseudo lore in a way that seems didiactic and adressed to the reader. The effect is that it disconects one from the plot. For example, one gets tired of the seemingly endless pages where the mythology of thwe book is prsented with profundity and the writer keeps showing us what the character thinks - 'and did you know x? No, wow! You think that's amazing? Did you know y? No, super wow!' In addition, the characterization was so poor that the one character that is nearest to being fleshed out is dead.

I must add that I have a degree in medieval studies. However, that did not stop me from liking The Name of the Roseor Foucault's Pendulum - let alone Fantasy literature. In fact, it is precisely because I have a degree in that subject that I enjoyed the books of Eco so much more. Eco's books are full and rich overall. The Davinci Code is not. Mr. Brown seems to have stumbled onto many of the non surprising surprises and insights the day before he sat down to write the book. Also, he keeps using foreign words in his prose when they have no reason to be there. Furthermore, since only the mythology is thoroughly explored, the narrative becomes lopsided. Finally, the book seems too calculated and slick. It is wall to wall with the precise names of equipment and vehicles. I suppose it is there to lend a hard edge to an otherwise sophomoric effort.

Enjoy the book mais slink down in your chair feel free to daydream when Mr. Brown starts his lecture.

The redeeming value of this book is its premise. Brown would have done the reading public a favor had he taken his outline and plot points and given the whole package to a person with a gift for the written word. Much of the blame for this poorly written book should go to the editor, who should know enough about the craft not to allow such pathetically shallow dialogue, adorned by tags that just make you want to barf. Worst of all was the character of Teabing. His character was so stereotypical it actually made me laugh out loud as I read. Teabing rarely "said" anything. Rather, he chortled, proclaimed, declared, boasted, ventured and--my personal favorite--"tittered." Another kneeslapper that comes to mind is from the shallow character of Sophie. "I'M DREAMING, she thought. THIS IS A DREAM."
Wow, neat. It's like Brown spent 80% of his time researching his pet conspiracies, 15% typing it into a decent plot outline, and 5% spitting out filler material: little things like characterization, plausible action and dialogue.

One final thing. When it comes to discussion of the premise, it's pretty silly to use this work as the forum. Many folks commenting on The Da Vinci Code are quite correct in asserting that this topic has been covered much better by previous works, whether you agree with the grand premise or not.

The story of the book is great but is greatly flawed in its resources. Brown has been a coward in writing this book. First of all he has written this novel in fiction since he himself does not have the evident proof to prove his philosophy at a stand. Second, writing a novel requires no work cited pages therefore the evidence Brown claims are nothing but fictionous words. Third, Brown inserts his sources but if one looks closley they are all biased sources. Brown says his book is "meticulously researched and very accurate." What proof, what cites has he given the readers??
This book has a great story to it with an exciting rising action and resolution, like Brown says everyone loves a conspiracy, ofcourse people do and thats why people buy and read this novel, but the intention was not to make a good story, it was to influence others in his beliefs.

be educated when reading this novel and follow ur own beliefs

I am 17 by the way :-) ta ta !

I found The Da Vinci Code to be utterly predictable. I had all the riddles solved miles before any of the wise and well-educated characters did. I am frightened by the opinions of the people who have so highly recommended this book -- that so many people have seemed to accepted this novel as the truth scares me. Simply disappointing.

Well written, but very disappointed on the author's take on historical facts, what a let down.

For starters: Perez-Reverte does history better, Deaver does misdirection better, Grand Dame MacInnes did 'man-in the-street-must-elude-capture' better in her worst efforts. I can only imagine the ignornace of 'The Code's fans. I knew the answers to all the 'riddles' well before our milquetoast hero, our ridiculoulsy naive heroine or the trip-over obvious villain, and I certainly don't make that statement as a glory deserving boast. (I will admit I did not bother to work out the first two anagrams; just recognizing them as such was enough.) Anyone with a smattering of science, a dollop of history or a half dozen decent thrillers behind them should be ahead of the plot from Able to Elba.
As for the 'philosophical' premise, the middle ages produced a full bloomed cult of Mary, Mother of God, which remains vitally central to many (including Catholic) Christ dervied organizations. And one might expect mention of galaxies when speaking of the universality of the Golden Mean.
How many times is one allowed to have a character 'suddenly'? A little less telling and more showing would help. And why did I read the darn thing to stat with, and why am I spending good time writing ABOUT it? The answer to the last---at work, bored silly waiting for someone else (a very slow else) to finish up.
Try Auturo Perez-Revete.

Has everyone gone mad? I read this book to the bitter end, but found no character development, unlikely circumstances, 105 short chapters (averaging 3 to 4 pages) almost all of which end on cliff-hangers that quickly become tiresome. This gimimck shows a lack of ability to hold the reader's attention in any other way. Brown makes Langdon and Sophie, two supposed experts, appear as clueless as the rest of us in figuring out the Fabonacci sequence and da Vinici's reverse wriiting. I actually figured these out before they did. Well, this book is definitely headed for the big screen and who would be better suited for the Langdon role than Harrison Ford? His acting abilities are definitely up to this role.