The Da Vinci Code

[5Parker]

This is for anyone who's succumbed to reading Dan Brown's Da Vinci code. Let me pose a few questions.

1. Does anyone else think it reads like one of those "choose your own endings" books? Almost too exciting... maybe.

2. Does anyone know any fact on it? It's a little unnerving if you don't know what's real. I'm really really interested in learning a little nonfiction here. Scholars feel free to ramble on.

3. Anyone else rolling their eyes at the popularity of a glorified dime novel, and yet knowing deep down you'd read all his other books with the same unavoidable enthusiasm?

I'd read it again...... it sucks out your brain, man.

[bjortan]

This is for anyone who's succumbed to reading Dan Brown's Da Vinci code. Let me pose a few questions.

1. Does anyone else think it reads like one of those "choose your own endings" books? Almost too exciting... maybe.

If I had gotten to choose an ending, I wouldn't have picked the one I suspected halfway into the book. Which, of course, is what Brown did.


2. Does anyone know any fact on it? It's a little unnerving if you don't know what's real. I'm really really interested in learning a little nonfiction here. Scholars feel free to ramble on.


3. Anyone else rolling their eyes at the popularity of a glorified dime novel, and yet knowing deep down you'd read all his other books with the same unavoidable enthusiasm?

1) yes, 2) no. I thought it was a really badly written mess of a book, all the good bits lifted wholesale from Umberto Eco and some others, all the bad bits (endless lecturing, ridiculous dialogue, "enigmas" that would take your average crossword aficionado 10 minutes to decipher, plot holes the size of the Albert Hall) dominating. It is a pageturner, but mostly because there really isn't anything on any page to hold your interest for longer than a minute.

[Ella]

Hey if you enjoyed reading the Da Vinci code, you might like its predecessor Holy Blood, Holy Grail. I think it came out in the '80's. There's also a non-fiction book titled The Pagan Christ if you're interested but people have said to read this one with an open mind if you wish to finish it.

[bbq13]

the pagan christ sounds like a good book... what is it about??

[Isagel]

I had high hopes for this book.
But I actually think it´s more like Grisham than Eco. Nice to read on the train, some interesting ideas, but so far not the great experience I´ve heard so much about. If you want to read about how the Bible and christian belief was formed I would suggest Karens Armstrongs non fiction books. The history of the God - I think one of them is called in english. That is a book that "sucks the brain out". She is a former nun that have done extensive research about faith and religion.

Now I´m going to finish the Da Vinci code. Wwhen letting go of my high hopes it is a nice enough suspense novel. Might even read his earlier book.

[bjortan]

Armstrong's "The Battle For God", about the various aspects of fundamentalism in the three "Western" religions, is quite interesting too in that context - as is Elaine Pagel's "The Gnostic Gospels", obviously.

I feel a bit stupid for pointing out that a work of fiction has inaccuracies in it - well, duh - but so many seem to think this is a true story masquerading as a mystery novel...

[ajoe]

I'm rolling my eyes at the book. No, I'm not a fundamentalist, but let me remind you that it is a novel, a work of fiction. I wouldn't bother to absorb any "facts" in a fiction because they're likely to be inaccurate. What is everyone getting so worked out about anyway? All these Truths Dan Brown is revealing through his characters are not so new, you see. There have always been people who think Jesus married Mary Magdalene etc. etc. In addition, the sources Brown used to write the Da Vinci Code are OLD and EXPIRED. The person who claimed to be the descendant of Jesus and Mary had long since admitted that he lied about the whole Holy Grail thing. Brown really needs to catch up with the world. :rolleyes:

[IWilKikU]

The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail is the book that Dan Brown used the most for his research, and it is non-fiction. It also has a follow-up book called The Messianic Legacy. Its some pretty interesting research, and the writing is much better than Dan Brown's rediculous drivle.

[faith]

Well my sister (14) loved the book, and so did many others I know. I think I will have to read the book, if just to be ble to tell them it's not quite that fantastic. Expect i suspect that I might actually quite like it. I'm definitely not against bestsellers. But, we'll see

[Fango]

Here's a disgruntled article even for those who haven't read Dan Brown's bestseller:

http://www.contenderministries.org/discrepancies/davincicode.php

It's written, of course, by a Christian. But I would like to point out that I don't believe nor disbelieve anyting, yet it was an interesting read all the same.

[anizmail]

enjoyed davinci code for what it is: an interesting work of fiction, a great mystery novel, with some really good heresy thrown in.

i can read it and see where the fact ends and the fiction begins, but i agree with the writer of that article: most people would not have the info necessary to discern and i really think it terrible scholarship on the part of dan brown to present as fact that which is fiction. my favorite part of all that is that the grandest proof they use is davinci's "last supper". folks, it's a painting not a photograph! it's davinci's interpretation 1500 years later. we're closer to him than he was to the event of the last supper. don't you find it bizzare that people now point to that painting as some kind of proof of these weird assertions?

i saw some documentary on the davinci code but missed the beginning. there was this guy that they kept talking to that we just kept laughing at like, "who is this fool and where on earth does he get his information?" at the end they put his name up and lo and behold, it was dan brown! we howled. :lol:

[baddad]

Interesting rebuttal site......but..............a work of fiction is just that, fiction. Anyone who picks up a book of fiction should know that from the title page on, a fiction is a work of imagination, including any claims by the author in any forward or introductory piece leaning towards any supposed truth within the novel. I condider it a waste of precious time to debate the relative merits of truth in a fiction. And I suppose if 'one' feels threatened, or feels her/his beliefs threatened by a work of fiction then perhaps one's beliefs are standing on shakey ground indeed.......

[jakobin]

What are peoples true opinions of Dan Browns book The da Vinci Code? I thought that it was a good read, but nothing that should have started the problems it did.

I read alot of books by Michael Crichton and Matthew Reilley, not particularly literaturly (sp?) amazing books, just a good read for a weekend away. I think that the da Vinci Code falls into this catagory of 'just a good read'.

It was indeed interesting to read the articles about the uproar from the church and from Opus Dei, the actual group. I also spent some time in Paris looking at the places the book was based around, and got an all round picture of the book.

What do you think?

btw: im sure this has been discussed a million times here, but i thought id bring it up again :angel: I Am Good :p

[Sandrine]

Jakobin, I really did enjoy the book. Admittedly, the writing was a bit simplistic, but I really didn't mind that so much. Like you said, it was a "good read." The first time I read the book I didn't have all the visual aids at hand while I was reading it, so I also had a lot of fun reading the illustrated version later. (Unfortunately, I never got the chance to visit Paris in person ;) )

Until I picked up this book I didn't think about the Grail one way or another, so it did get me to thinking about the possibilities of what the church could be. The mention in the book of Opus Dei piqued my curiosity so I read up on them---and that was just a bit creepy, but I do take a lot of what I've read with a grain of salt.

One of my problems with the book are the little puzzles within---I don't know about anybody else, but I figured them all out before I got to the "answer". To be blunt, I felt Sophie's character is a bit stupid. Supposedly she has been solving these grand mathematical puzzles since she was three years old, yet she cannot figure out simple little codes and world jumbles throughout the book. Robert Langdon isn't much better---he is a symbologist who cannot figure out that something is written backwards. Any child who has done a puzzle in the Sunday comics knows what backwards writing looks like. :rolleyes:

If you liked this book, though, you should check out Angels and Demons. It's worth it for the descriptions of the Vatican library, if you're interested in that sort of thing. :)

[Mark F.]

As this was the first novel I read by Dan Brown I enjoyed it, although its literary interest is very limited it's good fun. After reading it I picked up some of his previous novels. I really regret having done this. They're not better or worse...the problem is just that they rely on exactly the same construction and narrative devices and once you've read one you find yourself guessing everything 100 pages before it occurs. I felt like throwing the book across the room on more than one occasion when I read them.

[Sandrine]

and once you've read one you find yourself guessing everything 100 pages before it occurs. I felt like throwing the book across the room on more than one occasion when I read them.

I know what you mean, Mark! I haven't ventured outside of Dan Brown's "Robert Langdon" books (and I think there are only two of those so far anyway). Actually, the ending of Angels and Demons is quite ludicrous, but I do find the background info on art and history interesting. Of course, what annoys me is the people that read things like The Da Vinci Code and decide that they're art experts. You might learn something from Brown's books but I doubt it's going to make anybody an expert. :p

[starrwriter]

Much ado about nothing.

[jakobin]

i have read all of Dan Browns books and they are all quite similar. i thought that Angels and Demons was the better or the books and if u were going to read either da vinci code or angels and demons, the latter is definetely the one to read.

[A Hard Rain]

i have read angels and demons 4 times and the da vinci code 7 times.

i want to be just like robert.

[WordWarriorAbe]

When I read the book I wasn't sure what to think actually. It was good, no doubt, but I agree with Mark. It was way too predictable, although I had to think over a couple of things before I finally understood.
I think a lot of people had something to say about the book becuz of its religious impact on some. What do you think?

[bugmasta]

I often find myself ahamed to admit I have read this book. I picked it up and read it in 2 days. Certainly a book for the masses. Fast paced and controversial. A guarenteed money maker but not literature. I remember soon after I had read it I was traveling a lot for work and it seemed that half the people in all the airports were reading this book. Dan Brown was very convincing with much of what he "created" for this book. The problem is that most people who read it forgot it is FICTION. This is why it caused the problems it did. Of course this was not Brown's fault unless you can blame him for writing so people only need a 6th grade education to read the book.

[Apotropaic]

The problem is that most people who read it forgot it is FICTION.
It's true, it is fiction. And there seems to be a bit of confusion in the FACT page that begins the book. Dan Brown says:

"If you read the "FACT" page, you will see it clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and architecture in the novel all exist. The "FACT" page makes no statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader."

from danbrown.com

[Kluna]

I've red it to relax my mind during the examination term. It was ok, just a fiction, and I think that people are forgeting that word - Fiction! I've already heard about that sort of conspiracy on my history classes, so it wasn't new and fascinating for me, but I find it as an excellent 'mind off' book :)
Also red Angels and Demons and I think of it as classical Hollywood sh**
and I've downloaded Digital fortress, and ups.. during the reading find myself realizing that life is so short and I shouldn't waste time on these books.

Woow must admit: Dan Brown had enlighten me! :D

Oh and, have anyone play the quiz on his link?? I had a grate fun..

http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/davinci/index-ctc.html

[Mark F.]

i have read angels and demons 4 times and the da vinci code 7 times.

i want to be just like robert.


I'd rather be castrated and then have every bone in my body shattered than being forced to reread any of his books.

[jakobin]

ive read da vinci code afew times, but only to clarify some of the confusing points, and when i was in paris to reread several parts when i was actually in the places in paris.

[byquist]

Blather and b.s.

[jakobin]

Blather and b.s.

what do u mean by this?

[Mark F.]

nonsense & bull excrements

[jakobin]

to what i was saying??

[Sandrine]

While I agree that Dan Brown does do some clever mixing of fact and (mostly) fiction, this didn't bother me so much. I've encountered the same situation in "non-fiction" books. I can't think of a book on earth that you shouldn't read with a critical eye.

The DaVinci Code is a fun read. Not every book has to be War and Peace. Sometimes, books are just there for the sole purpose of entertainment, hence all those people reading it in the airport. As much as we'd all like to see everyone's noses buried in Joyce or Faulkner, it's probably not going to happen. Quite frankly, I don't care what people are reading---it just makes me happy to see them reading something. I actually did learn a few things from The DaVinci Code that I didn't know before. I then used it as a jump-off point to find out more about the subject.

Is anyone planning on going to the movie when it comes out?

[Mark F.]

The DaVinci Code is a fun read. Not every book has to be War and Peace. Sometimes, books are just there for the sole purpose of entertainment, hence all those people reading it in the airport. As much as we'd all like to see everyone's noses buried in Joyce or Faulkner, it's probably not going to happen. Quite frankly, I don't care what people are reading---it just makes me happy to see them reading something. I actually did learn a few things from The DaVinci Code that I didn't know before. I then used it as a jump-off point to find out more about the subject.


You put my exact thoughts into words, thank you. I don't think I'll see the movie becaus after reading the novel I can't see this not being extremely boring not mentioning I don't like Ron Howard nor Audrey Tautou.


to what i was saying??

At this stage it may be a good idea to point out that I'm not the one who said it, I was simply expliciting it for you, and I think Byquist was refering to the contents of the Da Vinci Code and not at all to your posts.

[MadameGascon]

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is good, it's excellent to read if you are open minded about religion! If you follow a religion then you may object to this novel as it has many conflicting views against catholics and christians! But I found this a very interesting novel and I am sure a lot of you would if you read it (you may have already read it!).

Madame Gascon

[smilingtearz]

there was a time that i was so fascinated by this book...that i saw codes and messages in everything!...i went through so many other books and online stuff related to the "facts" in the book ...and i think the writer has a wonderful knowledge in a lot of feilds...and he's written the book after a lot of exploring!
Its a Wonderful book i feel

[Outlander]

Holy Blood Holy Grail

My family has a well documented tree.
Going back to the 1100s
If Dan Brown is correct about the french royalty being decendants of Christ.


*Arms Wide*
I am of the Holy Grail.

My goal is to get much wine,
12 guys to hang out with,
grow my hair long and go hang out
in the desert and talk of peace.

Yeah I think thats what I'll do.

*I'm such a dissapointment to my Ancestors.

And I like sin. :brow:

[Stanislaw]

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is good, it's excellent to read if you are open minded about religion! If you follow a religion then you may object to this novel as it has many conflicting views against catholics and christians! But I found this a very interesting novel and I am sure a lot of you would if you read it (you may have already read it!).

Madame Gascon

err, the divinci code is infact a work of fiction, ye did know that?

[MadameGascon]

Yes, Stainslaw, I did know that, but still people can be offended by it's content! It was only a suggestion!

[Adelheid]

Welcome to the forum, MadameGascon! :wave:

But I believe not everyone takes it like you do, if I am not wrong, there are factions of people out in the world who actually believe it. They do not look at it as a suggestion, but as the truth. A very heretic one, in my opinion. The Bible never mentioned a single shred of fact that any such thing occurred. :nod:

Good to meet you, however, I hope you enjoy yourself! I love this forum! :banana:

[Stanislaw]

Welcome to the forum, MadameGascon! :wave:

But I believe not everyone takes it like you do, if I am not wrong, there are factions of people out in the world who actually believe it. They do not look at it as a suggestion, but as the truth. A very heretic one, in my opinion. The Bible never mentioned a single shred of fact that any such thing occurred. :nod:

Good to meet you, however, I hope you enjoy yourself! I love this forum! :banana:

and I'll be a dancing bananas uncle if Jesus started the marovingien line of monarchs...(they were not the holesome sort) :D

[smilingtearz]

If Dan Brown is correct about the french royalty being decendants of Christ.

*Arms Wide*
I am of the Holy Grail.
My goal is to get much wine,
12 guys to hang out with,
grow my hair long and go hang out
in the desert and talk of peace.
Yeah I think thats what I'll do.
*I'm such a dissapointment to my Ancestors.
And I like sin.

:brow: WAY 2 GO!!

[Stanislaw]

well. I thought the book was mediocure. For a historical fantasy, Eaters of the dead was better.
The only thing is that people thought this was fact, much like people thought that eaters of the dead was fact. :(

some people are just dumb.

but to agree with mr hitchcock, it sucked, did'nt enjoy in the least.
marovingiens being decedants of Jesus indeed.

[ho'nehe]

As Jakobin said, it was a fun read and I don't really see what all the fuss was about. It was the first Dan Brown book I've read, some parts I found interesting, the description of the Louvre for example, and I liked death by allergy. I enjoyed it but it did not make me want to buy another of his books.

Sometimes I wonder if all the over-zealous advertising; such praise as "Dan Brown masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid ...",
"the book everyone should read..."
does more harm to the reader; we expect so much more.

[Mortis Anarchy]

Waw! I was so confused! It altered what I really thought was real, and messed with my religion! But, I enjoyed the puzzles. If you look at it as a book to read and not the Bible or anything else like that or whatever then yeah. I liked it.

....still confused... :confused: .....

Although, it would be interesting to see someone base a religion off of the book. Ha! That would be interesting...hmmm I do enjoy my mind!

[bootyqueen]

I really enjoyed The DaVinci Code, for the same reasons I enjoyed Confessions of a Shopaholic. It's entertaining, and sometimes I need mindless reading.....
I also liked it because I have been to the majority of the museums in the book and can visualize the art quite easily, so it deepens my appreciation for DaVinci as well as other religious art.....

Will it be a book that survives the ages??? Probably not, but it's never a bad thing to get people reading......

[hera-on-earth]

well, whatever the world out there may think about it...i think the book is wonderful! its upto the people to decide whether they want to believe it or not. personally, i love the work!!

[higley]

Don't get my art history prof. started :P She's personally offended by the inaccuracy of the information on the artworks.

[Stanislaw]

I dinna blame her, and as it turns out, the idea may not o been mr. browns o the first place.

[Diadem]

and I'll be a dancing bananas uncle if Jesus started the marovingien line of monarchs...(they were not the holesome sort) :D

Fisher Kings...

[Julied112]

I really want to read the book and its prequel....its on my summer reads list. I just wish I could get a copy of it...

[Jay]

One word... library. We even have it in ours, yours surely have it as well. :)

[Shannanigan]

It's sitting in my bookcase rigt now...in fact, I'm staring at it. It's next on my list once I finish the book I'm reading now...

can a thread still be created to talk about it? I'm excited about digging in...

I got 3 of my friends simultaneously hooked on "Memoirs of a Geisha"...are there forums to discuss modern literature that I could suggest they join and chat in?

[Logos]

Hello Shannanigan, sure, start your own topic, or do a search in the General Literature section of the forums for Davinci code or Memoirs :)

[Bandini]

Welcome to the forum, MadameGascon! :wave:

But I believe not everyone takes it like you do, if I am not wrong, there are factions of people out in the world who actually believe it. They do not look at it as a suggestion, but as the truth. A very heretic one, in my opinion. The Bible never mentioned a single shred of fact that any such thing occurred. :nod:

Good to meet you, however, I hope you enjoy yourself! I love this forum! :banana:

Factions of people believing that a piece of fiction is true? Never!

The bible never mentioned it? That's that then.

Anyway Dan Brown is rubbish.

In my humble opinion.

[Loqurent]

Open-minded? Give me a break...

[woeful painter]

@ Bandini
Dan Brown...rubbish? Why so? I was looking forward to reading his works after I finish some books, is it that bad? :confused:

[Bandini]

Yes it is rubbish. I am open minded but I can also spot badly written, over hyped literature.

[papayahed]

It was poorly written. After the first chapter or so I forgot about the bad writing because the story was pretty good. I kept reading to find out what was going to happen but the ending was kind of a let down. At least for me anyways. The popularity of this book boggles my mind.

[beer good]

Not to mention that the plot rests on a hole big enough to drive an entire convoy of Popemobiles through. I hope someone somewhere is writing a well-balanced look at the reasons for this book's success, because I think that's a far more interesting story than the book itself.

[Wolvena]

Hey all. Newb here. Here goes my first post =)

I have heard the term formulaic manipulation when refering to books. Can someone tell me exactly what this means? I am under the impression that this is a method that authors use to make a book predictable. For example, I am currenly reading the Da Vinci Code finally (page 350 of 500). The author makes it so that the reader can solve the puzzles before the protagonist does, even if the reader has no prior outside knowledge of the details of the puzzle, by providing too much information earlier in the book. Is this style of writing called formulaic manipulation, or am I mistaken on the meaning of that term? If I am mistaken, what is this called, and what does formulaic manipulation mean in terms of writing style?

[Broken]

The storyline is intriguing so that it will pull you along over the bumpy road that is Brown's poor writing style. As long as you aren't looking for either a great work of literature or a factual text, The Da Vinci Code will make for an enjoyable, and perhaps even captivating, read.

[Bandini]

Good to hear that kind of comment about The Da Vinci Code. I can accept that!

[Boris239]

The storyline is intriguing so that it will pull you along over the bumpy road that is Brown's poor writing style. As long as you aren't looking for either a great work of literature or a factual text, The Da Vinci Code will make for an enjoyable, and perhaps even captivating, read.

I totally agree. It is acaptivating read despite the style. And of course, it's not the place to look if you are interested in real templars, Priory of Scion, Holy Grail etc.

[Truth Untold]

I've read both The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. I love them both alhtough my dad couldn't get into the Da Vinci code claiming it was too verbose.

Anyway I'm Wiccan so i wasn't offended at all by the books. In fact it gave me great scope to throw back at some Catholic girl at school who likes to lecture me about my religion.

[Bandini]

I read a good article in The Observer about The Da Vinci Code. It was by Peter...Peter...not Carey...another Oxfrod Don...can't remember who, and it's gone in the bin since...anyway - he talked about how the book is an analogy for contemporary theological/ideological battles; the battle between an older 'socialist' church and...anyhow, it's very interesting - I don't know if The Observer Review is online, but if it is it's worth a read. Very interesting. Perhaps I will read The Da Vinci Code. Heh! I am a snob - I thought, "Ah! Holiday reading!" and then I thought, "Nah! I'll look like a right coit reading that- why don't I just buy a Jeffery Archer box set and be done with it." I'll read it in secret sometime. Just as soon as I've finished my Maeve Binchey.

[Broken]

That's the nice thing about this book, you can read it so fast that people don't have long to catch you reading it. Everyone reads at a different speed, but just for a frame of reference: I got through the book in a little under three hours.

On another note, Truth Untold mentioned Angels and Demons, and I'd suggest that that book has a more intriguing storyline and is slightly less unpleasant to read.

[Loqurent]

To say open-minded is quite frankly stupid. If one accepts everything different saying that they are being open-minded, they are clearly the ones who are the most dogmatic, because they accept the conflicting ideas- not because they believe them; but simply to be 'open-minded', and therefore believe nothing (which is the funniest thing i have heard recently, besides Bill Cosby) and truly accept nothing. So in truth, the 'open-minded' ones are the ones who stick to one view. That isn't to say one ought to ignore other views; but to seek ONE truth.
I really don't see how the storyline is so intriguing either. Is it this obsession for contraversy? Dan Brown is a git, who really doesn't have a place in decent literature.

[Bandini]

but simply to be 'open-minded', and therefore believe nothing (which is the funniest thing i have heard recently, besides Bill Cosby) and truly accept nothing. So in truth, the 'open-minded' ones are the ones who stick to one view


Sorry mate don't agree. Semantics- you can believe in things, without 'believing' i.e. maintaining a reality tunnel that is impervious to change, any form of real analysis etc. because you have let the lord into your heart, or whatever.

[Union Jack]

I have always been a little wary of reading a book because everybody else is, so I never read The Da Vinci Code, was I mistaken? Is it indeed a worthy read?

[papayahed]

Anyway I'm Wiccan so i wasn't offended at all by the books. In fact it gave me great scope to throw back at some Catholic girl at school who likes to lecture me about my religion.

Unfortunately, the book wasn't a clear view of the catholic religion.

[Truth Untold]

ok, open minded isee as meaning just accepting everyone no matter what they believe ina religious snese and respecting their viewpoints.
i know there was no clear view of catholicism but it managed to give me akind of inner glow, esp after studying the Reformation in history so her taunts don't bother me any more

i would recomend everyone read the Da Vinci code, my uncle bought me my copy as we have this kind fellow shcoalr thing going on (only 2 in the family going to uni/been etc) I picked up angelas and demons out of curiosity and would agree that it was easier and more intriguing but not through any error in writing but due to all the hype it had had.
as for it not being Dan Browns original idea.

if we are meaning the Holy Bloody Holy Grail authors sod them! They wrote their book as a work of theological fact in their opinion. Dan Brown merely took a non fiction book and incorporated it into his fictional novel. Why don't we criticise all historical novels while we are at it?

[Perceptor]

I really didn't enjoy the novel. I'd agree with the person (sorry, don't remember who) who said that Dan Brown is rubbish. I've read the Da vinci code and angels and demons and the guy is obviously not a good writer. Sure, the plots are entertaining (angels and demons was a lot more entertaining though).

YOu do have a lot of people going to Europe trying to find places that don't even exist. Ignorance is bliss...

And to the person above, Dan Brown tried to pass this off as non fiction...

so in conclusion, if you're looking for some light, entertaining read, read angels and demons.
If you're looking for a good well written read, steer clear of Dan Brown.

[grace86]

While Brown tried to pass it off as non fiction, it is still labeled fiction. I don't think he cared much about the legitimacy of the story after it became such a huge seller. I am a Christian and read the book. I liked the fact that the chapters were short (after reading some larger books) and it was pretty fast paced.

As for the story, well it is not the best one out there. Notice how all the other Jesus/controversys came out afterwards. I am not going to go screaming from my soap box that "Dan Brown is working with the devil" but I could understand how some witnessing christian leaders could feel the movie is misleading. I think if you are a strong christian, then the book won't turn you, but some newbies and non believers might have a problem.

I think the book was okay, it didn't make my favorites list, but I am not going to burn it or exorcise it.

I am not catholic though, so I don't know if they view that differently.

[DaVinciDaughter]

I myeslf loved the book. I thought it was very interesting. And also...I, being a non-believer didn't much care for The Passion of Christ being out in theatres..so why should christians have a problem with The Da Vinci code. Brown makes many good points. I've done research on da Vinci works and found the symbology freakishly accurate with the paintings. So....yeah.....

[amanda_isabel]

As for the story, well it is not the best one out there. Notice how all the other Jesus/controversys came out afterwards. I am not going to go screaming from my soap box that "Dan Brown is working with the devil" but I could understand how some witnessing christian leaders could feel the movie is misleading. I think if you are a strong christian, then the book won't turn you, but some newbies and non believers might have a problem.

I am not catholic though, so I don't know if they view that differently.

the story of the DVC is alright for me, i liked the novel and because it was a thriller it kept me wanting to know what happened next.

true, a lot of controversy stirred up after the DVC. and the way the book was done it's easy to forget it's fiction, maybe because it uses real places and history. looking at the last supper is never the same again, and neither is Da Vinci's legacy.

the showing of the movie here in the philippines is so controversial right now. but grace, you are right-if your faith is strong then there's no problem. but for the philippines, a catholic country, it is a huge probem. just today they finally decided that the movie would be r-18, much to my disappointment. the first to oppose the showing of the DVC was Opus Dei. (expected.) i don't see why everyone is making such a fuss; THE DVC IS FICTION. they're working to prove that it isn't fiction, but hey, for now, it is FICTION.

[Scheherazade]

The Da Vinci phobe's guide
By Finlo Rohrer

The Da Vinci Code is one of the greatest phenomena in the history of fiction publishing and the juggernaut rolls on with the arrival of the movie version. But why are we so profoundly obsessed with a thriller about the Church?

It has sold more than 40 million copies across the world, transforming author Dan Brown into a spectacularly wealthy man.

For the few who don't know, it is a thriller telling the story of a race to uncover a massive conspiracy engineered by the Catholic Church to obscure the feminine nature of early Christianity and a shocking secret about Jesus and the Holy Grail.

The Da Vinci Code has been assaulted in equal measures by both historians and theologians, while the critics have sought to emphasise the role of the book's clever marketing to explain the mind-boggling success of a seemingly humdrum thriller.

But as cunning as its marketing has been, Brown's real success has been to effortlessly generate a wave of press coverage and internet discussion.

As Giles Elliott, charts editor of industry magazine the Bookseller, notes, the book has benefited from the Holy Grail of publishing, word-of-mouth.

"It has got that key ingredient - people don't want to be seen not to have read it."

The vehemence of some of the criticism of the book has prompted some to wonder whether there might be some factual elements to this work of fiction.

Mr Elliott continues: "It is a page-turning thriller and apart from anything else, for an agnostic like myself, I find the theories quite interesting and at least as plausible as the official church line first fed to me as a child."

There is no doubt it has tapped into a Zeitgeist that publishers have flirted with for some time.

Mystical topics like the Holy Grail, Dead Sea Scrolls, Knights Templar and the Freemasons have a history of popularity in both fiction and fact. The book makes a direct appeal to women readers, regarded as the big market in fiction, while appealing also to men, with the book feeling as much like non-fiction as a novel.

Modern disrespect

And most of all, the novel taps into the love of conspiracy theories, never stronger than in the age of 9/11, Diana and JFK.

Bishop of Winchester Michael Scott-Joynt, whose cathedral allowed scenes from the movie to be filmed there, believes there is both a modern disrespect for authority and also experts.

"There is a huge attraction in strange stories and cover-ups - it didn't happen like the authorities said it happened, who's been pulling the wool over whose eyes?

"There is a substantial cynicism of the motives of those in authority."

The money from the filming was partly used to produce an exhibition, which runs until 21 July on the scriptural and historical contradictions of the code, and a series of lectures.

Michael Wheeler, who gave one of the lectures, is a visiting professor of literature at a number of universities and a lay canon at the cathedral.

"It is a symptom of our generation. We live in an age of anxiety, of a post-modern sense that we have lost our moorings, a crisis of choice where anything goes. If you choose it, it must be true. Conspiracy theories are very attractive to people. We live in an age of suspicion and anxiety.

"As Tony Robinson [who made a documentary deconstructing the book] said, whatever people believe, they do respect the Gospel. To turn it upside down or deconstruct it is sexy."

And there is perhaps an argument to be made that the book, particularly in Britain where regular churchgoing is a minority activity, is filling a spiritual void.

Professor Mike West, chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, where filming also took place, believes the book has given a chance for both the Church of England and Catholic Church to engage with people who were previously indifferent.

Nerves touched

"It has made people a little bit more interested in the Jesus story. I don't know how much it would matter if Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene but there is no sensible evidence that that is the case.

"But we think [Brown] touches a few nerves we need to address about the role of women in the Church, about the nature of the Church and how open it is."

Both the Anglicans and Catholics now know better than to expect to harm a Hollywood product with boycotts and protests. Instead, the UK Catholics' Da Vinci Code Response Group's description of the book as "fun and harmless in so far as it is treated as fiction" speaks volumes.

Critics know that many fans regard parts of the book as fact, and Brown has done his part to encourage this.

The opening page is labelled "fact" and is followed by the statement: "The Priory of Sion - a European secret society founded in 1099 - is a real organization."

But as Bishop Scott-Joynt insists: "All this stuff about the Priory of Sion is a 20th Century fantasy." And sadly for Brown, historians seem to side with the bishop, dismissing as a hoax the very documents the author cites as proof.

The "fact" page goes on to assert: "All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate." Art historians have gleefully jumped on Brown's interpretations, and in other details many readers will spot errors.

Harry Potter

But above even the disdain of the churches, and the mockery of historians, perhaps the greatest ire comes from literary figures, possibly angry at a book they see as utterly lacking in literary merit dominating water cooler conversation from here to Timbuktu.

"The first page is terrible. It is so badly written, it couldn't be read by anyone who respects the English language."

Former minister, and now broadcaster and author Edwina Currie also said she had found it impossible to get past the first page.

"It is extremely badly written - full of cliches. It was actually painful to read. My husband, who does a bit of buying and selling on ebay, said he would sell it to the first bidder."

Along with Harry Potter, it is the typical favourite novel of people who do not read novels. And there are many who believe this makes it a godsend.

The Bookseller's Mr Elliott says there is a standard elitist view of the book.

"It's as if the health of the nation is at risk from this evil author - they should all be reading Ian McEwan. We think slightly differently. It is making lots of non-traditional readers read books. They will move on to other books, reading will be seen as something not elitist."

Oedipal roots

Dr Jennifer Wallace, who teaches literature at Cambridge University, admits she has not read the book but is wary of snobbery.

"The Gothic novels of the 18th Century were the pulp of their day and we regard them as literature now. As far as I can make out it is a great detective novel, a secret is hushed up by institutions. The appeal of detective fiction goes right back to Oedipus finding out the truth about his past. It is arguably the first detective story."

For those who do want the same elements but with a more literary bent, she suggests 18th Century anarchist William Godwin's Things as They Are, or the Adventures of Caleb Williams.

"Conspiracy theories have always appealed to the public because they feel it exposes institutions of power and helps them in their own feeling of powerlessness."

And before the Da Vinci Code was a twinkle in its author's eye there was a compelling tale of Church conspiracy, littered with erudition - Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose. It even got the Hollywood treatment courtesy of Sean Connery.

As Bishop Scott-Joynt notes: "Umberto Eco is a philosopher of real distinction. [It is] a beautifully crafted, and extraordinarily clever [book] and it doesn't have a page at the beginning that says fact."

Prof Wheeler is happy to give the Da Vinci Code its due, albeit while damning with faint praise.

"As a literary work it's good for nothing. He is not a good writer, it's not been properly edited, but he has a wonderful gift.

"It is in a way an airport novel. The literati like myself wouldn't normally read it. But I find it a page turner and an exciting thriller. It was full of ideas of interest even though I didn't agree with them. At the heart of it there's no historical basis for that view but it is extremely interesting and provocative."

And whatever people's views on the Da Vinci Code, they had better get used to seeing a slew of mystical conspiracy books on their shelves.

The Bookseller has coined a term for it: "Brownsploitation".

Titles such as the Magdalene Cipher, the Lucifer Code and the Last Templar, even when conceived before the blockbuster, are benefiting from the Brown effect.

And when the Archbishop of Canterbury is forced to address the issue in his Easter sermon, you know people's need for mystical conspiracy theories is here to stay.

As he notes: "It's almost that we'd prefer to believe something like this instead of the prosaic reality." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4985812.stm

[Bookworm Cris]

That was a very good text you quoted!
I´ve read the book DVC and thought it was good for entertainment, a good thriller, and "wrote to be filmed". But, is it true? No. Is it literature? Not the classic-type, not everlasting, but... readable.
Come on, who has never read an Agatha Christie book? It is full of clichés too, good for entertainment too, but we love it. What´s wrong with that? As long as we don´t take these books as the Gospel itself, but for what they are - entertainment - , it´s all right. And reading this kind of books doesn´t keep me from reading other books, the very good ones.
And, by the way, The Name of the Rose is a much better "Church conspiracy book" than DVC. And better written, too. And for Harry Potter... that´s entertainment too, and I liked it a lot (not to mention that many many children started to read and loved it with HP books. They have to begin with something, don´t they?).

[genghiskhan]

Anyway Dan Brown is rubbish.

Amen to that.


To say open-minded is quite frankly stupid. If one accepts everything different saying that they are being open-minded, they are clearly the ones who are the most dogmatic, because they accept the conflicting ideas- not because they believe them; but simply to be 'open-minded', and therefore believe nothing (which is the funniest thing i have heard recently, besides Bill Cosby) and truly accept nothing. So in truth, the 'open-minded' ones are the ones who stick to one view. That isn't to say one ought to ignore other views; but to seek ONE truth.
I really don't see how the storyline is so intriguing either. Is it this obsession for contraversy? Dan Brown is a git, who really doesn't have a place in decent literature.

I agree, complete open-mindedness is foolish and NOT desirable.

Is random, unprovoked murder acceptable? Is rape acceptable? Of course not. So what that means it that a person shouldn't be completely open minded. We each have to draw a line for ourselves.


If you're looking for a good well written read, steer clear of Dan Brown.

That's pretty much what it boils down to.

Personally, I can't stand reading anything that's amateurish, sloppy, and poorly written. I find it maddeningly distracting.

Fortunately, I got the book as a gift, so I didn't waste my money on the thing.

[beer good]

And, by the way, The Name of the Rose is a much better "Church conspiracy book" than DVC. And better written, too. And for Harry Potter... that´s entertainment too, and I liked it a lot (not to mention that many many children started to read and loved it with HP books. They have to begin with something, don´t they?).
I'd say "Foucault's Pendulum" is an even better comparison... since it tackles almost the exact same issues that DVC does (and then some), with almost the exact same plot, only with the satirical slant conspiracy theories deserve. Plus, Umberto Eco can write rings around Dan Brown any day of the week. The mere fact that "Foucault's Pendulum" (published in 1989) manages to satirize just about every idea in "The da Vinci Code" (published in 2003) should be enough to quiet any claim that Dan Brown has come up with anything new. (Yes, Eco even manages to make fun of the Disney parallel.)

Obligatory much-quoted passage:
A lunatic is easily recognized. He is a moron who doesn’t know the ropes. The moron proves his thesis; he has a logic, however twisted it may be. The lunatic, on the other hand, doesn’t concern himself at all with logic; he works by short circuits. For him, everything proves everything else. The lunatic is all idée fixe, and whatever he comes across confirms his lunacy. You can tell him by the liberties he takes with common sense, by his flashes of inspiration, and by the fact that sooner or later he brings up the Templars.

[PeterL]

I'd say "Foucault's Pendulum" is an even better comparison... since it tackles almost the exact same issues that DVC does (and then some), with almost the exact same plot, only with the satirical slant conspiracy theories deserve. Plus, Umberto Eco can write rings around Dan Brown any day of the week. The mere fact that "Foucault's Pendulum" (published in 1989) manages to satirize just about every idea in "The da Vinci Code" (published in 2003) should be enough to quiet any claim that Dan Brown has come up with anything new. (Yes, Eco even manages to make fun of the Disney parallel.)


I strongly agree about "Foucault's Pendulum". It satirizes exactly what Dan Brown wrote, so that I could only read something like that for a laugh, and it wouldn't even be a good laugh, more a laugh of derision. I can picture Dan Brown among the crowd in the museum stringing up Belbo.

[Shakira]

Cmon ppl. Y create such a hullaboo over sumthng v all accept to be a work of fiction ????
Just enjoy it as v enjoy reading other books. Dan Brown is not forcing us to believe in his work. And besides if v knw that our religion is true then let others speak whatever sh** they want to. Is our belief in our religion so weak that it will shatter bcoz of sum fictional work ???????

[beer good]

Cmon ppl. Y create such a hullaboo over sumthng v all accept to be a work of fiction ????
Bcos itz... sorry, because it is a bad work of fiction yet gets hailed as the greatest thing ever written. I'm an agnostic and couldn't care less about the religious connotations of it. Yet it's gotten to the point where you can't say anything good or bad about the DVC without having it turn into some kind of religious debate (for instance, the last few posts above yours had *nothing* to do with that, yet you obviously thought it relevant...)

The whole debate reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry's catholic dentist converts to judaism and promptly starts telling Jewish jokes. Jerry goes to the dentist's former priest to complain.
- I have a suspicion that he's converted to Judaism purely for the jokes.
- And this offends you as a Jewish person?
- No, it offends me as a comedian!


I strongly agree about "Foucault's Pendulum". It satirizes exactly what Dan Brown wrote, so that I could only read something like that for a laugh, and it wouldn't even be a good laugh, more a laugh of derision. I can picture Dan Brown among the crowd in the museum stringing up Belbo.
I used to think Dan Brown had ripped Eco off completely. Upon re-reading FP, I've re-thought that; even Dan Brown couldn't possibly miss out on the satire there, and had he read it he would hopefully have cowered in shame. Eco was once asked if he thought of Dan Brown as his literary son; Eco frowned and pointed out that there's a difference between writing about conspiracy nuts and being a conspiracy nut
and in that way Dan Brown isn't my son, but perhaps my bastard.

[PeterL]

I used to think Dan Brown had ripped Eco off completely. Upon re-reading FP, I've re-thought that; even Dan Brown couldn't possibly miss out on the satire there, and had he read it he would hopefully have cowered in shame. Eco was once asked if he thought of Dan Brown as his literary son; Eco frowned and pointed out that there's a difference between writing about conspiracy nuts and being a conspiracy nut

Dan Brown certainly isn't Eco's literary son, but there is a relationship. I can imagine someone reading "Foucault's Pendulum" then deciding to take the opposite slant on the same thing. If it had been well done, it might be good fiction, but it would have to be additional satire. I do wonder whether Brown has read FP.

Recently I was talking about conspiracies in general with someone who commented that considering how difficult it is to get anything organized, he doubted that any vast conspiracy could be organized, much less continued for centuries. Only a nut, or someone who has never tried to organize anything, could believe that large scale conspiracies were possible.

[Shannanigan]

This is for anyone who's succumbed to reading Dan Brown's Da Vinci code. Let me pose a few questions.

1. Does anyone else think it reads like one of those "choose your own endings" books? Almost too exciting... maybe.

2. Does anyone know any fact on it? It's a little unnerving if you don't know what's real. I'm really really interested in learning a little nonfiction here. Scholars feel free to ramble on.

3. Anyone else rolling their eyes at the popularity of a glorified dime novel, and yet knowing deep down you'd read all his other books with the same unavoidable enthusiasm?

I'd read it again...... it sucks out your brain, man.

I liked the story....like a lot of people have mentioned the style kinda grated against my mind, but it was a nice, FICTIONAL read to bury myself in for a while...

1. I thought it was a pretty exciting story...though after a while all the code-breaking became almost predictable and exasperating...all of the twists of the characters seemed to be overly done as well...it almost sounded like me when I try to write mystery stories and every character is really at least two or three, lol...they never turned out very good...

2. I don't know any facts about it, all I did was look up the paintings online as I read to kinda compare the descriptions...I still just look at it as a fictional story; I always submerse myself fully in a story, incuding fantasy stories, as I'm reading...but I walk away knowing that it is separate from reality.

3. I have no desire to read any other Dan Brown books...the style, as I said, was waaay too grating for me...and there must be SOME reason why his other books haven't been as popular as this one.

I heard the movie "The Da Vinci Code" sucks...anyone seen it or going to?

And oh yeah, almost forgot...

the LECTURING was soooooooooooo TIRING....agreed bjortan!

[beer good]

Recently I was talking about conspiracies in general with someone who commented that considering how difficult it is to get anything organized, he doubted that any vast conspiracy could be organized, much less continued for centuries. Only a nut, or someone who has never tried to organize anything, could believe that large scale conspiracies were possible.
My thoughts exactly. Mankind as a whole is much too stupid, selfish and fallable for conspiracies to work. After all, the people who are supposedly covering up alien visits, presidential assassinations, world-wide shadow governments etc are the same ones who can't even manage to balance a yearly budget. (Hope that's not current politics - AFAIK, both the conspiracies and the budget problem would seem to apply to all governments of all parties, nations and ages.)

[PeterL]

My thoughts exactly. Mankind as a whole is much too stupid, selfish and fallable for conspiracies to work. After all, the people who are supposedly covering up alien visits, presidential assassinations, world-wide shadow governments etc are the same ones who can't even manage to balance a yearly budget. (Hope that's not current politics - AFAIK, both the conspiracies and the budget problem would seem to apply to all governments of all parties, nations and ages.)

In addition, what some people see as conspiracies may be examples of incompetence. It isn't that something was deliberately covered up, but the investigators simply didn't figure out what happened, and the guilty party was bright enough to keep quiet. As for unbalanced budgets, governments are simply job creation schemes for the families and friends of those who are in office, so the people wo run govenrments have no reason not to spend as much as they can.

[Redshift]

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is good,

Relative to My Pet Goat



it's excellent to read if you are open minded about religion!

Religion being renowned for it's open-mindedness.


If you follow a religion then you may object to this novel as it has many conflicting views against catholics and christians! But I found this a very interesting novel and I am sure a lot of you would if you read it (you may have already read it!).

If you follow a religion and are offended by anything in a trash-airport novel you're an idiot, especially if you're a Catholic or a Christian because if you feel for one second a victim of prejudice then you're an even bigger idiot.

I'm tired of hearing about The Da Vinci Code. Can anyone tell?

[RJbibliophil]

I'm rolling my eyes at the book. No, I'm not a fundamentalist, but let me remind you that it is a novel, a work of fiction. I wouldn't bother to absorb any "facts" in a fiction because they're likely to be inaccurate. What is everyone getting so worked out about anyway? All these Truths Dan Brown is revealing through his characters are not so new, you see. There have always been people who think Jesus married Mary Magdalene etc. etc. In addition, the sources Brown used to write the Da Vinci Code are OLD and EXPIRED. The person who claimed to be the descendant of Jesus and Mary had long since admitted that he lied about the whole Holy Grail thing. Brown really needs to catch up with the world. :rolleyes:


I haven't actually read the book, but I have heard something similar to this from reliable sources. There was something going on a few years back which the book is based on and the leader of that cult later admitted that he made it all up. I don't quite remember. Just because it claims to be fact doesn't mean it is.

[Bandini]

He's a writer of fiction. It doesn't claim to be fact does it?

[Mililalil XXIV]

If you visit the comments of Dan Brown at
http://www.danbrown.com/novels/davinci_code/faqs.html
you will see such rubbish statements as this one given in the f.a.q.s section, under the question "IS THIS BOOK ANTI-CHRISTIAN?":

"No. This book is not anti-anything. It's a novel."

Is this an honest reply?

From the same web-page, we read the following:

"HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?

The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the
theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations."

Here Dan admits that none of the theories are proven, but, at most, that "some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit" [in his alleged "belief"]. Already we enter a barrage of confusion, a self-contradictory front for pushing antichristian propaganda. The question above is question # 1 on the page. Here, two
questions before the one of whether or not his book is antichristian, Brown plants the seed of suggestion: "each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations." This is important to take note of from the onset. Why? Because he here plants a deeply embedded suggestion which he then
goes on to pretend he has had no intention of arousing. That is plain deception, and that it has been perpetrated by him I will go on to illustrate clearly with logical frankness.

To begin with, let us neither miss nor lose what he has just done:
First he says the book is no more than a novel, mere fiction, which is true as to the form of the main body of the book, and its content. He hereby begins to distract the reader from the motive behind this fantastical writing, which is suggested in the comments of the book outside of its main body of text.

If it is mere fiction, without an aggenda, then why must the reader explore the viewpoints within it so seriously with the necessity of coming to a personal opinion about non-fictitious matters, as directly resulting from a mere novel's characters' suggestions? These are none other than the author's own suggestions which he puts into the framework of a novel - he wants the ideas of this fiction to become as
reality to his readership, replacing Faith with their fantasy. Of course, being fully aware of what he is up to, he immediately denies this very thing by closing his answer to question # 1 by saying: "My hope in writing this novel was that the story would
serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history."

He actually wants to shape perceptions about things worthy of Faith, and about Religion, and about history. And these he wants to contort according to his imaginative wonder about ideas, some of which he thinks may have merit. Taking a blind leap in the dark like this shows no concern for a known and treasured truth, but is the surest sign of a reckless venture that is surely anti-something. Those that love
esoteric quests will waste their lives on these vain pursuits, being gods in their own eyes, that create fantasy worlds, acting as blind guides to trustung fools, having nothing but disdain for the concrete truth. Dan Brown does in deed fit this empty, ruinous role, speaking grandiose things about what he does not yet hold as sure, yet showing great hatred for well known facts. That is in deed bias for a prejudice.

Question # 2:
"BUT DOESN'T THE NOVEL'S "FACT" PAGE CLAIM THAT EVERY SINGLE WORD IN
THIS NOVEL IS HISTORICAL FACT?"
His answer?
"If you read the "FACT" page, you will see it clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and architecture in the novel all exist. The "FACT" page makes no statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader."

Here we see him in process of building his subterfuge to take the gullible reader by stealth. He has made the book to seem as holding no aggenda - though he lets out that his aggenda is for his readres to form opinions about real matters "of faith, religion and history" on account of the select views he guides his fictitious storyline by. He wants you and me to be affected in our view of JESUS by the unsubstantiated
blasphemy it is gleefully packed with, without any trace of conscientious caution. If he had no serious aggenda, his characters sure do. In the third question he says the book isn't antichristian - but why, then, does he insist on giving the characters the most extremely antichristian views to diseminate to the readers?

All throughout his interviews, Dan says so little in the way of details. Why? Knowing so little about anything, he seems to want to be careful not to expose his small amount of knowledge to on-the-spot ridicule. Anything disproved in the ideas in the book he might just say the character got wrong for fictional effect - even though every
invention was craftily devised for the utmost revision of thought on faith, history and religion.

[XXdarkclarityXX]

Here's some issues I have with all the "hoopla" about the Da Vinci Code:

1) If it's not true, why are Catholics and Christians getting so offended and threatened? Something that's not truth doesn't matter anyway, correct?

2) Even if the book is "presented" as fact, why freak out? Are people too dumb to realize that not everything in print is absolute truth?

3) Some people are afraid that Catholics or Christians or potentials of the two might be "led astray" by the novel. Shouldn't these groups, above all people, realize that the book can't be taken literally? I thought these people were the ones who "knew" how to read the Bible, meaning that everything shouldn't be taken literally. Why, then, is this exact technique taken to Dan Brown's novel?

People have their own brains and they are going to believe and disbelieve what they want. The Catholic Church forbade the printing of an English Bible because the masses would start believing whatever they wanted. All the "Sola Scriptura" stuff. Well, maybe it's happening again.

Give people the option of believing what they want. If they like Dan Brown's stuff and choose to leave the Church, big deal. It would heighten the quality of the members, and isn't that what they want anyway?

[Mililalil XXIV]

In answer to a question on his f.a.q.s, on his same above-mentioned site, Dan Brown says "the secret behind The Da Vinci Code was too well documented and significant for me to dismiss."

He says the Catholic Church has covered up documents with lies. What evidence can he article to the effect of the above statement?

Asked,
"YOU SEEM TO HAVE A FASCINATION WITH SECRET SOCIETIES? CAN YOU
COMMENT?"
He answered this f.a.q.:
"My interest in secret societies is the product of many experiences, some I
can discuss, others I cannot."

Can he substantiate that phrase "some I can discuss", or can one of his characters do so?

Asked,
"HOW DID YOU GET ALL THE INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THIS BOOK?"

He answered this f.a.q.:
" Most of the information is not as "inside" as it seems. The secret described in the novel has been chronicled for centuries, so there are thousands of sources to draw from."

Is there really even one such source to draw on? Does he prove with a
sufficient sum of references, one for each source, that there are in deed "thousands of sources to draw on"? There are endless sources of
information to draw on. Maybe he meant that thousands of them, while
containing not his own ideas, can be harnessed, through manipulative
straining, to seem, each in isolation from the rest, to agree with isolated facts or allegations that he familiarizes uneducated readers with in a certain scheme of thought, then presents, as an unnatural patchwork of "data", as though it were one universal witness! If that were not true, then he could give a list of at least thousands of sources that have chronicled his fantasy for centuries, like a good promotional package to kick off his best-seller.

Asked,
"WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR THE DA VINCI CODE?"
He claimed:
"This particular story kept knocking on my door until I answered. I first
learned of the mysteries hidden in Da Vinci's paintings while I was studying art history at the University of Seville in Spain."

How did he first "learn" of those mysteries in those days? He must have already had an inclination towards such fancies before beginning these studies. He goes on to say:

"Years later, while researching Angels & Demons and the Vatican Secret
Archives, I encountered the Da Vinci enigma yet again."

I wonder how he encountered this enigma this time? Did he buy another serial book of the genre?

"I arranged a trip to the Louvre Museum where I was fortunate enough to
view the originals of some of Da Vinci's most famous works as well as discuss them with an art historian who helped me better understand the mystery behind their surprising anomalies. From then on, I was captivated. I spent a year doing research before writing The Da Vinci Code."

A year is a hasty passing of time before a pretentious book is put out.
Did he mean he read other books on the already suggested DaVinci codes, and, thus, had only a similar idea around which to speculate about DaVinci's works, as those published before, annulling the oppurtunity to open-mindedly come up with an idea suggested by the DaVinci works themselves alone? Even this word he uses above, in speaking of the alleged "mystery" - "anomilies" - is the very word the Holybloodholygrail authors used in HBHG.

One of the biggest reasons his book sold so well was because he packed as many "facts" as possible all between two covers. Book purchasers like the idea of finding a lots of things collected together that are too much trouble to collect for themselves, through purchasing many books that each give meager doses of information. However, this also means that too many have bought into lies as though accepting facts.

Obviously a Pope living in exile in Avignon, France, cannot throw ashes into the Tiber River in Rome. Did Dan simply hate the Papacy and forget that not all Popes resided in Rome, and go on to make a shoddy anti-papal lie up? Did he forget that Pope Clement had no temporal power under the strong hand of King Philip the Fair? Did he overlook the fact that it was Philip, not the very helpless and contradicting Clement, that had the Templars tortured and killed? Many of those serial trash writers do not properly quote the last words of Jacques De Molay, the Grand Master. He spoke in imitation of CHRIST, forgiving Philip, and saying to both Philip and the Pope that he hoped to see them both at the LORD's Table - a thing as kindly as saying you hope to see them at Mass in Paradise. Philip did not care about Christianity, but wanted the wealth of the Templars - that is why they died, and not because of some mystery Philip would probably gladly have used himself to throw off all sense of being accountable to the Church. It is a fact that he treated the Pope like nothing.

Then there is the whole issue of lies about the Nicene Council. Nothing but a dishonest agenda, and nothing but antichristian, without any real conviction.


Here's some issues I have with all the "hoopla" about the Da Vinci Code:

1) If it's not true, why are Catholics and Christians getting so offended and threatened? Something that's not truth doesn't matter anyway, correct?

It does matter. People have, through lack of the facts, actually lost their Faith through that garbage - a thing Dan Brown truly wishes to achieve worldwide -, and that never happens without a resultant lack of Hope and accompanying depression which robs quality of lif from precious souls. I think that matters, just like the feelings of a rape victim matter for life.



2) Even if the book is "presented" as fact, why freak out? Are people too dumb to realize that not everything in print is absolute truth?

Setting the record straight is not freaking out. Why call positive acknowledgement of truth as distinct from lies a negative reaction? Without such a setting straight of the facts, people will in deed think that that is itself universal agreement on the lies they are offered. People vary as to what they look into. A tired mother, for example, whose husband has left her brokenhearted for another woman, finds a single breath hard, never mind a sufficient investigation. If a false case is presented, then the true must also be presented.



3) Some people are afraid that Catholics or Christians or potentials of the two might be "led astray" by the novel. Shouldn't these groups, above all people, realize that the book can't be taken literally? I thought these people were the ones who "knew" how to read the Bible, meaning that everything shouldn't be taken literally. Why, then, is this exact technique taken to Dan Brown's novel?

I did not catch the precise import of that question.



People have their own brains and they are going to believe and disbelieve what they want. The Catholic Church forbade the printing of an English Bible because the masses would start believing whatever they wanted. All the "Sola Scriptura" stuff. Well, maybe it's happening again.

That's a common protestant myth I used to have a field day with. It was a certain type of mistranslation, which concerned the Shepherds of GOD's People. They burned poor editions, and collected up suspect ones for scrutiny, providing English vernacular Bibles that didn't have such perversions in them as adding the words "Faith alone" where the Apostle Paul wrote no such thing, etc. The so-called "reformers" were guilty of being "revisers".



Give people the option of believing what they want. If they like Dan Brown's stuff and choose to leave the Church, big deal. It would heighten the quality of the members, and isn't that what they want anyway?
That still requires a true representation of the Catholic Teaching and Tradition, by those living both, in a debate involving these factors in particular. Nothing else is acceptable, nor fair, nor reasonable. Every apostate is a precious soul to GOD. If you were leaving a Marriage for lack of hearing a true account of your wife's sentiments and actions, and such knowledge might have made all the difference, so that you didn't walk away from what at least a part of your heart mistakenlt thought in regret had failed, wouldn't you appreciate suddenly hearing her side of things, and seeing a great cause for heart-ache subside to make way for years ahead in a happiness you would otherwise have forfeited for ever for lack of understanding?

In literary lines of consideration, recall how books written before many a revolution (often, if not always, using political deceptions) has been traced to the movement of society - even of a majority of ignorant fanatics - into the moment of revolution. If this might be happening now, and no one decries that the flatform pulling hearts is one of crafty deception and slader - an offense -, then we could have a major problem: a whole world built upon a lie by someone who merely presumes that anyhting traditional is a lie.

[PeterL]

It seems that a lot of people have lost sight of the fact that "It's a novel." One nice thing about writing fiction is that the author can start with familiar people, places, and things, turn the poeple into characters that do things that the people from whom they were derived never did in places where they never were with things that they never saw or used, or even with things that never existed outside the imagination of the author.

[Scheherazade]

It seems that a lot of people have lost sight of the fact that "It's a novel." One nice thing about writing fiction is that the author can start with familiar people, places, and things, turn the poeple into characters that do things that the people from whom they were derived never did in places where they never were with things that they never saw or used, or even with things that never existed outside the imagination of the author.I was thinking of the Crucible actually as I was reading this thread a little while ago. Miller started with real events and characters but did not hesitate to use his artistic licence when he needed to. He changed the characters and the 'whys' and 'hows' of the events which led to the trials. As readers/audience, we are well aware of the inaccuracies and we do not get angry with Miller because of those.

Another example coming to mind is sci-fi books... Even though their starting points are scientific facts, they do carry on and invent their own realms as well. We don't see the scientists up in arms because of these and they surely don't feel threatened or insulted.

I think the Church is doing Brown a huge favour. If it weren't for the outcry, the book would have been forgotten by now. However, thanks to the publicity, now Brown is probably richer than he ever dreamed of.

[PeterL]

I was thinking of the Crucible actually as I was reading this thread a little while ago. Miller started with real events and characters but did not hesitate to use his artistic licence when he needed to. He changed the characters and the 'whys' and 'hows' of the events which led to the trials. As readers/audience, we are well aware of the inaccuracies and we do not get angry with Miller because of those.

That changing of know people into characters is more important in historical fiction than in any other branch of fiction. Many people think that the fictional Richard III was an accurate depiction of the person, as one example.



Another example coming to mind is sci-fi books... Even though their starting points are scientific facts, they do carry on and invent their own realms as well. We don't see the scientists up in arms because of these and they surely don't feel threatened or insulted.

Science Fiction often has started with known science and extended it to the point where science later took it. The scientists aren't up in arms, because when they aren't writing their own fiction, they are taking the ideas and putting them into actuality.

.[/QUOTE]
I think the Church is doing Brown a huge favour. If it weren't for the outcry, the book would have been forgotten by now. However, thanks to the publicity, now Brown is probably richer than he ever dreamed of.[/QUOTE]

Truly the Roman Church is doing Brown a favor, and so are many other critics. I haven't read the book, nor do I plan to, but I respect Brown for taking an idea and running with it. He took a collection of ideas that are truly silly, plastered them together and turned out a novel that millions of people have read. It may not be well written, but people buy it anyway, and many millions of people will waste their time and money seeing the movie also. If I could make as much money writing crappy fiction, I would. Hmmmm...

[Broken]

It may not be well written, but people buy it anyway, and many millions of people will waste their time and money seeing the movie also. If I could make as much money writing crappy fiction, I would. Hmmmm...

Sounds like what many forum-goers, myself included, would say about a certain author named Rowling.

[PeterL]

Sounds like what many forum-goers, myself included, would say about a certain author named Rowling.

J. K. Rowling is a better writer than Brown, but, like Brown, she want "over the top", into high grade fantasy. Don't think too small.

[Bandini]

J. K. Rowling is a better writer than Brown...

Let's not quibble - they're both horse flesh.

[PeterL]

Let's not quibble - they're both horse flesh.

OK, let us not

[Bandini]

It does matter. People have, through lack of the facts, actually lost their Faith through that garbage


If people lose their faith after reading a book - what does that tell you about the strength of their faith? Or thier gullibility?

Without such a setting straight of the facts, people will in deed think that that is itself universal agreement on the lies they are offered.

see above

I did not catch the precise import of that question.


see above

Still requires a true representation of the Catholic Teaching and Tradition, by those living both, in a debate involving these factors in particular. Nothing else is acceptable, nor fair, nor reasonable.



You what? Says who? We don't live in a theocracy.

If you were leaving a Marriage for lack of hearing a true account of your wife's sentiments and actions, and such knowledge might have made all the difference, so that you didn't walk away from what at least a part of your heart mistakenlt thought in regret had failed, wouldn't you appreciate suddenly hearing her side of things, and seeing a great cause for heart-ache subside to make way for years ahead in a happiness you would otherwise have forfeited for ever for lack of understanding?

And if my poor, estranged wife said, "You dirty sinner bastard, you are going to suffer in Hell for all of eternity because you are not a Catholic." I might have wished I hadn't bothered.

[Shannanigan]

2) Even if the book is "presented" as fact, why freak out? Are people too dumb to realize that not everything in print is absolute truth?



..............yup

[Gawaine]

I am not a literary critic, I am not here to say if the book is bad or good.

I did come back from seeing the film last night, and I left thinking, 'Why are people so upset?'. I understand why the Church is upset - it questions historical accuracy of the Bible, and presents apocraphal gospels and questionable Roman history as fact. Whether or not you agree or disagree with the information in the story seems, to me, to fall by the wayside.

At the end of the film, and I am assuming this part existed in the book, the two main characters are speaking to one another outside of a Church, when most everything has wound down, and answers have been revealed. Langdon (the protaganist) asks the question, 'What will you do? Will you destroy faith? Or will you renew it?'. This question is paramount to discussion of this story, or even 'modern myth', as it seems to have gravitated towards such a term.

Will Christianity be 'renewed' as the understanding that Jesus was mortal, yet still a prophet of God?

Regardless of how the Da Vinci Code goes about it, any historian who shuns mysticism will tell you that Jesus was mortal just like all others who have lived and died before him. And there is little reason aside from a compiled book written years after his death to think otherwise.

This is where this story succeeds. As I walked out of the theatre, everyone was asking questions. It touches a nerve that is quite rare, and to have these issues debated is a good thing.

[Theshizznigg]

Hey if you enjoyed reading the Da Vinci code, you might like its predecessor Holy Blood, Holy Grail. I think it came out in the '80's. There's also a non-fiction book titled The Pagan Christ if you're interested but people have said to read this one with an open mind if you wish to finish it.

Before we go on, I would like to say that the book I found to be enjoyable, if not a little contrived. Many say it is an attack on Christianity, but in all truth it is a work of fiction, just the same as if someone wrote a story about the devil having children. "Devils advocate anyone?"

Still like I said, the story is in my mind contrived. I suppose I might be biased on this fact, because I prefer Templar/Crusader mysteries, like the first game in Virgin interactives, Broken Sword series, Circle of Blood. (I loved that game, impelling story, assassins, bombs, goats, puzzles that caused headaches, an arabic cabab merchant, and a stunningly climactic end.)

I'd recommend this game to anyone who likes Church mysteries, what not.
Aside from that, another book which is much older now but caused a scandal in its day. Was Judas my brother, a novel by Frank Yerbey.
In that book it claimed that Christ was crucified, and died, then his cousin Judas, not Judas Escarriot, who looked like him caused his followers to believe that Christ had risen from the dead.
It was reccomended to me though I've not found a copy yet.

[Liberty-Dewi]

Halo mates, I am on a research, so would you guys please do me a favor? I'm doing a thesis on the infamous The Da Vinci Code regarding its various aspects. Then, I need some data from you guys that have finished reading it. Just take a look a bit and please answer these questions. Thanks a lot!!

Name:
Age:
Education:
Region/Country:
Religion (if any):


1.Religion Aspect
• What is your perception about religion before you read novel The Da Vinci Code?
• What is your perception about religion after you read novel The Da Vinci Code?
• Do you think Dan Brown is an anti-Christian?
• Do you believe about the review of religion in this novel? Why?

2. Art Aspect (after reading it)
• How is your perception about European classic art then?
• What is your perception about the artist Leonardo Da Vinci
• Are you interested in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci in this novel? Why?

3. History Aspect
• Did your knowledge about history improved by reading it? (If yes, could you explain what histories are they?)

4. Social Aspect
• What do you think about this novel in general?(you could choose more than one answer) And please explain why you choose the answer(s)
a. entertain enough
b. has something like moral value
c. not interesting at all
d. the novel that content the truth

[Logos]

'A' research? for school? good luck with it :)
I just want to caution anyone who chooses to answer that they *not* use their real full name.

[Liberty-Dewi]

Hi Logos!! I thought you are my first participant. :D
Well, it is OK if nobody use real name, as long as it is still reasonable. I only really reallly, I mean REALLY need that answers. :bawling: .....
Ok then, I'm still waiting... hey, why don't you fill it first, logos? Btw, my mother tongue is Indonesian. English is just my lips. :lol: :lol:

[Logos]

Ok, well, I'll answer the only question I can: #4 c: not interesting at all.

Welcome to LitNet, just be patient, I'm sure some others will chime in soon enough :D you could also do a forum search, there are a number of discussions about this book in General Literature.

[papayahed]

Name: Papayahed
Age: 36
Education: BS
Region/Country: US
Religion (if any): NonPracticing Catholic


1.Religion Aspect
• What is your perception about religion before you read novel The Da Vinci Code? Kind of a big question to answer in a few sentances, my perception of religion was unchanged after reading the novel.
• What is your perception about religion after you read novel The Da Vinci Code?
• Do you think Dan Brown is an anti-Christian? No
• Do you believe about the review of religion in this novel? Why? Religion is just used as a vehicle for the story.

2. Art Aspect (after reading it)
• How is your perception about European classic art then? Never thought all that much about it.
• What is your perception about the artist Leonardo Da Vinci. I've always thought he was a genious
• Are you interested in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci in this novel? Why? The novel did not change nor make me want to study further Leonardo DaVince.

3. History Aspect
• Did your knowledge about history improved by reading it? (If yes, could you explain what histories are they?) No, this is a work of fiction and has nothing to do with actual history.

4. Social Aspect
• What do you think about this novel in general?(you could choose more than one answer) And please explain why you choose the answer(s)
a. entertain enough
b. has something like moral value
c. not interesting at all
d. the novel that content the truth

a. The novel is only a piece of entertainment, not the best but not the worst either.

[JBI]

Name:Jonathan Ben-I****
Age:18
Education:Finished high school
Region/Country:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Religion (if any):Born Jewish, became atheist around age 15

I found the whole thing to be the dumbest idea I have ever seen. I read Foucault's Pendulum at age 16, before trying to read the Da Vinci Code. I didn't get very far in the book. The real turnoff was the fact that Brown misuses history, and really doesn't know anything about the medieval times.

That is what really got to me, I mean come on.. How could Templars go looking for the holy Grail on the first crusade if they were founded over a hundred years after the fall of Jerusalem to the Knights of the First Crusade? Alright, religion is all a bunch of bull crap... I really needed a crappy writer to tell me that? As I told you, I was an Atheist over a year before I read the Da Vinci Code, I didn't need Dan Brown's stupid story to tell me that god doesn't exist... I came to my own conclusion.

Like I said, I read Foucault's Pendulum before I read the Da Vinci Code. Eco uses real history, real events, and real concepts to prove his intelectually driven points about religion, and even uses some similar examples as Dan Brown (Foucault's Pendulum came out before the Da Vinci Code by the way). By the time I got to Brown's work, I was already somewhat knowledgeable on the subject of cults and codes and junk (Eco has a habit of teaching a boatload of information to his readers through his books). I just found Brown to be a pathetic atempt at a thriller.


To conclude, I don't see how any "Knowledgeable" person in the field of religion can really be swayed by anything Dan Brown has written, since he has such a terrible writing style, and misuses/changes history drastically to support his point. And just to add, I find it somewhat ironic how Opus Dei don't have any monks, not to mention the fact that they were founded in 1928.

So here is my look



1.Religion Aspect
• What is your perception about religion before you read novel The Da Vinci Code?God doesn't exist, and religion is just a bunch of well thought out lies handed down and changed from generation to generation. This was before I read the book.
• What is your perception about religion after you read novel The Da Vinci Code? The same, and people who follow the "cult" of Dan Brown are no better than any other theistic movement in the history of man kind (besides perhaps some barbaric cults and whatnot).
• Do you think Dan Brown is an anti-Christian? I think he is a crummy author who got lucky with a silly book about a stupid idea. What he believes in I could care less.
• Do you believe about the review of religion in this novel? Why?
I don't believe anything written in the book, simply because it is not credible. He may have used some real dates, but a lot of the stuff he used is completely inaccurate. Like I said before, I didn't believe in anything before I read the book, and I still don't after reading some of it and seeing the movie.
2. Art Aspect (after reading it)
• How is your perception about European classic art then? I had an interest in Renaissance art before reading the book. But I accept that fact that there is no "code" in the art, and to be honest, the bulk of this world's greatest art (if not all of it) has been centered and inspired/dedicated to religion.
• What is your perception about the artist Leonardo Da Vinci
He was never my favorite, I respect him as a painter, simply because he was top notch at what he did, but like I said he was never my favorite. Botticelli is :p
• Are you interested in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci in this novel? Why?
I had seen most of them before reading the book. This was no biggy.
3. History Aspect
• Did your knowledge about history improved by reading it? (If yes, could you explain what histories are they?)
He misused history. If anyone "learned" anything about history, I recommend they forget it or do additional research. Read any book about the Knights Templar and you will see what I am talking about

4. Social Aspect
• What do you think about this novel in general?(you could choose more than one answer) And please explain why you choose the answer(s)
a. entertain enough
b. has something like moral value
c. not interesting at all
d. the novel that content the truth

I'm more towards a B. The writing wasn't anything to brag about, the style was dull, the plot was boring, the characters were flat, and the history was bad. It was all right for a "travel" book, meaning it takes you to different places, but I could read any other well written book that takes place in a foreign country and have more enjoyment from that. I gave it a 1/10 on the review I wrote, simply because I couldn't even get through it.

~JBI

[Liberty-Dewi]

thank you papayahed, finnaly someone respon my research. it's really help!!!!!
God bless you (eventhough you don't believe Him)

[Liberty-Dewi]

Hi Ben! thanks a bunch too for you.

Come on mates, I really need your personal opinion. Don't hesitate to utter it. Cheers!!!

[papayahed]

thank you papayahed, finnaly someone respon my research. it's really help!!!!!
God bless you (eventhough you don't believe Him)


What makes you think I don't believe in God?

[mousemouse]

Name: mousemouse
Age:29
Education: something equivalent to a masters in comparative litterature
Region/Country: Denmark
Religion (if any): Too philosofical a question too answer here, but maybe on some level I am religious


1.Religion Aspect
• What is your perception about religion before you read novel The Da Vinci Code? : It's an indivdual one. I think most people need to believe in something beyond this life, simply because there doesn't seem to be any meaning otherwise. However, I never desided what to belive my self, and I think that I can deal with the thought of a meaningless life.

• What is your perception about religion after you read novel The Da Vinci Code? : It didn't change

• Do you think Dan Brown is an anti-Christian? No, he's just not a true believer

• Do you believe about the review of religion in this novel? Why? No... it is still just fiction. I don't believe in fictive stories that I read

2. Art Aspect (after reading it)
• How is your perception about European classic art then? : This question is simply too complex to answer here. Sorry.

• What is your perception about the artist Leonardo Da Vinci: I think he was a very clever inventor, and that he was an pretty good artist, but not that great

• Are you interested in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci in this novel? Why?
No not anymore than before, because the book didn't teach me anything new, that seemed worth wile

3. History Aspect
• Did your knowledge about history improved by reading it? (If yes, could you explain what histories are they?) At first I thought it did, but it seems that he's not right in a lot of things.

4. Social Aspect
• What do you think about this novel in general?(you could choose more than one answer) And please explain why you choose the answer(s)
a. entertain enough
b. has something like moral value
c. not interesting at all
d. the novel that content the truth

I think it's: a

I would like to say to, that I never figured out what all the fuss was about, I mean: It's FICTION

[philipkd]

I'll just answer 4.
C. I think its RUBBISH.

4. Social Aspect
• What do you think about this novel in general?(you could choose more than one answer) And please explain why you choose the answer(s)
a. entertain enough
b. has something like moral value
c. not interesting at all
d. the novel that content the truth[/QUOTE]

[Ygraine]

Name: Ygraine
Age: 20
Education: BA in English
Region/Country: England
Religion (if any): None


1.Religion Aspect
• What is your perception about religion before you read novel The Da Vinci Code? These are very broad questions. Suffice to say that reading a novel has never had an affect on my personal beliefs. It's just fiction.
• What is your perception about religion after you read novel The Da Vinci Code? See above
• Do you think Dan Brown is an anti-Christian? I think he is secular and has no qualms about sensationalising Christianity in order to make sales. I think there is a difference between this and being "anti-Christian"
• Do you believe about the review of religion in this novel? Why? No, as I said previously, he is just being deliberately controversial

2. Art Aspect (after reading it)
• How is your perception about European classic art then? I know very little about it, but I'm certainly not going to take my information from a novel of dubious credibility
• What is your perception about the artist Leonardo Da Vinci He was a very clever man and a great scientist who was ahead of his time in all respects
• Are you interested in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci in this novel? Why? I thought that the little snippets of information were interesting as, being unfamiliar with the art world, they weren't things I had heard before, though if I knew anything at all about the subject I probably would have done. That said, I take them with a pinch of salt, like everything in this book

3. History Aspect
• Did your knowledge about history improved by reading it? (If yes, could you explain what histories are they?) Again, even if I felt there was an aspect of history in this book with which I were not familiar, I would have to actually research it. I would not believe the historical detail in this novel

4. Social Aspect
• What do you think about this novel in general?(you could choose more than one answer) And please explain why you choose the answer(s)
a. entertain enough It passes the time and is the sort of thing to read while stuck at an airport. It is no better or worse than other books of this type. It is merely more notorious
b. has something like moral value
c. not interesting at all
d. the novel that content the truth

[Liberty-Dewi]

What makes you think I don't believe in God?

Sorry, I meant that was JBI. he he. Cheers Mate!
:D

Come on mates, I just need a few more replies. I beg you... ;)

[.closed.]

This has probably been discussed but on these forums before but here goes..............

I have not read Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" and have no intention to anytime soon. However, I am interested in whether you learned readers consider this literary drivel or a popular classic.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts or opinions.

[Asa Adams]

Nope... It will be replaced by another POP super shocker in the future

[Scheherazade]

I am really puzzled by this attitude... Why are you so against a book you have not read?

I would like to read a book before speaking against it. Of course there are some books which I might not read (eg those which encourage racism, violance, hatred etc) but usually I would like to read and see for myself and then develop a negative attitude towards a book/author.

[Alexei]

I don't think it will be considered a classic too. I have read it two years ago and I think that in general the book is almost nothing beyond the "scoop", it offer to the public. After there is nothing interesting, there is nor good writing style, nor interesting personages. The plot line is not more than intriguing. If the book was indeed a piece of art, a good book, Dan Brown was going to be famous worldwide after the publishing of his previous book Angels and Demons (I hope this is the right title, I always forget it). I have read it and it is quite the same. Same/similar characters, very similar intriguing type plot line, the same insipid writing style. The only component of Dan Brown's formula missing is the provocation. And the result was there lying on the shelves in the book stores and waiting someone to buy it, but the true is that I have never heard of it before the publishing of The De Vinci Code and probably it was the same with the greatest part of the people.

[Robert Jordan]

I really hope not

[quikmart]

Unliterary drivel.

[Bethan]

I don't see why it would. It may be a vaguely entertaining read, but has no serious literary merit!

[cuppajoe_9]

In my opinion, the works most likely to be considered classics from this period are those that are marketed as childrens' literature, but lend themselves to hours of serious analytical criticism if you're in the mood, and which are typically very dark and disturbing (partial list below). These books are, as far as I can tell, unlike anything which has come before them. Other than that, however, literature seems to be in a bit of a lull. We haven't had a really good literary movement since the Confessional Poets, as far as I can tell. Brown wasn't doing anything particularly special with Da Vinci Code.

Future Classics:

Roald Dahl - all (he's older, but I consider him the start of all this)
Phillip Pullman - Clockwork, His Dark Materials
Neil Gaiman - Coraline
Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

[Matrim Cuathon]

no way in hell that the Code would be a classic. you should be kicked from the forum for even suggesting it :)>

[kilted exile]

Ok, I have read the Da Vinci Code (something that,in this forum,may put me in the minority) if you take it as a basic story to be read for enjoyment there is nothing wrong with it (something akin to a grisham novel) anyone reading it for great insights into any religion or art or looking for a work comparable to those of great writers of the past however will be sorely disappointed.

I actually reasonably enjoyed it. Yes in places you can tell what is going to happen next, but that is the case with a lot of books (I certainly found it no more formulaic than Harry Potter - which seems to be taken a lot more seriously)

The problem is that people get themselves too worked up about it. It will certainly not be a future "literary classic" but it is not the worst thing to be written is the last 50years by a long shot.

Folk need to remember that the majority of the worlds population is not interested in discussing the literary merits of Faulkner over Joyce or how the use of iambic pentameter in a poem affects the images created therein. The majority of the world read for enjoyment and are just looking for a story. To paraphrase a sports radio host in town here: "Reading is a escape mechanism, the couple of hours reading lets us escape all the other worries in life. Thats all it is"

[ClaesGefvenberg]

No, I cannot see it becoming a classic. I will admit that it has an interesting plot, but Brown is not making full use of it. In fact, he seems to have run out of ideas halfway through the book, which consequently runs out of steam at that point.

I have been wrong before of course... :goof:

/Claes

[plainjane]

:rolleyes: I would hope not, and really cannot imagine it becomeing any sort of classic, unless of course it was classic schick.

Oh, and yes, I've read it.

[The Atheist]

...literary drivel...

Bingo!

[andave_ya]

I hope it isn't considered a classic....ugh.

[Moira]

When the book was published it became 'fashion' to read it, now it seems everybody is against it and talks about it all over the world. Although the book is mediocre the goal was achieved: world wide recognition.
I've read the book and although i do not considere it to be more than an easy read, i have to admit it was useful to me because consulting the bibliography used by Dan Brown i found several very interesting and well writen books on the same subjects. And the subjects do raise an interest, let's face it.

[bazarov]

Nope... It will be replaced by another POP super shocker in the future

Buddy, you're reading my mind!

[hyperinsomnia]

It's called "The God Delusion" and It was the best-seller over Christmas.
Irony.

It's funny how people who haven't read The Da Vinci Code like to talk about it so much, and ***** about how much attention it gets...

[Lioness_Heart]

I enjoyed the book when I read it for the plot, which I found fun and intriguing... but that is probably because I still quite like adventure-type stories every now and then. However, I have no intention of reading it again. The writing style is... less than good. That really lets the storyline down. But even with a good writing style, I don't think that it would have enough substance to be a Classic

[optimisticnad]

I tried reading it partly because I love it when critics are wrong.

But in this case they were spot on!

I think it might be considered as something special in the future, mainly cos less and less people are reading the good stuff, the bad stuff will eventually take over and all those stuff youv seen where good triumphs over evilll...well they're wrong! Booo hooo.!

[Liberty-Dewi]

Alright, do you think Holy Grail is a woman?

[JBI]

No I think the Holy Grail, aka Grasal, is non-existent. Though if such a cup existed, as Umberto Eco really described it, it would be a plain wooden cup, common among lowborn people at the time of Jesus (how would he afford an expensive goblet?).

As for the whole woman bit, thats just some crazy silly hibityjibbity. The whole story you must accept as fiction. You may be one of those people who like the book, I accept that, but that doesn't make the book any more true. The book is clearly fiction, based on a silly theory stolen from some other crazy nut.

[metal134]

When the book was published it became 'fashion' to read it, now it seems everybody is against it and talks about it all over the world.
I think I can offer some insight as to why that is. I think that the people who picked up on it early where those who enjoy that kind of page-turning pupl fiction. It got a reputation among those people as an intellectual, insightful piece of work. People kept talking about it and talking about it as such. Eventually, people who actually know an intellectual piece of work when they see one gave it a shot and realized it was nothing but pretentious, psuedo-intellectual crap. I fall into the latter category. I didn't read it early on, but people kept pestering me to read it, so I actually thought that it might be an intelligent, literary piece of work. I was sorely disappointed. If this book, in a hundred years, is looked upon as a literary classic, then I am scared to think about what that says about the future of literature.

[Moira]

I think I can offer some insight as to why that is. I think that the people who picked up on it early where those who enjoy that kind of page-turning pupl fiction. It got a reputation among those people as an intellectual, insightful piece of work. People kept talking about it and talking about it as such. Eventually, people who actually know an intellectual piece of work when they see one gave it a shot and realized it was nothing but pretentious, psuedo-intellectual crap. I fall into the latter category. I didn't read it early on, but people kept pestering me to read it, so I actually thought that it might be an intelligent, literary piece of work. I was sorely disappointed. If this book, in a hundred years, is looked upon as a literary classic, then I am scared to think about what that says about the future of literature.

I totally agree with what you said.
What is curious to me is the reaction of people who ... let's say do not agree with what was written in the book and accuse the writer of blasphemy and much more .... but do they realize that nothing writen there is original? He did not come up with one original idea ... he just copied ideas and studies other people already published (but did not get public's attention worldwide).

[damianswife]

Unliterary drivel.

Yep, but Dan Brown is laughing all the way to the bank.

[manolia]

Yep, but Dan Brown is laughing all the way to the bank.

:lol: :lol: Of course. And think of all those great authors (and artists in general) that died destitute.

[Idiotque]

All right, let us imagine the college course on the Da Vinci Code in 2200.

"This is called a 'cliff-hanger'. Many consider Brown to be the master of this device, seeing as he placed one at the end of every chapter."

[crisaor]

Of course not.

In 10 years it will be long forgotten in favor of that time's new bestselling shocker, which in turn will suffer the same fate, and so on.


@ Scher: There are countless books to read. I believe one MUST do some sort of filtering, or at the very least, priority arrangement. I'd rather read the entire russian classic literature (to name but a simple example) before I even consider reading DVC. There's nothing wrong in having an attitude towards a book before reading it, it can save you considerable reading time.

[Scheherazade]

@ Scher: There are countless books to read. I believe one MUST do some sort of filtering, or at the very least, priority arrangement. I'd rather read the entire russian classic literature (to name but a simple example) before I even consider reading DVC. There's nothing wrong in having an attitude towards a book before reading it, it can save you considerable reading time.Hi Crisaor!

Nice to see you posting :)

No doubt there are many, many books to read out there and none of us have the time and energy to read them all; we all do some kind of filtering. However, it is my personal belief that if one strongly campaigns against a certain book or author, first they need to read them - to be able to base their objections / rejections on fair grounds.

[JBI]

How many people listen to Antonio Salieri's music now a days? I think that metaphor just about sums it up.

[Seb]

I totally agree with Metal134 and Moira. I had absolutely no interest in reading it as I managed to stay out of the loop until I heard back from people whose opinions I trust in such matters. Ultimately, I was forced to read it as part of creative writing class at University. Even so, the lecturer made it quite clear that she did not rate the novel and was merely attempting to illustrate a point about promotion and how to keep readers - you have to admit he exposed a knack for hooking a reader, even if his methods to do so were transparent and made the climax of the story all the more unsatisfying.

In answer to the question, I think NO WAY! The most simplest explanation of why I think this is that the book offers the reader nothing, it's not insightful, evocative or revealing in any way. It may be a classic example of how promotion and hype can overcome sanity...but that'll be it.

To be honest, I'm struggling to think of any popular books written recently that are likely to be classics in 200 years, though I guess that may just be an issue of perspective.

[JBI]

Well Seb, some examples would probably be Salman Rushdie's work, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's work, and things like that. Not the common stuff you see people reading on the subway, but extremely well written, and influential on literature in general.

[Seb]

Hi JBI, thanks for your reply but I do wonder whether what you say will be the case. Most 'classic' novels from 100 years ago were hugely popular in their own time. Considering that major book stores such as Waterstones and Borders are in trouble due to a decrease in sales, I worry that we're in danger of facing a future where the only novels that get any kind of publicity or shelf space are the kind of rubbish you see people reading on the subway. If this becomes a reality then surely the well-written, influential stuff will become unprofitable and less attractive to aspiring novelists.

Obviously this is worst-case scenario and will probably not happen...but do you see where I'm coming from?

[Moira]

Well Seb, some examples would probably be Salman Rushdie's work, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's work, and things like that. Not the common stuff you see people reading on the subway, but extremely well written, and influential on literature in general.

I agree, i love Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Salman Rusdie's books.
I was wondering, has anyone read Michel Houllebeque (The Platform, The elementary particles and Perhaps an Island are very good books in my opinion)? He is a contemporary French writer.

[Laurette]

I worry that we're in danger of facing a future where the only novels that get any kind of publicity or shelf space are the kind of rubbish you see people reading on the subway. If this becomes a reality then surely the well-written, influential stuff will become unprofitable and less attractive to aspiring novelists.

Scary thought! I guess I'm not clued up enough to say, really, but I can't believe that the demand for quality literature will simply die a slow death. There are still literary prizes that give recognition to true artists, and as far as I know (maybe I'm just an ignorant optimist) Da Vinci Code didn't win any proper prizes, did it?

As far as the topic's question goes - yes, it probably will be a classic, but not of the top class literature kind. More in a 'Oh yeah, Da Vinci Code!' kind of way. Will Backstreet Boys ever be considered classic? Nope, because in the end, their music wasn't sustainable even though they were on top of the world in the 90's. Da Vinci Code isn't sustainable further than its subject matter allows, and when everyone's used to the idea of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, whether you believe it or not, the book will lose its impact.

[Moira]

Of course it's the subject that created all the fuss, otherwise the book and the author would have passed unnoticed.

[The Atheist]

Of course it's the subject that created all the fuss, otherwise the book and the author would have passed unnoticed.

Amen to that. The Roman Catholic Church was Dan Brown's best publicity machine. Happens every time - if you want lots of free publicity, piss off the pope.

[Morrisonhotel]

I totally agree with what you said.
What is curious to me is the reaction of people who ... let's say do not agree with what was written in the book and accuse the writer of blasphemy and much more .... but do they realize that nothing writen there is original? He did not come up with one original idea ... he just copied ideas and studies other people already published (but did not get public's attention worldwide).

I think we can outright dismiss all theories proposed by Mr. Brown when he cannot even get a basic piece of research right. For example, the fact that the stupid dolt can't even get the name of the artist right: his surname isn't da Vinci (as is consistently implied in the da Vinci code), he's just plain old Leonardo. How hard is that?

Anyway, in regard to whether it'll be a classic, only if evolution takes a dramatic step backwards and man becomes stupider as a result.

[jab]

I enjoyed The DaVinci Code, which possesses a terrific plot that kept me reading whenever possible until the conclusion.

Re: the question about its being a classic, I agree that there is no way. Plot is not everything as pleasure is not synonymous with good.

Most of the faults with Dan Brown's novel have been addressed, but I will add to the list that the characters are caricatures and that at times they speak each other's lines. The example I'm thinking of is when Sophie, though she has displayed remarkable ignorance of church history heretofore and thereafter, says, "You mean Peter, the rock on whom Jesus was to build his church?" (loose quotation, from memory).

Dan Brown's novel is an artistic expression of the difference between pleasure and goodness/truth, which in the literary world can be expressed by the difference between writing a good plot and showing poetic mastery and literary truth. Thus, I don't think it is a contradiction to say that I consider the the novel enjoyable and poorly written.

[Aiculík]

I read it some two years ago, when one of my friends dared to compare it with Eco's Pendulum. So I read it and then I explained to him, point by point, why I think Code is only mediocre. And at the end, he understood it, too. :D

I don't think it will be "classic", or taught in schools; but, the book was given such publicity, with all those "thruth beyond the Code" books, that it might be still read by masses.

[Moira]

I think the Holy Grail is a symbol that one can interpret according to his/ her beliefs.

[crisaor]

However, it is my personal belief that if one strongly campaigns against a certain book or author, first they need to read them - to be able to base their objections / rejections on fair grounds.
But there can be fair objections even if you're not reading it. Campaigning against an author/book is one thing, sticking to your tastes/literary requirements is another. Consider the opposite case: why would you consider to include a book in your to read list (already crammed with worthy candidates in its majority) just because all the media around you (note, much of it outside literary circles) is selling it 24/7, claiming it to be the best thing around, etc. I don't think they base the advertising of bestsellers on fair grounds, so I think I can safely claim my reluctance to read them as fair, at the very least.

[patbox]

It really is sad to see the downfall of great 'literature', and really, it is difficult to find an immediate classic these days. As mentioned before, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time is spectacular. I think if anything really speaks about our time, it might be Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club, but I mean, minamalist transgressive fiction isn't really everybody's cup of tea. I think if we just think of some novels that really define our time period, whether it be in the literary, social or cutltural sense, we'll find what will be considered classics.

In terms of finding emerging modern classics, I'm just waiting for the next literary movement to bring forth something definitive. I mean, something has to kill post-modernism . . . doesn't it?

[Aiculík]

I mean, something has to kill post-modernism . . . doesn't it?

Postmodernism is dead (well, more or less) ... Vivat post-postmodernism! Although nobody is quite sure what it means. :goof:

[Stieg]

Postmodernism is dead (well, more or less) ... Vivat post-postmodernism! Although nobody is quite sure what it means. :goof:

LOL! More literary jargon to muddle minds. Would make good for a Monty Python skit no less!

[iloveamano]

Worthless drivel, that's what it always has been and will undoubtedly continue to be. Ha, though some books calling or hoping themselves to be "literary classics" out there are also utter drivel.

ps I hate post-modernism

[Orual]

I read The Da Vinci Code a few years ago. It just wasn't that great. I couldn't warm up to the main characters (I don't even remember their names anymore), and the plot was merely intrigue, as several have said. I don't see what would keep the book popular.

[Stieg]

In terms of finding emerging modern classics, I'm just waiting for the next literary movement to bring forth something definitive. I mean, something has to kill post-modernism . . . doesn't it?

Definitive is the word, otherwise a short-lived literary movement can become dusty curiosities on library bookshelves for future generations to roll their eyes at or scoff about like some outdated piece of fashion wear or popculture fancy.

BTW, does anyone know the precise number of weeks Dan Brown's book was on the bestseller list?

[amanda_isabel]

i don't think it could be considered a classic. maybe the theme is. because if you recall, there was a book from about a decade ago, 'holy blood, holy grail' (leigh, baigent and,.. i forgot the other author's name) which had the same theme but was presented in a different manner. so maybe in a decade or two, there will be another book to cause an entire phenomenon, but will have exactly the same theme. i don't think we can actually get any answers anyway, or at least not until all the pieces are found and put together... i don't think it will be in this century, and time will eclipse all of those secrets even more.

but i will admit, the da vinci code did get me hooked and got me reading on some research, blah blah blah...

[aabbcc]

"Da Vinci Code" - a classic?! God forbid.

[Jane's Nemesis]

Not on your life. Or at least I hope not.

[PabloQ]

Beyond the controversy, upon which I choose not to comment, the book is well plotted, but it's very linear and extremely predictable. I typically can't figure out the ending of a novel even when the first line is "The Butler did it," but this thing was so obvious. The book's true flaw is one of unforgiveably poor characterization. The main character is "brilliant" Harvard professor in religious symbology who at times is dumb as a rock. It's been a while, so I don't remember the scenes, but I remember asking myself why this guy was so slow to figure out things that I clearly saw pages in advance of the main character. He's supposed to be smarter than I am. The only thing that make Dan Brown look really smart is his bank account.

[optimisticnad]

it seems majority of us hate his book, on and offline.

so....who busy em? maybe he does it himself!

i hope hes not undercover here!

[Scheherazade]

why would you consider to include a book in your to read list (already crammed with worthy candidates in its majority) just because all the media around you (note, much of it outside literary circles) is selling it 24/7, claiming it to be the best thing around, etc. I don't think they base the advertising of bestsellers on fair grounds, so I think I can safely claim my reluctance to read them as fair, at the very least.None of us should read anything which does not tickle our fancy (OK, maybe apart from school work ;)) but, to reiterate my original point, if one is to speak agaist a book/author, they should first to read it. The fact that they are popular best sellers or author makes a lot of money by writing a book based on a weak story line does not give us a right to speak against them. In short, what I am saying is that if you are going to dislike my roast, first you'd better taste it! ;)

[Mortis Anarchy]

Name:Ana
Age:between 16-19...
Education:Highschool
Region/Country:USA
Religion (if any):Roman Catholic


1.Religion Aspect
• What is your perception about religion before you read novel The Da Vinci Code? Books/Novels/Poems etc. don't change any part of my beliefs...It may intrigue me, but I have never wavered in my beliefs in my religion just because of a Novel...
• What is your perception about religion after you read novel The Da Vinci Code? The same. Strengthened if anything.
• Do you think Dan Brown is an anti-Christian? Hard to say...probably not, he probably just wanted $$!
• Do you believe about the review of religion in this novel? Why?


2. Art Aspect (after reading it)
• How is your perception about European classic art then? AMAZING!!
• What is your perception about the artist Leonardo Da Vinci? I think he was an amazing artist/inventor etc.
• Are you interested in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci in this novel? Why? Umm, well I'm interested in his paintings period...not because of this book.

3. History Aspect
• Did your knowledge about history improved by reading it? (If yes, could you explain what histories are they?) There are some things in the book that made me research some stuff, just for fun of course, such as The Holy Grail and some of the books that were not put into the bible.

4. Social Aspect
• What do you think about this novel in general?(you could choose more than one answer) And please explain why you choose the answer(s)
a. entertain enough
b. has something like moral value
c. not interesting at all
d. the novel that content the truth

A and C-It was a good story, but thats it. It was just a good read with puzzles and history but it isn't one of my favorites...completely made up...just going for the big bucks aren't you Dan?

[collins]

Hi guys,
I've heard about the da vinci code as a book ar as a film but I don't really know. tell me more pls. Where can I get to know more about it and get it. I also know it's written by Dan Brown.

there's great lot of argument here, even when I can't see the smoke of the book.

[wilbur lim]

Greetings!
Where do you get the DA Vinci Code from?Is it in the library or in a bookstore,I doubt that.

[PeterL]

Hi guys,
I've heard about the da vinci code as a book ar as a film but I don't really know. tell me more pls. Where can I get to know more about it and get it. I also know it's written by Dan Brown.

there's great lot of argument here, even when I can't see the smoke of the book.

The basic plot was outlined in Chapter 65 of Foucault's Pendulum, which also provided most of the related material.

[kiki1982]

I couldn't even get through the first page without being aggravated by his style...
Worst of all was that my husband really thought it was all true... Had firy discussion with him about it.

Anyway, the first thing in the book is this:

Fact:

The Priory of Sion -
a European secret society founded in
1099 - is a real organizaton.
In 1975 Paris's Bibliothèque Nationale
discovered parchments known as Les
Dossiers Secrets, identifying numerous
members of the Priory of Sion, including
Sir Isaac Newton, Sandro Botticelli, Victor
Hugo and Leonardo Da Vinci.


hahahahahah :p

There was a big hype around it in 1975, a Frenchman, part of it even came on the tv... A journalist traced it back and came to the conclusion that it was a practical joke made by three people: one man (the Frenchman who came on tv) who was a historian, looked peculiar and did the PR... He was the one who put together the genealogies and the lists of 'members' in the Bibliothèque. A friend of his who was a marquis and who had lots of money and fun with historic hoaxes (making caves where bones of Christ were burried and stuff like that)
Then there was another man, but I can't remember.
They got the name Sion from a place in France where they often went together... :lol:
How strange that there are no documents apart from the ones found in the Bibliothèque Nationale... :p

I bet they had a laugh when they saw that book come out. :D

[barbara0207]

Dan Brown is a writer of adventure stories or thrillers - no more and no less. Those who like to read a thriller when they want to relax - why not. They only have to keep in mind that it's fiction and that one should not look for historical truth in Brown's novels. Brown just needed a thrilling setting, and I think it's legitimate for a fiction writer to use anything they like. What about James Bond? You don't believe everything that's in there, do you? As far as I know Brown never claimed to be writing history books.

[Joreads]

I quite enjoyed the book. I think you have to remember what it is that you are reading and not get to caught up in the is it true or not. It is a ficton book and for my part one I enjoyed.

[kiki1982]

As far as I know Brown never claimed to be writing history books.

Well, I'm not so sure about that, actually... If you start your book with acknowledgements:

'First and foremost, to my friend and editor, Jason Kaufman, for working so hard on this project and for truly understanding what this book is all about.
...
For their generous assistance in the research of the book, I would like to acknowledge the Louvre Museum, the French Ministry of Culture, Project Gutenberg, Bibliothèque Nationale, the GnosticSociety Library, the Department of Paintings Study and Documentation Service at the Louvre, Catholic World News, Royal Observatory Greenwich, London Record Society, the Muniment Collection at Westminster Abbey, John Pike and the Federation of American Scientists, and the five members of Opus Dei (three active, two former) who recounted their stories, both positive and negative, regarding their experiences inside Opus Dei.
My gratitude also to Water Street Bookstore for tracking down so many of my research books...
And finally, in a novel drawing so heavily on the sacred feminine...'

and then you really start your book with:

'Fact:

(about the Priory of Sion, see earlier)

The Vatican prelature known as Opus
Dei is a deeply devout Catholic
sect that has been the topic of recent
controversy due to reports of brain-
washing, coercion and a dangerous
practice known as 'corporal mortification'.
Opus Dei has just completed construction
of a $47 million National Headquarters at
243 Lexington Avernue in New York City.

All descriptions of artwork, architecture,
documents and secret rituals in this novel
are accurate.'

And then you start your book... You first put up a screen of research, of truthfulness, you contact people that 'know' about things, you go to a place where they study paintings etc. etc. And then it would be 'just fiction'??? Let's say that it was a cleverly disquised paper on conspiracy, the catholic church as the bad guy and a little fiction in order to be able to distance himself from that if he had got into trouble...
Of course, from an academic point of view he would never have been taken seriously, because the material he used was proven faulty already 10 years ago, so he made a book for the masses based on that material. They don't know that the material is false. So it causes a hype, like a book with kind of the same contents 10 years ago... The editor and publisher knew very well that it would cause a hype, that they were going to earn a load of cash with it, and they really believed that they were doing something for the masses, 'opening their eyes' really... The problem is that the masses don't ask themselves the right questions and so take it for true...
That book drives the people at the Louvre and more places that featured in the book mad, because, as it happens, Mr Brown put a lot of things in his book that didn't exist and people go and look for it. Then you can say: 'see, it was just ficton', but according to what Mr Brown wrote himself in the acknowledgements and the part before the prologue, you cannot deny that he really meant something serious with his book, and it's that that drives people mad. They get dragged through the mud because of some writer who pulishes lies for true and masses that refuse to think. There is nothing lower than a fiction author who publishes fiction for truth. That practice stopped with Robinson Crusoe in the 17th century.

At least he earned himself a load of cash with his bestseller...

[tedgemon]

i read it like fiction, which it is.

[Dinglingzi]

yea~i ve read it , and i was kinda wondering ,are the religious courses true????unbelievable~to sacrifice one's life to serve his religious mission???well I m not here blaming this,but....i dunno.,....

[DecemberSun]

In my humble opinion.

:lol:

Oh well, I do agree with you. The language in his novels is just dreadful and so is his character drawing skills.
However, I can understand if people find the plot interesting, but I was too bothered with Brown's style to be absorbed by the story.

[Janine]

Kiki, you are absolutely right in your observations and many scholars now looking at the book would agree with you on the points you bring out about Dan Brown presenting the book as something historic in the preliminary pages of his novel. That is exactly the problem with then viewing the novel as mere fiction and a thriller. I happen to be in my video store and browsing the sellout bins and came across this film "Cracking the DiVinci Code" for cheap. I am glad I purchased it and viewed it recently - a very well done documentary, which I enjoyed and found enlightening and very educational. If you can find this film, I highly recommend it.

I really did not believe the story as a truism anyway and I did read the book, at the urging of a good friend of mine; I found it an entertaining read: a page-turner and a thriller and interesting at best, but limited. I do agree with DecemberSun; I believe I have read far better authors and that some of his language, dialogue in the novel is downright lame.

[integrity]

Forgive me if I have not read through the four pages of posts about The Da Vinci Code...I really cannot bring myself to invest that much time on the subject.

I'm simply taking advantage of an opportunity that has finally arisen in the proper context to say something I always wanted to say...

How Dan Brown came to fame is beyond me. I can only think that his contrived gimmick of employing an unresolved action at the end of each God awful chapter has something to do with it. It seduces you like bad porn, and compels you to begrudgingly read what happens in the next chapter, despite how atrociously bad the writing is and no matter how appallingly unbelievable the plot happens to be. You read the next chapter, and all hope you had for a satisfying conclusion quickly turns to disappointment. And like bad porn, the more you are manipulated into reading it, the more disgustingly guilty and dirty you feel, as if you are betraying your own values and standards of literature. Upon reading the last words, I hurled the book at the wall with a vengeance. Even the wall cursed back at the book's existence.

[kiki1982]

Integrity, I was the wall against which my husband chucked it, but not with vengeance, I was rather something like the wall of the Temple in Jerusalem, for him, I think... I didn't read the book but I heard all about it thanks to my husband... :blush:

Even Dan Brown's first sentence was rubbish... If you can't even do that right, what's there to read further???
It is indeed a page turner, according to my husband at least and probably it has something to do with what you say: a cliffhanger at each end of a chapter... It's like the Bold and the Beautiful, then... A cliffhanger and the next day a total anticlimax... Indeed, you feel so dirty and still you get hooked on it...

[benvincent]

I liked the Da Vinci Code alot. It really drew me in. The twist at the end was great too.