The Da Vinci Code [Paperback]

The second of Dan Brown's books to feature Robert Langdon, "The Da Vinci Code" opens in Paris with the death of Jacques Sauniere. Murdered by a mysterious albino, Sauniere - the curator of the Louvre - realises that a highly important secret will die with him if he doesn't find some way of passing it on.

A short time later, Langdon is woken by a phone call. A professor of Religious Symbology at Harvard University and the author of several books, his first adventure was outlinedin "Angels and Demons" - the events of which have turned him into something of a celebrity. In Paris on business, the phone call leads him to the Louvre at the request of the DCPF - officially to lend his experience and knowledge at the crime scene. Sauniere's body had been found in a very strange position, with a number of codes, symbols and phrases written on and around the corpse. Furthermore, it's clear that Sauniere himself was responsible for writing the codes. As Langdon puzzles over the meaning of what he sees, Sophie Neveu, a French cryptologist, arrives at the scene. She provided interesting information on the meaning of the codes, and some disturbing information for Langdon himself. It seems that, rather than being asked along for his expertise, he is instead the prime suspect. Langdon and Neveu go on the run - trying to avoid arrest and the albino, while also trying to solve the mysterious sequence left by Sauniere.

After I'd heard so many positive reports about this book, I found it a huge disappointment. Langdon wasn't an entirely likeable character - there have been few books where I've so badly wanted the 'bad guy' to throttle the 'good guy' - while Neveu, his sidekick, sometimes appeared almost gullible. Bearing in mind both Langdon's and Neveu's professions it was almost shocking watching them struggle with some of the most obvious clues. While Dan Brown may have been an English teacher, this book does little to support the suggestion that he is a "master craftsman". The twists and turns I'd heard so much about were pretty obvious, while certain words and phrases were used to the point of distraction. On the other hand, the story is easily enough followed - you won't have to concentrate to figure out what's going on. It'll be a brainless way to pass a few hours on a long flight or on the beach. On the whole, though, I think I'd recommend "Foucault's Pendulum", by Umberto Eco instead. It has a similar 'theme' to "The Da Vinci Code", but is a much more absorbing book.

The great thing about this book - and this applies to all Dan Brown's books which I've read - is that it presents art, science, religion and symbolism in a very easy-to-read and enjoyable adventure. You don't need to believe that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene to read this book, because there is much more to it than just that! Enjoy it and you'll not regret it!

Whatever you do, don't think!
Dan Brown writes a speedy thriller that could keep you up all night turning pages. This is the best thing that can be said about this book. It's best to read it when your mind isn't sharp.
In the beginning you may overlook the fact that the author has placed a flamboyant homosexual in the Grand Mastery of a goddess worshipping group that supposedly finds completion and enlightenment in heterosexual union.
You may also overlook the fact that the only character described in any detail at all is the huge albino assassin following a plethora of other albino assassin stories from Foul Play to Pluto Nash (any more albino assassin stories and albinos will start an anti-defamation league). The rest are faceless cutouts. Even the main character gets a one line description.
The book is full of puzzles, but the best of these are the anagrams. The rest are often totally fabricated or contradictory (such as the one where we first note that hebrew has no vowels, and then get the puzzle to work out by adding vowels).
Try not to notice that until the last few pages, there is only a single female character with more than half a dozen lines. She seems to exist for the sake of the mentally superior male characters who spend most of the book lecturing her. As a cryptographer, her only other contribution is the ability to recognize a Fibonacci series.
The biggest thing to overlook is the portrayals of any faith/religion at all. The author shows a lack of any depth in understanding either goddess worship (in which he simultaneously asserts that male and female are equal complements, and asserts that the female is greater) or Christianity (in which he seems to assume that Christianity has some concern with the gender of God except in metaphors). Try not to think about what Christian sect the author may have had contact with that bases its beliefs or it's efforts on finding the Holy Grail. Try to overlook the fact that if Jesus wasn't who the Bible claims him to be, any of his brothers would have the same claims of inheritance.
What begins as a mystery soon becomes alternate-universe science-fiction as Mr. Brown rewrites history, religion, linguistics and logic.
What could have been a thriller worthy of Alfred Hitchcock ends as a conspiracy sermon worthy of Richard Hoagland and Art Bell and a puzzle of whether this is in actuality a defense of the author's sexuality.