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Date Posted: 16:41:29 10/23/04 Sat
Author: Syl
Subject: The DaVinci Code

I decided to do this one myself because I've just finished reading it and was totally gripped!


TITLE: The DaVinci Code

AUTHOR: Dan Brown

GENRE: Thriller


Professor Robert Langdon, of Harvard University, is on a business trip in Paris when he receives an urgent phone call late at night, telling him of the murder of the curator of the Louvre museum. Why was he phoned? Because being a symbologist, the local police need his expertise to solve puzzling codes scrawled in blood by the body. As he ponders on the codes’ meaning, enter Sophie Neveu – a very talented cryptologist – who subsequently helps Langdon solve these codes, plus a plethora of riddles. She is unwittingly very connected to the case through the murder victim.

The codes point to the works of Leonardo DaVinci and eventually lead to one of the greatest prizes in history. But Langdon and Sophie face great danger, not least from the police, as they follow the trail to the treasure through the streets of Paris, the French countryside and eventually Scotland. Two secret societies, both deeply embedded within the Catholic Church, also show an unhealthy interest in the couple’s movements. It’s a race against time to solve the puzzles before the treasure falls into the wrong hands and more murders are committed. There are other characters joining in the chase, among them a fanatical albino monk who is into self punishment and an archbishop who is taking a very unhealthy interest in events.

I’ve just read this book and loved it! Every time I finished a section (I read in bed before going to sleep) I couldn’t wait to get back to the next part. Every page has more excitement, more clues to solve, more facts to learn. There is so much in this book and it moves along pretty fast and smoothly! The descriptions of the Louvre make you feel you are actually there! There were clues pointed out in DaVinci’s paintings, so I had to look at them on the ‘net and there they were. The two secret societies named in the book do actually exist and with the knowledge of them and the theory attached to the consequences of finding the treasure, it makes you wonder just what is fact and what is fiction. I was particulary interested in the final part of the chase in Scotland. Roslin is only about 20 miles from where I live and I’ve never been to visit it. I will definitely do so in the spring.

Dan Brown has done an excellent job with this book and the story highlights how ahead of his time DaVinci was. Brown’s speculation of the why the Church was involved sounds believable and you sometimes forget this is a work of fiction. I read it and got sucked in. Give it a try!

Take a look at Brown’s website and you’ll see details of the featured paintings and some interesting information. www.danbrown.com

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Replies:

[> There's been a lot of pro & con discussion of this book over on the Reading Recommendation Board, but not such a great synopsis of the plot. Thanks Syl! -- beccabee, 05:39:29 10/24/04 Sun


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[> Hi Syl, I've got that one in my tbr since ages!! I doN#t know when I'll get to it. It looks like - if loved or hated- this book is one of those modern classics already that everyone at least has heard about already, be it in Europe or in North America. Thanks for posting the synopsis! -- Antje, 06:12:35 10/24/04 Sun


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[> Syl - this sounds GREAT! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy. :D -- Judie, 16:24:20 10/24/04 Sun


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[> I have read this and it is great, as was Angels and Demons also by Dan Brown. -- LadyFrey, 17:17:11 10/24/04 Sun


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[> I've read it too, and can't recommend it high enough. It was great. Chris/Ruby-there's also another book, well actually two, by Dan Brown. Deception Point and Digital Fortress which are both good. I really liked Angels and Demons as well. -- Keira, 17:34:57 10/24/04 Sun


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[> [> I found all of Dan Brown's books "unputdownable"!!! Terrific reads! -- Lolkate, 18:08:57 04/18/05 Mon


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[> You're right,it is a great read.And even though its fiction,theres a lot of truth behind the facts.Just pick up an art history book on the Renaissance.A lot of symbolism went into the making of every oil painting.And during the dark ages too.Artists had to paint by rules set up by the church and patrons(who were usually the church or high ranking officials closely linked to the church).There were always tidbits painted into portraits and themed paintings.Since there ws no tv then,that was entertainment! Leonardo was a pretty intelligent fellow.Supposingly he's painted himself into all his works.And he was a member of a secret society thats still in existance today.The Masonic temple goes way back to the Knights Templar.A lot of colonial political figures were members.One of my uncles was a Mason,but was real secret about it. -- BGWJ, 18:08:08 10/24/04 Sun


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[> It's a really quick read (you can't put it down) - read it when you have a couple of days available!! DS#1 had the same HS English teacher as Dan Brown (though Brown is about a decade older i think), and I keep asking DS if he has a best-seller floating around in his head!! C'mon, boy!!! -- annieo, 18:59:26 10/24/04 Sun


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[> I've had this one in my TBR pile since I picked it up at Costco for $23. I'm really looking forward to reading it now after your synopsis. Thanks -- Aislinn, 19:05:03 10/24/04 Sun


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[> I totally enjoyed this book. I'd like to meet Dan Brown to shake his hand. -- Cherie, 09:54:45 10/27/04 Wed


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[> I loved this book!!!!!! -- Amy Girl, 11:35:35 10/28/04 Thu


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[> Syl, sorry to be so late to the party! I too have read this and I enjoyed it so much I went and bought the rest of his books and read those too. No higher recommendation so far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the great review. -- Margy, 14:16:49 11/01/04 Mon


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[> I read Angels & Demons first (actually it is the first one in chronological order, but you can read them separately, no problem), so this was the one that really knocked me off my feet. Wow!!!! The surprise effect wasn't there anymore for Da Vinci, as I'd read A&D, but I guess it's just the same the other way round. Great books, he's an excellent writer. A few French hosers are now reading "Da Vinci code decrypted", and I've heard that there are guided tours of Paris and the Louvre based on that book. There also seems to be a tour that points out all the errors Dan Brown made - could be fun, too. *g* -- Pat, 08:22:07 11/05/04 Fri


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[> I too enjoyed this book, and Angels & Demons. According to Amazon, the next sequel will the The Solomon Key (but, according to DG, they sometimes get this wrong). I just bought the new illustrated version of DC at Costco, collector types might be interested in that edition. -- LadyPeggyB, 08:15:20 11/20/04 Sat


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