The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I recently read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and really enjoyed it. I have had students recommending this book to me for the past three years, and have wanted to read it, but was turned off by all the media hype that has surronded this book. Finally, after getting caught-up by one of the movie trailers, I decided that i wanted to read the book so that I can go see the movie. My students were correct: this is a fabulous book! I don't normally like action/adventure/mystery-type books, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

This is an intelligently written story. The reader does not need to know all of the history of the countries and artwork prior to reading the story, but after reading the book, one finds themself desiring to visit each country and do conduct research on each painting. The way the book opens is what grabbed my attention. I read the prologue, and couldn't put the book down after that. Some of the characters are difficult to identify with, but there is enough to keep you intrigued by their every movement. Personally, I saw the big surprise at the end coming about 100 pages in, but was genueienly surprised by the revealing of two other secrets.

Many people have asked me how I can read this book, knowing that I am a Christian. Honestly, I read this book knowing that it is a work of fiction. Dan Brwon does a good job intermingling fact and fictionm, but I am secure enough in my faith to know the difference between the truth and a good read.

"With The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of fascinating esoteria culled from 2,000 years of Western history. A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ. The victim is a high-ranking agent of this ancient society who, in the moments before his death, manages to leave gruesome clues at the scene that only his granddaughter, noted cryptographer Sophie Neveu, and Robert Langdon, a famed symbologist, can untangle. The duo become both suspects and detectives searching for not only Neveu's grandfather's murderer but also the stunning secret of the ages he was charged to protect. Mere steps ahead of the authorities and the deadly competition, the mystery leads Neveu and Langdon on a breathless flight through France, England, and history itself. Brown has created a page-turning thriller that also provides an amazing interpretation of Western history. Brown's hero and heroine embark on a lofty and intriguing exploration of some of Western culture's greatest mysteries--from the nature of the Mona Lisa's smile to the secret of the Holy Grail. Though some will quibble with the veracity of Brown's conjectures, therein lies the fun. The Da Vinci Code is an enthralling read that provides rich food for thought." --Jeremy Pugh, amazon.com

Read a few pages on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385504209/sr=8-1/qid=1148674590/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5070962-6039137?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Check out the movie website: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode/

If you read The Da Vinci Code and enjoy it, check out the prequel, Angels and Demons.