The Da Vinci Code - who read the book

[ShadesWolf]

Who has read the 'The Da Vinci Code' book by Dan Brown ?
And what do you think about what it says ?

[Ianofsmeg16]

Very, very, very good book. Inspired me to do alot of research on The knights Templar, Priory of sion etc

[Justiciar]

Picked it up. Read about twenty pages. Chucked it away. It really is bollocks tbh. Angels and Demons was a far better Dan Brown book, and my mum tells me that HBHG was a better story on the whole Jesus bloodline theory.

[Keba]

I think there was a thread on this in the Monastery ... yes ... there was, here is the link.

[Boohugh]

Its a good novel, and a fun read, buts thats all. As Ianofsmeg said, some of the historical aspects can be fun to research further, but as for the story well, the whole Jesus bloodline thing is a load of old trollops in my opinion

[Dutch_guy]

Well I was pleasantly surprised with the book, and in my opinion it was as good as many say it is.

The story was skillfully designed and you wanted to keep on reading even though you at sometimes just couldn't.

As said, I liked the book and I'm still thinking of reading some more of his books, any suggestions ?

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

I read it on holiday, it was the only book I could find in English. Fairly solid thriller I suppose, but nothing special. Some of the conspiracy stuff was a bit laughable, mind.

[Bar Kochba]

was pethatic compared to the ratings when i picked it up thought it was going to be the best book of all time all that hype about it really badley written ne of u goin to c the moive?

[Justiciar]

Aye.. if only to laugh at the type of people that it's bound to attract.

[Xiahou]

I read it on holiday, it was the only book I could find in English. Fairly solid thriller I suppose, but nothing special. Some of the conspiracy stuff was a bit laughable, mind.

The story is pretty entertaining at times, but his ham-handed conspiracy theories are so convoluted that they even seem to contradict themselves at times.

What's really frightening to me(on many levels) is the fact that some people think the book is non-fiction.

[Bar Kochba]

LOL its because at the begining he writes

everything i write in this book is fact

[ICantSpellDawg]

didnt like it that much at all. i had been into the knights templar/priory etc since the third gabriel knight game hard core and i thought that dan browns story was sub par - characters were bland and storyline was kinda dumb. it has caused a lot of commotion, so that is interesting, but the entire plot (although sort of backed up by brown as semi-factual) is crap. i have visited temple bar, rosslyn chapel, certain areas of paris, etc - read an insane number of books on the idea (all before reading his novel) and i have found nearly all priory and templar legends to be as fabricated as the loch ness monster.

i enjoyed angels/demons better, even though dan brown is hardly a memorable author.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Decent book, but his conspiracy theories are laughable and his claim that the book is fact is utter crap. Didn't live up to the hype.

Crazed Rabbit

[Avicenna]

Well, it's just a story. I found it a great read myself (don't read incredibly much now), but it was a bit predictable.

Dutch Guy: there are only three other novels by him, you can easily read all three of them. Angels and Demons is the prequel though, so you should read that.

[JAG]

I have indeed read it and I thought it was pretty good, though Angels and Demons is better in my opinion, that should be made into a film, even has the whole falling out of a plane thing!

[Ronin]

never bothered to read it......I read a description of the story and it didn´t seem like it would interest me.
All the hype that has gathered around the book with everybody saying how good it is further established the idea in my head that the book is probably crap.

[Moros]

Well alot of the history stuff seems to be bullocks but the book itself was quite good. (tough there were times I tought about stopping). The book about Bernini was much better tough.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I actually liked Angels and Demons much better, and put DVC on a par with Digital Fortress.

Good frothy entertainment -- like DuBrul or Cussler but in a different vein.

My Catholic faith was not "shattered" by reading this.

[Somebody Else]

Lets see... I thought the story-line a little fanciful and very market-orientated (nothing wrong with that - with the number of religious loons in the world, makes perfect sense). Style of writing was... simplistic, easy reading - but not exactly anywhere approaching a sophisticated grasp of the language (again, mass market appeal I suppose).

Nothing quite so vulgar as success...

*edit* I read it, of course, because so many people talk about it - I must after all keep abreast of popular culture... such that it is...

[Kralizec]

Like seemingly everybody else, I liked Angels & Demons better. I used to think it was because both are based on pretty much the same concept, reading TDVC gave me a deja vu feeling. But the more I think of it, I think A&D was written better too.

Where did he claim any of it was fact?

[Brenus]

I read it. Find it interesting, more for the question he raised and the debates he created. I was a bit concern by his lack of knowledge of the French History and culture. For a guy allegedly an expert, the First Name of his French Police Officer is weird, and honestly, after more than 35 years lived (mainly) France, I never met somebody with it. Never. The passage on the cross on his chest, due to the law, he couldn’t wear a big cross showing his religious beliefs… Some law applies for every Civil Servant, at school, Police or Taxes Offices.
The other thing which is questionable is about the Merovingian Kings. Believed me, when you speak with a moderately cultivate French of my age about the King Dagobert, the first thing which will come to mind is a small song for kids, written during the French Revolution to ridicule the Kings:
“
Le bon roi Dagobert
A mis sa culotte à l'envers
Le grand Saint Eloi lui dit :
O mon roi votre Majesté est mal culottée
C'est vrai, lui dit le roi
Je vais la remettre à l'endroit

Le bon roi Dagobert
Avait un grand sabre de fer
Le grand Saint Eloi lui dit :
O mon roi votre Majesté pourrait se blesser
C'est vrai, lui dit le roi
Qu'on me donne un sabre de bois

Le bon roi Dagobert
Voulait embarquer sur la mer
Le grand Saint Eloi lui dit :
O mon roi votre Majesté se fera noyer
C'est vrai, lui dit le roi,
On pourra crier: le roi boit.”

There are others, but it will be too long…
I honestly just remember the 1st paragraph.

For the ones a little bit more enthusiastic about Middle Ages they will know that after having been chosen by his father Clotaire II, King of Austrasia, Dagobert will reign on a united kingdom after his father and brother Charibert’s death in 632 (whom he murdered his son to avoid to share the kingdom). He also murdered his Uncle from his mother’s side (Bernufle).
He will not hesitate to exile or kill all opposition
Apparently he died from dysentery in Epinay.
He we know for his taste for gold and his life of debauches. To sustain his style he increase taxes. He pushed so far that he built for himself a huge throne in gold. He had five wives and a great number of concubines. Among cruelties the murder of the Bulgarians is the most known. They were fleeing the Huns and were at first welcome by Dagobert. Then, fearing they could take over the lands he just gave to them, he just make them in one night, 10,000 families in one night.

If THIS guy is in direct line with Christ, good behaviour is not genetically transmittable.

And at his death in 639, the Kingdom is shared between his two sons: Sigebert 3 (9 years old) – Austrasia and Aquitaine) and Clovis 2 (4 years old) –Neustria and Bourgogne)

In 751, the Carolingians replaced the Merovingian.

But, because this book, I now read a book about the Gnosis.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Where did he claim any of it was fact?

At the very begining.

Crazed Rabbit

[KrooK]

I read it. Author had nice idea but his lack of language is visible.
Everywhere he can't make action better, he attacks Church. I think he got thic protestant syndrome - everything from rome is bad :)
I can't agree with his views too. There he is completely lying. I believe in God.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Well, let's see my ratings for it...

As a Catholic: 1/10.

As a reader: 2/10.

It's complete bull and not well written, IMO.

[Justiciar]

Tbh the success of The Da Vinci Code is down ot Dan Brown and his publishers being salesmen. And good ones at that.

[Major Robert Dump]

It's the new trend for religion hating hippies in America. They make sure its prominantly dispalyed in their home, or the dash of the car, or they take it to the coffeehouse even though theyve already read it, hoping that someone asks them about it.

ITs just as ridiculous as the bible they hate so much.

[Quid]

Read it just after it came out before all the hype about it started. Bought Angels and Deamons with it. I also thought the first part was better. I enjoyed both books, however.

Also read 'The holy blood and the holy grail' shortly after as I was certain that I had heard of the continuing bloodline before. Good read also, that, and quite a little more detailed.

Quid

[Divinus Arma]

Read it. Liked it. It's fiction. You Christians get too bent out of shape over this. He suggests that there are facts in his book, by showing a few things that are factual. Point to where he says "this is fact". Quote it here verbatim.

It is fiction, and should be read as a work of fiction. I have family who get so angry about this book. GAH! It's a fiction.

Decent book. I enjoyed it and I look forward to the flick.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I dare say I'm hardly bent out of shape.

And I do recall reading a passage at the begining of his book wherein he says all the sects and cults described are completely accurate and factual.

Crazed Rabbit

[Joker85]

What's this? A book has the nerve to question my religion? Fiction or not, time to get the knives and fire bombs for some good old fashioned "protests". Maybe if I kill enough people I can intimidate these cursed blasphemers to stop reproducing this offensive material! Think people! We need more respect and tolerance of Christianity! ... or else!

ps: Christianity is a religion of peace don't forget that! ... or else!