The Da Vinci Code

Ok, I shall patiently await for when this one gets chosen as I just finished it!  

Iam all for that too Elle  

Hey...since I have failed miserably at trying to finish Pilllars of the Earth shall we discuss this book then?  I just finished it in about a 24 hour time span and I love loved loved it.  So what do you think?

Well, I am a voracious (and eclectic) reader...in spurts. I have read non-stop from post Christmas, though I am starting to "peter out" a bit now. One of the first books I read was the Da Vinci Code, which I had wanted to read since it first came out.  I think it took all of a part of one day and then a part of the next to finish it...even with kids needing this or that it was an exciting and fast read. My ancestor (of my protein body, but I guess that is not a discussion for here!) is Hughe De Payens, so it was interesting to see so much of the Templars mentioned! Of course, the first weekend I was in Newcastle this past February we all drove up to Rosslyn Chapel to investigate...hehehe...

ROFL! I came into this section to ask wench and elle if they'd read this book.   I just finished it. No, wait...still have the Epilogue. Gimme about 15 more minutes...

ROFL! I came into this section to ask wench and elle if they'd read this book.  I just finished it. No, wait...still have the Epilogue. Gimme about 15 more minutes...

LOL  And what did you think, Miss Lisa?

Hmmm, do we get an informal discussion going now, or wait until one is called?

Okay, briefly.
I loved learning form it. It made me go find books on DaVinci and be more aware of things perhaps hidden; gave me a new look at things. I love that sort of stuff. I thought there was so much that made the idea of it so plausible that it got me to take a step back and go 'hmmm'. What I didn't like was that it was so far-fetched, too neat. As an education, it held me completely, but part of me made me think I was being silly for being drawn in so far because it was a "wild ride"...just wouldn't happen that way. Okay, take for instance the figuring of the codes all the way through.
     "Hey, I found a piece of paper"
     "What does it mean?"
     1 minute passes
     "Oh, it means this!"
     Go to next place.
     <repeat>

I'd definitely read more from Dan Brown if his other works are similar. It was as though HIS words got me on my own treasure hunt...looking at other books, verifying stories, etc. In that way his book affected me in a way that made me part of the story too, part of the treasure hunt.

I could discuss it more, but i said I'd keep it brief.

Hmmm, do we get an informal discussion going now, or wait until one is called?

Don't know....Wench!  Ashley!  Make it official or something please!?

Okay, briefly.
I loved learning form it. It made me go find books on DaVinci and be more aware of things perhaps hidden; gave me a new look at things. I love that sort of stuff. I thought there was so much that made the idea of it so plausible that it got me to take a step back and go 'hmmm'.

Yes, yes YES!  Same here!  I found myself looking up a lot of things.  Definitely learned some things from that book.

What I didn't like was that it was so far-fetched, too neat. As an education, it held me completely, but part of me made me think I was being silly for being drawn in so far because it was a "wild ride"...just wouldn't happen that way. Okay, take for instance the figuring of the codes all the way through.
     "Hey, I found a piece of paper"
     "What does it mean?"
     1 minute passes
     "Oh, it means this!"
     Go to next place.
     <repeat>

*nod*  I do agree with this, actually and definitely towards the end it seemed it went just a bit far afield.

I'd definitely read more from Dan Brown if his other works are similar. It was as though HIS words got me on my own treasure hunt...looking at other books, verifying stories, etc. In that way his book affected me in a way that made me part of the story too, part of the treasure hunt.

I'm currently reading Angels & Demons by Dan Brown.  Also has the character Langdon in it and the writing style and such is similar.  It's been a good book but this one I'm slowly reading because while it's been good, I'm not as interested in the subject matter of this one.  Still good nonetheless though and I'm enjoying it.

I could discuss it more, but i said I'd keep it brief.

I actually read Angels & Demons first, which was perfect as it was the book that was written before the DaVinci Code.  I truly liked it much more...the writing was better.  And I learned a lot from this book as well.  I think you'll really enjoy it!

I did wonder if there was a book before, because there was a one-line mention of a past experience (as in 'the last time I agreed to do something I almost got killed' sort of thing).

I have to say that I agree with what you guys have said.  The book was great in that it opened up new avenues of thought and spurred my desire to learn more, but I did feel that there was a rush at the end to actually bring the whole book together. 

I am so glad you all finally read this book   I read it last summer, as I have always had a thing for Da Vinci, but I didn't expect this book to capture my imagination like it did.  It really does make one want to research the facts that Brown uses to create such a credible and interesting take on the origins of religion, and symbolism. I think it presents a more human element rather than mystical element to historical figures that we have always felt were beyond any of the restrictions of being just a normal human being.  He really does a good job in taking actual historical places, and uses the legends associated with them, to weave a very intriging story.  When I finished the book, it was about 1:00 am last August, and I ran straight to the computer, and started looking things up. If nothing else, it was a great lesson in some of the historical places in the UK.

So...how much of this do you think is actually true?

I think history has shown that religion has always been very political rather than purely spiritual.  I would not be surprised if alot of the misconceptions we have about it are not accurate, but I am not a theologian, so am going to defer to the experts lol.  The book does present alot of theories that make one sit back and think.  What surprised me tho, is that none of these theories are new. There is alot of information about things like "The Sacred Feminine" and other theories mentioned in the book. There is a website for the Rose Chapel, and the legends surrounding it have been around for hundreds of years. I think Dan Brown did a remarkable thing, by bringing all these things together.

Gonna read "angels and demons" then it's all go with the da vinci code   I really can't wait to read it, everyone who I know who's read it says that it's really damn good!