While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. While working to solve the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci -- clues visible for all to see -- yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion -- an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others.
In a breathless race through Paris, London, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who seems to anticipate their every move. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's ancient secret -- and an explosive historical truth -- will be lost forever.
Warning: SPOILERS - But really, who hasn't read this book? =D
Okay, so a lot of people have written reviews for this book. They either loved it or bashed it to death, then the Vatican decided to put their two cents into it and ensured it became a bestseller many times over. Whatever others say, I totally LOVED this book!!! Which is why this is my first ever book post.
One of the things that haters of this book pointed out is the writing style. They claim that Dan Brown can't write. In what manner can't he write? I really do not know since I am not a writer myself nor can I claim to have a good grasp on written or even spoken English. What I do know is what entertains me or not. Call me pedestrian but I will not read a book, just because people say that a book is written well, if the topic isn't to my taste. There are great literary books out there but that's just not the genre I am into. Besides, if he truly could not write, why did it become such a topic for discussion that even the Church wanted to ban it?
Being a Catholic, practically from birth, I really did not see what the hype was all about that had the Vatican stepping in to stop people from buying and reading the Da Vinci Code. The book is fiction and we all need to separate that from actual proven fact. The author is merely presenting a possibility that Jesus may have had descendants. I for one do not believe that would have given them divine powers because when He was on earth, it was as a HUMAN BEING! If they were Blessed then good for them! Most Saints became one because of their healing powers even without being related to Jesus by blood right? Was it because of Mary Magdalene? Is it really so bad to have Jesus fall in love and elevate that person to wife and then have children with her? Isn't our church's motto, "Go forth and multiply?" I am not being cheeky here, simply asking a question why her status in life could not have been different from what was implied in the Bible when in fact the prelates themselves admit that there are many ways of interpreting the Holy Book.
As for Da Vinci himself, he lived so many centuries ago and I truly doubt there is anyone out there who could lay claim to knowing what the man was really thinking when he created his artworks. What we all have are suppositions and Dan Brown simply exploited that in order to create a wonderful conspiracy theory. Having read this book before it became a super bestseller was kind of gratifying just because I could say I was first. I liked how Dan Brown got my heart racing in his previous books so I thought I'd try this one to see if it was good too. It was definitely heart pounding as well as thought stimulating. It allowed my mind to do some mental exercises and so that I didn't get stuck in my comfort zone. Popularity does not make him a great writer but since I am not qualified to assess his writing skills, what I will say is that he is very entertaining with the way he pens his books.
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