Review: The Da Vinci Code

I read this novel on holiday to see what all the fuss was about, and to see if the reviews and accolades it has received are justified.

The plot begins with the murder of the curator of the Louvre, and takes the reader on a complex and dizzy journey through the Paris night and beyond. Following Robert Langdon, Harvard Professor of symbology and noted cryptographer Sophie Neveu, the path leads to the discovery of the ancient code of Leonardo da Vinci, hidden in his paintings and held secret from the rest of the world, protected by the church. Weaving intrigue within art history, paganism, the sacred, the Catholic church and the myth of the Holy Grail, it is certainly an exciting read.

The book is theologically controversial in some of its suppositions, and although a work of fiction, the facts presented and statements call out for acceptance or refutation. Many of his assertions made are simply not true historically, although Brown is clearly intending to challenge accepted beliefs and these serve him in that. As a novel it works well, but should not be accepted as factually accurate.

It is an enthralling fast-paced read, thought provoking and challenging. Personally I found the twists and turns towards the end clever, but the ending a little disappointing.

Great airport reading!

: 15 Jun 2004 11:09 |  Tags: Book Reviews |  Comments (1) |  Report a problem