Did you like Da Vinci code?

bbor · 05-26-2004, 12:15 PM

Try this book out.....i just finished it....much more complex than the Da Vinci code.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...885078-0719310

There is also another new book out that is supposed to blow Da Vinci code out of the water...but i havent caught the name of it yet.It has not yet been released but should be soon.

The_herd · 05-26-2004, 12:17 PM

I'll pick it up. The Da Vinci code was pretty good, but became very predictable the further you got into it.

KevinNU7 · 05-26-2004, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbor

Try this book out.....i just finished it....much more complex than the Da Vinci code.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...885078-0719310

There is also another new book out that is supposed to blow Da Vinci code out of the water...but i havent caught the name of it yet.It has not yet been released but should be soon.

You may like this one.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...441550-5625608

corbes · 05-26-2004, 12:30 PM

thanks bbor...i will check that out.

Rizon · 05-26-2004, 12:46 PM

I was on a flight a couple weeks ago, and someone recommened a similar type book. Can't think of it off the top of my head though.

Godzilla Blitz · 05-26-2004, 12:52 PM

I haven't read The DaVinci Code yet, but loved Deception Point and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's other two books.

I've read that his factual accuracy is dubious, but I don't think that is his strength anyway. The stories are literary crack. Highly recommended fun reading.

Thanks for the linkies to the other books. They look interesting.

Godzilla Blitz · 05-26-2004, 12:58 PM

dola...

I really enjoyed this one as well:

The Horned Man

A different kind of "psychological thriller".

Bonegavel · 05-26-2004, 02:59 PM

About half way through TDC and it isn't too bad, though I will admit it is becoming a bit predictable. One thing I am sick of --- how many more books are going to exploit the poor albino community? Must they always be the bad guys? Is Johnny Winter the only positive role model these kids have?

bbor · 05-27-2004, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

You may like this one.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...441550-5625608

This book is great....one of the best i have read this year...i recomend it highly.

digamma · 05-27-2004, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbor

Try this book out.....i just finished it....much more complex than the Da Vinci code.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...885078-0719310

There is also another new book out that is supposed to blow Da Vinci code out of the water...but i havent caught the name of it yet.It has not yet been released but should be soon.

No freakin' way. I went to college with one of the authors. He was dating the roommate of a girl I was dating. I'll have to check it out.

Bonegavel · 05-27-2004, 08:31 AM

[spoilers below]

Just got the meaty section of Da Vinci code (they are at little Versaille with the british cripple) and I must say that the story nicely ties up all the tales of the Grail together, but there isn't much new in here that I haven't seen on the History Channel.

For the most part, I believe a lot of what he has written in here is true regarding Jesus and Mary M and I think the church has done all in its power over the 2 millenia to squash anything pagan. Seems that Brown's research into symbolism and iconography was fairly extensive and, to me, I felt like I was learning something while reading.

To think that the church has information "proving" (i use that loosely) that jesus wasn't the son of god and just a regular guy (albeit a great teacher) is very upsetting. I've done some investigations of my own into the gospel of Thomas and some others that show Jesus as a regular man with a message. This topic is interesting because the basis for the religion I grew up in is at the crux of it.

cody8200 · 05-27-2004, 11:00 AM

I liked the Da Vinci code until after I read it when I looked up many of the "facts" Brown had used and nearly all of them were not facts. Some were opinions and some were just outright wrong. While I still would recommend the book, I would do so only by telling the reader to not believe everything you read.

cody8200 · 05-27-2004, 11:02 AM

BTW, heres a link that talks about the facts he uses. Its a few pages long but a good read.

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/d50aa.html

OldGiants · 05-27-2004, 11:14 AM

I'm still laughing at the "Little Mermaid" chapter.

I enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong about that, but better conspiracy books are the Robert A. Wilson books, Schroedinger's Cat and The Illuminatus. Kind of the same material, just wierder and more amusing.

Bonegavel · 05-27-2004, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody8200

BTW, heres a link that talks about the facts he uses. Its a few pages long but a good read.

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/d50aa.html

Written by a ... pastor.

Pumpy Tudors · 05-27-2004, 07:41 PM

What the hell are these books about?

finkenst · 05-27-2004, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonegavel

To think that the church has information "proving" (i use that loosely) that jesus wasn't the son of god and just a regular guy (albeit a great teacher) is very upsetting. I've done some investigations of my own into the gospel of Thomas and some others that show Jesus as a regular man with a message. This topic is interesting because the basis for the religion I grew up in is at the crux of it.

Well, isn't there an edict/dogma (cradle catholic and i forget the appropriate term) that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine? (must a HT-player

)

seems to me I wouldn't struggle with him having a family in the ~15 years he disappears in the four standard Gospels of the New Testament.

--t

finkenst · 05-27-2004, 07:49 PM

dola, for the record:

I enjoyed the daVinci code.

this is just not my day: 12-30 = 18 years..

SFL Cat · 05-27-2004, 08:11 PM

As for TDV; after all the build-up, I thought the ending was rather weak.

Anthony · 05-27-2004, 08:27 PM

i've read all of Brown's books, with Da Vinci being the latest. i now can say i no longer fee la need to read his stuff. they ALL follow the same plot structure.

good looking male/female is paired up with a good looking female/male, both being experts in their field.

they must solve a seemigly impossible-to-solve dilemma, most always being up against the clock

the villain turns out to be a character that we thought was a "good guy".

male/female lead character solves puzzle and goes to bed with the female/male.

yawn. nice stories, but once you've read a couple books from him you start seeing patterns. one thing i don't like is that the character we eventually find is the villain usually gives no indication that he could be a villain. that's a poor way out. at least give us some clues that may be impossible to perceive as we read, but when we finish the book we can look back and say "oh yeah, when he said that it should have given it away that he was the villain". in almost all of his books we get hit out of nowhere - i don't like that, that means we're at the mercy of the storyteller rather than our own powers of perception. that's taking the easy way out. next book i read of his (if i do) i'll automatically assume the most non-obvious character is the villain.

Pumpy Tudors · 05-27-2004, 08:53 PM

Wait, so these are fictional books? The way people talk about them, it's like it's assumed that everybody's read them, kinda like Harry Potter, I guess. Never mind, then. Just passing through.

Anthony · 05-27-2004, 09:12 PM

i love it when people who have nothing to add to a conversation still feel the need to put their 2 cents in just for the sake of saying something. *sigh*

Pumpy Tudors · 05-28-2004, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

i love it when people who have nothing to add to a conversation still feel the need to put their 2 cents in just for the sake of saying something. *sigh*

I was trying to add to the conversation, Mister Man, by asking what the books were about.

Bonegavel · 05-28-2004, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I was trying to add to the conversation, Mister Man, by asking what the books were about.

I'm not completely done with TDC, but the book is basically an off-the-beaten-path interpretation of the Holy Grail legend. And, if you aren't into conspiracy theories and/or haven't watched/read about Mary Magdalen and the early church, the book may hold many suprising and fresh ideas for you to ingest.

I am enjoying the book, but after HA's comments, i doubt I will be checking out the others. I think Brown weaves a decent tale and he is great with teasing you with info and stopping a chapter only to start the next with another character/arch of the story.

As far as the fiction goes, Brown claims that all the *facts* regarding the secret societies (Priory of Scion, Opus Dei, etc) and other things are *true*. IOW, Brown basically did all this research on the legend of the Grail and then wove a "thriller" around it. As I mentioned in a post earlier in this thread, I personally feel there is some merit to the whole Mary Magdalen theories put forth in this book, but obvioulsy neither side can ever really be proven right or wrong.

hope this helped.

HornedFrog Purple · 05-28-2004, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hell Atlantic

i've read all of Brown's books, with Da Vinci being the latest. i now can say i no longer fee la need to read his stuff. they ALL follow the same plot structure.

good looking male/female is paired up with a good looking female/male, both being experts in their field.

they must solve a seemigly impossible-to-solve dilemma, most always being up against the clock

the villain turns out to be a character that we thought was a "good guy".

male/female lead character solves puzzle and goes to bed with the female/male.

yawn. nice stories, but once you've read a couple books from him you start seeing patterns. one thing i don't like is that the character we eventually find is the villain usually gives no indication that he could be a villain. that's a poor way out. at least give us some clues that may be impossible to perceive as we read, but when we finish the book we can look back and say "oh yeah, when he said that it should have given it away that he was the villain". in almost all of his books we get hit out of nowhere - i don't like that, that means we're at the mercy of the storyteller rather than our own powers of perception. that's taking the easy way out. next book i read of his (if i do) i'll automatically assume the most non-obvious character is the villain.

I just got done with Digital Fortress a few days ago, and after thinking about this you're right.

I still enjoyed the books though, maybe he will surprise us with the next one.

skrath · 05-28-2004, 10:04 AM

I recommend some of you check out Umberto Eco's Foucoult's Pendalum. It's like The Da Vinci Code but infinitely more intelligent. Plus, Eco can actually construct grammatical sentences, unlike Brown, who is more like a Hollywood treatment writer.

QuikSand · 05-28-2004, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skrath

I recommend some of you check out Umberto Eco's Foucoult's Pendalum. It's like The Da Vinci Code but infinitely more intelligent. Plus, Eco can actually construct grammatical sentences, unlike Brown, who is more like a Hollywood treatment writer.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

In addition to a well-constructed plot and a lot of very interesting religious and cultural history weaved in, it has something that would come as a complete shock to most formula-fiction readers: an entirely satisfying ending. Wow.

Excellent book, worth the substantial investment necessary.

Pyser · 05-28-2004, 12:20 PM

brown recently did a speaking engagement where he said that one of the things he cut out of TDC was that Jesus actually survived his crucifixion.

now that wouldve changed the book sales, i think....

sequels in the works, he also says.

MacroGuru · 05-28-2004, 02:16 PM

Alright, just picked up a new book for me.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

It's an alternate history of the Civil War.

So Far so good with it.

Desnudo · 05-28-2004, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Ding! Ding! Ding!

In addition to a well-constructed plot and a lot of very interesting religious and cultural history weaved in, it has something that would come as a complete shock to most formula-fiction readers: an entirely satisfying ending. Wow.

Excellent book, worth the substantial investment necessary.

A satsifying ending would be nice. I'll have to check it out. I assume you mean that it doesn't end with the bad guy dead and the guy and the girl, who initially didn't get along at all, but now love each other dearly, ride off into the sunset together.

Coder · 05-28-2004, 04:03 PM

I read The Da Vinci Code on a business trip and I must say I really enjoyed it. I've previously read "Holy Blood Holy Grail", so I've heard the theories before. This was my first encounter with Dan Brown, but from what I've read in reviews HA's comments are basically what others think as well, so maybe I'll stay away from DF etc.

However, I think that Brown has done a great job weaving together a pretty good thriller with a very fascinating sub-plot. I thoroughly enjoy conspiracy theories of all kinds, not because I necessarily believe them all, but because I've never been one to accept things without thinking them through myself. I'm a firm believer in getting information from several sources before believing something. This goes for everything, from War News to religion. ;-)

Gnosticism is interesting because I find it very reasonable that the Bible is made up of information that someone deemed should be in there, and that there was probably much more documentation available that might not have suited the "authors" at the time of the writing.

Finally, if you're into alternate history (I saw a post up there about that), check out Harry Turtledove. Amazing stuff.. He's written a whole "saga", starting with the south winning the Civil War and on all the way through history up to at least the early 1930s, with a divided America. The fascinating part, besides a great story, is that Turtledove has used documented incidents from the war itself to "justify" the victory; such as a lost bag of documents detailing Southern plans which was found by the North in reality, which wasn't actually lost in the book.

Pumpy Tudors · 05-28-2004, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonegavel

I'm not completely done with TDC, but the book is basically an off-the-beaten-path interpretation of the Holy Grail legend. And, if you aren't into conspiracy theories and/or haven't watched/read about Mary Magdalen and the early church, the book may hold many suprising and fresh ideas for you to ingest.

I am enjoying the book, but after HA's comments, i doubt I will be checking out the others. I think Brown weaves a decent tale and he is great with teasing you with info and stopping a chapter only to start the next with another character/arch of the story.

As far as the fiction goes, Brown claims that all the *facts* regarding the secret societies (Priory of Scion, Opus Dei, etc) and other things are *true*. IOW, Brown basically did all this research on the legend of the Grail and then wove a "thriller" around it. As I mentioned in a post earlier in this thread, I personally feel there is some merit to the whole Mary Magdalen theories put forth in this book, but obvioulsy neither side can ever really be proven right or wrong.

hope this helped.

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.

Anthony · 05-28-2004, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coder

I read The Da Vinci Code on a business trip and I must say I really enjoyed it. I've previously read "Holy Blood Holy Grail", so I've heard the theories before. This was my first encounter with Dan Brown, but from what I've read in reviews HA's comments are basically what others think as well, so maybe I'll stay away from DF etc.

i'm interested in the specifics of how my reviews are comparable to the stuff you've read from other critics. more so because i found the pattern or redundant plots on my own, i'm interested in hearing what a professional critic had to say about his storytelling.

one thing i like in Brown's novels are the tidbits on symbology that's prevailent in our everyday life. one novel - Angels & Demons i believe - spoke of the symbology in our dollar bill and how it's influence by the Illuminati/Masons. i take it that stuff is true. Brown has a way of making his stuff very believable, especially when he prefaces his novels with "this organization really exists", or "this really happened". you do tend to get caught up in the story and it does get hard to decipher fact from fiction. one thing Brown has, i'll give him, is very extensive research, which, again, makes his fiction very believable.

but, as i've stated before, i've got to that "been there, read that" part and now will most likely move on to another novelist who's my flavor-of-the-month . i'm one of those people who once i find a novelist i like i tend to buy most of all their previous stuff and don't purchase books from anyone else. i went from Kerouac to Anne Rice to Tolkien to Lewis Carrol to Dan Brown. perhaps i'll check out that Eco book that several have mentioned in this thread. i've been meaning to buy some George Martin (although fantasy isn't my sort of bag), because his work seems to be a fave around FOFC readers.

cornbreaD · 05-29-2004, 09:28 AM

Dan Brown has to be one of the worst authors I have ever read. I work in a bookstore and a couple of my co-workers told me that I had to read The Da Vinci Code. Before I picked it up, I did some research and found out that the main character was in one of Brown's previous works, Angels & Demons. If a character appears in more than one book, I like to read them in order of publication so I can see the development of that character. Therefore, instead of getting Code I decided to read A&D.

I couldn't finish the book it was so horrible. I don't remember how many times I would read something and shake my head because it was either poorly written or completely unbelievable. There was no depth to any of the characters, the plot had so many holes it was laughable, and the dialogue was pathetic. I usually drudge through and finish a book no matter how bad it is (I'm stubborn like that), but A&D was too much for me. It actually hurt me to read it. Needless to say, I have given up on ever trying to read Brown again. There are too many good books out there and not enough time to be wasting it on Brown's junk.

HA, I'm a huge fan of Martin's. You say fantasy isn't your sort of bag, but Martin's epic series, A Song of Ice and Fire, is more like historical fiction than fantasy. It has fantastical elements, but it is nothing like The Lord of the Rings or that horrible Wheel of Time series.

bigdawg2003 · 11-17-2004, 12:42 PM

bump

bought Da Vinci code yesterday afternoon, finished at at about 1 AM. One of the most interesting books I've ever read. Say what you want about his writing skills, but the man tells a fascinating story in TDC. Does anybody here know of a good Da Vinci biography. After reading this, I wanna learn more about this man. To call him a renaissance man would be insulting to his body of work.

Celeval · 11-17-2004, 01:14 PM

Re: some of HA's comments...

I completely agree about DB's writing - it sucks. You left out how the first chapter is the same in every book. And I mean exactly the same. I'm not actually entirely sure if my copy of Davinci didn't have A&D's first chapter printed instead.

That being said... he's an awfully good storyteller, and I like the kind of story he tells in DVC and A&D. And I'm looking forward to the next one about the code on the CIA campus. Also liked the puzzles in the book - working out the clues about the next book.

AENeuman · 11-17-2004, 01:20 PM

The fascination in this topic seems to be akin to proving santa does not exist.
Nothing gets rid of latent catholic guilt like conspiracy.

Anthony · 11-17-2004, 01:30 PM

i picked up Umberto Eco's Foucoult's Pendalum as referred by someone in this thread, and i read about 5 pages on the bus and had to put it down and promptly returned it.

i've never read a book before where the writer wrote so much intellectual masturbation that he didn't make sense. i couldn't comprehend anything he was saying.

on another note: jsut picked up this new hard cover called "The Romanov Prophecy" by someone named Steve Berry. it's one of those "if you liked Da Vinci Code you'll love this one" kind of books. it delves into the Bolsheviks/Russian Revolution and such before going back to modern time, so since i don't have much knowledge of that time in history i thought i'd pick up a quick bit of info while reading a hopefully good story.

JonInMiddleGA · 11-17-2004, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coder

Finally, if you're into alternate history (I saw a post up there about that), check out Harry Turtledove. Amazing stuff.. He's written a whole "saga", starting with the south winning the Civil War and on all the way through history up to at least the early 1930s, with a divided America.

You beat me to it, I was going to mention the same thing.

The series in question is American Empire ... which I just discovered is being continued with a followup trilogy called Settling Accounts, which picks up with the military ambitions of CSA President Jake Featherstone, with help from a revived resistance in Occupied Canada.

bbor · 11-17-2004, 02:04 PM

Tom Hanks just signed on to play the lead role in the movie with Ron Howard directing.

Anthony · 11-17-2004, 02:09 PM

right before i heard that i was thinking to myself who i'd think would be a good Richard Langdon.

my choice was Jeff Goldblum. he always does an incredible job as a scientist (Independence Day, Jurassic Park) and would have made an excellent professor.

Tom Hanks is just as good. at least i know the movie will be good now.

Chief Rum · 11-17-2004, 04:13 PM

Spoiler in the middle

Regarding cody2800's link to proving Brown's facts are wrong and what not, I had a similar experience where I talked myself into buying this book that claimed to discredit all of the stuff in TDC. I bought it looking for an academic and intellectual discussion. Instead, I got drivel from two pastors who based almost their entire attack on Brown's borrowed theories (as they aren't really his, of course) on theological scripture.

You can only take someone so seriously when their response to "Jesus had a child" is "That's not in the Bible."

Admittedly I didn't read the whole book (the critique--I did read all of TDC), but some books don't deserve to be read after the first chapter or two.

CR

Buccaneer · 06-20-2005, 05:53 PM

Just for the fun of it, I am now about half way through the Da Vinci code. It's a fun page turner in the Tom Clancy mode. But when I was looking through my History Book Club catalog this morning, I saw a book by Ehrman called "Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code". My wife also told me that there have been TV shows on this book, I haven't read through this thread yet but isn't The Da Vinci Code fiction??? I know there is a page that states three 'facts' but they, so far, seems to only provide the basis for the adventure/thriller. Next thing you know, people will swear that there are clues on the back of the Decl of Indepedence. How is anyone treating this as anything other than fiction?

terpkristin · 06-20-2005, 05:59 PM

Yes Buccaneer, Da Vinci Code is FICTION and is sold in the fiction section of the store.

It was an entertaining read, irrespective of how much truth there was or wasn't in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and Angels & Demons.

/tk

MacroGuru · 06-20-2005, 06:06 PM

Hell Atlantic
In The Penalty Box
Wow.....he is still in there.....how much longer does he have?

terpkristin · 06-20-2005, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbor

Try this book out.....i just finished it....much more complex than the Da Vinci code.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...885078-0719310

There is also another new book out that is supposed to blow Da Vinci code out of the water...but i havent caught the name of it yet.It has not yet been released but should be soon.

Seeing how this original post was over a year ago, any idea what book you were referring to that was supposed to blow Da Vinci Code out of the water?

Just got back to this thread, am going to look into the other book recommendations.

/tk

Shkspr · 06-20-2005, 06:52 PM

By the by, the latest book with Da Vinci Code buzz is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. The plot concerns a young woman who discovers a mysterious packet of papers in her father's study and learns of his adventures as a youth hunting the immortal Vlad Dracul. Less a horror novel than historical epistolary tale (so far), The Historian scores some points for being a more literary novel than Dan Brown's work, but scores more with me for bringing Vlad Tepes' connection with the Turks and the Ottoman Empire to the forefront - a path most Dracula novels don't tend to mention.

Those outlets that have reviewed it as a historical novel have tended to be positive; those that have reviewed it as a vampire novel less so. Halfway in, I'm enjoying it, and am pleased with how easy it has been to follow the tales spun within tales.

Arles · 06-20-2005, 08:50 PM

Quote:

i've read all of Brown's books, with Da Vinci being the latest. i now can say i no longer fee la need to read his stuff. they ALL follow the same plot structure.

good looking male/female is paired up with a good looking female/male, both being experts in their field.

they must solve a seemigly impossible-to-solve dilemma, most always being up against the clock

the villain turns out to be a character that we thought was a "good guy".

male/female lead character solves puzzle and goes to bed with the female/male.

There's also the "important person getting killed by an Assasin" in the first few chapters to setup the entire plot. Even with all this "symmetry" in his writing, he does do a good job at making his books compelling and enjoyable if you don't get too bogged down by specifics.

st.cronin · 06-21-2005, 09:05 AM

When the Da Vinci code first came to my attention I was led to believe it was NON-fiction. From the way people talked about it, I thought it was a non-fiction book for probably a year before picking it up and glancing through it in a bookstore.

Tara · 06-21-2005, 09:12 AM

I didn't like Da Vinci Code. Yes, It's quite entertaining but I can't say that's a good book. Moreover the story is quite predictable.

05-26-2004, 12:17 PM	#2
The_herd College Starter Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fort Lackland, Texas (San Antonio)	I'll pick it up. The Da Vinci code was pretty good, but became very predictable the further you got into it. __________________ Oakland Raiders: HFL's 1970 AC West Champs

05-26-2004, 12:52 PM	#6
Godzilla Blitz College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	I haven't read The DaVinci Code yet, but loved Deception Point and Angels & Demons, Dan Brown's other two books. I've read that his factual accuracy is dubious, but I don't think that is his strength anyway. The stories are literary crack. Highly recommended fun reading. Thanks for the linkies to the other books. They look interesting. Last edited by Godzilla Blitz : 05-26-2004 at 01:00 PM.

05-26-2004, 12:58 PM	#7
Godzilla Blitz College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	dola... I really enjoyed this one as well: The Horned Man A different kind of "psychological thriller". Last edited by Godzilla Blitz : 05-26-2004 at 12:59 PM.

05-26-2004, 02:59 PM	#8
Bonegavel Awaiting Further Instructions... Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Macungie, PA	About half way through TDC and it isn't too bad, though I will admit it is becoming a bit predictable. One thing I am sick of --- how many more books are going to exploit the poor albino community? Must they always be the bad guys? Is Johnny Winter the only positive role model these kids have? Last edited by Bonegavel : 05-26-2004 at 02:59 PM.

05-27-2004, 08:31 AM	#11
Bonegavel Awaiting Further Instructions... Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Macungie, PA	[spoilers below] Just got the meaty section of Da Vinci code (they are at little Versaille with the british cripple) and I must say that the story nicely ties up all the tales of the Grail together, but there isn't much new in here that I haven't seen on the History Channel. For the most part, I believe a lot of what he has written in here is true regarding Jesus and Mary M and I think the church has done all in its power over the 2 millenia to squash anything pagan. Seems that Brown's research into symbolism and iconography was fairly extensive and, to me, I felt like I was learning something while reading. To think that the church has information "proving" (i use that loosely) that jesus wasn't the son of god and just a regular guy (albeit a great teacher) is very upsetting. I've done some investigations of my own into the gospel of Thomas and some others that show Jesus as a regular man with a message. This topic is interesting because the basis for the religion I grew up in is at the crux of it. Last edited by Bonegavel : 05-27-2004 at 08:32 AM.

05-26-2004, 12:30 PM	#4
corbes College Benchwarmer Join Date: Nov 2003	thanks bbor...i will check that out.

05-27-2004, 11:00 AM	#12
cody8200 High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2000	I liked the Da Vinci code until after I read it when I looked up many of the "facts" Brown had used and nearly all of them were not facts. Some were opinions and some were just outright wrong. While I still would recommend the book, I would do so only by telling the reader to not believe everything you read.

05-27-2004, 11:02 AM	#13
cody8200 High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2000	BTW, heres a link that talks about the facts he uses. Its a few pages long but a good read. http://www.apologeticsindex.org/d50aa.html

05-27-2004, 11:14 AM	#14
OldGiants College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Location, Location, Location	I'm still laughing at the "Little Mermaid" chapter. I enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong about that, but better conspiracy books are the Robert A. Wilson books, Schroedinger's Cat and The Illuminatus. Kind of the same material, just wierder and more amusing. __________________ "The case of Great Britain is the most astonishing in this matter of inequality of rights in world soccer championships. The way they explained it to me as a child, God is one but He's three: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I could never understand it. And I still don't understand why Great Britain is one but she's four....while [others] continue to be no more than one despite the diverse nationalities that make them up." Eduardo Galeano, SOCCER IN SUN AND SHADOW

05-27-2004, 07:41 PM	#16
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	What the hell are these books about? __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

05-27-2004, 07:49 PM	#18
finkenst College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: usually sunny SoCal	dola, for the record: I enjoyed the daVinci code. this is just not my day: 12-30 = 18 years.. Last edited by finkenst : 05-27-2004 at 07:50 PM.

05-27-2004, 08:11 PM	#19
SFL Cat College Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: South Florida	As for TDV; after all the build-up, I thought the ending was rather weak.

05-27-2004, 08:27 PM	#20
Anthony Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Astoria, NY, USA	i've read all of Brown's books, with Da Vinci being the latest. i now can say i no longer fee la need to read his stuff. they ALL follow the same plot structure. good looking male/female is paired up with a good looking female/male, both being experts in their field. they must solve a seemigly impossible-to-solve dilemma, most always being up against the clock the villain turns out to be a character that we thought was a "good guy". male/female lead character solves puzzle and goes to bed with the female/male. yawn. nice stories, but once you've read a couple books from him you start seeing patterns. one thing i don't like is that the character we eventually find is the villain usually gives no indication that he could be a villain. that's a poor way out. at least give us some clues that may be impossible to perceive as we read, but when we finish the book we can look back and say "oh yeah, when he said that it should have given it away that he was the villain". in almost all of his books we get hit out of nowhere - i don't like that, that means we're at the mercy of the storyteller rather than our own powers of perception. that's taking the easy way out. next book i read of his (if i do) i'll automatically assume the most non-obvious character is the villain. Last edited by Anthony : 05-27-2004 at 08:28 PM.

05-27-2004, 08:53 PM	#21
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Wait, so these are fictional books? The way people talk about them, it's like it's assumed that everybody's read them, kinda like Harry Potter, I guess. Never mind, then. Just passing through. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

05-27-2004, 09:12 PM	#22
Anthony Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Astoria, NY, USA	i love it when people who have nothing to add to a conversation still feel the need to put their 2 cents in just for the sake of saying something. sigh

05-28-2004, 10:04 AM	#26
skrath Mascot Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Melbourne, Australia	I recommend some of you check out Umberto Eco's Foucoult's Pendalum. It's like The Da Vinci Code but infinitely more intelligent. Plus, Eco can actually construct grammatical sentences, unlike Brown, who is more like a Hollywood treatment writer. __________________ JBL, CollegeJBL and EuroJBL Fantasy Basketball Universe: http://jblfl.com

05-28-2004, 12:20 PM	#28
Pyser Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Los Angeles	brown recently did a speaking engagement where he said that one of the things he cut out of TDC was that Jesus actually survived his crucifixion. now that wouldve changed the book sales, i think.... sequels in the works, he also says.

05-28-2004, 02:16 PM	#29
MacroGuru Coordinator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Utah	Alright, just picked up a new book for me. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846 It's an alternate history of the Civil War. So Far so good with it. __________________ "forgetting what is in the past, I strive for the future"

05-28-2004, 04:03 PM	#31
Coder College Prospect Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	I read The Da Vinci Code on a business trip and I must say I really enjoyed it. I've previously read "Holy Blood Holy Grail", so I've heard the theories before. This was my first encounter with Dan Brown, but from what I've read in reviews HA's comments are basically what others think as well, so maybe I'll stay away from DF etc. However, I think that Brown has done a great job weaving together a pretty good thriller with a very fascinating sub-plot. I thoroughly enjoy conspiracy theories of all kinds, not because I necessarily believe them all, but because I've never been one to accept things without thinking them through myself. I'm a firm believer in getting information from several sources before believing something. This goes for everything, from War News to religion. ;-) Gnosticism is interesting because I find it very reasonable that the Bible is made up of information that someone deemed should be in there, and that there was probably much more documentation available that might not have suited the "authors" at the time of the writing. Finally, if you're into alternate history (I saw a post up there about that), check out Harry Turtledove. Amazing stuff.. He's written a whole "saga", starting with the south winning the Civil War and on all the way through history up to at least the early 1930s, with a divided America. The fascinating part, besides a great story, is that Turtledove has used documented incidents from the war itself to "justify" the victory; such as a lost bag of documents detailing Southern plans which was found by the North in reality, which wasn't actually lost in the book. __________________ IFL - Vermont Mountaineers ~ I am an idiot, walking a tight rope of fortunate things ~

05-29-2004, 09:28 AM	#34
cornbreaD n00b Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Natchitoches, LA	Dan Brown has to be one of the worst authors I have ever read. I work in a bookstore and a couple of my co-workers told me that I had to read The Da Vinci Code. Before I picked it up, I did some research and found out that the main character was in one of Brown's previous works, Angels & Demons. If a character appears in more than one book, I like to read them in order of publication so I can see the development of that character. Therefore, instead of getting Code I decided to read A&D. I couldn't finish the book it was so horrible. I don't remember how many times I would read something and shake my head because it was either poorly written or completely unbelievable. There was no depth to any of the characters, the plot had so many holes it was laughable, and the dialogue was pathetic. I usually drudge through and finish a book no matter how bad it is (I'm stubborn like that), but A&D was too much for me. It actually hurt me to read it. Needless to say, I have given up on ever trying to read Brown again. There are too many good books out there and not enough time to be wasting it on Brown's junk. HA, I'm a huge fan of Martin's. You say fantasy isn't your sort of bag, but Martin's epic series, A Song of Ice and Fire, is more like historical fiction than fantasy. It has fantastical elements, but it is nothing like The Lord of the Rings or that horrible Wheel of Time series.

11-17-2004, 12:42 PM	#35
bigdawg2003 High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Austin, Texas, USA	bump bought Da Vinci code yesterday afternoon, finished at at about 1 AM. One of the most interesting books I've ever read. Say what you want about his writing skills, but the man tells a fascinating story in TDC. Does anybody here know of a good Da Vinci biography. After reading this, I wanna learn more about this man. To call him a renaissance man would be insulting to his body of work. __________________ I didn't even know Elvis was from Memphis. I thought he was from Tennessee.

11-17-2004, 01:14 PM	#36
Celeval Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Cary, NC, USA	Re: some of HA's comments... I completely agree about DB's writing - it sucks. You left out how the first chapter is the same in every book. And I mean exactly the same. I'm not actually entirely sure if my copy of Davinci didn't have A&D's first chapter printed instead. That being said... he's an awfully good storyteller, and I like the kind of story he tells in DVC and A&D. And I'm looking forward to the next one about the code on the CIA campus. Also liked the puzzles in the book - working out the clues about the next book.

11-17-2004, 01:20 PM	#37
AENeuman College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: SF	The fascination in this topic seems to be akin to proving santa does not exist. Nothing gets rid of latent catholic guilt like conspiracy.

11-17-2004, 01:30 PM	#38
Anthony Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Astoria, NY, USA	i picked up Umberto Eco's Foucoult's Pendalum as referred by someone in this thread, and i read about 5 pages on the bus and had to put it down and promptly returned it. i've never read a book before where the writer wrote so much intellectual masturbation that he didn't make sense. i couldn't comprehend anything he was saying. on another note: jsut picked up this new hard cover called "The Romanov Prophecy" by someone named Steve Berry. it's one of those "if you liked Da Vinci Code you'll love this one" kind of books. it delves into the Bolsheviks/Russian Revolution and such before going back to modern time, so since i don't have much knowledge of that time in history i thought i'd pick up a quick bit of info while reading a hopefully good story. Last edited by Anthony : 11-17-2004 at 01:32 PM.

11-17-2004, 02:04 PM	#40
bbor Pro Starter Join Date: May 2001 Location: toronto	Tom Hanks just signed on to play the lead role in the movie with Ron Howard directing. __________________ Pumpy Tudors Now that I've cracked and made that admission, I wonder if I'm only a couple of steps away from wanting to tongue-kiss Jaromir Jagr and give Bobby Clarke a blowjob.

11-17-2004, 02:09 PM	#41
Anthony Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Astoria, NY, USA	right before i heard that i was thinking to myself who i'd think would be a good Richard Langdon. my choice was Jeff Goldblum. he always does an incredible job as a scientist (Independence Day, Jurassic Park) and would have made an excellent professor. Tom Hanks is just as good. at least i know the movie will be good now. Last edited by Anthony : 11-17-2004 at 02:10 PM.

11-17-2004, 04:13 PM	#42
Chief Rum Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Where Hip Hop lives	Spoiler in the middle Regarding cody2800's link to proving Brown's facts are wrong and what not, I had a similar experience where I talked myself into buying this book that claimed to discredit all of the stuff in TDC. I bought it looking for an academic and intellectual discussion. Instead, I got drivel from two pastors who based almost their entire attack on Brown's borrowed theories (as they aren't really his, of course) on theological scripture. You can only take someone so seriously when their response to "Jesus had a child" is "That's not in the Bible." Admittedly I didn't read the whole book (the critique--I did read all of TDC), but some books don't deserve to be read after the first chapter or two. CR __________________ . . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready.

06-20-2005, 05:53 PM	#43
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	Just for the fun of it, I am now about half way through the Da Vinci code. It's a fun page turner in the Tom Clancy mode. But when I was looking through my History Book Club catalog this morning, I saw a book by Ehrman called "Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code". My wife also told me that there have been TV shows on this book, I haven't read through this thread yet but isn't The Da Vinci Code fiction??? I know there is a page that states three 'facts' but they, so far, seems to only provide the basis for the adventure/thriller. Next thing you know, people will swear that there are clues on the back of the Decl of Indepedence. How is anyone treating this as anything other than fiction?

06-20-2005, 05:59 PM	#44
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	Yes Buccaneer, Da Vinci Code is FICTION and is sold in the fiction section of the store. It was an entertaining read, irrespective of how much truth there was or wasn't in it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and Angels & Demons. /tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

06-20-2005, 06:06 PM	#45
MacroGuru Coordinator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Utah	Hell Atlantic In The Penalty Box Wow.....he is still in there.....how much longer does he have? __________________ "forgetting what is in the past, I strive for the future"

06-20-2005, 06:52 PM	#47
Shkspr College Benchwarmer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Amarillo, TX	By the by, the latest book with Da Vinci Code buzz is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. The plot concerns a young woman who discovers a mysterious packet of papers in her father's study and learns of his adventures as a youth hunting the immortal Vlad Dracul. Less a horror novel than historical epistolary tale (so far), The Historian scores some points for being a more literary novel than Dan Brown's work, but scores more with me for bringing Vlad Tepes' connection with the Turks and the Ottoman Empire to the forefront - a path most Dracula novels don't tend to mention. Those outlets that have reviewed it as a historical novel have tended to be positive; those that have reviewed it as a vampire novel less so. Halfway in, I'm enjoying it, and am pleased with how easy it has been to follow the tales spun within tales.

06-21-2005, 09:05 AM	#49
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	When the Da Vinci code first came to my attention I was led to believe it was NON-fiction. From the way people talked about it, I thought it was a non-fiction book for probably a year before picking it up and glancing through it in a bookstore.

06-21-2005, 09:12 AM	#50
Tara Mascot Join Date: May 2005 Location: Rome, Italy	I didn't like Da Vinci Code. Yes, It's quite entertaining but I can't say that's a good book. Moreover the story is quite predictable.

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