I couldn't put this book down - Rated 
I couldn't put this book down. Every page was an education and the details and description flowed thick and fast. As a convent educated female, I saw the catholic system up close and remained an athiest throughout. I was intrigued and delighted by some of the theories which only went to support much of what I suspected all along but without the education to support it.
That aside, truth or fiction it was very compelleing and I couldn't put it down, although it's BOUND to upset anyone with a religious bent as it questions the foundations of christianity - which is fine by me!
I liked the refreshing way that it challenges the fixed conceptions and offers different scenarios as to how things came to be, which are every bit as likely as what we are fed as the truth in daily life!! I'd also recommend reading the mesmerising and highly evocative novel The Fates by Tino Georgiou.
page turning - Rated
a great book that keeps you going untill the end - wants you yearning for more
It's only a story, though... - Rated 
This is a unique book in the sense that the author uses a thrilling plot to put across his perspective on history. In the process you end up reading a lot of history that you would not otherwise care for. In a way this is similar to what Vishnu Sharma, the composer of Panchatantra did, though Panchatantra contains hundreds of interlocking tales, all designed to teach the readers a lesson.
And that's what Dan Brown has done. He has used this book to tell people what many scholars have believed for a long time, that there are many things about the Catholic Church that we don't know. And some of these things are not so nice. That is perhaps the reason why the book irritates some readers.
The plot is interesting, particularly if you haven't already read Angels and Demons, which is almost similar in structure and style. What is also interesting is the side-trips into art history and religious symbolism that the hero keeps making all the time. As I said, the plot is only the sugar-coating around the bitter pill, so expect a lot of these side trips.
However, it must be remembered that interpretation of religious symbols is extremely controversial and is often affected by academic extermism. Therefore, such interpretation must not be treated as a valid comment on a faith, unless endorsed by the practitioners or scholars from within the faith itself. Some of the interpretations of religious sysmbols are downright idiotic and hilarious: for instance, he tells us that entrance to a church building actually symbolises entering a woman's genitals. Like many others, he also sees the sexual in the sacred almost everywhere - though he misses the obvious sexuality of his companion till the very end of the novel.
This edition has most of the pictures of the places mentioned in the book, which makes it come more alive. However, as a result the book is much bigger and heavier, which makes it difficult to read in the bed or to carry it on a journey. My son insisted on buying the paperback also, because he found it too big to handle!
Dan Brown's take on Church history has also spawned a bit of a storm and a backlash. Most people don't like their beliefs being questioned (though the Church often forgets this when it comes to dealing with other faiths). The book also contains many statements which are not really verifiable, and are probably an exercise in intellectual speculation. This has led to a string of denials, and has spawned a series of books which tell you whether Dan Brown's da Vinci Code is based on facts or on fiction.
Ultimately then you should buy this book for its tale, and for the lesson that there may be many truths.
An eye-opener - Rated
I love conspiracies. Perhaps that is why i was drawn to the book, i thought the story was exciting and i learnt loads and ENOYED learning things that frankly amazed me and made me open my eyes to the world around me and its possibilities. I loved how each seemingly piece of trivia fitted into the story with jigsaw-like precision and the chase that starts with the prologue-what an attention grabber!
However the characters were not strong and as a whole the book was not particularly well written-but so what? i wasn't looking for an astonishing piece of literature i was looking for an unputdownable story that would evoke all the emotions a adventure/historical fiction/conspiracy/thriller should, i was not disappointed.
The images really set the scene as i have never been to France and so it only enhanced how I imagined the story as I read it. To see pieces of art that i had never come across before also was very pleasing and made me see the mystery through a new perspective.
Great! I can't put it down!! - Rated
I love this book! Some bits can be quite gruesome, but it is one of those books you just can't put down. The plot was great, a real mystery, which really made me think hard. I love it and can't resit making it five star! I really reccomend it, It's a great book!
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