The Da Vinci Code (2003)

I learned some facts about Da Vinci and France, which I appreciate, but I didn't care for the way the mystery story was laid out and most of the characters were annoying. ( )

If there were a book I never thought I would ever read, this would be it. Not for any personal or divisive reasoning, I just never considered it nor have I watched the movie. I wasn't even aware of the controversy surrounding the book. And as it turns out it has one of my favorite elements in a story, whether it's from a book or a television show/movie. I love twists on history, I like the provocative thinking it sparks, and I enjoy a good healthy discussion on different points of views. Even though I'm a little late to the discussion I thought it prudent still to put in my two cents. Although, all I have to say is I read this book as fiction but at the same time I came out of it more curious, intrigued, and just maybe a bit more suspicious. Some of the points in the book sounded plausible but I bet I could read a book with a different point of view and it would probably also sound as plausible. I think for the most part we are all grounded in our beliefs and even reading the perspectives in this book wouldn't do anything to change that, so in the end I saw the story as a conversation starter more than anything else.

Recently audiobooks have created a new path for me by giving me the chance to read books I was curious about but never really felt the need or urgency to read. And this book is a good example of that. It didn't take very long for me to get caught up in the anticipation and verve of the story, and I give credit to the Narrator for that. What I didn't like was the portrayal of Robert Langdon. Not sure if that was the fault of the narration or the writing. I thought his too laid-back professor vibe didn't do much for his role as the protagonist. He also seemed to be mostly in the background, he didn't have much urgency during high stakes situations and sometimes he was very naive in terms of dealing with authority. I'm more keen to believe that Sophie Neveu was the true protagonist of this story. For one, she had more dialogue and was the main decision maker between the too. Maybe all that was purposeful given one of the main topics of discussion in the book was the role of women in history.

Overall I thought this was a very compelling but divisive twist on religious history and the role art plays into it. Putting aside any personal feelings and beliefs I did truly enjoyed it and am glad I made the decision to check it out. ( )

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It was fast-paced and kept me interested. Langdon's character was much more likable than he was is in the movie. The story line was easy to follow and the information that Dan Brown provided to keep it going was all very interesting. However, I did fell at some points in the novel that Brown was trying to prove that he was smart. There were some superfluous information that was a bit random. Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed the book much more than the movie, especially the ending. ( )

Had the book for some time, but never sat down to read it. Ended up listening to the audio book. Then seeing the movie starring Tom Hanks. Movies always truncate the original books. "Reading" the book provides a more detailed, complex plot. The movie caught the main story line and is good watching, but the book (and audio book) was better. ( )

A bit silly - but fun ( )