The Da Vinci Code

By Dan Brown 

Rating

4+ stars

Date Read

20/2/16 - 4/3/16

Age Group

16+

General Thoughts

"An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci. A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe. An astonishing truth concealed for centuries . . . unveiled at last."

Thrilling, fascinating, riveting. The more you read the more impossible to it is to put it down. A murder. A legend. A secret. With conspiracy theories, secret societies, vatican prelatures, chalices and blades, codes and riddles, artists and paintings and an endless chase that will leave you breathless, Dan Brown's clever suspenseful thriller is a must-read.

Plot

In under three days Robert Langdon is asked to solve one of the greatest mysteries of all time, following clues left behind by a dead curator, helping said curator's granddaughter unveil centuries old secrets in a fast paced, heart racing fascinating novel. I've heard a lot of praise on Mr Dan Brown book and I have to admit: he knows what he's doing. The premise was as enticing as it was intriguing (and, in the end, even politically correct).

Main Characters

Robert langdon

The forty-something year old harvard professor/ symbologist is intelligent, cool-headed and unflappable. He is the kind of professor you'd love to be taught by and an academic through and through. He appreciates art, he thirsts for knowledge, he's good with riddles and he's passionate about his subject. (Also his opinions on the restoration of the sacred feminine as well as the information he offers on the history of religions are very interesting.)

Pan tempting Aphrodite

Modern depiction of the Devil

Sophie Neveu

Sophie is very good with puzzles and anagrams, a troubled but gifted young cryptologist, who's had an unorthodox upbringing. Righteous and cunning, she quickly sweeps in to help the innocent symbologist being framed for her grandfather's murder and follows him in an international.

The Cryptex

Writing/ Narrating

I've heard people saying that Dan Brown took lessons on creative writing and that his books are no masterpieces. And yet, it's undoubtedly more than just the writing that comprises a good book (although, arguably, he is a fast learner, since his compact, cliffhanger-ending chapters alternating between the main characters hooked readers all around the world). The ideas, the premise, the background and the plot, combined with little art history lessons, imformation on religious symbology and an intenational quest for the sacred feminine make for a gripping, memorable read.

Isis and Horus/ Mary and Christ

All in all

Dear history buffs, comspiracy nuts and puzzle lovers: there's a reason this book became a bestseller. With codes within codes, twists upon twists and a lot of talk on arithmetic sequences, pentancles and roses, the Da Vinci Code takes you up on a quest to restore the sacred feminine and discover the secret behind Mona Lisa's knowing smile. Arguments on whether the book is truth or fiction are irrelevant.

XOXO

Aggie Pearson