Hey, guys! Wow. The Da Vinci Code blew me away. I had heard of it, of course, with its controversy and everyone and their brother reading it. When I finally decided to start it, you would think I would have expected how much I loved it.
The Cover:
The Cover:
It shows the Mona Lisa peaking through a crack in the paper. It's a cool cover that is simple but gives a general impression of the book: art ridden with secrets/conspiracy. A+ cover
Official Description:
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.
While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.
My Review:
The Da Vinci Code is a mystery novel full of conspiracy, police chases, and art history. It is an interesting combination that works wonderfully!
It's a mystery novel that is actually mysterious. It gives you a glimpse of the danger without doing too much of a "villain's perspective", which I appreciate. When I see everything from the villain's POV, I undoubtedly end up thinking the main characters are stupid. It's frustrating (*cough* Silence of the Lambs and Mr. Mercedes *cough*). While there are a few chapters from an assassin's POV, it doesn't ruin any of the suspense. It actually adds a bit to the book.
The most interesting part of this book is the history and conspiracy. Dan Brown takes famous paintings and artists plus biblical stories to work together in a surprisingly believable conspiracy. It was really a fun thought-exercise at the very least to follow the logic of Brown's secret society. It really gets you thinking!
The characters were interesting. Nothing too exciting, but Robert Langdon is a likeable enough guy. He seems like the type to like barbecues, etc. He made me think a little bit about an adventure-seeking suburban dad, which worked well for his place in The Da Vinci Code. His leading lady, Sophie, was an intelligent, strong female character. She was a master codebreaker and seemed to fit in her role. Again, likeable enough but doesn't stand out a lot.
The action scenes, on the other hand, were very exciting. The whole book was very fast-paced with police chases, an assassin on the loose, and other unexpected dangers. The story moved fast, and it was hard to put this book down!
Overall, I would definitely recommend The Da Vinci Code. It was exciting, thought-provoking, and just a fun read. It's been one of the best books I've read so far this year! Try it out!
Phrase:
Find Robert Langdon
If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!
Happy Reading!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret
The Cover:
It shows the Mona Lisa peaking through a crack in the paper. It's a cool cover that is simple but gives a general impression of the book: art ridden with secrets/conspiracy. A+ cover
Official Description:
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.
While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.
My Review:
The Da Vinci Code is a mystery novel full of conspiracy, police chases, and art history. It is an interesting combination that works wonderfully!
It's a mystery novel that is actually mysterious. It gives you a glimpse of the danger without doing too much of a "villain's perspective", which I appreciate. When I see everything from the villain's POV, I undoubtedly end up thinking the main characters are stupid. It's frustrating (*cough* Silence of the Lambs and Mr. Mercedes *cough*). While there are a few chapters from an assassin's POV, it doesn't ruin any of the suspense. It actually adds a bit to the book.
The most interesting part of this book is the history and conspiracy. Dan Brown takes famous paintings and artists plus biblical stories to work together in a surprisingly believable conspiracy. It was really a fun thought-exercise at the very least to follow the logic of Brown's secret society. It really gets you thinking!
The characters were interesting. Nothing too exciting, but Robert Langdon is a likeable enough guy. He seems like the type to like barbecues, etc. He made me think a little bit about an adventure-seeking suburban dad, which worked well for his place in The Da Vinci Code. His leading lady, Sophie, was an intelligent, strong female character. She was a master codebreaker and seemed to fit in her role. Again, likeable enough but doesn't stand out a lot.
The action scenes, on the other hand, were very exciting. The whole book was very fast-paced with police chases, an assassin on the loose, and other unexpected dangers. The story moved fast, and it was hard to put this book down!
Overall, I would definitely recommend The Da Vinci Code. It was exciting, thought-provoking, and just a fun read. It's been one of the best books I've read so far this year! Try it out!
Phrase:
Find Robert Langdon
If you're looking for a good book, check out my Suggestions Page!
Happy Reading!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret
