Anyone read this book? I just finished it yesterday, thought it was great, and am amazed at the amount of research that must have gone into it.
I’m also motivated to read more about DaVinci and all those secret societies.
So, what’d you all think? How much of it was made up out of whole cloth and how much of it was based on actual theories/history/science? Was all the stuff about PHI true or did the author just invent that?
Wow, C3, you poor thing-you must feel so neglected! I’m shocked this didn’t draw more responses.
I picked up this book Saturday afternoon and finished it Sunday morning. What an incredible book! I couldn’t stand to stop reading it. I think this is one off the best mysteries I’ve read in a very long time, and I was particularly fascinated by all the information about DaVinci and the church. I may reread this after Mr. Singular reads it, just to absorb all facts in it-but not without a book of DaVinci’s works on hand. That was th only fault I could find with this book-it wouldv’e benefited grreatly by illustrations, since this is supposed to be all factual information.
Actually, I’m sort of motivated to read something else by this author! As a matter of fact, I’m heading right to Half.com to find his other works!
My daughter wants to take it out from the library–she’s not much of a reader but a big LdV fan so it might get her reading more–and she’d be #22 on the waiting list. At three weeks each, maybe we’d be better off buying it.
I finished reading it recently. It was a really good book. I just started reading another book by Dan Brown, Deception Point. So far it’s pretty good.
I did feel a little neglected! I just figured everyone was waiting for the paperback! Two months after the OP…hmmmm, I might have to reread the book in order to have any sort of real discussion about it.
Shortly after reading the book, I went to Barnes & Noble and there was a huge book about DaVinci sitting on the discount shelf they have at the front of the store. I checked out some of the paintings mentioned in the book - The Last Supper, the one of the baby Jesus with Mary sitting on the rocks (can’t remember the name of that one). Very cool - especially “Mary Magdalene” in The Last Supper and the disembodied hand.
I’m still curious about PHI. I did a quick google and found nothing. Anyone have information?
Well, I just did my annual joining of QPBC, wherein I get 5 new books for $1 each plus shipping, so that’s why I got it before the paperback came out. Otherwise, I guess I’d still be waiting.
I read it last week and had a hard time putting it down. It grabbed me from the get-go. I found it interesting and intelligent and the attraction betwen the male and female characters wasn’t overplayed and made a major part of the plot. Plus the ending was not disappointing. So many times I’ve read a mystery or thriller which was really good but the ending was flat. Like “I can’t believe I read the whole book and it ended so lousy!” I don’t know much about religion, esp. Catholicism, so I too am wondering how much of this is based in fact? Secret societies, Mary M. being the 12th disciple, etc. I know the author wrote Angels and Demons (or Demons and Angels) which I believe featured the same male lead, but the 2 books aren’t connected.
All three of the Dan Brown novels are good IMO. However, Deception Point does not have as intricate of a plot as the other two. Deception Point is much more Clive Cusslerish. Angels and Demons and DaVinci Code are “cut of the same cloth” so to speak. If you enjoyed one, you’ll definitely enjoy the other.
Spoilers
The story about Jesus and Mary Magdalene is an old one, but probably not as old as all that.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980918.html
The Priory of Sion is (or was) a real organization with a phony history.
http://www.alpheus.org/html/articles/esoteric_history/richardson1.html
Here’s a page that attempts to give a rational explanation of why the golden mean appears so often in nature. Good luck.
http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat2.html#why
Some of the art interpretations seem pretty far fetched. I’ll be darned if that doesn’t look like a woman in the Last Supper, though.
I advise you visit Dan Brown’s website. All of the relevant paintings/locations can be viewed there along with some additional info. I higly recommend Angels & Demons by Brown as well.
Welcome to the board, Kama45!
Thanks for the info-by the way, it’s polite to provide a link if you can.