Book For The Week of 8/2/09

The Da Vinci Code

by 

Dan Brown

Publishers Weekly

What if Jesus Christ had a tryst with Mary Magdalene, and the interlude produced a child? Such a possibility-yielding a so-called royal bloodline-provides the framework for Brown's latest thriller (after Angels and Demons), an exhaustively researched page-turner about secret religious societies, ancient coverups and savage vengeance. The action kicks off in modern-day Paris with the murder of the Louvre's chief curator, whose body is found laid out in symbolic repose at the foot of the Mona Lisa. Seizing control of the case are Sophie Neveu, a lovely French police cryptologist, and Harvard symbol expert Robert Langdon, reprising his role from Brown's last book. The two find several puzzling codes at the murder scene, all of which form a treasure map to the fabled Holy Grail, where proof of the Jesus bloodline supposedly can be found. As their search moves from France to England, Neveu and Langdon are confounded by two mysterious groups-the legendary Priory of Sion, a nearly 1,000-year-old secret society whose members have included Botticelli and Isaac Newton, and the conservative Catholic organization Opus Dei. Both have their own reasons for wanting to ensure that the Grail isn't found. Brown sometimes ladles out too much religious history at the expense of pacing, and Langdon is a hero in desperate need of more chutzpah. Still, Brown has assembled a whopper of a plot that will please both conspiracy buffs and thriller addicts. (Mar. 18) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.

(I just finished listening to The Da Vinci Code on audio this past week and really enjoyed it.   I always wanted to read it and since Booksamultiplyin is discussing it this month I grabbed the opportunity to make this the time.   It is a great book!   Very exciting plot and extremely thought provoking.  The one thing that I found very unrealistic is that the heroes went for about two days or better with no sleep,  no shower and no change of clothes,  yet they were still solving word puzzles like they had just got up all refreshed and well rested.   Listening to the book made we want to learn more about Da Vinci and his work.  Although I am probably one of the few who hadn't read this book already,  if you have not,  you must!  A great read! Don't forget to click on the authors name and book title for more information.)