The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown | Mystery & Thrillers |
ISBN: 0385504209 Global Overview for this book
Registered by quinnsmom of Hobe Sound, Florida USA on 3/24/2003
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9 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by quinnsmom from Hobe Sound, Florida USA on Monday, March 24, 2003

Journal Entry 2 by quinnsmom from Hobe Sound, Florida USA on Friday, March 28, 2003
Now a bookring book going all over the US and into Europe. I'm so jealous that you all get to read it before me, but hey! I love to share.

Here is the list:

1. sgscarcliff -- CA
2. JDT -- CA
3. Bassoony -- UT
4. Marinaw -- TX
5. Vysion -- NC
6. CBCD -- NJ
7. grover3d -- WV
8. Xana -- Portugal
9. Herrundmeyer -- Germany
10. back to me, quinnsmom, CA

After all this, I hope it's a good read!

Journal Entry 3 by wingsgscarcliffwing on Tuesday, April 8, 2003
I just received this as a bookray and will enjoy reading it. I will post after reading

Journal Entry 4 by JDT from Pleasanton, California USA on Friday, May 16, 2003
Happy to receive this book today from sgscarcliff!
I've heard good things about it - and I love the connection to Paris, where we just visited over spring break!
Thanks to quinnsmom for this generous bookring!

Journal Entry 5 by JDT from Pleasanton, California USA on Sunday, June 1, 2003
Great book.... exciting read-- masterful blend of mystery, intrigue, art history, Holy Grail, Opus Dei, and factual information. Though necessary on occasion to suspend reality, this book definitely kept my attention and the pages turning quickly. (JDT's husband)

Sending on to Bassoony!

Journal Entry 6 by bassoony from Saratoga Springs, Utah USA on Tuesday, June 24, 2003
I'll start with the good things I can say about this book. First, it's an illuminati story, and I love illuminati stories. There's a secret society, police involvement, Catholic monks, clues hidden in plain sight, and crazy British gentlemen with way too much money. It moves along at a pretty brisk clip, and the story is easy to get into quickly.
Now, if you don't want my whining to spoil your reading of this book, stop here.
I have to say that I didn't really like this one. I thought the characterization was pretty formulaic and their actions were predictable. The main character was dry as toast, some Indiana Jones character without the Indiana. Teabing's sneaky manservant was more interesting to me.
I found myself guessing what the next surprise would be and being right more than half the time. The puzzles and clues were less than dazzling, and there was very little thought put in by the characters into unravelling them. It was well researched, but I felt like details were thrown in to make the story more believable, as though the author hoped a brief description of the Louvre would make the lack of character and plot less noticeable. The surprise ending, was indeed a shock, and I wondered if the author didn't cheat a little here. The possibility is made clear after the turn of coat, but it's not something the reader could have figured out without the author's description, and in a mystery novel that's been predictable up to the end, that's just not fair.

Journal Entry 7 by marinaw from Dripping Springs, Texas USA on Saturday, July 26, 2003
Caught sometime in the past two weeks while I was in between houses, mostly offline, and starting a new job. Will put in the pile of rays I owe and get through it ASAP.

Big thanks to quinnsmom for starting the ray, and to bassoony for the beautiful postcard of the Rockies.

LJL

Journal Entry 8 by marinaw from Dripping Springs, Texas USA on Tuesday, September 9, 2003
This was an outrageously delicious book (I finished it in 2 long sittings)--I’d had no clue that one of my new-favorite topics was going to be the central focus of the book, even though I’d read the first 4 chapters via email. Of course, I want to go dig into the lore, but I have too many others at the summit of Mount TBR to allow me to indulge. And, of course, I want a copy of Brown’s previous book with Langdon (not that I believe my enjoyment of of Code was marred by not having more background--Brown did the rare excellent job of giving the reader just enough in allusions without detracting from the present plot.)

It’s the rare fiction book that sends the reader off into researching other areas of interest: art, religion, genealogy, etc. Here’s hoping Brown keeps up the quality work and doesn’t cave in to a compacted publishing schedule.

Off it goes into today's mail to Vysion.

Journal Entry 9 by Vysion from Cary, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Received in the mail, yippee!

I had read the first few pages in the store to see what it is like. This looks like it'll be fun. Thanks to all before me on this bookring for keeping this in such good condition and getting it here safely.

Journal Entry 10 by Vysion from Cary, North Carolina USA on Monday, September 22, 2003
Devoured in one week. Nice meal. :)

The Da Vinci Code was extremely well paced for my reading style. I throughly enjoyed the level of detail and research. Using the basis of cryptography, art, secret societies, and a quest, I'd say Dan Brown writes a good adventure.

However, the subject matter is always a dangerous area. Any religious speculation is required for an open mind, yet I would argue books like this and Milton's Paradise Lost can effect people's religious views. When one pictures an angel or demon, for example, what was the book or movie most similar to one's internal image? That book or movie has influenced that person's views.

I have always enjoyed cryptography and would recommend Alvin's Secret Code to any kids wanting more info on this field of study.

Journal Entry 11 by Vysion from Cary, North Carolina USA on Monday, September 22, 2003
CBCD has purchased this book and declined to be included in this bookring. I've PM'd and will be sending this to the next person, grover3d.

Journal Entry 12 by grover3d on Monday, September 29, 2003
I've really been looking forward to this one - I'll start it tonight!

Journal Entry 13 by grover3d on Sunday, October 5, 2003
It's been ages since I've stayed up all night because I couldn't bear to put a book down....and for that alone, this book gets a "10". I've read reviews that criticize this book for not being great literature...why should it have to be? It's intriguing, extensively well-researched, exciting and, ahem, QUITE a page-turner...and fun besides. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

Journal Entry 14 by grover3d on Sunday, November 9, 2003
After a number of PMs, no answer from Xana, so I'm moving down the list...

Journal Entry 15 by vinyldoll from Barreiro, Setúbal Portugal on Friday, January 30, 2004
Thanks grover3d for sending me the book and quinnsmom for the ring! I have a couple of rings to read and it'll take a few days until I start this book. Thank you so much!

Journal Entry 16 by vinyldoll from Barreiro, Setúbal Portugal on Saturday, April 10, 2004
This book amazed me! I read it in two days - started on one evening and was uncapable of stopping. Always thinking: what's going to happen next?
The story starts in Paris, moves to London and finishes in Scotland. It's a journey through art and history: the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci and an ancient secret society. And this is one of the great things in this book: we follow a story, but also learn history.
Another thing that amazed were the enigmas. They are extraordinary and keep us hanging on to the story.

10 out of 10!

Journal Entry 17 by vinyldoll at Correios - para outro BC in Monsaraz, Évora Portugal on Saturday, April 10, 2004
Released on Saturday, April 10, 2004 at Correios - para outro BC in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Évora Portugal.

Going back home...

Journal Entry 18 by quinnsmom from Hobe Sound, Florida USA on Monday, April 19, 2004
To each and every one of you who read this book: Thank you for your comments & for sharing the book. The book made it home to me from Portugal (thanks, VinylDoll) today. My husband was very impressed it had traveled so far. Maybe we can all do this again another time.

thanks! from Quinnsmom

Journal Entry 19 by quinnsmom from Hobe Sound, Florida USA on Tuesday, May 4, 2004
What a fun book! Loaded with enough secret codes, treasure hunts and adventure to keep any reader entertained. I eagerly await Robert Langdon's newest adventure (hopefully the author will find something else for him to stumble into).

While I really liked this book, I thought it moved very quickly from beginning to end. That is my only negative comment about the story. Plus, I made the mistake of reading Angels & Demons first, which I absolutely loved and couldn't help subconsciously comparing the two. I thought Angels & Demons had more of an element of the mysterious to it, and even though it had one rather ridiculous scene in it, the suspense in that book built up rather slowly making it more enjoyable for me.

The DaVinci Code was a very good book, no doubt about it, and now I'm probably going to go off on a lot of tangents based on the art/texts/mysteries noted in the book.

This book is now being passed on to a friend so that she can enjoy it as well.

Journal Entry 20 by wingAnonymousFinderwing on Saturday, May 22, 2004
got it

CAUGHT IN SIMI VALLEY, CA UNITED STATES

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