“Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.”
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown was released in March, 2003 and has become one of the bestselling novels of all time. It is a fast-paced thriller that will have you glued to its pages.
“These books can’t possibly compete with centuries of established history, especially when that history is endorsed by the ultimate bestseller of all time.”
Faukman’s eyes went wide. “Don’t tell me Harry Potter is actually about the Holy Grail.”
“I was referring to the Bible.”
Faukman cringed. “I knew that.”
The story revolves around Robert Langdon, a professor at Harvard who specializes in symbology. While in Paris, he receives an urgent late-night call with the news that the curator of the Louvre, Jacques Saunière has been murdered. The body provides a series of mystic ciphers. Langdon and a French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, are flabbergasted to find that these ciphers lead to the works of famous painter, Leonardo Da Vinci – and further.
“Telling someone about what a symbol means is like telling someone how music should make them feel.”
It later comes to light that Jacques Saunière, the curator, was a part of a secret society called the Priory of Sion and that he may have sacrificed his life to preserve the secret of the location of a vastly important religious relic hidden for centuries. It appears that the concealed Vatican-sanctioned Catholic sect Opus Dei is also in play. If Landon and Neveu can decipher the code and put together the pieces of the puzzle, the Priory’s secret – and a stunning historical truth – can be found.
“When a question has no correct answer, there is only one honest response.
The gray area between yes and no.
Silence.”
There was a storm of controversy surrounding this book, as it questioned many Christian beliefs. The book is a fictional work, but it is clear that the author, Dan Brown has done extensive research into the history and development of Christianity, and the sacred ‘Holy Grail’.
“The Bible did not arrive by fax from heaven. The Bible is the product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book.”
There is a beautiful flow to the story. The pair (Langdon and Neveu) start off in Paris, and then move on to London and Rome. The scenes are described impeccably, placing you right in the middle of all the action. There is a very good pace to the story, as there is always something happening to keep you glued to its pages. The narrative is so captivating that it makes it impossible to put down. Short chapters with a suspense-filled ending impel you to read on. The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns, making it hard to guess what’s going to happen next.
“Faith ― acceptance of which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove.”
Ameya would like to rate The Da Vinci Code as an excellent 4/5 read that brings forth a new breed of lightning-paced, intelligent thriller utterly unpredictable right up to its staggering conclusion. It is a fascinating and absorbing spine-chiller — perfect for history buffs, conspiracy nuts, puzzle lovers or anyone who appreciates a great, riveting story.