The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Book Review

 The Da Vinci Code 

(Robert Langdon #2)

By Dan Brown 

Published Year: 2003

Page Count: 575 pages

Medium Used: Paperback 

Genre : Historical Fiction, Thriller, Christianity, Spiritual Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Cryptography,Symbology, 2025-read. 

Rating : 5/5 

Spoilers Ahead!! 

If I dont mention how much scandal there is in the book, I would be doing a grave injustice. Yes, the content is shocking and revealing at the same time. If someone did, half of what Mr. Brown did to Christianity, to some other religion like Islam, they would have demanded his head on a spike. I felt that Mr. Brown has,all in all, dealt, the findings and revelations, with compassion and in choosing to let hidden things hidden, didn't want to shake the foundation of a long held belief system - if indeed they were true!!

This is my second read of the book - a true, breathtaking, spell binding masterpiece! I read it back in 2006 when it's release was fresh and there is much gaga and uproar about the book. I am amazed at how much of the story I still remember. Yes,I am surprised and self congratulating of myself! Now that the surprise elements and the twists are rendered shock free, I was able to delve deeper into the historical,  scientific facts which Mr.Brown has laced the thriller with. I couldn't know for sure how much of his factual information is to be taken at face value and how much is up from fictional concoction. I took it all in a stride and believed it. It made my understanding of the story even better and gave a complete, deep satisfaction from the read. 

Robert Langdon, an American Symbologist is paired up with a French Police Cryptographer, Sophie Neveau and set on a trial/hunt for identifying the location of Sangreal/Holy Grail based on a series of clues from the Grandmaster of an ancient secret society, The Priory of Scion. There are some who have made the search and pursuit of the Grail their life's mission. One such rich individuals is Sir Leigh Teibing. The contents of this Sangreal are supposed to be explosive and so earth shattering that Christianity could be uprooted and thrown into a crisis. It holds conclusive evidence of a conjugal and marital relationship between Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. It also shows that there is a thriving blood line of Christ, hidden under false names, in the modern world. So, naturally, among the seekers of the Grail, there are some who want to keep this information hidden or completely destroyed, gone forever without a trace - like the Catholic Church. And there are some who want it exposed and people given their choice of what to believe and what not to believe - like Mr. Teabing. 

From a very long time, the secret brotherhood, Priory of Scion, with its military arm Knights Templar, has kept the location and contents of this Holy Grain hidden from the eyes of the world. With the change in the astrological age from Pisces(age of Jesus, surrender, faith, belief) to Aquarius (self knowledge, questioning, own decision making), every one in the historical Christian societiy believed the contents of the Holy Grail will be revealed to the world by the brotherhood. At any time, there is a Grandmaster and three Senecheux who know the location of this Grail. Sophie Neveau's grandfather, Jacques Saunere, is the current Grandmaster. When he and the other three senechaux are murdered on the same night and Langdon, Neveau are roped into the investigation by French Police Bezu Fache, it sets up for an intriguing, world/ Europe trotting ride. Someone is hunting for the Grail and had identified the Grandmaster and the three senechauxes. The person, identifying himself as the Teacher recruits a bishop Aringarosa from the Opus Dei( a wing of the Vatican that is notorious for the extreme practices of corporal mortification) and an albino monk Silas. He uses and employs Silas to go after Langdon and Neveau .. so its like a chase of a chase after the Grail. The police,meanwhile, assume that Langdon is responsible for the murders and is being hunted by the French Police. There are a couple of thrilling surprises while they escape these detractors and make headway to their destination. This chase is always there in the background no matter what riddles are being solved.

I simply loved how to story ended. How the villains are caught and the others let gone! Do read this for sure!!