The book by Dan Brown, official movie version.

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Product Description

The long-awaited blockbuster film of the world's bestselling thriller

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16193 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 608 pages

Synopsis
Harvard professor Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call while on business in Paris: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered inside the museum. Alongside the body, police have found a series of baffling codes. As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, begin to sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to find a trail that leads to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci - and suggests the answer to a mystery that stretches deep into the vault of history. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine code and quickly assemble the pieces of the puzzle, a stunning historical truth will be lost forever...

From the Back Cover
An ingenious code hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci

A desperate race through the cathedrals and castles of Europe

An astonishing truth concealed for centuries…revealed at last.

‘Wow … Blockbuster perfection … An exhilaratingly brainy thriller. Not since the advent of Harry Potter has an author so flagrantly delighted in leading readers on a breathless chase’
NEW YORK TIMES

Harvard professor Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call while on business in Paris: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been brutally murdered inside the museum. Alongside the body, police have found a series of baffling codes. As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, begin to sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to find a trail that reveals a mystery stretching deep into the vault of history.

But unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine code and quickly assemble the pieces of the puzzle, a stunning historical truth will be lost forever…

‘Brown’s novel adroitly blends the chase-scene-stuffed thrillers of Robert Ludlum and the learned romps of Umberto Eco…For anyone who wants more brain-food than thrillers normally provide’
Sunday Times

About the Author
Dan Brown:
Dan Brown is the bestselling author of Digital Fortress, Deception Point, Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Phillips Exeter Academy, where he has taught English and creative writing.

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Customer Reviews

Thought Provoking
Full Story Inside

I was absorbed by the DaVinci Code from the word go. Whilst Dan Brown is not the greatest writer in a literary sense, he knows how to capture a reader and provoke a debate about real live events and evidence and thus turn ideas into conspiracy theories. The real skill is combining this with a fast paced thriller backdrop that leaves you breathless.

A Disappointing Read
I've just finished reading the Da Vinci Code. Everyone persuaded me to read it but I found it extremely disappointing. It started out OK but it soon became bogged down in fictional trivia, plus it had so many "puzzles" to solve I felt like I was 10 years old and back at school on some sort of paper chase - it became boring! And because its pace almost slowed to a halt, I nearly dozed off several times trying to finish it, after which I wanted to toss it out of the window! Dan Brown also Americanised this novel - and they're suckers for "happy" endings - but I'm sorry, why would a stranger than fiction family reunion and a subtle hint of romance between the two main characters towards the end suddenly stop all that greed for world power, high Church corruption, hired hit men, killing and mayhem? Did all the baddies suddenly evaporate by a kiss and a promise of a nice little holiday in Florence??? Give a break!! Dan liked to play the teacher in this novel but as a woman I really didn't appreciate being patronised by the wide-eyed little girl scenario where Sophie had to suffer (and me with her) being "taught" not only by her Grandfather but then by 2 other self-satisfied men professing to hold all the knowledge and all the answers - while Sophie batted her eyelashes - but wasn't Sophie cleverer than all the men put together? Sorry Dan. I won't be wasting time reading any of your other novels, but I'm sure you'll still be happy laughing at us all the way to the bank.

This is really not a good book!
I approached this book with a determination to have an open mind - however, having previously read Brown's other book, 'Angels and Demons', which I found to be well, rubbish, this was probably never going to be achievable! I don't wish to condemn the book without at least trying to offer some reasons, so here goes:
-He tries to hint at things (such as something scandalous Sophie saw her grandfather doing) at an attempt to be compelling but it just ends up being irritating. By the time you find out, you've either worked it out yourself and/or just don't care anymore. Compare this with the effortless and successful way writers such as Stephen King do it and you realise how clumsy a writer Brown is.
-The description of every...little...thing! Do we really need to know how long the Louvre is, or what colour that partiular pebble is (he doesn't do this obv, but you get the idea!). I for one found this really patronising.
-Speaking of patronising - All knowing male characters reveal the 'truth' to wide-eyed, totally receptive (no doubts! no questions!) female.
-It cannot be avoided: his exploitation and misuse of 'facts' (His number of those killed during the witch-hunt is just one example)- although one can accept the poetic license argument, its still really, really irritaing!
Overall, I think the plot is interesting, although the twist is not really clever, and I found the last few pages almost unreadable (I skimmed them), but I think the main problem is that Brown is just not a good or skilled writer or storyteller. I think this book benefitted enormously from the controversial subject matter, otherwise I think it would have been destined for the bargain bin a long time ago!