The Da Vinci Code

Written by: Ixistant

Reading. About 10 years ago many people saw reading as "unhip" and only "for squares". Well dawg, over the past few years that attitude has been changed by numerous books that have turned people to reading. One of them is "Harry Potter"; another is "The Lord Of The Rings". And another is the book that received rave reviews and topped The New York Times' Bestseller List. That book is "The Da Vinci Code".

"The Da Vinci Code" is about a Harvard Professor of Religious Symbology called Robert Langdon. One night after giving a lecture in Paris, Robert receives a phone call from the French police, requesting that he help them with a murder case. After being convinced into going, he finds out it is the murder of the elderly curator of The Louvre, Jacques Sauniere, which took place in The Louvre itself. Pretty soon he finds himself joined by a smart but pretty French cryptographer called Sophie Neveu, on the run from the police, getting followed by an assassin sent by a religious group called Opus Dei and on a quest to find the ancient Holy Grail.

Well, what is there to say? "The Da Vinci Code" is, in my humble opinion, a masterpiece. The way it is written is astounding and if any other author tried it, they would flop, but Dan Brown seems to have a magic that draws people into this book through his vivid descriptions and almost every chapter ending in a cliffhanger that leaves yourself asking what will happen next. And another thing that helps draw you into the book is that all the locations and artwork described in the book are real. And with some of the secrets hidden in the artwork, you will have to see it to believe it. I know I did!

Although "The Da Vinci Code" is a bestseller, it has lots of controversy surrounding it due to some factors. Here are just 2 of them:

It portrays the religious group Opus Dei as a cult.

It says that the church decided to only include parts of the Bible that made Jesus look like a deity.

And they are minor compared to some of the other stuff in the book! So my advice for anyone who is particularly religious, a member if Opus Dei or those who believe The Holy Grail is a cup and are offended by it being called a virgin that you don't read this book.

Well, from one format to the other, "The Da Vinci Code" is going to continue to shock and engross people as of Winter 2005-2006. As you may or may not know, and it's most likely the latter, The "Da Vinci Code" has become so popular that it is now being made into a film staring Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, Jean Reno as Bezu Fache and Audrey Tautou (No, I've never heard of her either) as Sophie Neveu. So keep your eyes peeled, as the adventures of Robert Langdon may be coming to a cinema near you.

Well, that's about all we have time for today, but if you've enjoyed reading this article as much as I've enjoyed typing it up from the first draft, then shame on you! If you enjoyed it more, then that's a start. Anyway, "The Da Vinci Code" is a fantastic and passionate book that I would recommend to everyone, and believe you me, I already have. So, until next time, g'bye!

Next Issue: "Angels and Demons" and "Digital Fortress"