REVIEW: The DaVinci Code

The DaVinci Code
Author: Dan Brown

I read this novel when it first came out in 2003. I remember being mesmerized and totally into the thrilling story of a Harvard professor on the trail of the Holy Grail. Crazy cults, ancient history, religious symbolism, brutal murders.....it had all the elements of a great thriller. Then I poured over books and articles on the history of Christianity, the Knights Templar, the grail legend...just to see if the author's claims about it being based on truth were indeed true. In the end, it's very difficult, and mostly impossible, to glean provable truth from ancient history or religious writings.

Because this book is included in the list of 100 books for The Great American Read, I decided to listen to the audio book version. I'm trying to read my way through the entire list...and since it had been 15 years since I read this one, it was time for a re-read. Because I already knew the story line from the book and watching the movie, I didn't enjoy this book so much the second time around. In the years since it was published, I have really gotten over any fascination with religious symbolism or ideology. It made it difficult for me to get into the story this time. I ended up fast-forwarding past a few hours of this 18+ hour audio book. I listened to a bit more than half of it. There is no mystery in a thriller when you know the ending already.

All in all, some nice suspense and a great story. The puzzles the main characters have to solve and the treachery they face is thrilling and interesting. I doubt the author's claims that the story line is based on facts....but it isn't possible to prove or disprove any of it. Makes it pretty much a moot point. The novel in its entirety just has too much religion and Catholic Church references for me. As a former Catholic who now avoids organized religion like the plague....I'm just no longer interested. So, this really isn't the book for me anymore.

But....that is only my opinion. The book is well written and quite suspenseful. I totally understand why this book is included in The Great American Read. It got millions of people reading and talking about the book -- both positive and negative. I remember being one of the millions who read this book and then read non-fiction information to see if any of the story was actually true (and watched many of the television documentaries about the subject). So, despite the fact I pretty much DNF'd it (fast forwarding past more than half of a book is really not finishing the novel), I totally agree with its inclusion on the list. And, I'm even glad that I sort of half-assed a re-read of it. It shows that I have changed as a person over the last 15 years and my interests have gone down other paths. I still love a good thriller.....but not books so full of religious symbolism and details. Just not for me.

This is the 15th book on the list for The Great American Read that I have read/re-read. 85 to go! The list can be found here: http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/   I printed out a checklist and I'm ticking off the boxes as I read! Sponsored by PBS, The Great American Read kicked off in May 2018 with a launch special. Starting September 11th, 2018 there will be a six part series featuring each book on the list. Readers can vote on which listed book should be #1. The winner will be announced in the last episode of the show. :) Great idea! I love celebrating books -- all types of books -- that got the public reading and talking about books!! The lists includes classics, fan fiction, erotica, young adult, children's books.....all types of fiction! I am enjoying reading my way through the list! Not all of the books will be to my tastes....but it's good to jump out of one's personal comfort zone sometimes. :)