Ok i picked this book up a few days ago. Id heard great things about it. Turns out they were all true. Im about 2/3 of the way through and can't put the damn thing down. Now what i'm wondering is how much of what is in the book is actually true. In the prologue the author makes a point of stating that:

"All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate"

I can accept that the artist probably did his homework and researched his sites and materials. What im wondering is about some of the theories put forth in the book regarding the origins of Christianity and the Holy Grail. Some of the groups that are made reference to (ie the Knights Templar) i have heard of. Some i haven't. As well as several theories i have heard mention of before. I'm wondering how much in this book is actually true, and how much is just really good fiction?

I realize that its pretty tough to answer that question without giving out vital plot points (i plan on making another thread in a few days when im done the book with plenty 'o spoilers ) but im just wondering if anybody knows if most of the references in this book are true, obviously the story isnt, but you see what im getting at...

Also i found it really awesome that the authors webiste http://www.danbrown.com contains several sections where you can view artwork, buildings, etc described in the book.

if you're interested in the historical aspects then when you're done you should pick up the book holy blood, holy grail. basically although they can't really prove the theory that is detailed in the book (and that the da vinci code uses for its plot) there do seem to be some connections and at the very least it is extremely interesting to consider (unless you're a close-minded religious nut )

Which I am.

VIVA LA JESUS-MACHINE!!

There was an illustrated version of da Vinci Code that was released a month or so ago that has pictures, diagrams and descriptions of everything referenced in the book. It's pretty cool.

check it out

The geography and description of all the locations is factual. As for the history aspect, it's all true, based on assorted "theories" of the time. There are many different points-of-view about the Grail, and Brown seems to take pieces of all of them. So the fact that he says everything is accurate and based on fact is true, from a certain point-of-view.

It's an entertaining and interesting book. Took me about a week to read it. A movie is on the way with Tom Hanks in the main role

thats what i wanted to hear. not that everything was true, but that it was based on established theories.



good lord. theres nothing worse than a book turned to movie. ive only seen it done well once (thank you LOTR)



that book was referenced as well. i think it was proclaimed as a international bestseller. i guess ill have to pick that one up too

I'd also recommend Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

And you might find this interesting:

http://dannycarey.org/rennesstart.html

shit i almost forgot about that. i remember reading that and many other things on tools website. i forgot some band members and the webmaster blair have been studying rennes le chateau, and the knights templar for years

It's not that bad. I mean there are more books that turned out to be great movies. Big Fish, Fight Club or Clockwork Orange come to mindbut there are some more out there...

yeah ive never read the books for those. ive always found that if you see the movie first, THEN read the book, its more enlightening, but if done in reverse, its just a dissapointment because most of the story has to be left out. I think the reason LOTR worked is because Tolkein laboured for pages, describing a scene that Peter Jackson was able to capture in 2 seconds of film

You can find a lot of good information with a 15 minute internet search.

Google such things as "Knights Templar", "Rosslyn", "St. Clair family", "Freemasons", "Jacques DeMolay", "Shroud of Turin", "or any combination of those. Have fun!

The best book I ever read on the subject was called The Hiram Key by Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas. It is more about the origins of Freemasonry, but it touches on many of the themes covered in the DaVinci Code.

--PunkDavid

is this a new book or something? never heard of it

well i thought it was maybe a year or 2 old, but when i went to buy it, the clerk said that it wasnt out on paperback yet, which is usually an indication of a book being fairly new. though like i said i have heard the name for a while now.

Should be harrison ford... he already did 3 of these movies with Speilberg.


The last few years, I have been reading non-fiction works on this topic. It kind of shocked me when people that I knew that wouldn't normally read non-fiction started understanding me when I spoke on the subject. Then, I found out there was this best seller called The DaVinci Code and someone just gave it to me for X-ms. Easy read. The author has a fluent style that really keeps the pace moving.
I'm reading another of his works right now - Angels & Demons. Pretty good at the half way point right now. I like his style better than his substance. 2-5 page chapters keep the plot interesting.

Plot gets pretty silly once they leave France. Thought the opening half of the book is about as gripping as and blcobuster novel I have read.

The plot is pretty much just stapled onto a interesting and controversial conspiracy theory.

History is recorded from the prevailing power perspective, and the Catholic Church has been pretty powerful.

Have they even accepted that Jesus was an Arab yet and not a Ginger haired European?

I finished the book today. Superb read. The best $1.50 ive spent in a long time (i returned a book that i got 2 of and paid the dif). Gripping story line. And i enjoyed the short chapters. I think there was almost 110 of them all told. The story itself was a little tired and predictable, but still VERY enjoyable...The thing that kept me turning pages was the theories about the Grail and literal references to artwork and architecture. I enjoyed being able to look up the refernces on the internet and seeing exactly what the author was talking about. I will gladly be lending this book to anyone who wants it. This was definately one of my top 3 reads of the last 12 months. The other 2 being Michael Crichton's Andromeda Strain and Stephen Hawkin's A Brief History of Time

out of time but i bought it today ...

good luck to me...

good stuff

The only reason a paperback version hasn't been released is b/c the hardcover has sold ridiculously well (and they cost more). The book came out in 2003.

I am about to start Angels and Demons, because i enjoyed the da vinci code. The chapter thing drives me nuts. I hate being on page 4 and chapter 32.

I read digital fortress, one of his earlier ones, and you could see what he was getting it.. it just didnt click right.

However, following the success of the Da Vinci code, he is going have a rough time following it up, because besides being an entertaining read, it also came out at a time when the church has been under increased scrutiny because of priests and lil boys, and a religious right conservative in office.