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The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Edition: A Novel
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Manufacturer: Broadway
Author: Dan Brown
Publisher: Broadway
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $15.61
You Save: $ 7.34 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Broadway
Author: Dan Brown
Publisher: Broadway
Average Customer Rating:
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The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Edition: A Novel Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780767926034
ISBN: 076792603X
Label: Broadway
Manufacturer: Broadway
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 480
Publication Date: 2006-03-28
Publisher: Broadway
Product Release Date: 2006-03-28
Studio: Broadway
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780767926034
ISBN: 076792603X
Label: Broadway
Manufacturer: Broadway
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 480
Publication Date: 2006-03-28
Publisher: Broadway
Product Release Date: 2006-03-28
Studio: Broadway
Editorial Review of The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Edition: A Novel
One of the bestselling novels of all time, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code has intrigued and thrilled millions of readers around the world. Now all the artwork, symbols, architecture, and historic locations—over 160 images—are beautifully compiled in this full-color collector’s edition.
A mind-bending 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 . . . unveiled at last.
While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, a baffling cipher found near the body. As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
The stakes are raised when Langdon uncovers a startling link: the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others. Langdon suspects they are on the hunt for a breathtaking historical secret, one that has proven through the centuries to be as enlightening as it is dangerous. In a frantic race through Paris, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu find themselves matching wits with a faceless powerbroker who appears to anticipate their every move. Unless they can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle, the Priory’s secret—and an explosive ancient truth—will be lost forever.
Instantly catapulted to the top of bestseller lists around the world, The Da Vinci Code is simultaneously lightning-paced, intelligent, and intricately layered with remarkable research and detail. From secrets embedded in the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper to the symbols of ancient Egypt, to the architecture of landmarks such as the Louvre, Westminster Abbey, Rosslyn Chapel, and more, this fully illustrated collector’s edition delivers the complete reading experience of Dan Brown’s riveting novel—from the opening pages to the unpredictable and stunning conclusion.
A mind-bending 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 . . . unveiled at last.
While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, a baffling cipher found near the body. As Langdon and a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
The stakes are raised when Langdon uncovers a startling link: the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others. Langdon suspects they are on the hunt for a breathtaking historical secret, one that has proven through the centuries to be as enlightening as it is dangerous. In a frantic race through Paris, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu find themselves matching wits with a faceless powerbroker who appears to anticipate their every move. Unless they can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle, the Priory’s secret—and an explosive ancient truth—will be lost forever.
Instantly catapulted to the top of bestseller lists around the world, The Da Vinci Code is simultaneously lightning-paced, intelligent, and intricately layered with remarkable research and detail. From secrets embedded in the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper to the symbols of ancient Egypt, to the architecture of landmarks such as the Louvre, Westminster Abbey, Rosslyn Chapel, and more, this fully illustrated collector’s edition delivers the complete reading experience of Dan Brown’s riveting novel—from the opening pages to the unpredictable and stunning conclusion.
Customer Reviews of The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Edition: A Novel
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: There is sex . . . but it's a bit weird . . .
Review: First what I admire: I couldn't stop reading this! It's fast, it's quick, it's clever, it's full of intrigue and suspense. The thing that impressed me most: I could not have written it! My book has sex, naked people in California doing things like jumping on trampolines and smoking pot, but no history, geography or visits to Swiss banks!
What I don't like: Well, the dialogue is often stiff. The writing is sometimes trite and full of cliches.
BUT, seriously, YOU try writing a novel that crosses borders, takes place in a major world museum, delves into religions and secret societies and keeps the reader turning the pages! It's hard to do and Dan Brown did it very well.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: More Like "By The Numbers."
Review: I read the Da Vinci Code because..., well, I was traveling and everyone seemed to be reading it. After I finished it, I felt as if I had had a lot of warm beer: bloated with empty calories, left with mildly unpleasant taste and a slight headache.
The fact that this book is a bestseller can make one question the value of universal literacy. It is really badly written. I didn't expect Updike or Vonnegut, but Dan Brown makes even Clive Cussler appear a decent wordsmith. To add insult to injury, the Da Vinci Code fails the genre and becomes predictable halfway through.
The story is inhabited by "comic strip" -grade characters bumping around, solving absurd puzzles placed there for reasons which make no particular sense. From time to time, a character stops what they are doing, leans against a wall, or stares into space and thinks "deep thoughts", through which the puzzles are solved and the premise of the book is laid out. These are sprinkled with what passes for historical and religious factoids, often researched poorly enough for the errors to be apparent to a layman like me.
Before I stand accused, I am not religious in the least. I don't find the book offensive (other than by being so badly written): in fact political correctness oozes from it, as does the author's apparent desire to be liked by everyone and sell to everyone (and this includes the good Catholics among book buyers:-)
If you want a well written and well researched "conspiracy theory through the ages" tale, get Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum. For a nice travel crime story, pick up P.D. James.
As for the Da Vinci Code..., I have played computer games that have higher literary merit than this. Really.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Dan Brown
Review: Dan Brown hit a homerun here. This book has an awesome story line and really keeps you wanting more. The action is fast yet easy to keep up with. Brown has a great way of making you feel like you know what's going on in the story, but still surprises you in the end. Read the book first, saw the movie second, and the book was MUCH better.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hard to put down.
Review: I found myself up very very late reading this book. The ending was ok, but overall a must read.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Last two thirds...not so great...far too predictable
Review: Davinci Code had an interesting beginning. I liked how he drew the reader in with his introduction of the curator, langdon, the bishop and albino. Initially engrossing, but BEWARE, the last two thirds drag. He regurgitates a good deal of his plot twists as the novel wears on. I had his 'twists' and characters figured chapters ahead of time. I even guessed the last cryptic clue APPLE pages and pages before Langdon figured it out. These characters with their Ivy league PhD's should be able to outsmart me - but they didn't!
As far as the religious controversy. Any intelligent, practicing Christian takes it with a grain of salt. Obviously, those most vulnerable to this kind of tripe are people of little faith, minimal worship and study of Christianity. Brown is so repetitive in his love of pagan rituals, sun dieties, and feminine goddess garble that it turns the reader off completely. He seems to be writing for a less intelligent audience. Why else would an author insist on such redundancy unless he felt his audience wasn't smart enough to grasp his message the first time around? Yawn.
Overall, I'd give the first 150 pages four stars. Brown could have easily shaved off 100 of the last 200 pages and still made this a pretty good read. The last third (two stars at best) really dragged on and the ending was highly predictible (if your inferencing skills go beyond a third grade level).
Review Summary: There is sex . . . but it's a bit weird . . .
Review: First what I admire: I couldn't stop reading this! It's fast, it's quick, it's clever, it's full of intrigue and suspense. The thing that impressed me most: I could not have written it! My book has sex, naked people in California doing things like jumping on trampolines and smoking pot, but no history, geography or visits to Swiss banks!
What I don't like: Well, the dialogue is often stiff. The writing is sometimes trite and full of cliches.
BUT, seriously, YOU try writing a novel that crosses borders, takes place in a major world museum, delves into religions and secret societies and keeps the reader turning the pages! It's hard to do and Dan Brown did it very well.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: More Like "By The Numbers."
Review: I read the Da Vinci Code because..., well, I was traveling and everyone seemed to be reading it. After I finished it, I felt as if I had had a lot of warm beer: bloated with empty calories, left with mildly unpleasant taste and a slight headache.
The fact that this book is a bestseller can make one question the value of universal literacy. It is really badly written. I didn't expect Updike or Vonnegut, but Dan Brown makes even Clive Cussler appear a decent wordsmith. To add insult to injury, the Da Vinci Code fails the genre and becomes predictable halfway through.
The story is inhabited by "comic strip" -grade characters bumping around, solving absurd puzzles placed there for reasons which make no particular sense. From time to time, a character stops what they are doing, leans against a wall, or stares into space and thinks "deep thoughts", through which the puzzles are solved and the premise of the book is laid out. These are sprinkled with what passes for historical and religious factoids, often researched poorly enough for the errors to be apparent to a layman like me.
Before I stand accused, I am not religious in the least. I don't find the book offensive (other than by being so badly written): in fact political correctness oozes from it, as does the author's apparent desire to be liked by everyone and sell to everyone (and this includes the good Catholics among book buyers:-)
If you want a well written and well researched "conspiracy theory through the ages" tale, get Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum. For a nice travel crime story, pick up P.D. James.
As for the Da Vinci Code..., I have played computer games that have higher literary merit than this. Really.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Dan Brown
Review: Dan Brown hit a homerun here. This book has an awesome story line and really keeps you wanting more. The action is fast yet easy to keep up with. Brown has a great way of making you feel like you know what's going on in the story, but still surprises you in the end. Read the book first, saw the movie second, and the book was MUCH better.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hard to put down.
Review: I found myself up very very late reading this book. The ending was ok, but overall a must read.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Last two thirds...not so great...far too predictable
Review: Davinci Code had an interesting beginning. I liked how he drew the reader in with his introduction of the curator, langdon, the bishop and albino. Initially engrossing, but BEWARE, the last two thirds drag. He regurgitates a good deal of his plot twists as the novel wears on. I had his 'twists' and characters figured chapters ahead of time. I even guessed the last cryptic clue APPLE pages and pages before Langdon figured it out. These characters with their Ivy league PhD's should be able to outsmart me - but they didn't!
As far as the religious controversy. Any intelligent, practicing Christian takes it with a grain of salt. Obviously, those most vulnerable to this kind of tripe are people of little faith, minimal worship and study of Christianity. Brown is so repetitive in his love of pagan rituals, sun dieties, and feminine goddess garble that it turns the reader off completely. He seems to be writing for a less intelligent audience. Why else would an author insist on such redundancy unless he felt his audience wasn't smart enough to grasp his message the first time around? Yawn.
Overall, I'd give the first 150 pages four stars. Brown could have easily shaved off 100 of the last 200 pages and still made this a pretty good read. The last third (two stars at best) really dragged on and the ending was highly predictible (if your inferencing skills go beyond a third grade level).