Before I begin, I’d like to state that I’m not a big reader, even though I used to be. A few years ago, I read a book every week, but now it’s a huge accomplishment if I read a mere 5 books per year. With that in mind, when I do read on rare occasions, I try to read only the best, most popular books. For that reason, I chose to read The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown this summer.
At over 500 words long , The Da Vinci Code is a mystery/thriller that follows Robert Langdon, a Harvard Professor who is called in to investigate the mysterious murder of the curator of the Louvre in Paris, Jacques Saunière. Unknown to Langdon, he was called in because he is the primary suspect of the murder. From puzzling mysteries to action-packed chases through the streets of Paris, the story takes the reader on a thrilling adventure. Regarding the plot, Brown includes as many plot twists as he could, but fortunately it never feels overdone. However, the plot twists always feel natural, as though they were turns you feel you should have suspected, which add to the thrill of the novel. Further, the book also grapples with the morality and symbology of religion, as well as the preservation of knowledge and history.
All things considered, I would give the book 4/5 stars. The story was captivating, the action was exciting, and the mysteries were puzzling, but it all felt too cliché. Dan Brown wrote everything correctly, but something about the novel doesn’t feel right. Whether it was the over the top scenarios, or the fact that the whole story took place in a few days, it just doesn’t feel natural. That said, it was extremely entertaining. From the satisfaction of figuring out one of the books puzzles before the characters do, to the surprise of a major plot twist, I was thoroughly entertained. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a wild, suspenseful journey into the mystery behind religion, art, and history.