The Da Vinci Code (Book)

(Caution! Some spoilers ahead!!)

When I first started The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown I had high hopes—it came highly recommended to me by my father, and I was promised a National Treasure-esque treasure hunt and beach read. The novel follows the journey of American symbologist Robert Langdon and French cryptologist Sophie Neveu after they become suspects in the murder of Sophie’s grandfather, the prominent art curator Jaques Saunière, which happened at the Louvre. They must go on the run and try to follow the secretive last message left by Saunière pointing them in the direction of what they can only assume is the elusive Holy Grail. But of course, the French police (led by Captain Bezu Fache) are not the only ones on their case- the Grail is also sought by the Catholic church, more specifically a highly controversial faction called the Opus Dei. One of their monks, Silas, under the direction of the highly secretive Teacher, is also seeking the Grail and will stop nowhere to ensure that Langdon and Neveu do not arrive there before him. Told alternating between the stories of Langdon/Neveu, Silas, Fache, and an assortment of other characters met along the way, this book examines family dynamics, symbology within religion, classical art, and more.

Well, unfortunately, the book did not reach all of my expectations. In my opinion, its biggest pitfall was that the whole story was building up to the grail, the rose, Mary Magdalene, and yet by the end it still felt wholly anticlimactic. I realize that this book is part of a trilogy and that perhaps all will truly be revealed in the next and final establishment, but the story was not enticing enough for me to care enough to continue to join Langdon in his search. Also, the last-minute addition of Sophie’s long-lost family did not feel necessary, and yet that is what the reader got instead of the anticipated answers. Additionally, this was not exactly the type of mystery where the reader could participate and find all of the clues themselves before the characters. All of the answers were highly specific and focussed on obscure theories and knowledge within the world of the story, which had the effect of making the reader feel like an outsider. Personally, I do not enjoy that feeling. I want to feel immersed in the world and like I am working alongside the protagonists, but that was not exactly an option here. Perhaps I just was not savvy enough to find the clues or I am bitter that this left me feeling so unknowledgeable. It is completely possible that other readers have what it takes to compete with the minds of Neveu and Langdon, but for me, that was simply not the case.

But, despite my problems with the ending, it was still an overall pleasant book to read. It was exciting to watch the characters find new clues and escape their pursuers, of course always at the last possible second. As the book progressed it got more interesting when the storylines combined and intertwined because the different perspectives gave insight to extra levels and sides of the action. It is true in my opinion that at the start some parts were dull or confusing, especially when the seemingly unnecessary histories of different characters such as Silas and Fache were given, but later they did end up proving relevant to the story. Regardless, it was nice to have a book that was easy to read, moderately amusing, and that did not make me think too much while on vacation. I just wish that the resolution had been stronger, as that could have raised my overall perception of the book. It is hard for me to give it a glowing review when I so disliked the last taste of it that I had.