Written by 
The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Anchor
Release Date: March 18, 2003
Format read: Physical (Special Illustrated Edition, hardback)
Source of book: This book was acquired independantly by the Reviewer.
The Da Vinci Code Summary
“While in Paris, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is awakened by a phone call in the dead of the night. The elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum, his body covered in baffling symbols. As Langdon and gifted French cryptologist Sophie Neveu sort through the bizarre riddles, they are stunned to discover a trail of clues hidden in the works of Leonardo da Vinci—clues visible for all to see and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter.
Even more startling, the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion—a secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci—and he guarded a breathtaking historical secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle—while avoiding the faceless adversary who shadows their every move—the explosive, ancient truth will be lost forever.”
My Thoughts
WeIf you’ve spent any time around bookstores, libraries, or the book collections of other people, you have probably heard of The Da Vinci Code. I remember when I was a child, and the novel was ubiquitous. I saw copies of it for sale everywhere from Kmart and Target to op shops and small local bookstores. I don’t think it is a stretch to say it is one of the most well-known books of this century, at least in English-speaking countries.
So, having known of this book’s existence your whole life you will have to find out what the fuss is about eventually and pick it up. What you’re greeted with is a surprisingly tense and exciting mystery full of twists and turns. The “Code” referred to in the title is the beginning of a scavenger hunt conducted by an academic and a cryptologist, meanwhile, they are pursued by the French police and a mysterious figure with unclear intentions.
My review copy was the special illustrated edition, so alongside the action, I was greeted with photos, paintings, and illustrations related to the story. This was useful, as when a certain painting or artifact was mentioned I could have a visual to help me imagine the scene better. Otherwise, though, the special edition didn’t affect too much of my reading experience and most of my thoughts would apply to other editions of the novel.
While my The Da Vinci Code book review may seem quite delayed, it is important for me to address this book because of its ongoing notoriety. Dan Brown’s style has become its own micro-genre, almost a meme in our current age, and this book had a strong ripple effect throughout pop culture. I came to the book long after the hype, which gives me a fresh perspective to consider the book on its merits alone.
Storyline & Plot
This is a tight, fast-paced action story that flicks around between perspectives to keep things engaging and interesting. Most of the book is people chasing each other, or chasing the next item to find, so there’s always at least one plot event occuring at a time.
It wouldn’t be an honest The Da Vinci Code book review without noting this: the joy in this book actually isn’t the end or how it wraps up, it’s in the middle. Dan Brown revels in the constant reveals of historical and mythical facts, and these are the basis for the next plot event. With a treasure hunt at its core, this means that the facts, puzzles, and revelations are as much of the action as the car chases and covert escape from the Louvre. If you’re a mystery lover or a puzzle nut, this will be right up your alley.
Characters
I have what might be considered a real hot take: in creating the character of Robert Langdon, Dan Brown predicted the rise of notable psychologist/public figure Jordan Peterson. This similarity only came to me after finishing the book, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense. Both Peterson and Langdon are academically-minded men who think deeply about the symbolism and mythology existing in human civilisation, and how humanity’s stories reveal hidden truths about the wider world. If anyone could be called a “symbologist” in real life, it would be Peterson, considering his research and writing about archetypical characters such as dragons, witches, and heroes. So if you need a description of Robert Langdon as a character, imagine a grouchier Jordan Peterson without psychological training. If that doesn’t sound appealing, don’t worry – as the action man of the story Langdon exists to drive the plot forward, and there is not too much “character development” to speak of for him.
In terms of character work, the focus is actually on 2 other characters: Sophie and Silas. Sophie’s arc over the story is a greater self-awareness as she discovers the secrets behind her grandfather’s life. While she is tested and challenged in her core beliefs, she is able to reconcile the new information and ends the book finally being whole in herself after a lifetime of loss. It’s a satisfying story, if a bit contrived.
Silas’s character arc, seen through a combination of real-time events and flashbacks, is the most engaging though. Silas is a side character, whose ambitions and motivations are unknown at first. Over time, we are able to colour in the lines of his shallow “evil henchman” exterior. Instead, there is a complex individual battling against his own mind and external forces taking advantage of him. I don’t want to spoil his fate, but I will say that it was a turn I did not expect and it left a great impression on me when it happened.
Writing
The best moments in mystery stories are when everything is finally explained. One of the strong parts of The Da Vinci Code is that there are many of those “pulling the curtain” moments, each giving you another piece of explanation. Eventually, in the end, everything comes together. While some revelations at the end may seem obvious, others took the reader completely by surprise. I was particularly surprised at the final insight given to the villains of the story.
It should be noted that the book has been criticised for historical and factual inaccuracies, and this does bring down the enjoyment of the book in my eyes. In fact, I am knocking off a star in my The Da Vinci Code book review for this reason. But it is possible to enjoy the story and action without worrying too much into how much of the book was real, to exercise a healthy balance of critical thinking and suspension of disbelief. For readers who wish to have further insight into the alleged inaccuracies, the Wikipedia page devoted to the subject provides a starting point.
TL;DR: While the factual inaccuracies might be disappointing for some readers, the writing and story are engaging on their own merits. This book is best suited for fans of plot twists and a constant rush of action, especially if you have not read it yet!
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Learn more about Crokes’ rating system.