The Da Vinci Code Special Illustrated Version – Dan Brown

I finished the Da Vinci Code about a couple month ago after finally getting a copy. I received the special illustrated version for Christmas after mentioning it to my parents once or twice. I had only heard a little bit about the book, I wasn’t even sure if it was a novel or a non-fiction, all I knew was that it was on the best sellers lists for months on end and it had mentioned the number Phi and the golden equation a few times. Right away despite the forward saying that most of what was presented in the novel was fact I realized this book was a piece of fiction. With that said also right away I was drawn into the book and had trouble putting it down.

The Da Vinci Code takes place in Europe over the course of a day or two. It is a wild tail of a symbolist who gets flung into the middle of a holy grail search that starts in the Louvre in Paris France. Having been to the Louvre it made it easy to identify with much of what the author was trying to build visually. The Da Vinci Code deals a lot with Art, history and the symbolism found therein. Having the Special Illustrated Version was excellent because you could see right in front of you exactly what the characters in the novel were talking about as all the art, buildings and other items being discussed are displayed tastefully throughout the novel.

I think the reason The Da Vinci Code became so popular is because of the many conspiracy theories Dan Brown presents, especially since most of them revolve around the Catholic Church, who better a target these days? While Dan Brown says everything relating to the Church, Symbolism and other facts in the novel are all true I really had to question much what was being presented. He doesn’t do much to backup his facts either, but rather uses arguments like “Who are you going to believe, a group that molests young boys, or me?”. However, despite this small problem in his facts I still quite enjoyed this book. It moved along at a break neck speed, and was a very entertaining read once I got past the fact that this book is purely fiction.

While this book is labeled as fiction it has caused quite a controversy, and a new wave of tourists hitting up Europe to see all the locations found in the book. Groups like the Catholic Church, the Opus Diea, the Stone Masons have all released press releases calling out the misinformation surrounding this book, not to mention all the churches and historical locations in Europe that have had to put up signs telling tourists to stop wasting there time.

Overall I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code, and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an exciting book that mixes in some beautiful art and culture into the story. I also highly recommend that if you are to read this book you get the illustrated version as it allows you to see right away exactly what the characters in the novel are talking about.