A review by zaisgraph
The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Rereading The Da Vinci Code in 2023
Column by Me, Zai Zai
Reading The Da Vinci Code as an adult with far greater comprehension is a markedly different experience altogether. Full disclosure my kid mind was simply BLOWN by all the stuff brought up here in the early 2000s (after stanning the Catholic Church for the longest time haha!)
Now, I feel like this is a Middle Grade level adventure presented as FAR, FAR more complicated than it actually is LOL. All the conspiracy stuff in Da Vinci is practically entry level and WOULD NOT need a high caliber expert to solve lol. I mean a mirror (reverse image) puzzle??? C'mon!!! Usborne Puzzle Adventures did it first and waaaay better.
The ridiculousness of Robert's and Sophie's plot armor is also jarring. I mean neither of them was in any real trouble. Some say it was the hand of something divine or is it lazy anime writing? LoL. Honestly, it's just NOT realistic in this day and age to side with any problematic religion. I mean yeahhh why would an omnipotent being protect a sex cult? Is that the final form of man's faith? How would gays and children participate? The questions just write themselves.
Overlooking the stuff I have just said I can understand why this book became not just popular but a phenomenon. However, this book DID NOT AGE VERY WELL. It felt and read like a product of it's time when the themes it discussed had a far larger bearing.
It's fun to make more out of things. Maybe there's more to them, but most of the time what things are is what they really are. A painting is just a painting. Less fun I know. The Da Vinci Code perfectly encapsulated this built in side quest of humanity. It is mindless fun. But you know if this novel encourages people to keep poking at established stuff I am still all for it because we can't pretend understand in full the intricacies of our art and history. 3 stars.
My Good Reads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/143356683-zai-zai
Column by Me, Zai Zai
Reading The Da Vinci Code as an adult with far greater comprehension is a markedly different experience altogether. Full disclosure my kid mind was simply BLOWN by all the stuff brought up here in the early 2000s (after stanning the Catholic Church for the longest time haha!)
Now, I feel like this is a Middle Grade level adventure presented as FAR, FAR more complicated than it actually is LOL. All the conspiracy stuff in Da Vinci is practically entry level and WOULD NOT need a high caliber expert to solve lol. I mean a mirror (reverse image) puzzle??? C'mon!!! Usborne Puzzle Adventures did it first and waaaay better.
The ridiculousness of Robert's and Sophie's plot armor is also jarring. I mean neither of them was in any real trouble. Some say it was the hand of something divine or is it lazy anime writing? LoL. Honestly, it's just NOT realistic in this day and age to side with any problematic religion. I mean yeahhh why would an omnipotent being protect a sex cult? Is that the final form of man's faith? How would gays and children participate? The questions just write themselves.
Overlooking the stuff I have just said I can understand why this book became not just popular but a phenomenon. However, this book DID NOT AGE VERY WELL. It felt and read like a product of it's time when the themes it discussed had a far larger bearing.
It's fun to make more out of things. Maybe there's more to them, but most of the time what things are is what they really are. A painting is just a painting. Less fun I know. The Da Vinci Code perfectly encapsulated this built in side quest of humanity. It is mindless fun. But you know if this novel encourages people to keep poking at established stuff I am still all for it because we can't pretend understand in full the intricacies of our art and history. 3 stars.
My Good Reads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/143356683-zai-zai