It's a book. It's a movie. It's a cultural phenomenon. But is it any good?
THE DA VINCI CODE
by Dan Brown
So, have you read it yet? If not, you can count yourself among a dwindling minority and you may have nothing to say at the water cooler over the course of the next few weeks. Because Dan Brown, Opus Dei, and the Mona Lisa are about to explode onto the silver screen in a big way and what has already been a runaway bestseller is about to take another giant leap forward.
So what's all the hype about? Does this book really deserve its elevated status?
There can be no doubt that The Da Vinci Code is a force to be reckoned with. It is probably the best selling novel of all time, out pacing runner up Valley of the Dolls (30 million copies sold) by Jacqueline Susann. It has sold, to date, more than 40 million copies, has been translated into 44 languages, and has made the reclusive Dan Brown a very rich man. To put those numbers in perspective, one of the most prolific and best-selling novelists on the scene today is Stephen King. He sold just under 40 million copies of all of his titles throughout the 1990s.
More importantly, The Da Vinci Code has set in motion some pretty significant ripples on the world stage in general and the Catholic Church in particular. It has taken fiction to an unusual level, a somewhat disturbing one in the view of some, and for that reason alone it qualifies as a recommended read. It's not the Great American Novel, but it is a cultural phenomenon.
All speculation and controversy aside, The Da Vinci Code is a nail-biting, fast-moving explosive adventure. It starts out with a modern-day murder in the Louvre and just plain never stops. There are diabolical plot twists, shocking speculations, red herrings, conspiracy, and a large dose of goddess-worship. And a smattering of romance. Not to mention sex. Which, in case you missed it, sells. The book, in fact, has been extremely popular among women. Even though it is written in the action-packed style that usually attracts a bigger male audience, it has a decidedly feminist slant.
But what has really set The Da Vinci Code apart is its controversial look at the life and times of Jesus, its painful prodding at Christian beliefs, and its hammering of the Catholic Church. Brown has done some prodigious research and come up with some fascinating material. He has woven goodly chunks of authenticity into the fabric of his fiction. The book has an air of scholarly significance about it that gives readers a feeling of intellectual involvement. It is also, intriguingly, a bit interactive. There are cryptic puzzles to tantalize the curious and challenge conspiracy buffs. It is hard to resist trying your hand at breaking the code. Also adding to the allure is the plot's foundation - an intense age-old quest for truth, for the secret knowledge that will change everything. That, coupled with short, powerful chapters that appeal to Internet Age readers, keeps you turning the pages and staying up past your bedtime.
Opus Dei, a conservative organization of the Catholic Church that has, until now, flown under the radar, is taking a big hit with the publication of The Da Vinci Code. It is the ultimate and, presumably, fictitious collective villain, portrayed by Brown as a clandestine, powerful, and decidedly nasty force. The Catholic Church has protested vehemently but that has not stopped a frenzy of conspiracy theorists and rabble-rousers from picking up Brown's plot and running with it.
But wait. This is fiction. That's all. It is meant to entertain - and it does. It prompts some lively conversations, it asks some very provocative questions, and it tells a whopping good story. But it isn't supposed to be a history of Christianity. It is best read as the thriller that it is and, if you are into thrillers, it's a humdinger. So enjoy it.
Just don't take it as gospel.
