The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is one of the first books I ever read of that size and number of pages, I always looked used to look at books of that size and be like I could never have the time to sit down and read a book like this in its entirety but from the very first page I read, I was captivated. The book has sold tens of millions of copies around the world and became one of the biggest-selling works of fiction ever published. Just thinking about the scale of its success is impressive and its no surprise that it was made into a movie.
The easiest way to describe The Da Vinci Code is probably as a thriller wrapped around a giant puzzle. The story begins with the mysterious murder of Jacques Saunière, the curator of the Louvre, and quickly pulls Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor of symbology, and Sophie Neveu, a French cryptologist, into a dangerous investigation. From there, the story moves through secret societies, religious history, ancient symbols, famous works of art and hidden messages. Almost everything seems to contain another layer of meaning, and just when you think you've understood what is happening, Dan Brown introduces another clue that changes the direction of the story.
That constant feeling of discovery is probably the book's greatest strength. There is always another question waiting to be answered. Who can be trusted? What is the meaning behind a particular symbol? What secret is being protected? The story rarely gives you enough time to settle comfortably before something else happens.
I also knew before starting the book that religion and history would play a major role from people I heard talking about it. Brown deliberately takes familiar religious and historical idea and presents them from an unusual perspective. Some of the claims in the novel have generated considerable debate, and that controversy is undoubtedly part of what made the book such a phenomenon and then there is the sheer readability of the novel. Brown's writing can be straightforward and functional, and some of the dialogue and explanations can feel a little heavy handed.
The characters, however, serve their roles effectively. Robert Langdon is the knowledgeable academic who can interpret the symbols and historical references, while Sophie brings a different perspective and personal connection to the mystery. Other characters provide the danger, mystery and uncertainty that keep the story moving. What I particularly appreciated was that the fate of the entire world wasn't hanging in the balance. So many modern thrillers seem to believe that every story needs a global catastrophe, a nuclear weapon or some villain threatening to destroy civilisation. Despite the book's length, I was surprised by how quickly I moved through it. There were moments when I thought I would put it down for the night, only to reach the end of another chapter and realise that Brown had deliberately left me with another unanswered question and that is why im such a big fan of the mystery genre of everything.
After finishing it, I understood of course why this book became such a massive international phenomenon. There are plenty of books that sell millions of copies because of marketing or hype, but The Da Vinci Code has something else going for it and it is simply that it makes you want to know what happens next.
Rating: 85/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/books.