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DaVinci Code Discussion Thread SPOILER

The TVClubHouse: Archives: Movies & Library 2003 -2004: Library: June 2003 - April 2004: DaVinci Code Discussion Thread SPOILER users admin

Author Message
Twiggyish

Saturday, November 08, 2003 - 5:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hi all.. hope the mods don't mind.
I wanted to start a thread we can discuss the book and not spoil it for those reading.

First, I wanted to ask how many of you figured out the Teacher? I guessed it was him about 3/4 of the book.
Second, I'm curious as to how much of the historical portion (outside of the religious part) is true. For example: How many historical figures were actually Templars?
Third, Is there an actual scientific observatory for the Vatican?

Jan

Sunday, November 09, 2003 - 12:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I haven't read the book yet Twig (and I never buy a book without reading the end first which is why I am in this thread). But I do want to ask a question.

I was reading the reviews at Amazon.com. Some say the book is great..some say the book is overrated. One person said that it is an absolute great book until the last 10 pages. She thought the end just did not live up to the merits of the book and wanted to throw the book across the room (so she said).

Is it worth the buy or should I just wait for paperback?

Twiggyish

Sunday, November 09, 2003 - 6:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I enjoyed the book, but wasn't too happy with the end, either. I wasn't exactly pleased with the way he wrapped up the ending.
I do love a riddle and a mystery. This book provided plenty of clues for a good mystery.. There are several mysteries running in the book. The first one is the murder mystery. This is tied to the next one, which is the Holy Grail...within this mystery are secret societies...and most intriguing.. the clues hidden by Leonardo DaVinci. The third mystery deals with the Catholic Church and the implications of the Holy Grail.
I love a book with layers..and this one has plenty!

Marysafan

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 10:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jan, Don't let those reviews scare you. I read them too and thought that I would be very disappointed in the ending. I wasn't.

It was wrapped up neatly, but I didn't mind that. In fact, I much prefer it to endings that just leave you going "Huh?" and turning the page only to discover there is no more...THAT"S IT!!

No need to through the book across the room.

I did not find the book at all disappointing, but then I am not a fan of the murder mystery genre'. I did however find it totally engaging on many levels. And yes...I was one of those geeks running to my computer to look up things like the number PHI and especially The Last Supper. I was totally shocked that there was no "chalice" in the painting. I just "assumed" it was there and if someone would have asked me to draw my version of it...there sitting in the center of the table would have been a chalice.
That alone really gave me pause.

I highly recommend this book. It's a good read, but also a very good history lesson.

Seamonkey

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 1:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
It is worth reading.. yes the end did wrap up a bit neatly.. and at times things stretched the imagination.. vehicles that stood out like a sore thumb not being ditched and so on.. but well worth reading.

Jan, think it depends if you are good at waiting.. I'm not.. and this one is likely to have long long waiting lists at libraries.

I'd bet that there will soon be MANY used copies available.

Jan

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 6:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for taking the time to answer everyone:) I bought it today because I was able to get it for 40% OFF!!!

I'm looking forward to it.

Reader234

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 6:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Jan, when you finish it, send it to me!! :)

(funny how I'm in this thread too!!)

Did you think I should get a book on the DiVinci paintings to go along witht the book?

Twiggyish

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 7:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You can look them up online, too.

Twiggyish

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 7:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
lastsupper

Twiggyish

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 7:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
MonaLisa

Pannie

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 7:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Twiggy, good for you! I never figured out who the teacher was. haha>I thought it was going to be the banker with his Rolex< silly me.

I was wondering about how much was true, too (historical and religious). I kept thinking: is this true? Is that true? I didn't know that? LOL!

Thanks for bringing Mona to us.

Twiggyish

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 8:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here's more information. I googled terms and names from the book and found to my surprise they are REAL! I love solving riddles.

Ok, here's information:

http://www.peletier.co.uk/VATICAN/R1024/Headq.html
Castel Gandolfo Observatory

http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat.html
Fibonacci and Phi code

http://www.bartleby.com/65/ro/Rosicruc.html
Rosicrucian Society of Knights

http://www.opusdei.org/
Opus Dei and it's real. Escriva was real, too.

http://www.mond.at/opus.dei/
Interesting link regarding Opus Dei (Both Pro and Con)

http://www.ordotempli.org/priory_of_sion.htm
Priory of Sion - Fascinating! The name Sauniere mentioned.

Twiggyish

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 8:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
If any of you want to add to the list feel free. I googled Holy Grail truths and got some odd returns. I also found pictures and information on Saint Sulpice, too.

Seamonkey

Monday, November 10, 2003 - 10:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
And Richard Hansson, the spy who turned counter spy and caused the death of some Soviet/Russian agents working for us.. not to mention having cameras in his bedroom and taking pics of his wife and getting guys to watch and supporting a stripper and oh, other things.. anyway he was a member of Opus Dei .. but now he's in prison. He was briefly mentioned in the book, but I read the book about him. As with any secretive group, there are those who twist and pervert the purposes.. and that is true of many of the groups mentioned in the book.

Twiggyish

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 8:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That's probably why Dan Brown chose that organization. In my opinion, he included real organizations, historical places and people into an interesting fictional piece. It's interesting to see how many he used! (Doesn't mean I agree with his theories, though)

Seamonkey

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 2:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
He isn't alone in his theories, of course..

Twiggyish

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 3:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Very true! In fact, he based his book on an earlier one written in 1982, Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

Marysafan

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 6:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I admit that I have yelled at the tv from time to time when someone is about to do something stupid...but this is the first time I ever found myself yelling at a book!

I knew they didn't have it figured out right and were heading to the wrong place...and I knew nothing good was going to come from it...but would they listen .....NO!

And of course, I figured out the last code word right away once I knew whose grave they needed to visit. My husband was beginning to wonder when every 15 minutes or so...I would shout out ....it's *****!!!!!! (I know this is the spoiler thread, but I still can't bring myself to give that away.

I sure ENJOYED this book!!!

Reader234

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 7:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL, thanks Mary, that must've taken will power!!

I just posted in the other thread about my purchases!! I bought a Leanardo Book of his paintings and stuff!! (as well as 2 Mary Magdelene books!!)

Thanks for the links.

Twiggyish

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 7:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cool Reader!!

I know what you mean Mary..LOL

Pannie

Wednesday, November 12, 2003 - 8:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the links Twig!

Reader, with your nic, I understand your penchant for books, ;-). Let us know if Mary was a redhead. <wink, wink>

And Mary, great work in figuring out the codes. I never did, and having sooo many puzzles frustrated me. I knew early on who the descendent was, duh.

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 8:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I read this book (the first novel I've read in about 15 years) a little while back when Colossus picked it up. He's a Mason, and the guys around lodge were talking about it. Frankly, the result of reading the book was to get Colossus and me in a big, honkin', bareknuckled fight. I'd ask him questions about the representations regarding Masonic tenants, and he'd confirm some things or tell me to go look them up myself, he couldn't tell me for reason of his Masonic oaths. Didn't go over too well, particularly since the book reads as an anti-Catholic screed and I found it somewhat offensive in the first place. So then we had a fight about why Catholics aren't allowed to be Masons (Catholic Church doesn't allow it, Masons allow Catholics, though). Then I decided any question he'd ask me henceforth would be met with the answer "go look it up yourself." That didn't go over too well, either. On and on. What's really funny is I didn't think the book was particularly well-written in the first place - way too many convenient leaps of logic and coinky-dinks to make it believable. And what now? Well, of course I'm reading the book out loud to Colossus and demanding he explain himself. LOLOL!!