Hi Toni
I couldn't put it down, either! And it certainly has got people interested in Leonardo & his work.

Why do you think the Catholic Church (or churches in general) has such a hard time accepting this particular novel? Has there not been, movies and other forms of media that have address many of the same issues? Some say that when the truth begins to present itself, people tend to get defensive or offensive(which is the case of the RCC?)! And if the church is based on faith, discipline or whatever…...if a “strong believer” were to read this novel, no matter what the contents; your faith should help you decipher the truth from the fabricated. If one begins to question what he/she has been told/taught about their faith or religion, then you either need to (re)examine your beliefs or cast what makes you uncomfortable aside and move on with your life!

Not for a very long time has one book swept the globe and had so many minds ticking!

Congratulations to Dan Brown, combining the odd fact or two with fiction to create such a fantastic read, that captivates the reader, involving them so they can not put the book down.

I would be reading and think, I'll just finish this chapter then have a rest, but, I'd get to the end of the chapter and just have to keep reading to find out what happened next.

This book has raised so many questions. What is fact? What is fiction? Why is the church telling its followers not to read the 'evil' novel?

Eventually, the bro-hah-ha will die down, and the book will sit on the bookselves in many rooms around the world. But I doubt this book will be forgotten.

And lastly, who didn't, after finishing the book (or maybe even during), go online or to the library and look at pictures of the last supper, or mona lisa. And who didn't look at the person next to Jesus and think, "Gosh, it does look like a girl, I never noticed that before". Or, "you know what, I kind of do see a resemblence between Leonardo and Mona Lisa"......

Hi Splat, welcome.

Yes, this book has certainly got people thinking - and asking questions.

As for the church, Manuloco, maybe it doesn't like too many questions, and, like everyone else I imagine, it doesn't like lies being told about it.

But, yes, you start to ask where does the fiction end and the fact begin - and then, hopefully, you start to explore for yourself!

Just half way through Da Vinci Code (but have read Angels and Demons). Splat, you're right... found this site by looking up "The Last Supper". Perhaps someone would look at this http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/vinci/sketch/headjman.jpg and tell me if this doesn't look a lot like the alleged Mary in "The Last Supper". Actually, looking at Da Vinci's work, the same woman seems to appear as the Madonna also. I know artists sometimes use the same models for different works, but it seems (in analytical terms) that might put an important significance on the person depicted in "The Last Supper" if it was the same model as Madonnas in other works. (???)

Welcome, Wabisca, and yes, there is a definite likeness. We have discussed similar ideas before. Have a look here:

Isabella of Aragon, A Sforza and Leonardo's model.
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000145#000000

Mary Mary, seriously contrary
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000213#000000

Why Should John Look So Feminine?
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000140#000000

LAST SUPPER:- Is it really a female?
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000226#000000

Hi Peter...well slap dash and poorly researched or not, I enjoyed it! And to me it seemed as if an enormous amount of research had gone into it, but hey, I've never written a book, so I have quite a bit of respect for a guy who can write a book so involving. Despite the fact that he then went on to write digital fortress...best summed up with 'oh dear'.

And I'm new here...can't say I've read every single post...so if you had already told everyone what I said well done you. I just thought it was really interesting. Can I ask why, if you think the book was so slap dash and poorly researched, you know so much about it? Just wondering.

ems

Fair question.

I read the book after joining this site. I agree, its a tremendous fast paced read.

But.

It didn't surprise me with the descendents of Jesus grail stuff because I had read this ages before in abook called 'Holy Blood & Holy Grail'. Then there was some outrageous nonsense in the book, some stupid obvious mistakes.

Then I started thinking about the strange name TEABING. Its not a name I've ever come across. Then I realised it was an anagram or the authors of 'Holy Blood & Holy Grail'. Um. Do any of the other character's names have double meanings? Lets look at them. Yes.

After I read it I listed the stupid mistakes I noticed, then it became a bit like a crossword.

You know in a crossword, the more answers you get, the more it opens up the answer to other clues? The more you look at the book the more you find that proved to be nonsense.

So we - on this forum - were getting more fun from checking the facts and reporting the many things wrong.

I don't think so.

Although there are mistakes in the Da Vinci Code, u cannot blame Dan Brown for it, he clearly states that it is a fiction which means that it is not true. However, though i am not a Christian, it intrigued me and made me research more about christianity. I don't understand y the Roman Catholic Church is against it, Dan Brown certainly stated that it is fiction, this means that no matter how poorly researched it is, at least he made an effort and did not classify it under non-fiction. This is similar to the case of harry potter, it is a hell of a good read, but churches dun encourage christians to read it just because they believe that there is no magic in the world. But think again...is there really a god?? There are too many loopholes in the bible, how did god create the earth?

I watched docu "behind the dvC" or something like that, i believe theres a few of them around now.
An expert was askied to provide her opinions on the "PS" in the stained glass window it think it was, in some church somewhere that was mentioned in the book. It was said, in the book, that PS/SP stood for "Priory of Sion"..... our "expert" on the docu just sneered, and said... "oh no no, it stands for Saint Peter" - and that was it - not one comment to back her story. You would consider that an expert might have a slightly more informed comment than "oh no no".

All that it lent creedence to is that there IS more than meets the eye. I'm not for one minute suggesting that Dan Brown was right, but from the docu, it could be suggested that "experts" just regurgitate what is commonly assumed to be a fact, because noone has proven the original theory otherwise. and while noone asks questions, organisations will continue to purport their will wil silence.