Dan Brown - new book: The Lost Symbol

Originally posted by nevberg at 31-12-2004 03:40 PM:



aku pun ada lagi dua nak beli ni...angels and demons ngan digital fortress

bagusla... ko ada dua... aku pun ada dua jugak buku dia...

nevberg

Originally posted by m_vaughn at 31-12-2004 15:42:



bagusla... ko ada dua... aku pun ada dua jugak buku dia...

hehehehhe.....

naniza

ada sekali dlm balai berlepas, tengah khusyuk membaca da vinci code,seorng wanita cina menegur, you baca da vinci code ?
eh, what wrong with that ?
oh, you must be a vey secular muslim.
nak ketawa pun ada .. tapi senyum sajalah..
belum khatam tapi dah hampir nak khatam.. setakat ini cerita ini sgt menarik. bukan senang hendak menyelongkar kitab bible dan mengetahui selok belok kristianity.
saya baru berkenalan dgn dan brown dan rasanya selepas ini akan membaca pula buku2 yang seterusnya tulisan brown.

Originally posted by naniza at 6-1-2005 04:22 PM:
ada sekali dlm balai berlepas, tengah khusyuk membaca da vinci code,seorng wanita cina menegur, you baca da vinci code ?
eh, what wrong with that ?
oh, you must be a vey secular muslim.
nak k ...

aku punya pengalaman... bos tempat aku kerja ni chinese jugak... tapi dia chinese kristian la... dia tanya saper punya buku the da vinci code tu? aku pun ngakulah... dia kata jangan percaya apa dalam buku tu citer... ishk... dia ingat aku ni apa? nak caye2... tolong siket...:jeler: aku pun jawablah yang aku baca sekadar suka2... agaknya dia risau kot takut tergugat new testament( :stp: betul ker aku eja ni) dia tu...

Foxey

hmm... beli buku nih dah lama... tapi baru berjaya start baca isnin lepas and habisnya pada rabu lepas... took me 3 nights of late night sbb nak habiskan baca.... p keje mata sampai bengkak2 sbb tak cukup tdo.... the book itself is so enticing that you feel reluctant to put it down selagi tak habis.... i have bought angel and demon sekali dgn da vinci code nih hari tu (that was sometime last year)... nanti nak start baca lak yg tu....

DanaScully

Originally posted by m_vaughn at 6-1-2005 05:11 PM:




aku punya pengalaman... bos tempat aku kerja ni chinese jugak... tapi dia chinese kristian la... dia tanya saper punya buku the da vinci code tu? aku pun ngakulah... dia kata jangan percaya ...

ha ah :ah::ah: we read for own reading pleasure..takkan nak percaya bulat-bulat semua yg ada tuh.  Mungkin dia ada sedikit rasa tergugat,  just imagine la kan..teori-teori Dan Brown very mind-blowing, silap-silap boleh rewrite history.

Originally posted by DanaScully at 23-1-2005 10:04 AM:


ha ah :ah::ah: we read for own reading pleasure..takkan nak percaya bulat-bulat semua yg ada tuh.  Mungkin dia ada sedikit rasa tergugat,  just imagine la kan..teori-teori Dan Brown very mind-b ...

:setuju: kat sini pun ko ada ek dana...:bgrin:

aku jugak blom abis baca buku nie ... adoiiii

taxotere

akhirnyaaaa....dapat gak aku beli buku ni....

baru start a few pages tapi kepala dah pening...

mungkin sbb nak memahamkan beberapa facts yg aku browse dlm internet...

nampak menarik gak buku ni...emmm...

sherrina

baca..jangan tak baca. kalau tak paham, bukak kamus :bgrin:

Originally posted by sherrina at 28-1-2005 05:52 PM:
baca..jangan tak baca. kalau tak paham, bukak kamus :bgrin:

:setuju: aku dah tiga kali khatam... nak khatam kali keempat, member opis pinjam... kena tunggu dia habis baca dulu... aku nak tanya, sape pernah buat unbreak the code dalam website dia... ada dua jenis code dalam da vinci code... satu tu agak senang, yang kedua tu, payah sket... aku baru boleh bukak gate yang ketiga... yang lain tu kena pikir dulu.

merahbaiduri

dah beli buku ni, dah baca around 50 pages... tapi rasa boring plak... tunggu mood nak baca balik.

deaf4ever

masuk sokkabar spore hari ni pasal tulisan ni..
bagus informasi rencana ni.


Feb 13, 2005
Da Vinci Decoded

Murder, mystery, hidden treasure and conspiracy make up the volatile mix that is The Da Vinci Code
By Kristina Tom

THE Da Vinci Code has unlocked the secret to bestselling status. American author Dan Brown's hit fictional thriller has sold more than 12 million copies around the world since it was published in March, 2003.




In Singapore, it has been on Life!'s bestseller list for 20 months and has sold over 100,000 copies since September, 2003. In comparison, Michael Crichton's bestselling Jurassic Park sold over 12,000 copies and John Grisham's The Firm sold about 30,000 copies here.

The book has so far earned Brown - a 39-year-old former English and creative writing teacher - US$260 million (S$426 million). It has renewed its cachet with a movie version starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou being planned for a 2006 release.

LifeStyle provides the keys for readers who quail at the thought of decoding 600 pages. Beware: spoilers abound.





What is the story in plain text?

The Da Vinci Code is about a conspiracy covering up certain aspects of the life of Jesus bChrist.

The murder of a curator in Paris' Louvre museum starts a life-and-death chase through Europe as the book's protagonists try to solve a mystery about Christ.

The clues are buried in various works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci's famous The Last Supper. Hence the name of the book.

Who are the heroes?


Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and French cryptologist Sophie Neveu.

Both seek to solve the mystery behind the murder of Sophie's grandfather, Jacques Sauniere, who happens to be the head of the Priory of Sion, an ancient organisation guarding a shocking truth about Christ's life.


Who are the bad guys?

A mad albino monk named Silas working under the direction of The Teacher - a mysterious figure who gives orders by phone and seems to be working through Opus Dei, a Catholic organisation bent on suppressing what the Priory knows.

Why is the book causing such a buzz?

Because it challenges Christian teachings and Church doctrines with a conspiracy theory. The big 'ta da!' moment in the book is the revelation that Christ had a wife named Mary Magdalene, who bore him a daughter named Sarah.


Why is the book such a compulsive read?

It is written in classic Crichton style of short snappy chapters. Brown sets up a race between the Priory, which is trying to keep the proof of the secret alive, and Opus Dei, which is trying to destroy the so-called truth.

What is the proof?

Sauniere as the Priory leader is the last person alive to know the secret location of Mary Magdalene's remains as well as ancient texts that prove her story.

Is there any historical basis for the book's claims?

Brown draws his research from books outside the mainstream of historical scholarship which most researchers and writers have lambasted as unsubstantiated speculation. The two main books, referred to by name in The Da Vinci Code, are:


Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln (1982)

This is Brown's source for the claim that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and later gave birth to their child. Most historians agree that Mary Magdalene, important as a follower of Jesus, never married him nor had his baby.



The Templar Revelation by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince (1997)

This book provides almost all of Brown's details on Da Vinci. Equal parts research and conspiracy theory, the book's interpretation of supposedly hidden clues in Da Vinci's art is seriously questioned by various guides to the novel.

Brown also misuses his source as he makes a big fuss of the grail being missing from Da Vinci's The Last Supper, but ignores the fact that the painting describes a post-supper scene from the Gospel of John in which the table had already been cleared.

So the theory is not new?

No. In fact, Baigent and Leigh have sued Brown for allegedly lifting a large amount of research without permission from their non-fiction book. With this lawsuit pending, it's no wonder Brown is currently refusing to give any interviews.



Photo: Philip Scalia
Other fiction books about this theory include Irving Wallace's The Word (1972) and Lewis Perdue's two books The Da Vinci Legacy (1983) and Daughter Of God (2000).

All these books featured an ancient manuscript, an alternate account of Christ's life and a secret society bent on suppressing the truth.

The similarities between The Da Vinci Code and Perdue's novels are so striking that Perdue has also sued Brown for plagiarism.


Why has the book upset people?

The book is fiction. But in his introduction, Brown writes that 'all descriptions of documents and secret rituals are accurate'. It is his casual mixing of reality and myth that is causing readers to see red.

Why should I read the book?

If you are interested in art history and conspiracy theories, Brown's breezy pace, basic brainteasers and whiff of blasphemous conspiracy theories will give you a pleasant buzz.


Why shouldn't I read the book?

The writing style is pedestrian and conspiracy theorists can get a better picture with the original non-fiction titles listed earlier.

What else has the author written?

Brown has written two high-tech thrillers - Deception Point (2002) and Digital Fortress (1998) - as well as Angels & De- mons (2001), which takes place before The Da Vinci Code and features the same protagonist, Robert Langdon.



DIVINE GIFT: Some of Da Vinci's most famous works revolved around religious themes such as The Virgin Of The Rocks (above) and The Last Supper.
The book explores a secret held by the Catholic Church, this time in the Vatican's own archives and involving the secret Illuminati brotherhood.

Fact or fiction? What's the real deal then?

Guides to Brown's book have become a veritable cottage industry, with new titles still coming out. To help you get started, we recommend a few good code-breaking books. Most of the authors - historians, theologians and academics - slam Brown for his apparently shoddy research and misrepresentation of certain organisations and religious groups.

They take special issue with Brown's take on Mary Magdalene and the Gnostic gospels, ancient heretical texts that are not included in today's Bible.


The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, priced at $17 without GST, is available in bookstores.


Should Dan Brown be slammed for his blasphemous baloney? Send your comments to [email protected]




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



What some readers say


Eugene Tan Ying San, a 53-year-old businessman: 'As history, the novel is bunk. More seriously, it prejudices the honest searcher for the truth.'

Father Joe Lopez Carpio, a 39-year-old Catholic priest and member of Opus Dei in Singapore: 'The author is misguided by some wrong ideas due to poor research, whether intentional or not. I consider the book disrespectful to the beliefs of more than one billion Catholics and blasphemous towards the historical Jesus.'

Khoo Huey Ming, a 27-year-old optometrist: 'It was a page turner - an easy read and quite enjoyable. Great for long flights; not good for days with work deadlines.'

Agnes Mah, a 48-year-old Catholic who works in consulting, and has avoided the book for religious reasons: 'I have not read it and don't wish to read it. I think a Catholic who isn't strong in his faith would be confused and waver after reading the book.'



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Some books to help you break the code


THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE DA VINCI CODE (2004)
By Michael and Veronica Haag
Rough Guides/256 pages/$13.95 without GST
Small, pocket-sized guide that gives you manageable chunks on all things related to Dan Brown's novel.

BREAKING THE DA VINCI CODE (2004) <
By Darrell L. Bock
Nelson/188 pages/$31.40 with GST
A professor of theology, Bock offers a Christian-centred examination of the Biblical questionsraised in the novel.

THE REAL HISTORY BEHIND THE DA VINCI CODE (2005)
By Sharan Newman
Berkley/337 pages/$25.00 without GST
Out just this month, this mini-encyclopaedia features alphabetical entries on historical and religious figures related to the novel, all carefully researched by Newman, a mediaeval scholar.

THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS (1979)
By Elaine Pagels
Vintage/182 pages/$23.95 with GST
For more serious research, check out this book. Pagels, a highly respected academic, delves into the heretical texts written by the Gnostics upon which Brown bases much of his conspiracy theory. The Gnostics are a sect that emerged in tandem with the early Christian Church.

SECRETS OF THE CODE (2004)
Edited by Dan Burstein
Weidenfeld & Nicolson/373 pages/$34.15 with GST
This anthology brings together archaeologists, theologians, art historians, philosophers and scientists in an attempt to provide comprehensive coverage of all things pertaining to The Da Vinci Code.

yuna_tsuzuki

i really enjoy reading DVC.. :love:

namun kita sebagai orang Islam jangan cepat2 nak percaya kepada beberapa perkara/fakta yg dinyatakan dalam novel ni.. contohnya dia kate jesus sebelum di salib telah berkahwin dgn mary magdalene & ade anak.. sebagai org islam kita sepatutnya mesti tawu yg nabi isa tak berkahwin seblum diangkat oleh Allah ke langit..

tapi bile kita bace novel ni, kita tawu la yg sebenarnya catholic church tawu yg nabi isa tu bukan son of god..

[ Last edited by yuna_tsuzuki on 20-5-2005 at 12:07 PM ]

ajas_a

Originally posted by yuna_tsuzuki at 20-5-2005 12:05 PM:
i really enjoy reading DVC.. :love:

namun kita sebagai orang Islam jangan cepat2 nak percaya kepada beberapa perkara/fakta yg dinyatakan dalam novel ni.. contohnya dia kate jesus sebelum di sali ...

:setuju::setuju::setuju:

mase buku tu baru kuar, aku dah bace... best la..
tp sekadar bhn bacaan.. jgn percaye sgt.. w/pun dirog claim semua tu fakta betul..

redsinner

the da vinci code is very addictive...aku baca buku tu kurang dari seminggu, unlike any other books yang aku penah baca. siap migraine lagi nak menghafal facts dia...

however this book gives the same impression as i have read amitav ghosh's glass palace n the piano tuner by mason. heavy historical details, real and vivid. rasa mcm nak terbang ker europe right away.

penyelewengan? hahah, of course we aware of that. aku mampu gelak dan lepas tu cari history nabi isa lak...kena tau history agama sendiri gak kan?

i also recommend the rule of four. buku baru, not bad laaa...best gak. :bgrin:

limau_nipis

Buku ni sangat menarik.. tapi saya prefer Angels & Demons.. tulisan Dan Brown jugak.. Angels & Demons cerita proses dalam gereja Vatican.. jadi bila Pope John Paul II mati hari tu, saya sudah tahu bagaimana proses perlantikan pope baru dibuat dah bila suratkhabar tulis fakta yang sama, maka saya lagi suka nak baca detailnya. saya setuju buku macam ni dibanyakkan dalam pasaran.. dapat tambah knowledge.. sekarang ni nak beli special edition Da Vinci dan Angels & Demons yang ada gamabr tu.. harga dalam RM130

sherrina

filem Da Vinci Code akan ditayangkan 19 Mei 2006.....kumpul duit mulai skarang :bgrin:

limau_nipis

hero dia tom hanks kan? :ah:
saya ingatkan george clooney akan dapat part tu.. sbb dia bid untuk jadi pelakon da vinci..

ooohh george clooney :cak:

sherrina

nak bawa watak hero dalam da vinci code takleh muka hensem, macho sgt coz hero tu sorang prof. so mesti cam tua2 sket and nampak pintar....errr, tom hanks nampak bijak ke? dia nampak cam blur aje :bgrin: