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Da Vinci Code at Amazon

Historical iconography, conspiracies, and a 7-day checkout.

By Chris Dunmire

A few weeks ago, I noticed Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" was still number one on the best sellers book list. Now, I'm not a big fan of reading fiction (my library adventures are mostly on the non-fiction side), but give me a book like the "Celestine Prophecy" and I'll gladly alter my paradigm to accommodate a good read that well, could be true. Besides, I'm a huge fan of Leonardo's creative life and Michael Gelb's book: "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci."

I suspected that I might enjoy "Da Vinci Code" and another book by Dan Brown for similar reasons after taking in several reviews from critics and other plain folk like myself. My curiosity was piqued enough to consider getting myself on the waiting list for the book at the library, which I figured would be for at least six months.

I went to the library to see if "Da Vinci Code" was showing up in the online catalog system. (Remember when we had to look through a real card catalog?) I must have searched wrong, because nothing turned up on my first search. I quietly resigned myself to just go ask for information or to be put on the waiting list for the books I wanted if they weren't available.

On my way up to the check-out desk, I happened to pass by the new releases shelf, and guess what I spotted? Yep, "Da Vinci Code" sitting there in all its 400-something page glory with a big orange sticker that said: "7-Day Checkout." Being perplexed that the book would even be occupying shelf space, I snagged that baby and quickly asked the nearby reference desk lady if it was a copy that people can take, or if it was just a display copy (Okay, I don't know these things!). She smiled knowingly at my find and encouraged me to take it, noting the 7-day checkout.

I spent the next five days immersed in a story that I found intriguing, fascinating, and entertaining at the same time. I don't want to spoil the story, but I enjoyed the book and found serendipitous side effects to reading it. Namely, it opened my mind up to delve a bit deeper into the life and paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci and historical iconography used in art. It also uncovered for me an alternative and controversial story about Christ and the Catholic Religion that I was unfamiliar with.

Who knows, maybe some things in the story could be true. It was a fun read, anyway. For more fun, check out the Da Vinci Code Web Quest to solve riddles, crack codes, and unveil a lost Da Vinci secret. •

© 2004, 2008 Chris Dunmire. All rights reserved.