What can I say? Reading this book was a life altering experience. After I finished the book I got on the net and listened to a few interviews with the author, Dan Brown. I wasn't surprised to find out that, with the exception of the characters, just about everything else in the book is based entirely on fact.

I have long wondered about the transition from the ancient goddess-based religions to the male-centric dominance of religion today.

If you have read it, let me know what you thought.

Ah, come on Ramoth. Ya gotta give us a little more than that. How about the Reader's Digest condensed version synopsis in 100 words or less!

Well Yossarian, I don't want to give too much away. The book begins with a murder in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The victim is the museum curator and a high-ranking member of a secret, ancient organization. Realizing that all the other members of the organization who have knowledge of an ancient secret have also been killed, he manages to leave a set of clues before he dies. The clues are intended for his granddaughter and a famous American symbologist who happens to be lecturing in Paris at the same time. He knows that the two of them together will be able to figure out the puzzle and find the place where the artifacts are hidden so that they won't be lost forever.

Unfortunately, by naming the American in the clues he left behind, the Paris police are forced to consider him to be the No. 1 suspect. The granddaughter helps him escape and thus begins a chase through Paris, London, and Scotland. The book presents an alternate interpretation of well-known and not-so-well-known European history. It delves into the history of the Knights Templar, the Freemasons, Catholism, the Inquistion, and the life of Christ. It is full of clues, puzzles, cryptograms and riddles. You'll want to have the following on hand when you begin the book: an english dictionary, a french dictionary, and a good art history book.

Enjoy!

I found the whole goddess worship/grail thing very interesting. That being said, once the "cat was out of the bag" and the grail theory was explained, I found it to be a run of the mill mystery/suspense story.

Moderator, please delete the guest post above. It was mine, but for some reason I got logged out.

I need this book. Libraries have a 30 to 60 day waiting list. I refuse to buy it only to read it once and never pick it up again. I insist one of you scan every page of your book and post it here so that I may have it read by the end of the month!

Tell me about it. However, if you are lucky you can get a copy on Reading Express at the library. There are no holds allowed on those and you can only keep it for 2 weeks. You just have to be there when one comes in! My husband has been waiting impatiently.

I ordered this book through amazon.com from some book shop in New Jersey on the 6th of this month. I have yet to receive it. I even paid extra to have it expedited. My confirmation email explains that no shipping date is guaranteed....well why pay extra for expediting then?! Had I known, I wouldn't have. The estimated arrival time was three to six business days. I've already borrowed it from someone else and am almost through reading it. I do like the book very much though! I definitely recommend it. I thought the part about PHI and every detail of Da Vinci was completely interesting. I had no idea Da Vinci was a flaming homo! I've never been so interested in art before.

If everyone here read this book, it would spark a 400 page thread of debates on religion. I finished the book and urge all of you to read it. It isn't boring at all. It reminds me of Indiana Jones searching for the Holy Grail. Dragonlady...you'd love it. It's based on what they call the "sacred feminine" and how women used to be the bigger part of all that was worshipped instead of the male dominated aspects of it today. It talks about how all the men became suspicious of all the "free thinking females" and turned the symbols and ideals of what used to be sacred (feminine), into dark and evil symbols and ideals.

I have not yet read the book (been dying to) but there was a 60 minutes special report on it, and it was said to be so thoroughly researched that even theologians and historical experts were commending it as nearly 100% accurate. I agree with you though inasmuch as you believe a big thread would result if some of the "loudest drums" here were to read it.

I'll get around to it when the frenzy is over. I'm sure alot of it is already in other books.So much of the "Old" religion was by word of mouth because of retributions. Those who follow the old ways know already the way christians took and twisted the symbols and such. Just like some of us know that the jewish religion didn't start to use the 6 pointed star until about the 12th/13th. century in their literature.You'd be surprised what the two triangles represent. I better stop now.I'm not a teacher. I'm glad people want to learn.

The book says that the triangles represent feminine and masculine combined together.

That's a descret way to put it.

Hence the cheesy smile I added to the end!

Oh boy! I CAN"T wait to read it! I hope I can find it in the store. I just finished reading another Dan Brown book called "Angels and Demons". I believe he wrote this before the DaVinci Code. It was great and I highly recommend it. I think it is similar in nature to the DaVinci Code.