With the number of bookshops dwindling and the prices of books rising, it would be safe to say that the art of book reading is on its lowest ebb ever. Not only here in Pakistan, but all across the world in the last few years there has been a marked decline in the number of people who want to read books, let alone buy one. However, even in these dire times, there are books that have blazed their way into people’s thoughts and demonstrated that nothing can replace books as the best source of entertainment and information. One such book is the famous novel, The Da Vinci Code.
Though fiction, this book has captivated millions around the world with its seemingly endless trail of facts that have been intricately woven into the fictional tale of the Da Vinci Code. And more can be read about it in the book’s official web site, The DaVinci Code http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/davinci/.
Sorry, but the original site of the publishers of the book, Random House, does not possess free pages of the popular novel. But the site does have two every engaging games that are bound to leave you glued to the computer screen. Named The Da Vinci Code Web Quest and Uncover the Cede, the site is about reliving the really engrossing moments of the Dan Brown thriller. And neither is it available on the author’s very own web site http://www.danbrown.com/. However, what it will predictably get you is the author’s biography, the rest of his novels and a very intriguing link — common questions. Click here to know more about the book that you may have read or may have heard of. There is also a download of the art work that is part of the book. But most intriguing is the bizarre secrets links http://www.danbrown.com/secrets/bizarre_facts/davinci_code.html that will leave you wide-eyed, jaw dropped stunned. Read and reflect.
By the way, the success of the book has inspired Hollywood to take note and start on a movie project. And you can know more about the movie at its official site, The Da Vinci Code http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode/. Like all movie sites, this one too is Flash enabled. The movie stars the double Oscar winning actor Tom Hanks in what is probably one of the most exciting movie role in a long time. And though it is not due until the summer of 2006, the site already has a teaser trailer that will leave not only the readers of the book spellbound, but definitely make others, who haven’t gone through Dan Brown’s most popular and controversial book, pick it up and read it. The shooting of the movie is currently underway in Europe, but it has not been one without controversy. Visit the site and register for updates. I did, you should too.
Speaking of controversy, The Da Vinci code has been one that has been hounded with a lot of it ever since it hit the shelves and eventually went on to sell a reported 36 million copies. Mainly because it tackles a number of issues that millions of Christians around the world think are not entirely correct, if not entirely false. The novel, which is fiction, claims that the New Testament of the Bible is false and that Christianity, as we know it today, is radically different from the “original” Christianity.
A number of web sites have tried to ‘correct’ the wrongs of the book, though the book is a well-known fiction. One of them is Dismantling the Da Vinci Code http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/persecution/pch0058.html, — a site that has this to say about their effort: In the end, Dan Brown has penned a poorly written, atrociously researched mess. So, why bother with such a close reading of a worthless novel? The answer is simple: The Da Vinci Code takes esoterica mainstream. This is a large page, citing examples of how and where Dan Brown went wrong in his writings and how they are all different from what is the truth. Topics like Goddess Worship and the Magdalen, the Knights Templar and Twisting da Vinci, on whose work Dan Brown has based his fictional tale of murder and mystery, will have you wondering if all that you thought was right or not. Another site that takes a swipe at the book is Da Vinci Code, Facts behind fiction http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/davinci.htm. The article on this site claims to be in response to the questions that people have been asking about the novel (fabricated truth is what many people are calling it). This article seeks to explain that the theory behind The Da Vinci Code, is false. Again good engaging reading, like the book.
Coming back to the habit of book reading, something that we had started out with in the first place, books like The Da Vinci Code have certainly brought a lot of interest in reading once again. Just hope it’s here to stay for a long time.
With the number of bookshops dwindling and the prices of books rising, it would be safe to say that the art of book reading is on its lowest ebb ever. Not only here in Pakistan, but all across the world in the last few years there has been a marked decline in the number of people who want to read books, let alone buy one. However, even in these dire times, there are books that have blazed their way into people’s thoughts and demonstrated that nothing can replace books as the best source of entertainment and information. One such book is the famous novel, The Da Vinci Code.
By the way, the success of the book has inspired Hollywood to take note and start on a movie project. And you can know more about the movie at its official site, The Da Vinci Code 
