ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO I was on YM with a friend who was egging me to summarize the Da Vinci Code for her as she didn't have time to read the book pa daw. I said I can't and I didn't want to, as doing so would be an injustice to Dan Brown, who in my opinion, did a superb STORYTELLING job, telling an engaging story by weaving historical facts, arguments, propositions seamlessly into a clean story replete with the elements of suspense, action, drama, even a love story.

The ESSENCE of the Da Vinci Code, for me is too complicated to be told second-hand or paraphrased. For one, if one sticks to telling the plot and leaving out important elements like the historical arguments/premises woven into the story (like the existence of a secret society called Prieure de Sion; the search for the Holy Grail, the role of Leonardo Da Vinci, etc.), the story becomes simplistic. Further, by sticking to but the plot, one leaves out the substantive context given by the book in weaving the historical roles played by Freemasonry, the Knights Templars, Paganism, Opus Dei, Holy Grail, etc. into the story. In both counts, the essence is lost, and you end up hearing about not the Da Vinci Code but just about any another story. So, what's my point? As beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, it is my belief that the essence of the Da Vinci Code can only be understood, and therefore, appreciated, solely by reading it. So sorry, I wouldn't summarize it. :) I have a copy I could lend out however. :)

Now, the second point... one for which I might draw some flak...

Some friends who I have encouraged to read the Code said they'd rather not, as they were told the "revelations" in the book are faith-shaking. While I respect that, this is my contention: if your faith gets shaken after reading the book, then it must've already been unfirm to start with. The book just highlighted the fact of your shaken faith. Philosophically, this is like saying "You shouldn't associate with prostitutes... you might find yourself wanting to be one.." If indeed you become a prostitute after association, you must have wanted all along to be one and just didn't know it. :D

You see, for me, faith is a lot like love. If you have faith in somebody or something, nothing you read, hear or see about that person or thing can change what you believe about that somebody or something. In the same manner, if you really love somebody, you love that person for no reason (other than the sake of being) and that love transcends time and all the things you will hear and know about that person. Nothing and no one from the outside can and should shake your faith or love. If your faith or love does change, then it probably wasn't faith or love in the first place.

Anyhow, I didn't want to sound philosophical (much less start an argument) on a Sunday morning at that. It's time to go to my kitchen now, time to start cooking and demonstrate my love for a good Sunday lunch. :)

May 21, 2005

Comments
Exactly my point, Anne!!! Making a summary of the story and telling it to a friend would do injustice to Brown and would eliminate the essence of reading and enjoying a very good book. And i totally agree with you on your second point. As much as I want to comment about this, I will just keep my mouth shut.
Nice blog site anne! Keep it up.
Posted by: Gay May 23, 2005 04:53 AM

Hi Gay! Glad to know we share mutual views about the book. Thanks too for dropping by and for reading my (rather long) blogs :) I'm further inspired to keep writing (and sharpening the saw).
Miss you!Anne :)
Posted by: Anneski May 25, 2005