I’ve come the realization that I’m really not very good at informal writing, so I’m continuing my ‘book reviews’ in the hopes of improving. Check back later today or tomorrow for more on what I’ve actually been up to these last few days. Don’t hold your breath, it’s nothing too exciting.

Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code has made quite a stir lately. It has topped the best seller list for some time now, and the author has even been accused of plagiarism, which seems to be something a high-water mark for fiction these days (see Harry Potter). I’ve become rather fond of historical or “intellectual” thrillers lately, so when I had a chance to borrow the Da Vinci Code I jumped on the opportunity. Brown’s latest is a fast read, and despite its intellectual pretenses, it is readily accessible to anyone looking for lightweight but smart reading material

The protagonist of the novel, Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist who specials in pagan symbolism, unexpectedly finds himself at the center of a police investigation and a global conspiracy after he misses a meeting with Louvre curator Jacque Saunière. Langdon is aided by Parisian cryptography expert named Sophie, and the two of them must unravel the mystery of a two thousand year old secret that encompasses conservative Christianity, ancient secret societies, and even the Holy Grail.

Brown has obviously done his homework (well as much as one can when the subject in question is veiled in so many pseudo-mystical theories), but at its core the Da Vinci Code is a traditional thriller, and is falls prey to some of the traditional problems of that genre. The character development is somewhat weak, and though we learn quite a bit about Sophie and her relationship with her family, Brown does not flesh Langdon out, preferring another plot twist or suspenseful moment to an exploration of his protagonist’s personality. The plot also includes some standard clichés. The romantic interest works out exactly as expected, and some of Brown’s clues are rather blatant.

Those criticisms aside, the Da Vinci Code is a very entertaining novel. Brown may stick to fairly standard conventions, but he does them well, and his novel is not without unique qualities. The setting is well developed, and Brown brings to life the museums, castles, and churches in which the action takes place. Ultimately, the highest praise I can give the book is that I read it in three days. Da Vinci Code is exciting and fun, and that makes it worth a read in and of itself.