Just two glaring issues from the most surfacy of readings:
1. Dan doesn't seem to know that a cross and a crucifix are two different things.
2. He also labors under the misconception that the star of David is an ancient Jewish symbol when really it's a modern invention of Israel.

Reaaly the whole novel is just so unreslistic and unbelievable that it's just not worth your time.

I tend to totally suspend my disbelief when reading "page turners." Kind of like watching a movie in The Mummy series or something.

-Neil

If the book sets itself up as fantastical to begin with it's not hard to do. Dan Brown tries to sell his books as being within the realm of possibility, though.

I take the "based on fact" marketing as just part of the shtick, like the way they used underlines to "disguise" fictitious names in Victorian stories.

-Neil

Seriously one of the worst books I've read in a long time. Dan Brown is trying to peddle his movie scripts to the public.

Originally posted by Pilgrim

2. He also labors under the misconception that the star of David is an ancient Jewish symbol when really it's a modern invention of Israel.

Meh? The Star of David in Jewish iconography dates back at least to 1000 CE. (Cite)

(Though I do quite agree that--if this book is like his last one--it's a lightweight.

Originally posted by NeilUnreal

I take the "based on fact" marketing as just part of the shtick, like the way they used underlines to "disguise" fictitious names in Victorian stories.

-Neil

Yet how many people take his books as, er, "gospel"?

Originally posted by rogue06

Yet how many people take his books as, er, "gospel"?

I blame the lack of emphasis on the fine arts in the modern educational system (including college).

-Neil

Originally posted by technomage

Meh? The Star of David in Jewish iconography dates back at least to 1000 CE. (Cite)

(Though I do quite agree that--if this book is like his last one--it's a lightweight.

Everyone I have talked to who liked his last books and read this one hated this one.

And technomage, though I could be wrong, I think he means the Star of David as standing for the nation, not as just decoration.

Jaltus, that was indeed what I was thinking of.