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p010ne's review against another edition
5.0
I used an online gematria calculator and found that my 605 Jewish result is the same as such as Napoleon Bonaparte (my English 540 is the same as such as God is Real)! The palaces of memory example encourages me to examine architecture and other works of art for embedded messages!
I was totally unaware of the Cathar texts and rituals so it was certainly eye opening to learn of the author's detecting and deciphering that Leonardo Da Vinci seemingly coded a reference to their consolamentum spiritual baptism in his acclaimed "The Last Supper" in Milan, Italy.
We have participated in several observations of the Passover Seder during our cruising and I am always in awe of the significance of the observance of the commemoration of that historical event!
I was totally unaware of the Cathar texts and rituals so it was certainly eye opening to learn of the author's detecting and deciphering that Leonardo Da Vinci seemingly coded a reference to their consolamentum spiritual baptism in his acclaimed "The Last Supper" in Milan, Italy.
We have participated in several observations of the Passover Seder during our cruising and I am always in awe of the significance of the observance of the commemoration of that historical event!
melissariggs's review against another edition
4.0
"Milan, 1497: Leonardo da Vinci is completing his masterpiece, The Last Supper.Pope Alexander VI is determined to execute him after realizing that the painting contains clues to a baffling -- and blasphemous -- message, which he is determined to decode. The Holy Grail and the Eucharistic Bread are missing, there is no meat on the table and, shockingly, the apostles are portraits of well-known heretics -- none of them depicted with halos. And why has the artist painted himself into the scene with his back turned toward Jesus? The clues to Leonardo's greatest puzzle are right before your eyes"
amandaalto's review against another edition
1.0
I bought this because it looked like something I would really like. Unfortunately, I tried and it's just not that good. I think I gave up after maybe 15 pages.
joycet's review against another edition
4.0
This was a nice read.
In the reader's guide they mention both The DaVinci Code and The Name of the Rose and ask how you would compare this book with those.
I would put it between those books if the Davinci Code were to lie at one end as a piece of fluff loosely based on history and if I were to put the Name of the Rose at the other end as a work of fiction infused with copious research and historical texts.
The author admits he was influenced by Eco's use of real texts referenced in his own.
Sierra did research and he does admit to using fiction to fill in the black holes of history. But this is not some mystery or badly-written suspense story. This is an interesting look at a period of time when Il Cenacolo was first revealed to the Milanese public. I enjoyed it immensely and appreciated that he tried to base the characters as much as possible in an historically accurate setting.
In the reader's guide they mention both The DaVinci Code and The Name of the Rose and ask how you would compare this book with those.
I would put it between those books if the Davinci Code were to lie at one end as a piece of fluff loosely based on history and if I were to put the Name of the Rose at the other end as a work of fiction infused with copious research and historical texts.
The author admits he was influenced by Eco's use of real texts referenced in his own.
Sierra did research and he does admit to using fiction to fill in the black holes of history. But this is not some mystery or badly-written suspense story. This is an interesting look at a period of time when Il Cenacolo was first revealed to the Milanese public. I enjoyed it immensely and appreciated that he tried to base the characters as much as possible in an historically accurate setting.
stuartbalcomb's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting story about the visual codes built-in to da Vinci's "Last Supper." A lot of research went into this. However, the book is mainly a first-person narrative from a certain monk's point of view, then changes to the third person and back again. It is sometimes confusing as to who is really doing the observing and the talking. At one point, the monk isn't even present, and another person is telling a story to someone, and in that story there are quotes of someone else talking, so there are double quotes from line to line. Not the best way write. This is an English translation, so I would be interested to see the original Spanish.
chrissa_kuntz's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe it was the translation factor, but this seemed like a plotless DaVinci Code.
krin5292's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this historical thriller about Da Vinci, The Last Supper, religious and political intrigue in the 15th century. Sometimes there are mysteries and sometimes there are nothing to find, except rumors.
terramoes's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book! I could see similarities between this and DaVinci Code but I honestly preferred this.
tramuntana's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
Viel Lärm um wenig. Das Buch ist gut recherchiert, entwickelt aber kaum Schwung und Spannung, da es sich nicht entscheiden kann, ob es nun Fiktion ist oder nicht. Die Charaktere sind auch nicht besonders ergreifend. Wenn man außerdem selbst zur Spitzfindigkeit neigt, kommt man dem Geheimnis deutlich schneller auf die Schliche als die Charaktere. Der Schreibstil ist gut, aber nicht weltbewegend. Wer es nicht liest, verpasst nichts.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
I decided to DNF this one at 46 %. I'm feeling a slight burn out/slump coming at decide to get rid of books that doesn't work well for me. Need to focus on books i actually want to finish and not just finish books for the sake of it. Maybe I'll pick this up in a later date