Ellis Orozco
Book Report

Brown, Dan. The Vinci Code. New York, New York. April 2003

Reason, Type and Setting: This book could be classified as action/historical fiction/fiction. I chose to read this book because both of my parents had read it and said it was good not to mention they said it sparked new interest for book I might want to read. This book takes place in modern day Paris and the U.K.

Plot: Robert Langdon is a professor from Harvard College who has a major in symbology. This professor was in Paris giving a presentation to many other scholars when he received a call to go to the Louvre Museum. When he arrived there he takes note that one of the most famous curators is lying dead on the floor in what appears to be a position mimicking that of the Vitruvian Man with a cryptic message. This unusual series of events leads to Mr. Langdon to meet a woman named Sophie Neveu (a cryptologist) who just so happens to be the dead curators granddaughter. Then they are lead on a wild scavenger hunt to try and discover what the dead curator was trying to tell them trough his riddles and cryptic messages. Eventually after much time and effort they are able to discover what it was that the curator was trying to tell them about. Unluckily, along the way the curator failed to mention the fact that many people would be chasing after them, to start the French law enforcement, because below the cryptic message another message is found that reads, “P.S find Robert Langdon.” Unfortunately, the French law enforcement officials determine this as the dead curator trying to tell them who killed him. When in reality the message was trying to say Princess Sophie (a nickname given to Sophie by her Grandparents) find Robert Langdon to help decipher the codes and solve the secret that was so immense it cost him his life. Throughout the book Langdon and Neveu are posed with many threats because other people are trying to figure out the secret to expose it to the world and gain total power. At the end of the book the secret is discovered and it happens to be the whereabouts of the Holy Grail, which throughout the book is found to be not a cup (which it was thought to be) but rather a woman (Mary Magdalene). This book refers to many famous beings such as Sir Isaac Newton, Da Vinci and others along with their works which are trying to tell the world what the secret is but, unfortunately the message was lost in their work. For Sophie and Robert it is tough to try and solve the puzzle while keeping it secret (what they discover) between them and keeping it away from people who pose as threats to the concealment of the Grail. At the end everything works out, the concealment of the whereabouts of the Grail is kept a secret preserved by those who know to ensure it won’t be lost.

Character: Robert Langdon is a relatively older man with graying hair who has blue eyes and dimpled chin. He is portrayed as a very well educated person in his field. He is able to interpret many of the curator’s codes and in the end of the book he discovers where the “Grail” is hidden. I found it very interesting the fact that although Langdon’s life was nearly ended in many cases and he was well aware that if he were caught by the French law with out having reason as to why his name was next to a dead man’s body he would be thrown in jail, he managed to keep going along with every step getting more and more dangerous is incredible, he had serious devotion (even though some times he was forced and his freedom depended n it). Being able to work under such pressure is impressive. If I were Langdon I probably would’ve chickened out in the sense that I would try to run away from the French law officials and I would probably not try to solve a puzzle after seeing a gun pointed at my face.

Author, Context, Trivia: Dan Brown has written a few other books namely: Angels and Demons, Deception Point and Digital Fortress. This is the first book of this kind that I have read and if I could read another one like it I would definitely would this book kept me hooked from page one until the end. In the future I know I will definitely be reading more Dan Brown because I appreciate and get into his writing.

Current Event 3/16/08

"Ron Paul To Drop Out Of Presidential race in web video"

Republican Ron Paul is due to drop out of the presidential race for the GOP (Grand Old Party) via a web video on his wensite. He was to be dropping out because his campaing hit the wall. Althugh he did win the party primary for the 14th Texas Congressional District by more than 2 to 1. Unfortunately he did not win the Republican Primary in Texas, he barely received five percent of the votes. Paul has managed to only get 14 delegates for the Republican National Convention. Some of his ideals have been taken in by other candidates running for president.

Emulate: to try to equal or excel. I have now been trying for the last year or two to emulate Randy Rhodes unique sound and style of playing.

Hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence. Coach Belichick had a huge ammount of hubris in his coaching "skills," and his team, yet the super bowl proved otherwise. His huge ammount of hubris led to his downfall.

Dearth: inadequate supply. Peru has a dearth supply of clean drinkable water for their people.

Volatile:evaporating rapidly, changeable. The polar ice are becoming very volatile and few in number due to global warming.

Endemic: belonging exclusively or confined to a particular space. The endemic stingrays are found in the bays and oceans near San Diego.

scuttlebutt –rumor/gossip. A drinking fountain for use by the crew of a vessel.
Bulwark –Any protection against external danger.
hubris –excessive pride or self-confidence
dearth –an inadequate supply, scarcity
deference –respectful or courteous regard.
emulate –to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass
imitate –To have a copy of; reproduce closely
mimic –to imitate or copy in action, speech; often playfully or derisively
endemic –belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place.
aborigine –one of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country or region
inchoate –not yet completed or fully developed
precursor -one that precedes and indicates the onset of another