I’ve been reading a borrowed copy of The Da Vinci Code.  Well, you don’t think I’d buy a copy and swell the author’s coffers?  The story is pacey and keeps you turning the pages, but the theology is so suspect.  Not that one should ever be under the illusion that the book is anything but fiction. The genre, style, literary techniques shout out in every sentence that this is a contrived, self-conscious, money-making work of, let’s face it, “pulp” fiction.  This is not to deny that, in it’s own way, it is “a good read”.  But we must not fall into the trap of thinking that it is anything more than a “ripping” yarn.  Mixing fact and fiction to give credibility to both is a well-known if disreputable technique.  The Louvre museum exists.  Jesus married Mary Magdalene.  Don’t confuse the two.  One is true, the other false, well, at the best, supposition.  The author is playing games, and making a fortune at the same time.  Read the book, if you must, for what it is, viz. pure fiction.  Don’t be outraged nor give the author the undeserved “oxygen of publicity.”