Da Vinci Code makes a hit with readers

Hundreds of copies of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown are being snapped up even before they land on bookstore shelves as it fast becomes the talk of town - and one of the best selling books of all time.

You might be one of the few that has not read it yet but you undoubtedly have heard about it.

The 600-page thriller is smashing records at breakneck speed. Around the world it has sold over 10 million copies and has prompted many to question what is true, what might be true and what is truly fiction.

The story follows Robert Langdon, Harvard professor and world-renowned symbologist, on a quest to find answers to the murder of the curator of the Louvre.

The reader will be introduced to secret societies, symbology, the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, early Christianity and a supposed ancient "truth" that has been kept secret for centuries.

The quasi-historical thriller which claims that Jesus was a mere mortal and Christianity a sexist conspiracy to exclude women from positions of power, has spread panic among the clergy who fear that people will literally take what they read as Gospel.

So what is the reason behind the phenomenon? Are readers clamouring for books which combine historic fact with a contemporary storyline?

James Sapienza, of Sapienza's Bookshop, believes the overwhelming success of the book boiled down to hype rather than its controversial content. Equating it to books like Spycatcher, the Harry Potter series and The Satanic Verses, Mr Sapienza said it was evident that the book market also thrived on hype.

"The many people who don't read would actually opt to buy The Da Vinci Code simply because everyone's talking about it. Besides the story is a good recipe for conversation during dinner. It's fashionable."

Mr Sapienza said that supply could not keep up with demand but added that the "phenomenon" will one day be out of fashion.

However, as was clear from the Harry Potter books, publicity could also expose thousands of children to the book bug.

Rachel Portelli, of Merlin Bookshop, said copies of the Dan Brown book had been selling like hotcakes since June and its success boiled down to "word of mouth".

Agenda Bookshop has just ordered an additional 700 copies to try and keep up with the demand. "It's selling very, very, very well. But I'm not sure whether it's the hype or the book content which is leading to that," Jackie Saliba, of Agenda, admitted.

She said that sales of the book which came out in the US a year ago only spiralled in the last three months but it is certainly lined up to become the year's best-seller.

Robert Pisani, of BooksPlus, believes the book has struck a chord with readers because of the way it is written. "It's a historic account, blended with a murder mystery and then, of course, there's the controversial aspect of it - and controversy always sells."

Mr Pisani said that only time would tell whether The Da Vinci Code would continue selling after the hype died down and emulate books like The Life of Pi.

The Times' columnist Kenneth Zammit Tabona said it was the book's sensationalism which has brought it popularity.

The book treads on dangerous ground - the plot of the Holy Grail among others - and blends it with what is ultimately a very good thrilling story.

Mr Zammit Tabona said he did not find the book offensive. "The book presents arguments which undermine a 2,000 year-old faith. What's historical is debatable, what is faith is indisputable," he said.