The Asti Spumante Code: A Parody

by Toby Clements

In the first-ever parody of one of the best-selling novels of all time, a nasty murder points to lots of sinister and important mysteries that will change the world. Why, for example, did the dead man leave so many bafflingly inane clues when a sticky note would have done? Why does our code-breaking hero know so much useless stuff, and why is he usually wrong about it anyway? And what’s the truth behind that frightfully sinister symbol, the publishers’ circle?

Genres: Humor, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2000

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A parody of The Da Vinci Code that made me laugh aloud a number of times. Clever, well written (even while poking fun at Dan Brown's writing), funny, full of popular culture references, puns, faux-French, word play, fourth-wall-busting scenes, and other clever literary devices.

To give you an idea, one of the law enforcement agencies in the book is called Toutes Directions Bureau de la Cage aux Folles ("the Belgian equivalent of the FBI"), one of the new recruits is named Rosbif, and evil albinos and gay stoats play notable supporting roles!

The plot parallels and is similar to the original, but I think it's more enjoyable. However, you do need to have read the original to understand what is going on. It is a parody, after all.

[Sonia189 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ridiculous parody of The DaVinci Code but I did laugh a lot in some scenes.
It's a pity the author didn't give it a bit more seriousness in some parts, it could have been even better if the content wasn't only aiming to be silly in all areas.

[Hilda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book is a waste...started out cute but got very old real quick; easy to read; scary how by slight exaggeration we see how bad Dan Brown's writing skills are.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute diversion between books.

[João Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito divertido. Para quando uma adaptação cinematográfica? Merece bem.

[Ana Domingos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Este livro é a prova que uma capa engraçada e uma sinopse prometedora, se podem transformar num mau livro.

É uma sátira ao Código Da Vinci de Dan Brown, no entanto em termos humoristicos cai sempre ao lado, nunca tem verdadeiramente piada.

Não recomendo a ninguém.

[Goncalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uma paródia ligeira e inteligente ao Código Da Vinci, com uma trama paralela ao livro parodiado.

Não é um prodígio mas tem algumas situações engraçadas e diálogos nonsense interessantes.

Prometia mais, mas sendo baratinho até vale a pena.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp through a literary secret society. I laughed out loyd several times. If you have read a lot, you will enkoy the obscure references that pepper its pages. Not for a young reader due to the graphic nature of some of it.

[Fernando · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trata-se de uma paródia ao Código Da Vinci, de Dan Brown, que acabei de ler há dias e aproveitei que estava lançado para seguir para este. Acho que o autor não foi bem sucedido; tem passagens engraçadas, mas não mais que isso.

[Tracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

An uneven parody of The DaVinci Code that turns into a halfway-decent adventure/suspense book on its own. A quick read; I finished it in about 2 hours.

[Leslie · Rating 1 out of 5]

clever, and very silly

[Ailsa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful. Worse than the original. Why did I think a parody of that would be any better.

[Jaci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept reading just for the funny bits which actually came frequently. The search for the feminine has weird, politically incorrect results.

[Mightytiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing to read just after you finished Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code! lool

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just saw this today ;). Couldn't resist for €2.99

Hilarious spoof of the da Vinci Code.

[Andy Plonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has ben years since I read the Da Vinci Code so I'm sure I missed some of the humor in ythis book but it captures the flavor of that book very well.

[Matthew Spurling · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very funny take on the da Vinci code. highly enjoyable!

[Abhay Nair · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Should be read on immediate completion of DaVinci Code". If only i could say this with conviction.
It's just not worth it! SKIP!

[Luis Santos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fraquinho

[Martin Zikmund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, I can recommend this book.