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2005-12-20 09:46
From: JmeDoom
(Asheville, The Sea)
a review of The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco, the great Italian writer, philosopher, and historian has woven a thick murder mystery about human nature, government, intellectualism, Catholicism, superstition, linguistics, greed, poverty and history. Even though The Name of the Rose is my favorite Eco book, I would not say it is always easy going. Indeed, once you have set out into its depths you will sometimes need to blink your eyes or take a break and jog in place to get the blood flowing. You may, like me, be able to literally feel your brain expanding. This is a smart work of fiction that wants to educate the reader. Having said that, I wouldn't want to scare the average reader away. The writing itself is fairly simple, though sometimes Latin phrases are used and long explanatory passages can besiege.
The Name of the Rose is a murder mystery set in 14th Century Italy at a Catholic monastery. The story is told by young Adso of Melk, who is the student/assistant to the hero of the story, William of Baskerville. Baskerville is called in from out of town to investigate the murders. During this time, William uses logic to untangle much of what has happened at the monastery. There is also a great deal of theology discussed in the book including a wonderful discussion on the Poverty of Christ.
As the novel gains steam, more people at the monastery are murdered. The quiet daily life of the Abbey is thrown into chaos. Monasteries at this point in history were charged with preserving history, medical treatments, folklore, theology, philosophy, magic in the form of books. The monks were appointed to copy old works that were falling apart onto new parchment and create a new book. It soon becomes apparent that the answer to the mystery will be found in the library, which only one person had access too: the librarian.
I enjoyed the fictional, but vivid, portrait of Europe in the 1300s. We often see medieval times in a more dark light. In this book, the towns people down in the town are happy and chipper even though the Inquisition is fresh on the minds of everyone. I like the contrast between between the monastery and the town. Sometimes I feel I suffer from anachronistic displacement, and reading a book such as this makes me thankful for my times and quiets the longing I feel for another era.
This book reminds us about the power and responsibility of knowledge and clear thinking and the destructive nature of ignorance and superstition. It also a book that gives us a profoundly compassionate look at humanity through the eyes of a narrator who is growing up while he is telling the story. Life is mysterious and funny and beautiful and horrible. This book flinches at none of it.
This review is helpful to 13 person.
2005-12-20 19:25: Bo
It is one of my all time favorites too. I often recommend this book to those who where intriged by medieval times for the first time in their lives through Da Vinci Code.
nice review!
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2005-12-23 01:06: kit
I've found most translations of Umberto Eco's work to be at best difficult and at worst impassable: the confusing prose that doesn't seem to go anywhere, the almost brutally simple-and-yet confusing sentence structure, the numerous protagonists...the list goes on. That said, I sincerely liked BAUDOLINO, which I just finished reading, and was able to look back fondly on the time I spent agonizing over FOUCAULT'S PENDULUM in seventh grade after having the basic premise mapped out for me by my erudite, overeducated uncle. That said, I'm not sure I'd like to force my way through another English edition of an 'Unbearable' Eco book. Fortunately, I'm not sure I'll have to, as I'm spending next spring in Italy, studying Italian with the goal of coming back with enough knowledge of the language to read Eco. In Europe, it's quite common to see people in trains, subways, trams, and assorted other public transit happily reading Eco, something I've never seen here. When I speak and read enough Italian, IL NOME DELLA ROSA will be my first opponent.
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2005-12-30 11:58: Annu
Maybe you would like to start with the movie? Of course it is a blunt way to get acquinted but anyway - the movie is something quite astonisthing anyways.
I think a good guide to Eco might be Reading Eco: An Anthology (Advances in Semiotics) (Paperback)http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0253211166/qid=1135972179/sr=1-22/ref=sr_1_22/002-5257720-8491267?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
Some of his works was excellently translated even in Finnish during the 80's or 90's considering the philosophy of research. Bluntly translated the title was something like "How to do a masters thesis and not make other to laugh about it" or the similar. I don't know if it is available in english.
Anyways, good journey to Venice + Eco,
BR, Annu
BR, Annu
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2006-01-03 00:15: bear
The movie in my view just pales before the great novel.The library,for instance,in the words of Umberto Eco, conjures a grandeur of images that the poor "real-life" rendition in the movie fails to recreate. I blamed it not on the production crew of the movie, but Umberto Eco is just too good a writer.
On Baudolino or The island of the day before.
Shame on me, the former is definitely an easy read, I found myself cruising effortlessly three quarters of the book but gave up reading the rest. and the latter was one of the most difficult read for me,only a few chapters I put the book to rest!
While Da vanci code stole the limelight, Foucault's Pendulum is the real master piece of that genre. It is dazzling for one not well versed with the European history(of science, religous movements, theoloy,politics... almost everything) but if one is not deterred by all the obscurities and keeps reading to the last page,one may finds oneself,emerging at last, perhaps as half as encyclopdedic as Eco himeself. That's what I found myself to be after finishing the book...Ok, just kidding, but it just demonstrated the fact that interpretation requires contextual knowledge.
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2006-01-03 07:05: JmeDoom
I am beginning Foucault's Pendulum this week. Can't wait to get into it.
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2006-03-21 04:47: Valeron
Umberto Eco,I don't known how to express my feeling,when I read his book at 16 years old,I can't find the way,"what a strange person!",so until now,I've no courage to read it again,but in your words,I think there is a new way shows for me ,thank you
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I'm not a mystery fan, but your review is a great introduction to the novel and has piqued my interest. Thanks.
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Thanks, maybe I will read this book in a short time. You gave a great introduction.
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By Umberto Eco
Harvest Books
ISBN: 0156001314
Release Date: 1994-09-28
Paperback
List Price: USD 15.00
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