[Daedalusman]

Has anyone read anything by him. I have seen the movie "The Name of the Rose" I liked that a lot so I got the book by him that the movie is based on. I was just wondering what you all thought of his stuff even though its not fantasy or sci-fi.

[Terazed]

Eco is definately an author who draws a very polar response from his readers. Either they love him or can't stand him. His books are certainly not light reading. His books are loaded down with information on history, philosophy, religion, history of thought, etc. They are books that are ment to make you think while reading them rather then to just sit back and enjoy.

I have read 3 of his books: 'Name of the Rose', 'Foucault's Pendulum', and 'Island of the Day Before'. Of the three, 'Name of the Rose' definately is the work that will apeal to the widest audience. It has the fastest pace of the three and the most straight foreward plot line. The story basically boils down to a murder mystery set in a medieval monestary. Alot of interesting information about medieval thought, politics, and the medieval church come out in this book. It is definately much better then the movie.

'Foucault's Pendulum' is a harder read then 'Name of the Rose'. I admit the first time I read it I got bogged down and had to leave it for awhile before I tried reading it again. The second time it clicked and enjoyed it immensely. It probably would be a good novel for conspiracy nuts. Basically the story revolves around three bored editors of occult texts who decide for fun to place all of the supposed conspiracies of such groups as the Templars, Freemasons, Rosecucians (no idea how to spell that one), voodoo rituals, etc. into a computor. The computor puts them together and spits out a mastor plan that combines them. The plan basically takes over and people start disappearing even though this plan couldn't possibly be real since the 3 protagotists basically made it up themselves using their computor.

'The Island of the Day Before' I thought was the hardest read of the three. The story focuses on the scientific hypotheses that were formulated in the 17th century about finding a practical method of determining longitude. There is alot of information on the scientific reasoning of the period. The protagonist is shipwrecked just off an island which turns out to be right at the International Date line. He can't get to the island partly because he can't swim and partly because he is on one side of the Date Line and the Island is on the other.

In summery I would say 'Name of the Rose' is a great book that I think will appeal to most readers and I would definately recomend it. 'Foucault's Pendulum' and 'The Island of the Day Before' can be enjoyed but they are definately works that you have to spend time alot of time thinking about while reading them in order to get them. They are also slow and very dense reads.

[Bmat]

I loved the movie and bought the book because of it. I liked the book even more than the movie. I thought that the book explained more of what we saw in the movie. I bought the guide to the book but never finished making my way through it.

[Leiali]

Has anyone read Baudilino? I have recently bought it but not got round to reading it! Curious to know how it is...I have a large number of books to read that get pushed back for prioritised fantasy reads..

[Archren]

Let me second just about everything that Terazed said with the following modifications:

-"Foucaults Pendulum" was the first Eco book I read, and I loved it. It really grabbed me. It's a bit silly in a way, with all the occult references and everything, but it worked for me. Still, I have to agree tht it is *not* an easy read.

-"Island of the Day Before" I actually couldn't finish. Something about the opening just completely stopped me. I've never even come close.

I love "Name of the Rose" too, and it's probably my favorite one now. I also got "The Key to the Name of the Rose" to help decipher some of the latin and give information on the people and politics Eco refers to. Really helps to get more out of the book.

[Loras Tyrell]

I've only read "Name of the Rose", with Baudolino lying in my to-read pile.

I found it an interesting read, but I can't say I either loved it or hated it (sorry to screw up your demographics, Terazed:)).

I thought it was a bit slowly paced at times, and I was a bit irritated with the ending (relax, I won't spoil it), I felt like there was no way I could have figured that out on my own (maybe I'm just stupid).

But worth a try, definitely.

Greetings
Artaxiad

[knivesout]

Baudolino is a very intertaining book. It's about the greatest liar in the world, but his lies have a way of shaping reality...

It's written in a style that is similar to mediaeval narratives, so the flow may seem a bit awkward to some, but I think it's easily one of the best things I read last year. But I fall into the ;I love Eco' camp, so if you haven't liked him previously this one won't convert you.

[ezchaos]

Foucault's Pendulum is the only one I've read by Eco. Actually, I just read a few months ago. Oddly enough, I got through this book OK, mostly because I was interested in the secret society/conspiracy theory thing. I've started Baudolino and Name of the Rose, but couldn't get into them. I do plan on trying Name of the Rose again however.

[Leiali]

I think I'll love it then, as I loved the Name of the Rose and enjoy dense medieval novels. I always get muddled up between Eco and Italo Calvino. Totally different writers!

[Cardo]

I've read the name of the rose and just a month ago I finished Baudolino. And I have to admit that I too fell in to the I love Eco camp :). I just love books with a historical reference even when the storyteller is a self-admitted liar of the worst sort. I would say that both the books have a quite large bit of philosophy(sp) and religion in them, some of the issues which got others branded as heretics at the time were quite hilarious :)

Italo Calwin, who's he, somebody that I should pick up after Eco?