The Name of the Rose

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Thriller
Review: "The Name of the Rose" has a reputation for being an "intellectual" thriller, perhaps even bordering on literature. I would contend that, but ultimately the book is an exciting and intriguing mystery, rife with theological trivia and compelling characters.

I'm going to assume most people know what the story is about, so let me hit up the pros and cons. This book has some very well written characters, particularly William, Salvatore, and Jorge, all of whom are complex and worth reading about. The whole concept of murders being similar to the Apocalypse is very strong, and the resulting reams of theological information, while not everyone's cup of tea, I found fascinating.

Of course, that is also the problem with this book, and the reason I am relucant to classify it as literature. The lengthy passages on heresy, or theological debate, do not seem very organic. Frequently Adso, the story's narrator will flat out say, "Tell me about..."

As a result there is a sort of uneven pace to the whole novel, and at times it seems like Eco has transported whole pages of text from other books. Now while this is all interesting in a sort of snotty and intellectual way, it does not make the book necessarily any better than its thriller brethren. As a result, I must classify this work as thoroughly enjoyable, if difficult, work of suspense...and nothing more.

Rating:
Summary: Practical Syllogisms
Review: I took my time reading this book. Because it promised to be a multi-layered reading experience, I took to underlining important passages, so I could go back to them, especially the first passages about the Fraticelli, the Minorities, and the descriptions of the layouts of the kitchen, the staircases, etc. Because my edition was not annotated, I took to making my own notes in the margins. While I was told I could look up translations of the Latin passages over the Internet, I did not, because I was reading this book for enjoyment, not academic purposes. However, I did ruin the ending of the book early on because I was googling the name of this book -- a mistake I warn you not to make. Reading "The Name of the Rose" turned out to be an enriching and marvelous experience for me. It would have been much more rewarding had I been told to avoid the Internet for supplemental resource help during the reading of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Medieval Mystery by Eco
Review: This is a book that surpasses most pulp ficiton books on pure un-put-downable value!

Rating:
Summary: Throw away the destination and keep the ladder
Review: I read this sprawling, labyrinthine work when it was first published and it's been one of my favorite novels ever since. I'm now on my third paperback copy.

At a philosophical level, the story is a grand bait-and-switch: we're drawn into the trap with promises of Aristotle and Roger Bacon, and in the end we're paid off in Wittgenstein. Okay, there's a sense in which this is an appropriate outcome when the protagonist is a buddy of William of Ockham. But there's something faintly unfair about it, both philosophically and dramatically, and I'm deducting a star for that reason.

But the story itself is great. The brooding monastery is perfectly conceived, the intellectual atmosphere draws the reader firmly into the fourteenth century, and the endlessly fascinating esoteric secrets get better with every rereading. (They remind many readers, including me, of Jorge Luis Borges -- who, appropriately, makes a sort of anti-cameo appearance as Jorge of Burgos.)

Of course William of Baskerville is intended to recall Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps less obviously, his protege (W)Adso(n) performs essentially the same function as Holmes's own lifelong companion, i.e., giving the reader a pair of eyes through which to see things without being let in on all the secrets too soon.

But this is not a 'detective novel'; Eco is merely using that genre in order to subvert it for his own purposes -- which he does in grand style. This is a deeply philosophical novel in which the dramatic action is defined and constrained by the intricate interplay of its themes.

And despite the 'moral' of the tale, it's a perfectly nice ladder and there's not the slightest reason to throw it away. The rather Po-Mo destination, on the other hand, isn't all that pleasant a place to arrive. Fortunately Eco's practice is better than his preaching: he tells a fine tale of intrigue, mystery, and adventure, enjoyable for its own sake right up to and beyond the moment when he blows the foundation out from under it.

By the way, William Weaver's translation is excellent. His erudition and sense of style are a good match to Eco's own.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly Complex, Exceptionally Entertaining
Review: What a novel! A piece of literature that delves into the art of language and the intricacies of mystery. While painstakingly difficult to read, a wholeheartedly magnificent piece of work. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: So far so great!
Review: I have been wanting to read this book for awhile, and I finally broke down and bought it and the "key". Well, I'm not even halfway through it and it is one of the best books I've read. I dont know how people say that the beginning is dull and hard to get through, Im only about 160 some pages into it and Im writing this review because I cant keep reading it now because I have to go to work in four hours. I highly reccomend anyone this book.

Rating:
Summary: a beautiful labyrinth.
Review: once again i find i can add little to the reviews readily available.

i do wish to say, however, how wonderful this book is to read. not merely in the language and storytelling, but in the entire process of reading it: your entire mind is working around the puzzle, always.

yes, it is a puzzle, a mystery, a history lesson...it is much more than most books. And it reminds me of borges in the sense that,

a) if borges had ever succumbed to writing a novel, it might be something like eco's work [or perhaps it is that borges' work foretells of eco's, or even that eco's work is a logical progression from borges and the imaginary, labyrinthine novels found in his microcosmic works; and already by this one idea i find myself astray in a labyrinth];

b) borges had quite an affinity for mysteries; and,

c) much like borges' work, which though beautiful in spanish, transcends language barriers and is as fruitful in translation, i am inclined to think that even though i will never read eco in italian, unlike other works of literature i shall not altogether regret my inability to read it in the original language. for this work is much more than its diction, and the fact that it is presented as a translation of a translated manuscript leads me toward that conclusion very comfortably.

please go out there and read this book! it is well worth it, and you will not be sorry!


Rating:
Summary: Umberto Eco Has Arrived
Review: Umberto Eco's monumental 1980 novel The Name of the Rose has an unusual history. A long and multifaceted novel, it plunges readers directly into a Byzantine world of medieval politics and arcane religious intrigues.

Rating:
Summary: The Name of the Rose
Review: The year is 1327. A young novice, Adso, and his respected master, Brother William, are invited to an ancient abbey in Italy to discover the truth behind a curious suicide - or murder? - that has recently taken place. On top of this, two rival clerical factions, debating the legitimacy of a vow of poverty, are soon to be arriving at the abbey, and William's learned opinion is requested.

We view the unfolding events through the somewhat naive eyes of Adso. He is a youth plagued with the natural doubts and desires that afflict most every teenager, and on top of this, as the number of murders mount and the political intrigue heightens, he must tackle what seems to be an evil force of destruction, perverting the seven trumpets of the lord, and comes to terms with the not-so-perfect realities of life as a monk. There are times when Adso is unable to handle the unfolding events, retreating into visions and dreams, and occasionally breaking down. William is a strong guide, helping the young man face the realities that we all must face eventually - that our elders are not always our betters.

The murders take place at roughly one a day, each one more gruesome than the last. William and Adso are able to figure out that the murders all seem to be connected with the abbey's library, one of the richest and oldest in the Western world at the time. But unfortunately, the library is off-bounds, as per the abbot's instructions, and even when they do manage to enter the forbidden areas, the library reveals itself to be a labyrinth, filled with danger, mystery and knowledge.

Because we are viewing events 'as Adso', the young novice is a fairly passive character. He serves mostly to bounce questions off William so that the wise brother can solve the various puzzles he faces. William is an extremely intelligent man, able to solve difficult riddles with apparent ease, and we hold him in as much awe as does young Adso. Of course, the downside to this is that we, as the readers, are along for the ride, rather than helping to discover the mysteries for ourselves.

Which raises another problem. Eco is obviously a very intelligent man. Too many authors, writing in medieval times, 'cheat' by either poorly researching the times in which they are writing, or they gloss over places and events. Not so with Eco. He has an intimate knowledge of the time in which he is writing, and he is not afraid to share it with us. Whole chapters will be little more than history lessons, as we watch the Catholic churches in the final throes of its great power. Passages in Latin are casually thrown about by the narrator and the characters, and are not translated. Also, many of the logical puzzles are based heavily around obscure writings and scriptures, which has the unfortunate consequence that, unless you possess a Master's of medieval history, you will never figure the mysteries out on your own. Which, in a lesser author, might be a problem, but Eco manages to walk the fine line of intelligent writing and 'look at me, I am smart' literary boasting. We know he is smart, but we feel as though we are being warmly introduced to the knowledge he has, not beaten over the head with it. Adso functions as a fantastic foil for this sort of writing, as he is nearly as ignorant as we would be. Without the careful explanations of Brother William, we would both be lost.

The sub-plot dealing with the political intrigues of the church are very interesting, but unfortunately, they at times distract from the main story. It is quite possible to be so caught up in the debate on whether Jesus was poor or not that the murders piling up are forgotten, and when they return, with the requisite young monk screaming about the halls, it can seem forced. But at the same time, were these sections to be removed, the novel would suffer from not creating a full enough picture of fourteenth century Catholic life.

The ending is satisfying, and not entirely impossible to guess - though for perhaps the wrong reasons as those that William reasons - but again the problem of Eco's use of obscure medieval terminology and culture raises its head. For us, there can be no shared satisfaction in capturing the villain together, rather, we must sit back and congratulate William on his wisdom.

The main negative of the novel - Eco's intelligence - should not really be viewed too harshly. He is smart, and he does let us know that, but we are welcomed, not rejected for being ignorant. It is a delight to read the intelligent, witty conversations between monks who are extremely knowledgeable in their fields, and perhaps we can learn from that. And happily, through Adso, the comfortingly human, young and naive character, we are able to see this world with fresh eyes, and to be introduced to it rather than closed off.