Foucault's Pendulum

Rating:
Summary: Perceptual Reconstruction
Review: I read Foucault's Pendulum in 1991 and have never looked at the world in the same way since. Eco weaves a tale in and around the possibility of a Templar/Masonic Plot while exploring the nature of man, religion, computers, pinball, the Universe. As you read on you are introduced to the idea that things not usually related may have connections of grand significance. Whether you buy into the Plot or not, forever more you will find yourself searching for connections between everything you encounter. You try to link your dog to your phone, your toothbrush with your mom's geraniums, on into infinity. You will see the Mason's everywhere ruling everything, or so will suddenly be your perception. Try it; it's fun. Enjoy the first slightly slow 100 pages for their exquisite imagery and eloquence, then prepare yourself for the mental, verbal and perceptual rollercoaster which is the rest of this marvelous tome

Rating:
Summary: What the heck is the joke about ABULAFIA, anyway?
Review: Umberto Eco struck paydirt in America with the publication and subsequent filming of "The Name of the Rose", but "Pendulum will do little, I'm afraid, to enhance his reputation here. "Pendulum" is much too dense, much too intellectual for the average American reader. "Pendulum" is a brilliant story -- the last 100 pages terrified me, and snapped me out of the doldrums he had created the previous 250 pages. Now, go out and get "The Island of the Day Before" for a serious shipwreck story

Rating:
Summary: intellectual games
Review: do you like games? do you like to play them? in any case, the intellectual games eco invites us to play are of a high tenure and it is difficult not to play them. in fact his book may be regarded as an invitation to be fool or smart, he offers the arguments for both situations. finally, the reader becomes the co-author of the story and it remains to him only thank mr. eco. flavius chircu

Rating:
Summary: Page turner
Review: This book, like all of his books, is a complex mystery. It takes a while to get really into it, but when you do you will not want to put it down. It might be too complex, but it is definately worth the time. If you liked the Name of the Rose, this is even better. Note: If you do not have much self-control. Do not read this book, You will waste several days of work if you do.

Rating:
Summary: History reinterpreted
Review: Sometimes a rating of 10 leaves some doubts about the objectiveness of the reviewer, but with this book you can't help but give it that exact rating. With the same fascination for history that he has always shown, Umberto Eco takes you on a trip through history, seeing things trough the eyes of three editors that have just read too many occult books. On the course of the trip, they invent a massive plot that has supposedly been on the works for thousands of years. Just when they are ready to let go of it, they start finding evidence that seems to validate their theories, and some groups start to get interested. This book will fascinate everyone, from those who have wondered about some of the truths of the cabala to those that just care for perfectly well written prose.

Rating:
Summary: An intellectual feast with a few too many courses.
Review: Foucault's Pendulum is a brilliant and challenging and magical book, intellectually rich and psychologically fascinating. I found the passages on the metaphysical joys and pains of editing particularly memorable. One quibble: The narrative is overlong, lagging at around the two-thirds mark and regaining its footing only about a hundred pages later. Eco mirrors his characters' desire for completeness, but the reader suffers somewhat for this breathy erudition. But this is a minor flaw, and Eco's missteps are ten times as interesting as most authors' best work. I loved the book, and have found myself haunted by its themes, images, and language

Rating:
Summary: Pedant's Dream
Review: A fascinating story with endless intellectual detours that leaves you wishing you'd taken more liberal arts in college. The tangential anecdotes of history, philosophy and religion touch upon the entire scope of western and mystical ideas. Not a good read for someone who needs to grasp every facet of what they read-- there's just too much intellectual breadth there

Rating:
Summary: Eco at his best. A must read for any "Name of the Rose" fan.
Review: Well done. Rich text, complex ideas, strong plot. Mystery, suspense, occult and history mixed through a blender of intelligence and drama. Highly recommended

Rating:
Summary: Occult, mystery, fun
Review: I couln't put this book down. It stretched my mind and introduced me to subjects I had never before encountered. Nevertheless, I was captivated. This is probably one of the best books I have ever read

Rating:
Summary: the pendulum swings
Review: This book is one of the ten best books released in the late 1980's. For once, a writer expects his reader's to have a brain. Eco writes intelligently without being condescending to his audience. It is not often that a reader learns some- thing from current fiction. I enjoyed this book because it inspired many emotions: humor, sympathy, and fright among them.