Rating: 
Summary: A contemporary classic
Review: Deftly translated, superbly crafted and elegantly written, this is a splendid literary blockbuster. Eco marvellously displays his wealth of erudition in this towering contemporay classic.
Rating:
Summary: A Rewarding but Painstaking Read
Review: One reviewer here on Amazon was right on the money when he said that reading a novel by Umberto Eco instantly raises your IQ by a couple of points. The Name of the Rose has been my first encounter with Eco's work, and I was for the most part very impressed with his skillful murder mystery set in a 14th century Italian monastery.The novel works on many levels. It is a compelling murder mystery, as young narrator Adso of Elk accompanies the wise William of Baskerville as he uses logic and semiotics to not only solve a murder mystery, but to decipher labrynths and hidden secrets of the vast monastery library. Interwoven with the murder mystery is a virtual course on philosophy and late Middle Ages religion, as Eco provides detailed accounts of the histories of various sects, includes scholarly debate on topics such as the poverty of Christ, and a history of the Catholic Church leading to the establishment of a papacy in Avignon, France. One is reminded of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as William and Adso use logic and determination to piece together numerous bizarre deaths and occurences at the Abbey, while encountering obstacles and outright hostility by the Abbot and his librarian, to name a couple. The setting of the novel, and the glimpse into a culture that few of us can even imagine, is reason enough to read The Name of the Rose. The book is not without its faults however. I think the book should stand alone, (ie you should not have to buy a separate "reader's guide") and I was very frustrated at the numerous Latin phrases that are included throughout the novel with no translation. Perhaps this is more the fault of the translator than Eco himself, but it makes for a difficult reading experience. One does not need to know the meaning of every word in the book to follow the plot, but it is aggravating to stumble across paragraph-long passages or insciptions that are completely foreign to most readers, without so much as a footnote. There are also fairly long digressions involving topics of religious debate or history of minor sects that, in my opinion, were extraneous and contributed little overall to the success of the novel. However, overall, I thought the novel was rewarding, both informative and suspenseful.
Rating: 
Summary: The Name of the Rose and its historical content
Review: As some reviewers have already noted, this book is no easy reading for anyone not well enough aquainted with mediaeval history. Nevertheless, it offers a good starting point for everbody who is interested in history, as hardly any other book describes the late middle ages as well as this book does. Umberto Eco precisely outlines the problems of the Benedictine order at those times. The only criticism I have to make is Eco's use of Bernado Gui (or Guidonis) as his evil inquisitioner; Gui, as a real historic figure, dealt with the Benguins but was by no means as stupid and cruel as he is described in this book. The philosophical parts of the book are exceptionally interesting but a bit out of place in Adso's thoughts. No man, living in the middle ages would ever have had such thoughts - this is 20th century philosophy. But apart from this criticism, the book is really worth reading and in my opinion one of the best books of this century. (Only the film is not worth watching as it is reduced to some stereotypes.)
Rating:
Summary: Overall, remarkable
Review: I was drawn to this book because of comparisons to An Instance of the Fingerpost, which I enjoyed. Aside from being a historical mystery, I am not sure what this book does have in common with Instance, but nevertheless I greatly enjoyed it. I could tell as soon as I started it that I was going to like the writing style, (I don't know how much of that was Umberto Eco and how much was the translator, William Weaver), and that helped me to make it all the way through the rather intimidating book. I personally feel that saying much about the plot would take away from the enjoyment of experiencing the story unravel, so I will restrict myself to my overall impressions of the book. First and foremost, in my mind anyway, it is extremely entertaining. Although I haven't read any of them, I would guess I enjoyed this book in much the same way people are enjoying Harry Potter's books. (Believe it or not, I doubt her books could be any more fantastical than Name of the Rose.) Also, even if I will forget the facts all too soon, The Name of the Rose left me with a vivid impression of religion in Europe in the early 14th century. The only drawbacks of it, I found, were that at some times it seems overly erudite (Eco includes a few lengthy debates that seem rather unnecessary) and at other brief times it seems almost raunchy. (I assume the raunchiness comes from some limitations of the translation from Italian to English.) Finally, I would encourage people to try to make it through the book without the Key to the Name of the Rose. I used it, and found that it only slowed me down. Very seldom did the translations of the abundant Italian phrases in the novel provide any important revelations. To conclude, though, while it is certainly not for everybody, I would say that The Name of the Rose is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a lengthy, complex, intellectual and remarkably clever mystery.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully erudite and philosophically engaging
Review: The Name of the Rose is indeed a wonderful book, a philosophical inquiry in the guise of a period mystery. The joke is that the book turns out to be something of an anti-mystery, in which Eco jokes with the systematizing impulse so common in detective fiction. As in Foucault's Pendulum, Eco spends a great deal of time here indulging his passion for medieval religious esoterica; the book's first hundred pages or so of descriptive material require a bit of slogging, as Eco himself has recognized, but the remainder of the novel certainly rewards the initial difficulty. I must take issue, incidentally, with the strained readings that have been offered in some of the reviews below. The Name of the Rose is by no means a "roman a clef" as some have implied below. The allusions to Sherlock Holmes, Borges, etc. are there, yes, but one should not attribute to them undue significance. Eco is a semiotician by training and profession, and as such he is naturally inclined to insert clever intertextual bits of business into his novels. Postmodern literary theory deals with books as a deeply self-referential, almost closed set, and Eco's literary references are little more than a gesture in that direction. They are playful, not central, and should not be asked to bear the weight of arduous interpretation.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid masterpiece
Review: I first read about the novel in a article published in a local newspaper, I was intrigued by what was written and that what made me buy the book. This is truly a masterpiece, but when I ask myself why, what makes it so great? I am not a critic so I cannot go on complementing about how splendid the novel is, all I can say is whenever I remember the story I remember the feelings and emotions that has filled me when I read it the first time. Although It would have been much better if this translation also included translation to the Latin passages that appears frequently in the story.
Rating:
Summary: the perfect novel
Review: Contrary to what some people say, it is not necessary to be an expert on medieval history etc. to appreciate certain parts of the novel. the more involved parts of the novel about medieval history etc. teach you about the subject. If Eco assumed to much out of a reader he would not be considered a good novelist. anyway be prepared to contemplate many thought provoking ideas, learn about the politics of the Roman Catholic church in the middle ages, go through a day in the life of a medieval monk, and if this was not great enough you get to enjoy an intricate and thrilling plot.
Rating:
Summary: timeless as the Monastic life
Review: The book was first recommended to me in the late 1970's (by my dermotologist!). I read it then and many times since. Eco captured me and has me forever looking for his name on a book. Many say the book is too difficult to read, too many "things" to know, that may be, bit whoever said that reading was an easy task. The book (as all of Eco's books do) makes you think, recall, learn and argue points of intellectual importance. Is the book of humour a metaphor, or is it just plain old 11th century Italian Jansenism? I recommend the book, as I do all of Eco's books, with the following cavet, don't read this as you would a grocery store romance, your mind will have to work!
Rating:
Summary: il nome della Jesus
Review: I love William Baskerville. What else can I say ? Great, fantastic, wonderful, FAB story ! Re-read it 20 times and quote it very often. Wonderful Russian edition with helpfull comments.
Rating:
Summary: Like an Onion - sharp with many layers.
Review: The beauty of this book lies in its multiple layers. Like an onion, you peel away a layer only to find another below it. On one level, it is a straightforward murder mystery as William of Baskerville with the "aid" of Adso of Melk tries to identify the perpetrator of a series of ghastly murders at a medieval Benedictine abbey. And a rollicking good mystery it is too. Then as you peer deeper, you realise that Eco is having some fun with sly parodies, Sherlock Holmes being the most obvious. You also come to appreciate how Eco uses the murder and its dramatis personae as actors in a Greek tragedy, each arguing a philosophical interpretation which his persnality embodies. Its one of those cases where you not only enjoy the book, but raise your hat in silent tribute to the skill of the author. Eco is also very good at atmosphere and manages to recreate the intrigues, petty politics and religious fanaticism of the Inquisition era and its effect on a disparate grouping of people, united (if so) only by a love of learning and a shared view of God. The terrible conflagration which destroys the Library is perhaps Eco's most telling point of all and hits you hard. Do not get put off by the philosophical discussions or the occasional meanderings of reason, try to understand why Eco is bringing them up. And do not fear the Latin and Greek. Get hold of an annotated translation and I promise you your enjoyment will be multiplied. Yes, this book demands some work; it is not a commuter novel. But it is well worth the effort.
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