Rating: 
Summary: conflict between old and new generations
Review: This book not only shows the religious conflict of whether Jesus laughed or not, but also the conflict between the old and young generation. Since it illustrates the incidents happened in a very strict Benedictine monastery, the story is quite religious and written in restricted language which we cannot find in modern detective novels. This has also been made into a movie starring Shawn Conery, and thus known better to people. In the old time, there were a lot of debates over the topic of whether Jesus truly laughed or not. Some even argued that he didn't even smile at all because laughing or smiling was not regarded as noble or high. However, there was an ancient philosopher who proved and left the record that Shakespeare actually wrote not only tragedies but comedies. Then unfortunately the book had been stolen by some Jesus followers and disappeared since then. However, the main character happened to stay in the monastery with his teacher. With the main character's appearance and curiosity, the uncertain fact of the existence of the book uncovers through chain murders of the old librarian. It was poison on the book that the librarian used for killing the monks. The book was so old and dry that it needed saliva to turn its pages. This is how he murdered them without any armors. I can understand his feelings of resistance against new world. All the old generation wanted was to keep the secret only to protect in what he believes by removing rebellious elements. After all, it turned out to be still unknown of the fact of Jesus's smile or laugh because the book was burned away and the librarian died in the burning monastery, which seems to me that it was more likely to be a commitment of suicide. Regardless time and place, There are always the same kind of conflict of the two generations; the old and young. One tries to innovate and reform the reality, the other struggles to keep the existing stability and position wishing no change at all. Maybe Eco wanted to deliver something more than this but what he efforts to say is definitely clear enough. It really doesn't matter if Jesus laughed. What matters is that whether we believe it or not. Often a hypothesis turns out to a fact when people begin to have faith in it. Moreover, whether you accept it is up to you. To be left as the old fallen monument or to lead the world progressively in your own way depends on you.
Rating:
Summary: The book is much better than the Film!!
Review: The Italian Umberto Ecco is a magician when it comes to plays with words, religious dogmas and medieval history. This is a kind of a mistery thriller at the Middle Ages with all the necessary ingredients to have the reader glued to the book till he/she finds out who killed who and, when and, most importantly, why. A certain knowledge of the history of the schisms at catholic church at the time is a plus. Also, a good map of Europe at the time will be helpful to a good understanding of the development of the trhiller. Nothing happens by chance, and all the elements to the difficult deciphering of this very particualar whodunit are there from the very beginning. The number of the relevant details is astounding and one has to proceed very slowly to grab all the situations in a very clear way. Also of special appeal is the erudiction of the author, who sprinkles the book with Latin sentences of very difficult translation (which are not provided in the book). This is a good book to everyone interested in medieval history, the history of the catholic church and loves a good trhiller.
Rating:
Summary: Possibly the best mystery ever written
Review: Filled with fascinating historical details, this is possibly the best mystery ever written. It is a great plot that works on its surface in the manner of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. Underneath it is a profound commentary on mysticism and the manipulation of humanity's views of itself and its beliefs. It is the Ur mystery and yet very readable. (The Theodore Bikel book-on-tape is also great.)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, Must Read, Classic!
Review: Eco is a masterful author of fiction! This is definitely one of the best fictions I have read!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: In addition to all the superlatives mentioned by other reviewers, sociologists and criminologists will find this a fascinating read. Ecclesiastic crises, close knit communities, and the way the combination of both creates an atmosphere in which deviance is almost never tolerated. Fans of Durkheim and Foucault will find this book especially intriguing.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful.
Review: Eco is a philosopher, historian and semiologist, and has no compunction against liberally seasoning the thick meat of the story with his knowledge and knowledgeable speculations. There are frequent digressions that focus on historical, theosophical and philosophical subjects pertinent to the setting of a 13th century monastery, slowing the pace for brief moments before picking up again as the intriguing plot moves along. William is a learned Franciscan monk that is set to solve the unusual events occurring in a Benedictine monastery. Someone is murdering monks in the peaceful abbey, and William must use all of his resources to solve the mystery. This novel isn't for everyone. Some people will find the frequent digressions slow or tedious while others will find it illuminating. And the frequent use of Latin in dialogue may put some people off. Of course, these are just matters of opinion. The only thing about this book that irked me in any way was the length Eco went to establish that William is a modern-thinking man. Not only does he possess a modern concept of equity, but he actually alludes to future flying machines. A bit unbelievable, but the sort of thing that can be overlooked. All in all, an intelligent novel that not only entertains, but also educates.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome. One of the best books of the 20th century
Review: I don't think that it is hyperbole to describe this book as awesome. I am not the first to sing its praises...I have just finished reading it for the third time, twice in English, once in French, and found it each time more rich and satisfying than the time before. The last reading was intering because the French have had an experience with Catholicism far different than ours, and it appears in the prose. It would be presumptous to give it the number one honors, because the list of 20th century authors in the competition is pretty stiff (Joyce, Faulkner, Kafka, Steinbeck, Grass...), but this book gives all of them a good running for their money. To read this as simply a dark ages murder mystery would be satisfying enough - there are plenty of passages describing odd and quirky, monastic life with enough colorful characters to make a satisfying read. But the book is oh, so much more. It is no accident that the setting is pre-renaissance Italy. The story plays like a tarot spread before us. Adso is the Fool, the library is the Tower, William of Baskerville is the Wizard. The story is that of the Hanged Man. What we have here is the first skirmish between faith and science, This battle is shortly to come to a head in the trial of Gallileo that would see the the Renaissance migrate to Northern Europe. Here is the church encrusted with tradition, threatened by a man of reason and insight. Baskerville is no heretic, but is seen as one...We fight these same battles today, of demagoguery and closed-mindedness. Like William Stryon in Sophie's Choice, the characters play out a simple a drama, but on closer inspection can be seen to represent so much more. Be it Naziism or the Inquisition, a tyrant is still a tyrant, but truth and spirit will prevail regardless. Read Eco's book as a murder mystery if you desire, but see it as Everyman retold, and come to see a gread deal more.
Rating: 
Summary: Hello, Sir Arthur!
Review: The only reason I finished this book was its abundance of words, and I really wanted to practice my Italian. If you don't have this goal in mind - don't bother. The book is really wordy, boring, slightly amusing, and quite pointless. Murder mystery very much like those by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, although completely lacking any hint of brilliance, set in a 14th century monastery, injected with some doctrine, some history, some Latin. (And when I say "some", I mean a lot). It leaves you with a lingering aftertaste of wasted time and trees. The author has an obsession with written word and should stick to semiotics.
Rating: 
Summary: Deep, intricate, philosophical "low" art form
Review: Umberto Eco uses the mystery novel, an art-form erroneously considered low by some critics, to explore deep philosophical issues including the nature of philosophy and knowledge. The labrynthine library is a symbol of the world, filled with knowledge but nearly uncomprehendable in whole. This book reminds me of the works of science fiction writer Gene Wolfe in its influence by Jorge Luis Borges, deep symbolism, and philosophical thought in a genre looked down upon ny many psuedo-intellectuals.
Rating:
Summary: simply great
Review: Eco is number 1 on my top ten authors list.
I loved him after this book, and I love him more after reading more of his books. "The Name of the Rose" is "Three Musketeers" of our century. It has that kind of flavor and adventure and at the same time it is involved and complicated like best works of Hesse.
| 
