Reviews

Der Name der Rose by Umberto Eco

schrikes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

10501's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’m done!!!! Brush up on the differences between various orders of monks & the history of religious debate in the 1300s before you start. It would also probably help to read the Book of Revelation or The Library of Babel by Borges. 

testaroscia's review against another edition

5.0

This is a third re-read after thirty years, and it was illuminating. I can look back and see where my occasional love of rather convoluted, somewhat posturing erudite fiction comes from. I need a narrative thread (whodunnit in this case, but historical or scifi works great otherwise) but then i don't really care how fast or slow the plot meanders as long as I enjoy the ride. Hence i love Stephenson or Mantel. Eco was a very good writer who delighted in knowledge and symbols but you don't have to care about any of the untranslated latin passages to enjoy the book. Cross the 100 page mark and you are in classic Murder Mystery territory but will learn about an important period of the pre-reformation church tensions Franciscans and Benedictines, between the Papacy in Rome vs Avignon, or Avignon vs the Holy Roman Empire.

hthacher's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

illyanadallas222's review against another edition

5.0

Since I was little, my mother (an avid reader herself) raved about this book. The plot navigates itself around two Franciscan monks (one a rendition of Sherlock and the other, his apprentice still figuring out if monk-hood was his destiny) who travel to a famous monastery for a conference about the application of Jesus and whether his depictions should be illustrated in wealth or in poverty. Franciscans naturally believe the later. That said, what makes monastery grand, is due to its labyrinthian towered- library, that is almost gothic (ie. spookie). Because Eco is a semiotician, the symbols themselves in this book move the plot forward. Unfortunately for our two monks, a murder happens at the library, and that, my friends, is where the plot thickens.

I could go on and on how amazing this book is and how it’s elevated my expectations on what makes a “great novel”. It has been adapted many times (avoid the Sean Connery one pls

itsyakidalex's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

eher1305's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

debmo79's review against another edition

3.0

8I'll start by saying, this *is* a good book. I'll also add that my personal rating system on Goodreads is:
1 star = hated with every fibre of my being
2 star = meh (In some ways, a worse rating than 1 star)
3 star = I enjoyed it but I probably won't read it again
4 stars = I enjoyed this and I would read it again
5 = I'm gonna grind it down into a fine powder and snort it so it can be part of me forever, I love it that much.

So I really enjoyed this book, it's better than 3 stars in a LOT of ways. I'd go as far as saying: in my heart, it's a four star book. The characters are great, the mystery is enthralling. BUT. It's such a LONG read. I've read books this year with a much bigger page count that took far less time to read. I could not read this book quickly. It demands absolute focus to make sense of it - and it's taken me nearly six weeks to get through 500 or so pages (which is unusual for me). So as much as I enjoyed it, and would love to give it four stars - I just don't see myself picking it up again, hence the 3 star rating. I am glad I read it though - and I do recommend it.

sarakuhn's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

fred312's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0