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boyfouronetwo's review against another edition
1.0
I could just NOT get into this book. I found Adso's writing style very hard to parse. I had to work at reading this book, which is not what I was looking for in a book at the moment. I may re-visit this at a later time but for now its going in the "dud" pile.
adrionmacaron's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
kmjkaren's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
8797999's review against another edition
5.0
What a great read, thoroughly enjoyed this one, I was hesitant because I started it years ago and couldn't get into it but finally decided to give it a good go, and was very well rewarded.
A fun, enjoyable and very smart plot. You do need to pay attention, there is a lot of detail and chatter. Somewhat dense in parts with the explanations of William, certainly enjoys the sound of his voice. That was the only negative for me lots of meandering with William giving his explanations.
The book has a film version too and having just watched the trailer, it looks so bad it could be good. I may give that a miss.
This is my first book I have read by Umberto Eco, I do have two others of his Baudolino and Foucaults Pendulum. I might bump Foucaults Pendulum up the to read list after finishing this one.
4.5/5 rounded up.
A fun, enjoyable and very smart plot. You do need to pay attention, there is a lot of detail and chatter. Somewhat dense in parts with the explanations of William, certainly enjoys the sound of his voice. That was the only negative for me lots of meandering with William giving his explanations.
The book has a film version too and having just watched the trailer, it looks so bad it could be good. I may give that a miss.
This is my first book I have read by Umberto Eco, I do have two others of his Baudolino and Foucaults Pendulum. I might bump Foucaults Pendulum up the to read list after finishing this one.
4.5/5 rounded up.
english_lady03's review against another edition
3.0
I've finally finished The Name of the Rose. What did I think of it? Well, comparisons to that other cleric turned sleuth Cadfael are inevitable. Yet I prefer Cadfael over all.
Don't get me wrong, the Name of the Rose is beautifully written, and its probably a literary masterpiece. William de Baskerville is certainly a memorable protagonist, and the central mystery is one of the most famous ever written. Certainly not predictable.
Yet...... there were a few things that really irked me. First the plot contrivance of rediscovering a lost Medieval text didn't work. No 14th century monk would talk about growing pumpkins, which are not indigenous to Europe. Even the reference to Albigensians or Cathars did not ring true. If the novel had been set a century earlier than it would have done, but not in the second quarter of the 14th century. The movement was well and truly finished by then.
Second, my real complaint with The Name of the Rose is it reinforced the modern stereotype that Medieval people were terrified of the Classics, especially the works of certain ancient Greek authors because they were deemed a threat to Christianity. Now readers might be thinking "Oh but that's true- they were!" What's the source of that knowledge? I bet its a novel or TV show, right?
My own reading of Medieval Literature and knowledge of art has shown the contrary. Medieval people loved the classics and could not get enough of them. Greek and Roman tales were told and retold, even by the likes of Chaucer (both he and Shakespeare wrote their own versions of the tale of Troilus and Cressida). Dante made Aristotle the traveler's guide in The Divine Comedy, and there was even the concept of the Nine Worthies, three of whom were pagans from ancient Greece and Rome.
This modern calumny on the men and women of the Middle Ages is one of the worst historical slurs ever devised, in my honest opinion. If anything, Medievals were too reliant on classical 'wisdom'. Thus made them reluctant to question the Ptolemaic model of the Cosmos, for example. It was not the Bible that gave rise to the belief that the earth was stationary and the sun revolved around it, as many people think. It was a 1st century Roman author.
On the plus side, the references to the English Franciscan Friar Roger Bacon and his erstwhile mentor Robert Grosseteste were fascinating: but probably did not do either the justice they deserve. There is an extensive knowledge of 14th century monasticism and philosophy in this book. The unwelcome intrusion of post-Enlightenment ideology and myths is its greatest flaw.
Don't get me wrong, the Name of the Rose is beautifully written, and its probably a literary masterpiece. William de Baskerville is certainly a memorable protagonist, and the central mystery is one of the most famous ever written. Certainly not predictable.
Yet...... there were a few things that really irked me. First the plot contrivance of rediscovering a lost Medieval text didn't work. No 14th century monk would talk about growing pumpkins, which are not indigenous to Europe. Even the reference to Albigensians or Cathars did not ring true. If the novel had been set a century earlier than it would have done, but not in the second quarter of the 14th century. The movement was well and truly finished by then.
Second, my real complaint with The Name of the Rose is it reinforced the modern stereotype that Medieval people were terrified of the Classics, especially the works of certain ancient Greek authors because they were deemed a threat to Christianity. Now readers might be thinking "Oh but that's true- they were!" What's the source of that knowledge? I bet its a novel or TV show, right?
My own reading of Medieval Literature and knowledge of art has shown the contrary. Medieval people loved the classics and could not get enough of them. Greek and Roman tales were told and retold, even by the likes of Chaucer (both he and Shakespeare wrote their own versions of the tale of Troilus and Cressida). Dante made Aristotle the traveler's guide in The Divine Comedy, and there was even the concept of the Nine Worthies, three of whom were pagans from ancient Greece and Rome.
This modern calumny on the men and women of the Middle Ages is one of the worst historical slurs ever devised, in my honest opinion. If anything, Medievals were too reliant on classical 'wisdom'. Thus made them reluctant to question the Ptolemaic model of the Cosmos, for example. It was not the Bible that gave rise to the belief that the earth was stationary and the sun revolved around it, as many people think. It was a 1st century Roman author.
On the plus side, the references to the English Franciscan Friar Roger Bacon and his erstwhile mentor Robert Grosseteste were fascinating: but probably did not do either the justice they deserve. There is an extensive knowledge of 14th century monasticism and philosophy in this book. The unwelcome intrusion of post-Enlightenment ideology and myths is its greatest flaw.
ursustheboi's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
dunkeldak's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ovpm's review against another edition
5.0
una maravilla. lo leí hace tiempo y aún pienso en él. lo pondría entre mis libros favoritos sin duda.
calfon's review against another edition
5.0
I have read this numerous times and it remains in my top five favourites ever. An immense piece of work from one of my favourite writers.