Reviews

Baudolino by Umberto Eco

michael5000's review against another edition

4.0

A Byzantine (in more ways than one) meditation on the nature of truth, road trip, and murder mystery. Very witty and very steeped in the history of the Middle Ages. Flags a bit in the back stretch, where endless wanderings start to feel like, well, endless wanderings. Worth sticking it out for the end, though.

chadded_mapipi's review against another edition

5.0

"The world condemns liars who do nothing but lie, even about the most trivial things, and it rewards poets, who lie only about the greatest things."
What is a liar but the speaker of what that portends?

"If you want to become a man of letters and perhaps write some Histories one day, you must also lie and invent tales, otherwise your History would become monotonous."
And lie Baudolino has. He lied greatness into existence.

"Baudolino, you are a born liar."
And rightfully so; Baudolino is a born liar, a weaver of circumstances and tales.

"It was a beautiful story. Too bad no one will find out about it."
"You surely don't believe you're the only writer of stories in this world. Sooner or later, someone—a greater liar than Baudolino— will tell it."

I literally have no idea how to write a review for this grand masterpiece. The one that's crossed out was one I had had written down before completing this novel and now I see how foolish I was of it.

I will say this:
Baudolino is one of the greatest stories to ever have been written and deserves a seat amongst the literary royalties.

10/10.

benrogerswpg's review against another edition

2.0

It was okay.

Thought I would give it a try, but as I predicted, I just am not a fan of historical fiction.

Enjoyed a few bits, but ultimately it wasn't for me.

2.2/5

solaana's review against another edition

I have no idea why I can't finish this book.

alethes's review against another edition

5.0

Es un libro graciosísimo, muy guay para cualquier friki del Medievo. Los personajes son entrañables y les coges cariño, y tiene todo un toque absurdo que hace que el giro de tono del final pegue bastante fuerte.
Bastante recomendado, el final es muy bueno.

wodime's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

3.0

society if this had been two-fifths adventure story and two-fifths historical fiction and one-fifth philosophical tangents, instead of two-fifths historical adventure story and three-fifths eco insufferably trying to flex how smart he is??? plus it has some of the most tedious treatment of women i've seen in a long time. the last 150ish pages ARE mostly very good, but, at so high a cost..........

czarek's review against another edition

Muy lento 

12obe12twalke12's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

The life of a boy can be marked by the confession of a dying teacher who can no longer distinguish between two truths. 

Truly funny and sad. And great theological theory for any old asshole.

camiel's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

nbcknwlf's review against another edition

3.0

For me, Umberto Eco is the Amanda Palmer of literature. I think he’s an interesting guy with some intriguing ideas but I just don’t enjoy his work all that much.