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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Antisemitism through the eyes of a forger. Multiple personalities. All characters are real except the protagonist who happens to be schizophrenic. Not his best, but not his worst.
This is the story about stories that shook the populace in 19th century Europe. It's the missing link that ties some of the most influential happenings of the 1800s together into one cohesive story. And, according to Eco, all of those stories occurred because of one incredibly selfish man: Simonini.
Reading the diaries of Simonini and Abbe Della Picolla back-to-back (and sometimes intertwined) got a bit challenging at times, but eventually you find your groove and learn the nuances of the story telling capabilities of your three narrators (there's a separate Narrator who interjects when he feels the writings of the diary authors [usually Picolla] gets too wordy or cumbersome for the readers). One familiar with the political happenings of France and Italy in the (mostly) late-1800s will enjoy the spin and imagination Eco brings into history, aided by the reality that all of "The Prague Cemetery"'s characters, save for Simonini, are actual historical characters. Those unfamiliar with this afore-referenced places and time will perhaps struggle to follow at times; but if you anchor yourself to the struggle between Picolla and Simonini, you'll find your way through.
Political intrigue. Murder. Espionage. Cover-ups. Dumas. All the makings of a fantastic novel. And, despite Eco's desire for Simonini to be one of literature's most repulsive characters, you do end up having some favoritism for him (if for not other reason than his resourcefulness to utilize others for his own personal gain).
And to think: it all started in a cemetery in Prague.
Reading the diaries of Simonini and Abbe Della Picolla back-to-back (and sometimes intertwined) got a bit challenging at times, but eventually you find your groove and learn the nuances of the story telling capabilities of your three narrators (there's a separate Narrator who interjects when he feels the writings of the diary authors [usually Picolla] gets too wordy or cumbersome for the readers). One familiar with the political happenings of France and Italy in the (mostly) late-1800s will enjoy the spin and imagination Eco brings into history, aided by the reality that all of "The Prague Cemetery"'s characters, save for Simonini, are actual historical characters. Those unfamiliar with this afore-referenced places and time will perhaps struggle to follow at times; but if you anchor yourself to the struggle between Picolla and Simonini, you'll find your way through.
Political intrigue. Murder. Espionage. Cover-ups. Dumas. All the makings of a fantastic novel. And, despite Eco's desire for Simonini to be one of literature's most repulsive characters, you do end up having some favoritism for him (if for not other reason than his resourcefulness to utilize others for his own personal gain).
And to think: it all started in a cemetery in Prague.
Per preservare un minimo della mia autostima dovrei smettere di leggere Eco. Troppo complesso, arzigogolato, infarcito di avvenimenti storici che per la maggior parte ignoro. La verità è che dopo Il nome della rosa e Il pendolo.., tutto quello che ho letto di lui, esclusi i saggi, non mi sono piaciuti o forse non li ho capiti, oppure entrambi.
Rispetto a "L'isola del giorno prima", libro che ha sconfitto anche la più recalcitrante delle insonnie, almeno questo l'ho terminato, a fatica e con il gruppo di lettura, ma posso almeno raccontarne la storia....
Rispetto a "L'isola del giorno prima", libro che ha sconfitto anche la più recalcitrante delle insonnie, almeno questo l'ho terminato, a fatica e con il gruppo di lettura, ma posso almeno raccontarne la storia....
The maelstrom of 19th century Europe sets the scene for Captain Simone Simonini, document forger and anti-Semite who participates in various revolutions, conspiracies and deadly plots of deception before penning his masterpiece, what will be known as the famously fictitious "Protocols of the Elders of Zion." It took me some time to adjust to the flow of unfamiliar Italian, French, German and Prussian secret service agents, politicians, revolutionaries and conspirators and locate Simonini's place in unfamiliar historical events. But with a little patience I came to enjoy the devious nature of the protagonist. Plots and conspiracies of Masons, Jews, Jesuits, Satanists, republicans, monarchists, and countless alleged alliances between these groups against one another propelled me through this book with surprising ease after the first few chapters. I particularly enjoyed the fabricated account of the converted Satanist, Diana, and the unscrupulous writer who took advantage of her obvious mental illness to publish books condemning the Masons and their alleged association with Satanists, all in the effort to attack perceived enemies of the Catholic Church, and the Jesuits, in particular. The same character, of course, produced scathing anti-clerical work only years before, but miraculously converted before revealing pathetic Diana to the curious French public! This complex subplot shines as an example of the underlying political, religious and historical complexities defining this work.
It probably would have helped me to read, or at least be familiar with "Protocols" before attempting this book. Even without this background knowledge, however, I had a blast reading it. Kudos to Umberto Eco, an author who intimidated me when I read some of his more scholarly work in college. "The Prague Cemetery" felt like the kind of smart read that he's been known to produce, but turned out to be a whole lot more fun.
It probably would have helped me to read, or at least be familiar with "Protocols" before attempting this book. Even without this background knowledge, however, I had a blast reading it. Kudos to Umberto Eco, an author who intimidated me when I read some of his more scholarly work in college. "The Prague Cemetery" felt like the kind of smart read that he's been known to produce, but turned out to be a whole lot more fun.
The book started out well enough with a good pace and interesting concepts. I especially liked the addition of interesting menus of food dishes. then the pace became painfully slow with detail and events that did little to enhance the story. i found myself skimming over long passages to get to the next part that moved the action forward. This book would benefit from a severe editing for length.
Overtly obtuse for no valid reason. Lots of information but in the end... who really cares? The plot was convoluted. The characters were detestable. Unfortunately, this is the first Eco I have read and I am afraid I won’t pick up another. Perhaps I’ll give him another chance later after I wash the boredom of this debacle out of my head. I gave it two stars just for the thorough and solid historical research.
Started this as we traveled home from Prague: the title seemed appropriate, and I'd not actually read a book by Eco before. But after getting a third of the way through I set it aside: the main character is slimy and unappealing, and there are long sections of exposition about the Italian war of independence that seem cribbed from a junior high textbook. Altogether, disappointing.
Note: advance reader copy provided by Netgalley. Additionally, this is my first encounter with Umberto Eco's work.
The Prague Cemetery is a book that I will appreciate more the longer I think about it, and possibly with a reread. Simonini is in no way a sympathetic or likable character, and the fact that he is dishonest with anyone and everyone makes it extremely difficult to form any attachment to the outcome of the book. However, I could not help myself from, even as I learned of his atrocious behaviors and indiscriminate hatred of women, Jews, Jesuits, Germans, and pretty much everyone he came into contact with. He is a man who so completely alone he cannot even trust himself. When he begins losing time and memories he begins a diary, only to find that his neighbor Dalla Piccola somehow has access to his apartment and has begun to write in the diary as well.
In the meantime, Simonini is in the midst of betraying several acquaintances while trying to sell rewritten and recycled copies of a falsified "intelligence" report concerning a Jewish conspiracy to control the world. That Simonini is unable to trust anyone makes at risk of being caught up in his own lies and hatred. So although the writing is at times dry, it is worth spending time with this novel for its subject matter.
The Prague Cemetery is a book that I will appreciate more the longer I think about it, and possibly with a reread. Simonini is in no way a sympathetic or likable character, and the fact that he is dishonest with anyone and everyone makes it extremely difficult to form any attachment to the outcome of the book. However, I could not help myself from, even as I learned of his atrocious behaviors and indiscriminate hatred of women, Jews, Jesuits, Germans, and pretty much everyone he came into contact with. He is a man who so completely alone he cannot even trust himself. When he begins losing time and memories he begins a diary, only to find that his neighbor Dalla Piccola somehow has access to his apartment and has begun to write in the diary as well.
In the meantime, Simonini is in the midst of betraying several acquaintances while trying to sell rewritten and recycled copies of a falsified "intelligence" report concerning a Jewish conspiracy to control the world. That Simonini is unable to trust anyone makes at risk of being caught up in his own lies and hatred. So although the writing is at times dry, it is worth spending time with this novel for its subject matter.
I love the work of Umberto Eco, and this book is included, but it is a more difficult book to enjoy, as it deals in a confused way with the life of a (deranged?) counterfeiter who is involved in much of the anti-Semitic movement of the 19th century. So much of the material is so vile, it was rather disturbing, even chilling, to read, knowing that human beings actually treat each other in such ways, and that the anti-Semitism described is very, very real. The protagonist is ultimately responsible for the notorious forgery of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" . . . The story, with its labyrinthine conspiracy theories, also vaguely relates to Eco's [b:Foucault's Pendulum|17841|Foucault's Pendulum|Umberto Eco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396645125l/17841._SY75_.jpg|11221066], including the presence of some notorious characters involved in Russian intelligence services connected to theories of the Templars. In the afterward, Eco notes that the protagonist is the only major character who is fictional - all the rest are historical - and then notes that "in a way, Simonini is real, and sadly he is still with us." The whole book is quite brilliant, as is all of Eco's work, but the disjointed ramblings of the protagonist make it more difficult to follow, and the subject matter makes it horrific, so I give it four rather than five stars . . .