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thekatzpajamas's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really appreciated the two main themes:
Man's search for meaning and ability to find connection and derive meaning wherever it focuses
The existential fear of missing your great moment of opportunity, the time to act.
The strongest parts of the book are a 4 or higher, but the overlong and unnecessarily granular nature of the book drag it down a little.
The quiet cowardice of passivity. Of those smart enough to dream that they might deserve greatness, but too smart, to the point of anxiousness over the risks, infinitely calculating to the point of inaction.
Impotence. The inability to get what you want, to make a mark to seize the moment. There must have been a meaning behind our suffering, otherwise it didn't make sense, wasn't logical.
The flashbacks and substories bear the strongest verve. Uncle Carlo and Mongo, the Trumpet, Seven Seas Jim, Brazil- these moments will live with me forever. Thank you Lia for grounding us in the real, the human, the beauty in simplicity.
The overwrought lectures on secret societies and the occult serve no purpose for me, and come across as simply a knowledge flex. This did not need to be a textbook, and is overlong, and weaker, as a result. The narrative is strongest in the back 250 or so, but still bogs itself down with way too much information as they explain their Plan. It rushes the parts that would have made a stronger story. But the story was never the point.
Some of the strongest and weakest content is found in the Abulafia chapters. The Weak is self indulgent, underdeveloped, juvenile. Sure, Belbo is self indulgent, But at its worst it's the sort of thing people are writing in High School.
Man's search for meaning and ability to find connection and derive meaning wherever it focuses
The existential fear of missing your great moment of opportunity, the time to act.
The strongest parts of the book are a 4 or higher, but the overlong and unnecessarily granular nature of the book drag it down a little.
The quiet cowardice of passivity. Of those smart enough to dream that they might deserve greatness, but too smart, to the point of anxiousness over the risks, infinitely calculating to the point of inaction.
Impotence. The inability to get what you want, to make a mark to seize the moment. There must have been a meaning behind our suffering, otherwise it didn't make sense, wasn't logical.
The flashbacks and substories bear the strongest verve. Uncle Carlo and Mongo, the Trumpet, Seven Seas Jim, Brazil- these moments will live with me forever. Thank you Lia for grounding us in the real, the human, the beauty in simplicity.
The overwrought lectures on secret societies and the occult serve no purpose for me, and come across as simply a knowledge flex. This did not need to be a textbook, and is overlong, and weaker, as a result. The narrative is strongest in the back 250 or so, but still bogs itself down with way too much information as they explain their Plan. It rushes the parts that would have made a stronger story. But the story was never the point.
Some of the strongest and weakest content is found in the Abulafia chapters. The Weak is self indulgent, underdeveloped, juvenile. Sure, Belbo is self indulgent, But at its worst it's the sort of thing people are writing in High School.
grotta's review against another edition
3.0
Get a lot of people to say it and it will be 'truth'...the theme of both this book and most political campaigns. But what are political parties other than today's incarnation of fraternal orders?
I would like to have liked this more...and I remember liking it more when I was a teenager. But as we age the energy we get from disproving our forerunners wanes. The book is good, and the story arc is interesting, but I fortunately have an ability to quickly glaze through long portions of a book that aren't really important...and there were a lot of those. I mean every historic character short of Santa's Little Helper had a role in this one.
I absolutely see why people love this book and think it's great. The intellectual aspects of it are compelling, but right now I can't forget that it's 200 pages too long.
I would like to have liked this more...and I remember liking it more when I was a teenager. But as we age the energy we get from disproving our forerunners wanes. The book is good, and the story arc is interesting, but I fortunately have an ability to quickly glaze through long portions of a book that aren't really important...and there were a lot of those. I mean every historic character short of Santa's Little Helper had a role in this one.
I absolutely see why people love this book and think it's great. The intellectual aspects of it are compelling, but right now I can't forget that it's 200 pages too long.
mxine's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.0
I am so conflicted about this book. Foucault’s Pendulum challenged my sanity. Wading through the density of historical references and exposition is just about rewarding for the golden moments of clarity hidden within it.
sugandha's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
Thank you very much but I like to acquire my Templar historical facts from Assassin’s creed games . Storyline is too convoluted and can get pedantic at times.
kewlkat70's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I read this book nearly 30 years ago and I still think about it.
The themes of conspiracy and the human need to believe, the lines we make up between truth and faith keep being relevant in today's world.
The themes of conspiracy and the human need to believe, the lines we make up between truth and faith keep being relevant in today's world.
bpbailey's review against another edition
2.0
after 80% through this book i finally gave up once i realized it was a shaggy dog story that was never going to end and if anything it probably convinced me never to read a book like this again b/c to me the eventual 'payoff' seemed like an elaborate prank
ellsoquent's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
darkenergy's review against another edition
4.0
Eco's merciless send-up of conspiracy theorists (there is a bit where the protagonists demonstrate how a car is actually a manifestation of Templar thought) takes a surreal—and not my favorite ever, although it's well in line with some of his other works—twist at the end. Yes, it's a bit longer than is strictly necessary, but it's a fun read, from the segments of amateur prose to the mockery of "self financing authors" to the more serious segments in Casaubon's life.
chaz_dickens's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.5
lisa_bee88's review against another edition
3.0
Oh wow! What a hard slog! I'm feeling a bit emotionally crushed by this, because this book made me realise I'm not quite as clever as I hoped I was.
Umberto Eco is a smart guy (duh) and that really comes across in his writing style. I spent a lot of time staring at passages, re-reading sections I didn't understand. I even had to research a few concepts on the internet.
Which is fine. It's just exhausting!
This book was recommended to me a by a very dear friend, who often enjoys the same kinds of books as me (I should point out that she is an intelligent woman.. which is probably why she loved this)
Occassionally I got so excited because the story would pick up and I would think "Aha! I understand now!" except that I didn't. Eco was just toying with me.
So.. does this book deserve my 3 star rating? Hell no. I didn't enjoy it, but anyone can see it is an extremely well written (and at times fascinating) book. I would probably even recommend it to other people. But for now, I will be pleased to return to my plot driven penny dreadfuls :)
Umberto Eco is a smart guy (duh) and that really comes across in his writing style. I spent a lot of time staring at passages, re-reading sections I didn't understand. I even had to research a few concepts on the internet.
Which is fine. It's just exhausting!
This book was recommended to me a by a very dear friend, who often enjoys the same kinds of books as me (I should point out that she is an intelligent woman.. which is probably why she loved this)
Occassionally I got so excited because the story would pick up and I would think "Aha! I understand now!" except that I didn't. Eco was just toying with me.
So.. does this book deserve my 3 star rating? Hell no. I didn't enjoy it, but anyone can see it is an extremely well written (and at times fascinating) book. I would probably even recommend it to other people. But for now, I will be pleased to return to my plot driven penny dreadfuls :)