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Umberto Eco: Foucault's Pendulum

abecedarian said:
How far did you get into the book before laying it aside? I'm bogged down somewhere just past 100 pages. I've got a lot on my mind lately, so that doesn't help either, but I'm wondering if I should move on too.

I gave up at around the same point. And if you have other things on your mind, that won't help.

I'm not giving up on Eco, as I'm going to give Name of the Rose a bash at some point. I just don't think Pendulum's for me.
 
CDA said:
I gave up at around the same point. And if you have other things on your mind, that won't help.

I'm not giving up on Eco, as I'm going to give Name of the Rose a bash at some point. I just don't think Pendulum's for me.

The Name of the Rose is much better paced and more straightforward. You don't feel you need a degree in Ecolalia to enjoy it.
 
novella said:
The Name of the Rose is much better paced and more straightforward. You don't feel you need a degree in Ecolalia to enjoy it.

"Ecolalia" - excellent! LOL :)
 
CDA said:
I gave up at around the same point. And if you have other things on your mind, that won't help.

I'm not giving up on Eco, as I'm going to give Name of the Rose a bash at some point. I just don't think Pendulum's for me.


I think I will move on for now, although I think I'll give Ecco another try eventually. I'll definately try Name of the Rose, and remember Novella's neat term;)
 
After seeing this book recommended here many times over, I finally got round to finishing it yesterday.

Must confess I did initially find the climax to the book to be really disappointing & the end even more so, but thinking about it I like that it is so open to individual interpretation what exactly did happen.
I did find myself wondering the same as Kasuta about whether Casaubon was delusional, or if it was a case of the diabolicals believing The Plan so much it became a self fulfilling prophecy & each took on the role the three had given them when drawing up the plan - that explains so many random people Casaubon had met being implicated. Whilst I would have loved to know if Agilie was the Comte de Saint-Germain with hindsight I love the fact it is left to us to figure out
 
It's a beautiful book. Some passages read as if they were written by some divine hand. I can't remember specifics as it's been a while, but one about two Italian generals from opposing milita sides meeting and their mutal respect - that's the most moved I've been by a book, ever. It's not especially laying emotion into it, but it's one of those scenes that when you read, you visualise through a filter that makes every colour so striking, and every facial expression say a thousand thoughts. I dunno. I love it, but I want Eco to write a pure storybook, not trying to show off his intelligence (I doubt he does this on purpose though) and see what he comes up with.
 
This book is on my short list of favorites. I have heard others say the same as you though, "He's trying to show off his intelligence" You may be right. I still love him.:)
 
Oh totally. I don't hold it against him - it's what makes his books so unique, as well. But it would be great if we got something like Name of the Rose again, which was just so full of great ideas and characters. Sometimes Foucault's Pendulum got a little bogged down with its own ambition - which, by the way, is perfect, considering the subject matter – but on other projects I think he'd do well to show some restraint. If any of that makes sense...
 
Harcourt is reissuing Foucault's Pendulum in trade paperback in March 2007. Don't know if this will be a North American only release or not. Too lazy to check amazon.co.uk ;)

aec1.images_amazon.com_images_P_015603297X.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V38551227_.jpg
 
I agree, I was asking a bookseller if he saw FP come in trade very often anymore so I could complete my Eco collection. My copy is a dingy worn mass-market. He found in his database that there was a reissue coming so instead of ordering the trade with the swirlled colours on it I decided to check out how the reissue would look first. Considering how nice Mysterious Flame and The Island of the Day Before are I had high hopes. As long as it's a gorgeous glossy richly coloured cover like Island I'll be pleased.
 
I agree, I was asking a bookseller if he saw FP come in trade very often anymore so I could complete my Eco collection. My copy is a dingy worn mass-market. He found in his database that there was a reissue coming so instead of ordering the trade with the swirlled colours on it I decided to check out how the reissue would look first. Considering how nice Mysterious Flame and The Island of the Day Before are I had high hopes. As long as it's a gorgeous glossy richly coloured cover like Island I'll be pleased.


They'd make nice poster art or bookmarks..
 
Indeed. Actually, you just gave me a good idea. I just need a decent photo printer. Make my own bookmarks out of spiffy covers.
 
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