This was one of the biggest novels of the '80s. I remember the book so vividly. A crime story unfolding in a monastery, packed with Latin and Greek, and featuring some rather suspect monks trying to crack a series of murders. The ending was simply brilliant. The whole story was absolutely outstanding—especially the lost book on comedy—and incredibly sophisticated. So much wisdom and philosophy packed into one novel. It's rare to find a book like that. There's also a famous movie starring Sean Co...

Umberto Eco's *The Name of the Rose* is a complete and intricate novel that draws from many familiar plots to form a perfect narrative body. The story takes place during the period when the papacy moved from its traditional location in Italy to Avignon, when the King of France appointed John XXII as "Pope" at the head of the Holy Roman Church. *The Name of the Rose*: a strange, seemingly incomplete title, but one that becomes clear when we learn that in that era, the rose had a specific meaning....

"The Name of the Rose" is a horribly pretentious, pedantic, verbose "novel". And it stinks, too!Under the guise of a medieval mystery, Umberto Eco has written a diatribe on philosophical ideas (and not presented all of them accurately) in order to impress upon the reader just how very smart he is. Characterization, moments of human reality & truth, and most importantly, accessibility to the reader, are clearly repulsive ideas to Mr. Eco.I can sum up "The Name of the Rose", which takes place ...

Go ahead, pelt me with tomatoes!I know, I know, *The Name of the Rose* by Umberto Eco is generally considered a masterpiece. Lots of people list it as one of their absolute favorites. But personally? I found it incredibly dull and mind-numbingly boring. I really struggled to stay invested in the plot, which is unusual for me, especially with mystery/suspense stories. I've honestly never had to fight so hard to finish a book (and generally, I'm not one to DNF).So, if you also couldn't stand *The ...

Write, Adso, write. For whoever writes shall never die.Perhaps one day someone will come along to imitate them and add some of Azazel's licentious temptations.Adso's memoirs in **The Name of the Rose** and his journey with the complicated past of the monk William in that terrible monastery are a rich and detailed work. Although the events take place in the fourteenth century, you will feel their echoes in our time, despite their age.I must admit that it was not an easy read for me, but I will co...

If you're going to read Umberto Eco's *The Name of the Rose*, leave your imagination behind. You absolutely won't need it. Here, the finest details reveal themselves, and every small element glows before you. You don't need to imagine the shape of the room or the size of the labyrinth. You need your mind, sharp and full of insight, to try to understand, after you finish reading, the symbolism of that maze and what interpretations you can glean from it all. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; This is a novel w...

(A-) 84% | Very Good
Notes: A medieval Sherlock Holmes navigates the treacherous waters of sectarian politics while investigating a series of murders in this dense but ultimately rewarding read. Umberto Eco’s *The Name of the Rose* is a compelling historical mystery, perfect for fans of intricate plots and atmospheric settings. A very good read.

Are all libraries just containers for knowledge? Are all books vehicles for wisdom? Are all librarians spreaders of good? “Which books?”Benno hesitated. “I don’t remember. What does it matter which books were spoken of?”“It matters a great deal, because here we are trying to understand what has happened among men who live among books, with books, from books, and so their words on books are also important.”“It’s true,” Benno said, smiling for the first time, his face growing almost radiant. “We l...

Eco's writing is so infectious, lively, and likeable that I thought it appropriate to pen my review in his style.1. In which I, as reader, feel used.Yes, I'm almost certain Eco wrote *The Name of the Rose* for the sole purpose of informing us of how knowledgeable he is of the finer points of monastic orders, book trivia, and medieval philosophy. Knowing most would not put up with this crap for 500 pages, he wisely chose to interrupt his many digressions on poverty, heretics, whether or not Jesus...

This is one of those rare, near-perfect books that transcends genres and deserves universal acclaim. There are already tons of great reviews here, but "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco struck me as so profound that I had to jot down my own thoughts. I couldn't put it down, and resisting the urge to skip work and keep reading in the parking lot after lunch was a daily struggle. Eco has crafted a novel that could be called historical fiction, mystery, theology and philosophy, metafiction, a pa...