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A review by pris_asagiri
Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco
3.0
Supposedly the "thinking man's" Da Vinci Code. We shall see. Already though I need a dictionary though, so that is a step up (and I liked the Da Vinci Code).
***
(02/22/08) I just noticed that this book was published in 1989. So way before Brown and all the current Templar hoopla. I'm about 2/3 into it (having taken a 3 month break) and it's pretty good. It's like a bunch of sub-stories within the main thriller. I'm not so much enjoying his time in Brazil. It's a lot of radicalism and "down with the man" talk that I'm not really educated on. So I'm missing out on most of the references. I can't tell if who he's referencing is historically real or not. And I hate that. But overall, the book's intriguing and I'm enjoying it a lot. Considering it's over 600 pages, it's going a lot faster than I expected.
(03/17/08) Okay, I think was I overly optimistic in my assessment last month. I'm only 1/3 of the way into it (whoops). BUT I've finally gotten out of Brazil, so the book's picked back up again. (Brazil was hell by the way.) What I've found is that I don't so much enjoy the main character, Casaubon. I really like Belbo. I find that when the book talks about him, I get sucked in and just find him fascinating. I like it best when he's philosophizing. You can really feel the bitterness of all his wasted opportunities or rather his impotence to do something "worthy" that his fellow radicals do every day. Now he's old and what does his life mean? It's about the truest person I've read in novels in a long while. But seriously, can we get Casaubon out of the freaking museum soon?!
(11/12/08)I HAVE FINISHED! After realizing that 360 pages are all set-up for the last 300 pages, the story was able to move much more quickly. I think I will enjoy [b: In The Name of The Rose|119073|The Name of the Rose|Umberto Eco|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415375471s/119073.jpg|3138328] better. But this wasn't bad. A lot of theology and mysticism that is beyond my scope. And the ending was kind of a let down. Really glad I read The Alchemyst (the kid's book). Kind of gave me a head's up on Dee and Flamel and golems. But what I can say is that Eco sure knows his stuff and if not, has one heck of an imagination.
***
(02/22/08) I just noticed that this book was published in 1989. So way before Brown and all the current Templar hoopla. I'm about 2/3 into it (having taken a 3 month break) and it's pretty good. It's like a bunch of sub-stories within the main thriller. I'm not so much enjoying his time in Brazil. It's a lot of radicalism and "down with the man" talk that I'm not really educated on. So I'm missing out on most of the references. I can't tell if who he's referencing is historically real or not. And I hate that. But overall, the book's intriguing and I'm enjoying it a lot. Considering it's over 600 pages, it's going a lot faster than I expected.
(03/17/08) Okay, I think was I overly optimistic in my assessment last month. I'm only 1/3 of the way into it (whoops). BUT I've finally gotten out of Brazil, so the book's picked back up again. (Brazil was hell by the way.) What I've found is that I don't so much enjoy the main character, Casaubon. I really like Belbo. I find that when the book talks about him, I get sucked in and just find him fascinating. I like it best when he's philosophizing. You can really feel the bitterness of all his wasted opportunities or rather his impotence to do something "worthy" that his fellow radicals do every day. Now he's old and what does his life mean? It's about the truest person I've read in novels in a long while. But seriously, can we get Casaubon out of the freaking museum soon?!
(11/12/08)I HAVE FINISHED! After realizing that 360 pages are all set-up for the last 300 pages, the story was able to move much more quickly. I think I will enjoy [b: In The Name of The Rose|119073|The Name of the Rose|Umberto Eco|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415375471s/119073.jpg|3138328] better. But this wasn't bad. A lot of theology and mysticism that is beyond my scope. And the ending was kind of a let down. Really glad I read The Alchemyst (the kid's book). Kind of gave me a head's up on Dee and Flamel and golems. But what I can say is that Eco sure knows his stuff and if not, has one heck of an imagination.