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uvih_'s review against another edition
4.0
This is undeniably a book that is an astounding piece of fiction and research and imagination. I was impressed by the richness and detail of the world, I was convinced - for the most part - that I was reading the work of Adson Melk. I love Franciscan history and loved how this piece of fiction was interlaced with actual fact. I found the theological debate on poverty interesting - but hey, I'm a church historian. I wonder how much appeal that discussion would have for most others.
Yet this work did flag. It took me weeks to finish the last 150 pages, partly due to time, partly due to the plot having lost its momentum. This is where Eco crept in and Adson faded out - parts of it felt like Eco flexing his literary muscles, getting too carried away with superfluous detail and discussion that ultimately did not add much to the reading experience. As with many great authors, it felt like no one had the balls/vagina to tell Eco to reign it in a little bit.
Nevertheless this was an astounding feat, a highly intelligent and layered product that was a pleasure to read, and one I have no doubt I will read again in ten, twenty or thirty years time.
Now, to watch the Connery adaptation...
Yet this work did flag. It took me weeks to finish the last 150 pages, partly due to time, partly due to the plot having lost its momentum. This is where Eco crept in and Adson faded out - parts of it felt like Eco flexing his literary muscles, getting too carried away with superfluous detail and discussion that ultimately did not add much to the reading experience. As with many great authors, it felt like no one had the balls/vagina to tell Eco to reign it in a little bit.
Nevertheless this was an astounding feat, a highly intelligent and layered product that was a pleasure to read, and one I have no doubt I will read again in ten, twenty or thirty years time.
Now, to watch the Connery adaptation...
ediksona's review against another edition
1.0
I was forced to read it when I was in high school. I thought I'd die. But at least I had something to put me to sleep every night for 2 weeks.
sampsa_h's review against another edition
5.0
Toinen lukukerta, ensimmäisen kerran luin Ruusun nimen joskus teini-ikäisenä ja nyt minua todella vietiin vuoteen 1327. Itse asiassa olisin halunnut jäädä luostarin maailmaan ja historiallisten tapahtumien keskelle vielä toisen 600 sivun ajaksi!
Oikea postmodernismin helmi (1980) metatarinoineen, luetteloineen ja rikkaine viittauksineen. Materiaalia riittää, ja halutessaan voi Econ omat semiotiikan opetukset jättää päähenkilön erikoisuuksiksi ja nauttia juonesta. Salapoliisimunkkien seikkailuissa on vetoa, vaikka he eivät aina noudatakaan aikakauden tapoja ja sääntöjä. Historiallisena romaanina tarkka ja historiallinen taso Pyhän saksalais-roomalaisen keisarikunnan ja paavinistuimen pitkän valtataistelun yhdestä ilmentymästä olisi jo teos itsessään, mutta lisäksi käydään läpi ajattelua, arkkitehtuuria, uskontoa, sanojen merkitystä, totuutta, konservativismia, maallisuutta, kirjallisuutta, luostarin tapoja, kieliä, himoa, vihaa, vanhenemista, sokeutta ja tulta.
Verkkainen anakronistinen tyyli toimi hyvin, vaikka välillä mennäänkin kovin pitkälle Sherlock Holmesiin, Borgesiin ja käsinkopioitujen kirjojen kuvituksiin. Tämä kirja on ollut aikanaan todella kunnianhimoinen projekti, joka ei ole täydellinen, mutta onnistunut.
Populääri dekkarimies Dan Brown ei ole mitään Ecoon verrattuna, mutta toiset tykkää, toiset ei. Mikään kirja ei ole aiemmin saanut minua tarkastamaan Raamatusta sanotaanko siellä todella näin... Tsekkaa myös Pentiment-tietokonepeli!
Oikea postmodernismin helmi (1980) metatarinoineen, luetteloineen ja rikkaine viittauksineen. Materiaalia riittää, ja halutessaan voi Econ omat semiotiikan opetukset jättää päähenkilön erikoisuuksiksi ja nauttia juonesta. Salapoliisimunkkien seikkailuissa on vetoa, vaikka he eivät aina noudatakaan aikakauden tapoja ja sääntöjä. Historiallisena romaanina tarkka ja historiallinen taso Pyhän saksalais-roomalaisen keisarikunnan ja paavinistuimen pitkän valtataistelun yhdestä ilmentymästä olisi jo teos itsessään, mutta lisäksi käydään läpi ajattelua, arkkitehtuuria, uskontoa, sanojen merkitystä, totuutta, konservativismia, maallisuutta, kirjallisuutta, luostarin tapoja, kieliä, himoa, vihaa, vanhenemista, sokeutta ja tulta.
Verkkainen anakronistinen tyyli toimi hyvin, vaikka välillä mennäänkin kovin pitkälle Sherlock Holmesiin, Borgesiin ja käsinkopioitujen kirjojen kuvituksiin. Tämä kirja on ollut aikanaan todella kunnianhimoinen projekti, joka ei ole täydellinen, mutta onnistunut.
Populääri dekkarimies Dan Brown ei ole mitään Ecoon verrattuna, mutta toiset tykkää, toiset ei. Mikään kirja ei ole aiemmin saanut minua tarkastamaan Raamatusta sanotaanko siellä todella näin... Tsekkaa myös Pentiment-tietokonepeli!
seth_and_potatoes's review against another edition
3.0
What a difficult book to rate. Do I rate it based on the unfathomable degree of research that went into its writing (an easy 5 stars)? How captivating the story was (2 stars)? The philosophical/theological debates and arguments that underlie the characters' motives (4 stars, but this is purely subjective)?
Overall, I average it all to 3 stars. This is my overall level of enjoyment. Personally, i enjoyed the peek into an alien world. In a sense, this setting is more fantastical to me than a world of elves and dragons. While the book does become a slog at times, I'm moderately satisfied that I gave it the chance. As someone with a casual interest in philosophy, it was interesting to see how the classical writings, having been saved by Arabic scholars, were disrupting the foundations of Christian theology. Without this tenet, I would have rated the book worse.
Overall, I average it all to 3 stars. This is my overall level of enjoyment. Personally, i enjoyed the peek into an alien world. In a sense, this setting is more fantastical to me than a world of elves and dragons. While the book does become a slog at times, I'm moderately satisfied that I gave it the chance. As someone with a casual interest in philosophy, it was interesting to see how the classical writings, having been saved by Arabic scholars, were disrupting the foundations of Christian theology. Without this tenet, I would have rated the book worse.
alyssaszuch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It’s worth sticking through to the end. The first 70% of the book moves slowly but, now that I’ve finished it, I love the depth that is built in the first 6 days of the journey.
luxile's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I feel like I need to study latin and religion to truly understand this book. As it stands, it was interesting but I think I missed a lot of things (maybe I should have bought an annotated copy, if those exist, even)
bmarie82's review against another edition
2.0
Too slow in development for my tastes. The story isn't bad just plodding, maybe a bit over written.