A review by catapocalypse
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

2.5

 My feelings are very mixed about the book. As someone who enjoys a thick tome now and then, unfortunately I felt this one needed condensing. Some things were repetitive, including the few times things like the argument about poverty, the history of certain heretical groups (particularly those related to Fra Dolcino's movement), the argument about laughter, etc. came up. There were extended passages such as the dream/vision scenes that felt as if they were drawn out purely to flex Eco's knowledge of history, theology, and semiotics.

The mystery plot disappointed me on the whole. At the beginning, the narrator's mentor, William, performed a Sherlock Holmes-level deduction about an escaped horse. It set my hopes high, but William didn't operate at that level again in the nearly 600 pages that followed.

That said, I didn't hate the book, either. I appreciated the history and there were some compelling passages about books and knowledge I actually loved. I don't regret reading it, but I don't see myself picking it up again. I'd be willing to try more from Eco, but I'm going to need some time, first. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings