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No way. Tom Send a noteboard - 09/10/2009 04:56:39 PM
In The Name of the Rose, the forgotten politics of the time period are a sideshow to a very accessible detective story and some interesting general philosophical questions. One doesn't have to know about struggles between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade and Dulcinite heresy to appreciate the book.

In Foucault's Pendulum, however, if you don't know about the Rosicrucians, mediaeval alchemy, the Templars, astrology, John Dee, Qabbalah, Hermeticism, and a whole host of other topics regarding the occult, you can't follow the story properly. While it may be more satisfying to read Foucault's Pendulum if you do have knowledge of those subjects (I would posit that it is), the bar to entry is much higher and to ignore that is to engage in intellectual posturing.

Furthermore, a very large common consensus has developed that The Name of the Rose is Eco's easiest book. The fact that it is a book about books should also resonate with most people.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.

ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius

Ummaka qinnassa nīk!

*MySmiley*
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November Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club: submissions ended! ... New new edit on 18/10/2009 Rebekah - 08/10/2009 06:56:01 PM 1967 Views
Nabokov's The Original of Laura Tom - 08/10/2009 08:19:01 PM 1454 Views
I'd love that. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:25:39 PM 1452 Views
The real problem... Jacob - 08/10/2009 08:40:50 PM 1347 Views
That's a good point too. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:45:30 PM 1319 Views
Well, we could always discuss Nabokov in December. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:18:57 PM 1322 Views
Done! Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:30 PM 1338 Views
Hmm...I'm still thinking about the name Tom - 09/10/2009 03:57:48 PM 1421 Views
I'd be up for reading Doctor Zhivago. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:08:09 PM 1334 Views
yeah, me too. only need to find it in a library near me. *NM* jh - 08/10/2009 10:09:32 PM 595 Views
Don't be cheap. Buy it. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:16:18 PM 1337 Views
Well, I would, but I don't like online bookstores. jh - 09/10/2009 01:19:19 AM 1417 Views
Well, but you just said you didn't know if you could find it in the library. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:07:54 AM 1316 Views
Oh, but... jh - 09/10/2009 11:01:01 AM 1318 Views
Also: I did not say any such thing. *NM* jh - 10/10/2009 12:49:06 PM 607 Views
The Gone-Away World, obviously Camilla - 08/10/2009 09:23:12 PM 1263 Views
Obviously. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:47 PM 1314 Views
I second these statements *NM* Stephen - 13/10/2009 09:37:28 PM 623 Views
This one *NM* ironclad - 19/10/2009 10:44:37 PM 611 Views
AS Byatt - Possession. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:21:39 PM 1325 Views
It is a book of wonder. Possibly not good for the masses. *NM* Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:01:13 PM 708 Views
Perfect timing! Or, perhaps in December. Comet Sedai - 09/10/2009 09:35:00 PM 1451 Views
i loved that book!!! she is amazing. just wonderful writing... *NM* temeraire - 13/10/2009 08:44:59 PM 566 Views
How about a classic novel? Haggard - 08/10/2009 11:30:31 PM 1548 Views
You have a very strange definition of classics... *NM* jh - 09/10/2009 01:20:37 AM 656 Views
Replace "strange" with "erroneous" and I'll agree with you. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:09:27 AM 1282 Views
Really? Haggard - 09/10/2009 03:08:53 AM 1789 Views
for classic science fiction, your list contained one I could support... jh - 09/10/2009 11:06:34 AM 1330 Views
I'd be up for those. *NM* Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:34:19 PM 779 Views
You said "classic novel". Science fiction doesn't generally meet that standard. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:52:01 PM 1374 Views
I understand your point. However... Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:47:54 PM 1773 Views
This isn't really a SF/F Board Tom - 09/10/2009 09:35:06 PM 1361 Views
I like your list. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:02:09 PM 1282 Views
I think if you're gonna do Eco, picking another book to start with would be wiser... *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:28:50 PM 596 Views
Why? Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:32:05 PM 1229 Views
And what book would that be??? Tom - 09/10/2009 03:47:49 PM 1327 Views
Foucault's Pendulum seems like the obvious one. Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:58:37 PM 1405 Views
Having both FP and NotR recently... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 04:31:00 PM 1292 Views
No way. Tom - 09/10/2009 04:56:39 PM 1442 Views
Oh well. I'll have to blame my faulty memory then. Legolas - 09/10/2009 10:11:55 PM 1223 Views
Based on past experiences here and elsewhere, it'll be hard to choose the "right" book Larry - 09/10/2009 02:46:22 AM 1653 Views
That Hitchhiker book is as genuine as the "new" Winnie-the-Pooh book Tom - 09/10/2009 02:54:23 PM 1335 Views
Perhaps, but it's worth remembering that... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 03:45:53 PM 1241 Views
Adams killed Arthur Dent for a reason Tom - 09/10/2009 05:02:23 PM 1341 Views
The movie was not faithful to the books in any meaningful way. *NM* RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 08:58:01 PM 587 Views
The movie sucked, yes. Adams had also been dead for four years when it came out. *NM* Tom - 10/10/2009 02:19:38 AM 588 Views
Right. RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:37:08 AM 1271 Views
One little thing Larry - 10/10/2009 02:39:01 AM 1340 Views
Are you sure? RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:43:01 AM 1290 Views
Yes Larry - 10/10/2009 04:02:40 AM 1554 Views
I stand corrected. Looking forward to your review! RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 01:00:38 PM 1239 Views
Perhaps Larry - 09/10/2009 06:08:17 PM 1371 Views
So on Monday we'll find out if the widow's cash need resulted in a good book. Tom - 10/10/2009 04:21:22 AM 1303 Views
Pretty much (plus I have to finish reading the second half) Larry - 10/10/2009 05:34:38 AM 1270 Views
A contrasting take on the first half of the book RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 04:10:18 PM 1259 Views
Pretty sure Eugammon beat you to that sequel. Ghavrel - 19/10/2009 09:31:05 PM 1432 Views
Yes! Camilla - 19/10/2009 09:20:09 AM 1142 Views
Rothfuss is a good idea, actually. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 02:59:53 PM 1255 Views
There are a few, if I recall Larry - 09/10/2009 06:09:54 PM 1195 Views
A question for you all. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:04:17 PM 1303 Views
Sounds good to me. *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:29:54 PM 544 Views
I agree , or ... Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:36:03 PM 1231 Views
That could work if people were interested enough. Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:40:16 PM 1259 Views
That would be cool with me. *NM* Bryce - 10/10/2009 10:32:15 AM 562 Views
Sounds interesting. *NM* BlackAdder - 13/10/2009 08:51:31 PM 536 Views
I suggest Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:58:27 PM 1263 Views
Acacia: The War with the Mein by David Anthony Durham Sir Tybalt - 10/10/2009 02:32:59 PM 1242 Views
You didn't mention the rapture! If that happens, will the club still be on? *NM* Bryce - 11/10/2009 07:51:59 AM 748 Views
I'd say yes. Pretty sure the people here will be Left Behind. *NM* Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:39:05 PM 673 Views
Some will probably even be actively serving the Antichrist. Tom - 11/10/2009 04:16:45 PM 1454 Views
Prefer not to. Ouranid - 12/10/2009 03:14:30 AM 1140 Views
Diary of a Drug Fiend was rather good. *NM* Tom - 12/10/2009 03:57:42 PM 572 Views
A compromise candidate RandAllThor - 14/10/2009 06:40:56 PM 1134 Views
Fantastic book! I am always for putting that on any list. *NM* Tom - 14/10/2009 07:03:35 PM 586 Views
Is it bad that I read this as 'submissives wanted' PhotoJim - 14/10/2009 08:04:31 PM 1437 Views
Hyperion *NM* Chas - 15/10/2009 01:56:31 AM 536 Views
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