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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 1779 Views
Nabokov's The Original of Laura Tom - 08/10/2009 08:19:01 PM 1261 Views
I'd love that. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:25:39 PM 1271 Views
The real problem... Jacob - 08/10/2009 08:40:50 PM 1181 Views
That's a good point too. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:45:30 PM 1144 Views
Well, we could always discuss Nabokov in December. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:18:57 PM 1115 Views
Done! Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:30 PM 1130 Views
Hmm...I'm still thinking about the name Tom - 09/10/2009 03:57:48 PM 1236 Views
I'd be up for reading Doctor Zhivago. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:08:09 PM 1137 Views
yeah, me too. only need to find it in a library near me. *NM* jh - 08/10/2009 10:09:32 PM 487 Views
Don't be cheap. Buy it. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:16:18 PM 1143 Views
Well, I would, but I don't like online bookstores. jh - 09/10/2009 01:19:19 AM 1192 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 1135 Views
Oh, but... jh - 09/10/2009 11:01:01 AM 1117 Views
Also: I did not say any such thing. *NM* jh - 10/10/2009 12:49:06 PM 491 Views
The Gone-Away World, obviously Camilla - 08/10/2009 09:23:12 PM 1079 Views
Obviously. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:47 PM 1123 Views
I second these statements *NM* Stephen - 13/10/2009 09:37:28 PM 516 Views
This one *NM* ironclad - 19/10/2009 10:44:37 PM 491 Views
AS Byatt - Possession. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:21:39 PM 1150 Views
It is a book of wonder. Possibly not good for the masses. *NM* Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:01:13 PM 586 Views
Perfect timing! Or, perhaps in December. Comet Sedai - 09/10/2009 09:35:00 PM 1277 Views
i loved that book!!! she is amazing. just wonderful writing... *NM* temeraire - 13/10/2009 08:44:59 PM 464 Views
How about a classic novel? Haggard - 08/10/2009 11:30:31 PM 1366 Views
You have a very strange definition of classics... *NM* jh - 09/10/2009 01:20:37 AM 529 Views
Replace "strange" with "erroneous" and I'll agree with you. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:09:27 AM 1104 Views
Really? Haggard - 09/10/2009 03:08:53 AM 1598 Views
for classic science fiction, your list contained one I could support... jh - 09/10/2009 11:06:34 AM 1131 Views
I'd be up for those. *NM* Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:34:19 PM 674 Views
You said "classic novel". Science fiction doesn't generally meet that standard. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:52:01 PM 1189 Views
I understand your point. However... Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:47:54 PM 1560 Views
This isn't really a SF/F Board Tom - 09/10/2009 09:35:06 PM 1120 Views
I like your list. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:02:09 PM 1091 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 494 Views
Why? Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:32:05 PM 1052 Views
And what book would that be??? Tom - 09/10/2009 03:47:49 PM 1126 Views
Foucault's Pendulum seems like the obvious one. Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:58:37 PM 1214 Views
Having both FP and NotR recently... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 04:31:00 PM 1085 Views
No way. Tom - 09/10/2009 04:56:39 PM 1251 Views
Oh well. I'll have to blame my faulty memory then. Legolas - 09/10/2009 10:11:55 PM 1036 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 1441 Views
That Hitchhiker book is as genuine as the "new" Winnie-the-Pooh book Tom - 09/10/2009 02:54:23 PM 1162 Views
Perhaps, but it's worth remembering that... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 03:45:53 PM 1060 Views
Adams killed Arthur Dent for a reason Tom - 09/10/2009 05:02:23 PM 1171 Views
The movie was not faithful to the books in any meaningful way. *NM* RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 08:58:01 PM 478 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 482 Views
Right. RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:37:08 AM 1071 Views
One little thing Larry - 10/10/2009 02:39:01 AM 1160 Views
Are you sure? RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:43:01 AM 1086 Views
Yes Larry - 10/10/2009 04:02:40 AM 1367 Views
I stand corrected. Looking forward to your review! RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 01:00:38 PM 1043 Views
Perhaps Larry - 09/10/2009 06:08:17 PM 1194 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 1091 Views
Pretty much (plus I have to finish reading the second half) Larry - 10/10/2009 05:34:38 AM 1074 Views
A contrasting take on the first half of the book RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 04:10:18 PM 1056 Views
Pretty sure Eugammon beat you to that sequel. Ghavrel - 19/10/2009 09:31:05 PM 1260 Views
Yes! Camilla - 19/10/2009 09:20:09 AM 962 Views
Rothfuss is a good idea, actually. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 02:59:53 PM 1056 Views
There are a few, if I recall Larry - 09/10/2009 06:09:54 PM 1020 Views
A question for you all. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:04:17 PM 1121 Views
Sounds good to me. *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:29:54 PM 454 Views
I agree , or ... Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:36:03 PM 1061 Views
That could work if people were interested enough. Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:40:16 PM 1070 Views
That would be cool with me. *NM* Bryce - 10/10/2009 10:32:15 AM 465 Views
Sounds interesting. *NM* BlackAdder - 13/10/2009 08:51:31 PM 422 Views
I suggest Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:58:27 PM 1085 Views
Acacia: The War with the Mein by David Anthony Durham Sir Tybalt - 10/10/2009 02:32:59 PM 1055 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 651 Views
I'd say yes. Pretty sure the people here will be Left Behind. *NM* Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:39:05 PM 565 Views
Some will probably even be actively serving the Antichrist. Tom - 11/10/2009 04:16:45 PM 1275 Views
Prefer not to. Ouranid - 12/10/2009 03:14:30 AM 933 Views
Diary of a Drug Fiend was rather good. *NM* Tom - 12/10/2009 03:57:42 PM 464 Views
A compromise candidate RandAllThor - 14/10/2009 06:40:56 PM 962 Views
Fantastic book! I am always for putting that on any list. *NM* Tom - 14/10/2009 07:03:35 PM 465 Views
Is it bad that I read this as 'submissives wanted' PhotoJim - 14/10/2009 08:04:31 PM 1251 Views
Hyperion *NM* Chas - 15/10/2009 01:56:31 AM 426 Views
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