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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 1938 Views
Nabokov's The Original of Laura Tom - 08/10/2009 08:19:01 PM 1426 Views
I'd love that. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:25:39 PM 1424 Views
The real problem... Jacob - 08/10/2009 08:40:50 PM 1319 Views
That's a good point too. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:45:30 PM 1295 Views
Well, we could always discuss Nabokov in December. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:18:57 PM 1300 Views
Done! Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:30 PM 1296 Views
Hmm...I'm still thinking about the name Tom - 09/10/2009 03:57:48 PM 1373 Views
I'd be up for reading Doctor Zhivago. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:08:09 PM 1301 Views
yeah, me too. only need to find it in a library near me. *NM* jh - 08/10/2009 10:09:32 PM 578 Views
Don't be cheap. Buy it. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:16:18 PM 1308 Views
Well, I would, but I don't like online bookstores. jh - 09/10/2009 01:19:19 AM 1369 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 1281 Views
Oh, but... jh - 09/10/2009 11:01:01 AM 1290 Views
Also: I did not say any such thing. *NM* jh - 10/10/2009 12:49:06 PM 591 Views
The Gone-Away World, obviously Camilla - 08/10/2009 09:23:12 PM 1221 Views
Obviously. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:47 PM 1294 Views
I second these statements *NM* Stephen - 13/10/2009 09:37:28 PM 607 Views
This one *NM* ironclad - 19/10/2009 10:44:37 PM 592 Views
AS Byatt - Possession. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:21:39 PM 1295 Views
It is a book of wonder. Possibly not good for the masses. *NM* Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:01:13 PM 694 Views
Perfect timing! Or, perhaps in December. Comet Sedai - 09/10/2009 09:35:00 PM 1428 Views
i loved that book!!! she is amazing. just wonderful writing... *NM* temeraire - 13/10/2009 08:44:59 PM 549 Views
How about a classic novel? Haggard - 08/10/2009 11:30:31 PM 1523 Views
You have a very strange definition of classics... *NM* jh - 09/10/2009 01:20:37 AM 643 Views
Replace "strange" with "erroneous" and I'll agree with you. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:09:27 AM 1251 Views
Really? Haggard - 09/10/2009 03:08:53 AM 1753 Views
for classic science fiction, your list contained one I could support... jh - 09/10/2009 11:06:34 AM 1307 Views
I'd be up for those. *NM* Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:34:19 PM 762 Views
You said "classic novel". Science fiction doesn't generally meet that standard. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:52:01 PM 1335 Views
I understand your point. However... Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:47:54 PM 1739 Views
This isn't really a SF/F Board Tom - 09/10/2009 09:35:06 PM 1308 Views
I like your list. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:02:09 PM 1257 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 586 Views
Why? Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:32:05 PM 1200 Views
And what book would that be??? Tom - 09/10/2009 03:47:49 PM 1287 Views
Foucault's Pendulum seems like the obvious one. Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:58:37 PM 1368 Views
Having both FP and NotR recently... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 04:31:00 PM 1246 Views
No way. Tom - 09/10/2009 04:56:39 PM 1404 Views
Oh well. I'll have to blame my faulty memory then. Legolas - 09/10/2009 10:11:55 PM 1197 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 1620 Views
That Hitchhiker book is as genuine as the "new" Winnie-the-Pooh book Tom - 09/10/2009 02:54:23 PM 1309 Views
Perhaps, but it's worth remembering that... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 03:45:53 PM 1216 Views
Adams killed Arthur Dent for a reason Tom - 09/10/2009 05:02:23 PM 1315 Views
The movie was not faithful to the books in any meaningful way. *NM* RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 08:58:01 PM 570 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 573 Views
Right. RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:37:08 AM 1240 Views
One little thing Larry - 10/10/2009 02:39:01 AM 1318 Views
Are you sure? RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:43:01 AM 1243 Views
Yes Larry - 10/10/2009 04:02:40 AM 1530 Views
I stand corrected. Looking forward to your review! RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 01:00:38 PM 1204 Views
Perhaps Larry - 09/10/2009 06:08:17 PM 1348 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 1262 Views
Pretty much (plus I have to finish reading the second half) Larry - 10/10/2009 05:34:38 AM 1229 Views
A contrasting take on the first half of the book RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 04:10:18 PM 1215 Views
Pretty sure Eugammon beat you to that sequel. Ghavrel - 19/10/2009 09:31:05 PM 1402 Views
Yes! Camilla - 19/10/2009 09:20:09 AM 1116 Views
Rothfuss is a good idea, actually. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 02:59:53 PM 1221 Views
There are a few, if I recall Larry - 09/10/2009 06:09:54 PM 1168 Views
A question for you all. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:04:17 PM 1276 Views
Sounds good to me. *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:29:54 PM 533 Views
I agree , or ... Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:36:03 PM 1203 Views
That could work if people were interested enough. Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:40:16 PM 1228 Views
That would be cool with me. *NM* Bryce - 10/10/2009 10:32:15 AM 549 Views
Sounds interesting. *NM* BlackAdder - 13/10/2009 08:51:31 PM 521 Views
I suggest Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:58:27 PM 1240 Views
Acacia: The War with the Mein by David Anthony Durham Sir Tybalt - 10/10/2009 02:32:59 PM 1214 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 734 Views
I'd say yes. Pretty sure the people here will be Left Behind. *NM* Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:39:05 PM 657 Views
Some will probably even be actively serving the Antichrist. Tom - 11/10/2009 04:16:45 PM 1431 Views
Prefer not to. Ouranid - 12/10/2009 03:14:30 AM 1112 Views
Diary of a Drug Fiend was rather good. *NM* Tom - 12/10/2009 03:57:42 PM 553 Views
A compromise candidate RandAllThor - 14/10/2009 06:40:56 PM 1102 Views
Fantastic book! I am always for putting that on any list. *NM* Tom - 14/10/2009 07:03:35 PM 569 Views
Is it bad that I read this as 'submissives wanted' PhotoJim - 14/10/2009 08:04:31 PM 1409 Views
Hyperion *NM* Chas - 15/10/2009 01:56:31 AM 524 Views
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