Anyone here ever read Foucalt's(sp?) Pendelum, The Name of the Rose, or any of his books?
yes. they're all very shallow.
the island of the day before is probably his best work
(although that doesn't say much)
he should've just stuck to his scientific publishing.
I'm slowly plowing through The Name of the Rose. It's probably a good piece of work (I quite enjoy it thus far), but it's hard to be certain since I'm reading an encyclopedia most of the time to understand all the references. The encyclopedia may be colouring what I think of the novel.
I'll reserve judgement until I'm finished, but I'd say it's worth reading if you want to brush up on Medieval history.
>...it's worth reading if you want to brush up on Medieval history.
Umm. I have to disagree. The fact is, unless you know your mediaeval history pretty well already, The Name of the Rose is going to lead you down the garden path. Much of the circumstances are artifices of Eco's, with very little basis in genuine mediaeval events. It's one long deliberate anachronistic mess, and it's certainly not something you'd read to "brush up on mediaeval history" -- unless by that you mean having to read a lot of ancillary material to understand the references, thereby incidentally picking up an education on th subject.
Having said that, I rather like the book. It's a bibliophile's testament. The film sucked balls, though.
(Oh, btw, before you ask -- my degree is in history, and mediaeval history is one of my specialties)
> nless by that you mean having to read a lot of ancillary material to understand the references, thereby incidentally picking up an education on th subject.
That's exactly what I mean (ergo the comments regarding an encyclopedia). Sorry I wasn't clearer.
I've read Focault's Pendelum and How to Travel With a Salmon. I believe I enjoyed the latter more. I really do like his sense of humor a lot.