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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 1671 Views
Nabokov's The Original of Laura Tom - 08/10/2009 08:19:01 PM 1155 Views
I'd love that. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:25:39 PM 1176 Views
The real problem... Jacob - 08/10/2009 08:40:50 PM 1094 Views
That's a good point too. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:45:30 PM 1040 Views
Well, we could always discuss Nabokov in December. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:18:57 PM 1006 Views
Done! Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:30 PM 1030 Views
Hmm...I'm still thinking about the name Tom - 09/10/2009 03:57:48 PM 1139 Views
I'd be up for reading Doctor Zhivago. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:08:09 PM 1031 Views
yeah, me too. only need to find it in a library near me. *NM* jh - 08/10/2009 10:09:32 PM 425 Views
Don't be cheap. Buy it. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:16:18 PM 1038 Views
Well, I would, but I don't like online bookstores. jh - 09/10/2009 01:19:19 AM 1089 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 1044 Views
Oh, but... jh - 09/10/2009 11:01:01 AM 1007 Views
Also: I did not say any such thing. *NM* jh - 10/10/2009 12:49:06 PM 437 Views
The Gone-Away World, obviously Camilla - 08/10/2009 09:23:12 PM 975 Views
Obviously. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:47 PM 1014 Views
I second these statements *NM* Stephen - 13/10/2009 09:37:28 PM 461 Views
This one *NM* ironclad - 19/10/2009 10:44:37 PM 439 Views
AS Byatt - Possession. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:21:39 PM 1033 Views
It is a book of wonder. Possibly not good for the masses. *NM* Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:01:13 PM 535 Views
Perfect timing! Or, perhaps in December. Comet Sedai - 09/10/2009 09:35:00 PM 1179 Views
i loved that book!!! she is amazing. just wonderful writing... *NM* temeraire - 13/10/2009 08:44:59 PM 417 Views
How about a classic novel? Haggard - 08/10/2009 11:30:31 PM 1263 Views
You have a very strange definition of classics... *NM* jh - 09/10/2009 01:20:37 AM 459 Views
Replace "strange" with "erroneous" and I'll agree with you. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:09:27 AM 1011 Views
Really? Haggard - 09/10/2009 03:08:53 AM 1491 Views
for classic science fiction, your list contained one I could support... jh - 09/10/2009 11:06:34 AM 1026 Views
I'd be up for those. *NM* Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:34:19 PM 630 Views
You said "classic novel". Science fiction doesn't generally meet that standard. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:52:01 PM 1098 Views
I understand your point. However... Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:47:54 PM 1444 Views
This isn't really a SF/F Board Tom - 09/10/2009 09:35:06 PM 1015 Views
I like your list. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:02:09 PM 991 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 437 Views
Why? Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:32:05 PM 950 Views
And what book would that be??? Tom - 09/10/2009 03:47:49 PM 1038 Views
Foucault's Pendulum seems like the obvious one. Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:58:37 PM 1100 Views
Having both FP and NotR recently... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 04:31:00 PM 963 Views
No way. Tom - 09/10/2009 04:56:39 PM 1155 Views
Oh well. I'll have to blame my faulty memory then. Legolas - 09/10/2009 10:11:55 PM 935 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 1334 Views
That Hitchhiker book is as genuine as the "new" Winnie-the-Pooh book Tom - 09/10/2009 02:54:23 PM 1062 Views
Perhaps, but it's worth remembering that... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 03:45:53 PM 967 Views
Adams killed Arthur Dent for a reason Tom - 09/10/2009 05:02:23 PM 1074 Views
The movie was not faithful to the books in any meaningful way. *NM* RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 08:58:01 PM 433 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 437 Views
Right. RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:37:08 AM 986 Views
One little thing Larry - 10/10/2009 02:39:01 AM 1062 Views
Are you sure? RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:43:01 AM 988 Views
Yes Larry - 10/10/2009 04:02:40 AM 1241 Views
I stand corrected. Looking forward to your review! RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 01:00:38 PM 947 Views
Perhaps Larry - 09/10/2009 06:08:17 PM 1091 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 978 Views
Pretty much (plus I have to finish reading the second half) Larry - 10/10/2009 05:34:38 AM 977 Views
A contrasting take on the first half of the book RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 04:10:18 PM 950 Views
Pretty sure Eugammon beat you to that sequel. Ghavrel - 19/10/2009 09:31:05 PM 1175 Views
Yes! Camilla - 19/10/2009 09:20:09 AM 871 Views
Rothfuss is a good idea, actually. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 02:59:53 PM 944 Views
There are a few, if I recall Larry - 09/10/2009 06:09:54 PM 927 Views
A question for you all. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:04:17 PM 1009 Views
Sounds good to me. *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:29:54 PM 401 Views
I agree , or ... Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:36:03 PM 973 Views
That could work if people were interested enough. Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:40:16 PM 967 Views
That would be cool with me. *NM* Bryce - 10/10/2009 10:32:15 AM 415 Views
Sounds interesting. *NM* BlackAdder - 13/10/2009 08:51:31 PM 376 Views
I suggest Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:58:27 PM 989 Views
Acacia: The War with the Mein by David Anthony Durham Sir Tybalt - 10/10/2009 02:32:59 PM 963 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 599 Views
I'd say yes. Pretty sure the people here will be Left Behind. *NM* Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:39:05 PM 517 Views
Some will probably even be actively serving the Antichrist. Tom - 11/10/2009 04:16:45 PM 1175 Views
Prefer not to. Ouranid - 12/10/2009 03:14:30 AM 839 Views
Diary of a Drug Fiend was rather good. *NM* Tom - 12/10/2009 03:57:42 PM 420 Views
A compromise candidate RandAllThor - 14/10/2009 06:40:56 PM 856 Views
Fantastic book! I am always for putting that on any list. *NM* Tom - 14/10/2009 07:03:35 PM 422 Views
Is it bad that I read this as 'submissives wanted' PhotoJim - 14/10/2009 08:04:31 PM 1141 Views
Hyperion *NM* Chas - 15/10/2009 01:56:31 AM 378 Views
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