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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 1569 Views
Nabokov's The Original of Laura Tom - 08/10/2009 08:19:01 PM 1088 Views
I'd love that. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:25:39 PM 1108 Views
The real problem... Jacob - 08/10/2009 08:40:50 PM 998 Views
That's a good point too. Rebekah - 08/10/2009 08:45:30 PM 949 Views
Well, we could always discuss Nabokov in December. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:18:57 PM 913 Views
Done! Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:30 PM 924 Views
Hmm...I'm still thinking about the name Tom - 09/10/2009 03:57:48 PM 1039 Views
I'd be up for reading Doctor Zhivago. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:08:09 PM 938 Views
yeah, me too. only need to find it in a library near me. *NM* jh - 08/10/2009 10:09:32 PM 389 Views
Don't be cheap. Buy it. Tom - 08/10/2009 11:16:18 PM 946 Views
Well, I would, but I don't like online bookstores. jh - 09/10/2009 01:19:19 AM 987 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 946 Views
Oh, but... jh - 09/10/2009 11:01:01 AM 904 Views
Also: I did not say any such thing. *NM* jh - 10/10/2009 12:49:06 PM 392 Views
The Gone-Away World, obviously Camilla - 08/10/2009 09:23:12 PM 883 Views
Obviously. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:00:47 PM 906 Views
I second these statements *NM* Stephen - 13/10/2009 09:37:28 PM 417 Views
This one *NM* ironclad - 19/10/2009 10:44:37 PM 397 Views
AS Byatt - Possession. Legolas - 08/10/2009 10:21:39 PM 943 Views
It is a book of wonder. Possibly not good for the masses. *NM* Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:01:13 PM 494 Views
Perfect timing! Or, perhaps in December. Comet Sedai - 09/10/2009 09:35:00 PM 1072 Views
i loved that book!!! she is amazing. just wonderful writing... *NM* temeraire - 13/10/2009 08:44:59 PM 375 Views
How about a classic novel? Haggard - 08/10/2009 11:30:31 PM 1157 Views
You have a very strange definition of classics... *NM* jh - 09/10/2009 01:20:37 AM 416 Views
Replace "strange" with "erroneous" and I'll agree with you. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:09:27 AM 916 Views
Really? Haggard - 09/10/2009 03:08:53 AM 1387 Views
for classic science fiction, your list contained one I could support... jh - 09/10/2009 11:06:34 AM 943 Views
I'd be up for those. *NM* Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:34:19 PM 583 Views
You said "classic novel". Science fiction doesn't generally meet that standard. Tom - 09/10/2009 02:52:01 PM 1001 Views
I understand your point. However... Haggard - 09/10/2009 05:47:54 PM 1357 Views
This isn't really a SF/F Board Tom - 09/10/2009 09:35:06 PM 922 Views
I like your list. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:02:09 PM 904 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 400 Views
Why? Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:32:05 PM 858 Views
And what book would that be??? Tom - 09/10/2009 03:47:49 PM 942 Views
Foucault's Pendulum seems like the obvious one. Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:58:37 PM 1000 Views
Having both FP and NotR recently... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 04:31:00 PM 858 Views
No way. Tom - 09/10/2009 04:56:39 PM 1055 Views
Oh well. I'll have to blame my faulty memory then. Legolas - 09/10/2009 10:11:55 PM 838 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 1224 Views
That Hitchhiker book is as genuine as the "new" Winnie-the-Pooh book Tom - 09/10/2009 02:54:23 PM 964 Views
Perhaps, but it's worth remembering that... RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 03:45:53 PM 872 Views
Adams killed Arthur Dent for a reason Tom - 09/10/2009 05:02:23 PM 985 Views
The movie was not faithful to the books in any meaningful way. *NM* RandAllThor - 09/10/2009 08:58:01 PM 383 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 397 Views
Right. RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:37:08 AM 889 Views
One little thing Larry - 10/10/2009 02:39:01 AM 966 Views
Are you sure? RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 02:43:01 AM 917 Views
Yes Larry - 10/10/2009 04:02:40 AM 1147 Views
I stand corrected. Looking forward to your review! RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 01:00:38 PM 846 Views
Perhaps Larry - 09/10/2009 06:08:17 PM 996 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 882 Views
Pretty much (plus I have to finish reading the second half) Larry - 10/10/2009 05:34:38 AM 883 Views
A contrasting take on the first half of the book RandAllThor - 10/10/2009 04:10:18 PM 841 Views
Pretty sure Eugammon beat you to that sequel. Ghavrel - 19/10/2009 09:31:05 PM 1075 Views
Yes! Camilla - 19/10/2009 09:20:09 AM 772 Views
Rothfuss is a good idea, actually. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 02:59:53 PM 850 Views
There are a few, if I recall Larry - 09/10/2009 06:09:54 PM 834 Views
A question for you all. Rebekah - 09/10/2009 03:04:17 PM 908 Views
Sounds good to me. *NM* Legolas - 09/10/2009 03:29:54 PM 356 Views
I agree , or ... Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:36:03 PM 875 Views
That could work if people were interested enough. Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:40:16 PM 878 Views
That would be cool with me. *NM* Bryce - 10/10/2009 10:32:15 AM 378 Views
Sounds interesting. *NM* BlackAdder - 13/10/2009 08:51:31 PM 342 Views
I suggest Nolan - 09/10/2009 04:58:27 PM 883 Views
Acacia: The War with the Mein by David Anthony Durham Sir Tybalt - 10/10/2009 02:32:59 PM 855 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 557 Views
I'd say yes. Pretty sure the people here will be Left Behind. *NM* Rebekah - 11/10/2009 12:39:05 PM 481 Views
Some will probably even be actively serving the Antichrist. Tom - 11/10/2009 04:16:45 PM 1081 Views
Prefer not to. Ouranid - 12/10/2009 03:14:30 AM 743 Views
Diary of a Drug Fiend was rather good. *NM* Tom - 12/10/2009 03:57:42 PM 380 Views
A compromise candidate RandAllThor - 14/10/2009 06:40:56 PM 749 Views
Fantastic book! I am always for putting that on any list. *NM* Tom - 14/10/2009 07:03:35 PM 382 Views
Is it bad that I read this as 'submissives wanted' PhotoJim - 14/10/2009 08:04:31 PM 1049 Views
Hyperion *NM* Chas - 15/10/2009 01:56:31 AM 340 Views
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