Umberto Eco

[Monica]

Eco is great. He's my hero. His writing initiates you into thousand of secrets and the eclectisism of his personality possesses you... what do you think of him? Has anyone read "Lector in fabula"?

[subterranean]

Hi Monica, wow i missed this thread.

I just bought Eco's travel in hyperrialism..i haven't read it yet..it still waiting in lines after dubliners and oddysey. Another book i read was 5 pieces of moralities..i dont know if you familiar with it :)

[Monica]

i've read 5 moral pieces. eco is always pretty very much concerned with politics and morality and he shows it there. actually just a few days ago i borrowed travels in hyperreality from the library but haven't started reading it yet. if you have ever any desire :) to read sth by eco i recommend six walks in the fictional woods and essays on literaure.

[subterranean]

Yes i noticed that. And thanks for letting me know other Non-fictio works of his. Unfortunetly, bit hard to get them in my place..well they printed the name of the roses and foucaults pendulum in great numbers..but thats all!

[Stewart]

I've read all of Eco's novels and he's put me off writing ever again - he's raised my personal expectations of myself to greater levels which I know I'll never be able to emulate...or come even close.

But anyway...

I've also read Travels in Hyperreality and How to travel with a salmon. I bought Kant and the Platypus recently and I'm looking forward to reading that. The local bookshop has On Literature and Mouse or Rat? which both look tempting - I'll probably pick them up too. :D

The shop also has an updated edition of his university thesis on Aquinas from the 50s - tempting, too.

My favourite of his novels was Foucault's Pendulum although my favourite moment is probably the discussion on the various levels of life in nature (all stones inclusive) in The Island of the Day Before.

[Monica]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Take for example the very beginning of 'Foucault's Pendulum'. It's so brilliant that you're actually afraid to write anything yourself. Umberto Eco is a magician... Now I'm waiting impatiently for his new novel. English translation will appear June 3rd. I wish I knew Italian :)

[Stewart]

Now I'm waiting impatiently for his new novel. English translation will appear June 3rd. I wish I knew Italian :)

It will be interesting to see if this one is historical. From what I've read thus far it is an illustrated book about a guy coming to terms with amnesia. The history, I'm guessing, may just look at the 20th Century - maybe Eco's 'pop culture' novel to accompany his 'pop culture' essays.

[baddad]

Foucault's Pendulum is the only Eco I have read, and it was in English. I borrowed it from one of my professors last year and read it in 10 days, but found myself having to go back and reread previous pages each time i picked it back up. Good stuff!! Yowwwwzzzzzeeeerrrrr!!! Eco can Write!!

[Snukes]

Eco is one of my all time favorites too. Foucault's Pendulum is my current favorite (although I'm missing enough of his works to make that only a tentative claim - Name of the Rose, Island of the Day Before, and Baudolino are the others I've read).

And I agree. He is wonderful at bringing history (and yes, the politics and morals of history) alive. The ending of Foucault's Pendulum amazed me for weeks. It still amazes me. The man is brilliant.

In fact, after finishing that one, I launched on a quest to discover more about the physics behind the concept, which eventually led into a mad chace for information on the theory of relativity as well... ye gads. Relativity at the dinner table is bad news!!