Not just another mystery thriller book (Foucault's Pendulum - Umberto Eco)

Member Name: pilosopa

Product:	Foucault's Pendulum - Umberto Eco
Date:	29/07/04 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Rich metaphor, humorous, insightful, philosophical

Disadvantages: some untranslated Latin

?The Name of the Rose? is a story of an ingenious Franciscan monk named William of Baskerville and an innocent Benedictine novice called Adso of Melk. These persons are supposed to be investigating a suspected heresy in an isolated but rich abbey of the Medieval Period. Nevertheless, at the end, they turn to be detectives of a series of crime in the abbey when the abbot of the abbey asked William?s support to handle the case. Through the use of ?reason?, with the help of the ideas of Roger bacon and the logic of Aristotle, they solve the mystery of a series of murders patterned after verses in the Apocalypse.

The author is surely cunning in having thought of using the ?Apocalypse?, as the pattern for the series of crimes in the story. It is very climatic, enabling the reader to be fully hooked to the story?s events. It uses rich metaphor with humor that makes the reader more fascinated with the novel. It has surprising scenes and unexpected twists that make the story more exciting. Truly, the story is as rich as the labyrinth library, that abbey is being proud of.

Indeed, ?The Name of the Rose? is more than just a suspense or mystery or fiction book. It is more philosophical, having used the works and ideas of Roger Bacon and Aristotle as part of the story. It?s actually a story about reason, searching for truth, through the dictates of reason. William of Baskerville claims that God has given us the opportunity to see the lights of truth because he has scattered its fragments around us through ?signs? or ?ideas? enlightened by ?reason?. It also talks about the dangers of looking for truth and death in concealing it. It speaks a lot about different kinds of lusts- lust of the flesh, lust for death, and lust for knowledge. The book is also very informative, having used important historical facts in the story. It reveals a great deal about the Church, its power, the heresies, power, piety and love. Truly, one cannot suppress his cry of wonder o
nce he finished this book.

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