Foucault's Pendulum
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List Price: $15.95 $10.85 $ 5.10 ( 32% ) Mariner Books Umberto Eco
Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 853.914EAN: 9780156032971ISBN: 015603297XLabel: Mariner BooksManufacturer: Mariner BooksNumber Of Items: 1Number Of Pages: 640Publication Date: 2007-03-05Publisher: Mariner BooksStudio: Mariner Books
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Editorial Reviews: Bored with their work, three Milanese editors cook up "the Plan," a hoax that connects the medieval Knights Templar with other occult groups from ancient to modern times. This produces a map indicating the geographical point from which all the powers of the earth can be controlled—a point located in Paris, France, at Foucault’s Pendulum. But in a fateful turn the joke becomes all too real, and when occult groups, including Satanists, get wind of the Plan, they go so far as to kill one of the editors in their quest to gain control of the earth.
Orchestrating these and other diverse characters into his multilayered semiotic adventure, Eco has created a superb cerebral entertainment.
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Waste of TimeComment: This has to be the worst book I have ever read. One of the other reviewers talked about the necessity of having a dictionary at hand - that is an understatement. The book is written at an intellectual and vocabulary level well beyond that of most college graduates - including those holding advanced degrees. The amount of arcane information is incredible and the reader (at least this reader) spends an inordinate amount of time attempting to comprehend what is written. As far as comprehending the "plethora of insights contained in the book", I found the text so laborious that whatever insights were intended were completely lost on me. I had read reviews for this book prior to buying it that praised the revelations, insights, humor, creativity, etc. of the author and his writing style. After plowing through the book - no small task, it is very difficult reading - I have to say whatever the publisher meant by "packed with meaning" is completely lost on me. The story is not all that riveting, although the suspense does build throughout if one is dilligent enough to filter out the academic garbage. The ending is not surprising and is somewhat disapponting. Overall, upon completing the book, I found myself thinking that Mr. Eco is very impressed with himself and his academic mind and outdid himself in this attempt to show the world his vast command of language, semiotics and arcane data. I can only imagine that a student of semiotics or perhaps a select and quite small audience of highly educated literary scholars would find this book at all rewarding or enjoyable.
Customer Rating: Summary: Suggested Pairing - Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of CrowdsComment: This book is a miracle; I loved it. Most of my thoughts about it are stated in other reviews - you can see how many different meanings readers have taken from it; I believe that this is intentional based on author's comments.
Customer Rating: Summary: Loved it! (The second time around.)Comment: I have to say that I had to read this book twice to really appreciate the story. I have trudged through a great deal of literature in my time (it's my undergrad), and "Pendulum"--the first time, was among the most dense. However, I wanted to give it a second go (for no other reason than I wanted to) and I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved it.
Customer Rating: Summary: Read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" FirstComment: If I had not read the above first, I think F's P would have harder to follow. This reads a lot like a novelized version of the Baigent/Leigh/Lincoln book. I wish the novel had started with the visit by Col Ardenti and stuck to that story line. But, Eco is a professor and is probably using this as a forum for his philosophies. He is also writing for a more intellectual audience. I think the hype was a little overblown, though. I would recommend it if you don't mind not being able to finish it in one read. It's a book that makes you think so you read a few chapters, put it down, then start again.Customer Rating: Summary: I can add little to the other wonderful reviewsComment: Okay, this WAS a hard book to read. So much going on and so many references to cults and phenomina. Reading this book is more of an education than an entertainment. But what fun! Eco is a true literary genius, in the same class as his italian brethren of musical fame.
