Reading the Chunksters discussion
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The Name of the Rose
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Week 1 - The Name of the Rose
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I read this about a million years ago and have apparently forgotten everything about it. So I was surprised to find it in 1st person but that makes total sense. I also forgot that it's structured a lava discovered manuscript based on actual events. I love the layering of information. The history, church history, biology, scientific practice of the times, etc. plus now the personalities of the monks. It has me hooked all over again.
William of Baskerville reminds me of Sherlock Holmes.
Renee wrote: "William of Baskerville reminds me of Sherlock Holmes."Yes, a tongue-in-cheek tip of the hat to Sherlock Holmes & The Hound of the Baskervilles... and the characters seem more than accidentally similar.
Renee wrote: "William of Baskerville reminds me of Sherlock Holmes."Based on his physical description of William he not only reasons like Sherlock Holmes he also looks a fair bit like him.
In the commentary by the author which was in my version he says that William of Baskerville was an allusion to both Sherlock Holmes and William of Ockham (of 'Ockham's Razor' fame). He's a man who relies on logic and analytical thinking rather than 'superstition'.
I'd forgotten about all the Holmes illusions, but I remember being struck by that as well, particularly since I'd just read a bunch of his stories not long before this one. It was quite amusing in places :)
Both SH and William enjoy putting people on notice from the moment they meet them. It's interesting that the novel is presented as a story within a story, and that the story being told is narrated by an observer (William's young novice) who has is now old and telling it essentially as flashback. Just getting to the story involves a series of layers!
I have also recently re-read some of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Unfortunately I discovered that I was no longer impressed by the standard opening format of his short stories of Watson spotting a stranger and briefly commentating on him and then Holmes stating "Oh yes, what is a sailor, born in France and living Australia for the last five years doing here today. I would have thought that such a musically inclined man would be taking his old father out to the concert in Hyde Park". And then he would act out how horrified he was that Watson couldn't surmise all of that about the stranger simply by looking at him. Surely Watson couldn't be that unobservant could he? Why, a child of six would be able to intuit as much, how very stupid Watson was to be sure!So when William started doing the same thing and acting in exactly the same way with Adso, I was less than impressed. What a pompous, self important prat, I thought. He is clearly overly impressed with his own intelligence and glories in a very non humble way in his intellectual gifts. That is a sin of pride and I wouldn't be surprised if, in some way, that failing is punished.
Renee wrote: "Both SH and William enjoy putting people on notice from the moment they meet them. It's interesting that the novel is presented as a story within a story, and that the story being told is narrate..."
I was struck by this too, and as the story goes on, so much of it is heresay on one level or another, that the level of unreliable narrator gets out of control at times, making the whole story seem doubtful. But I think that's some of what Ecko was going for, which makes the story more interesting. What is real, what isn't, who do we believe?
I loved the scenes with the eye glasses and the fork. The whole conversation with the glassier was interesting. But the introduction of the fork was priceless. Partly because I was wrapping my mind around meals without forks!I also enjoyed the discussion on laughter. As a reader you could sense that these were times when being on the "wrong" side of a disagreement could cost you your life.
I agree, Alana. There are so many layers and levels that this novel is working on, including the fact that the author is playing with us I some respects. Playing with perception. I have really enjoyed reading a South American author named Jorges Louis Borges, who writes short stories where the reader is constantly questioning perception.
I think I have one of his books on my TBR :)
Borges always gives me something to chew over after ive finished a story. :)
What did everyone think of that description of the doorway followed by the description of Salvatore? I thought it was overly detailed, overly long, then when I reached the description of Salvatore I just laughed. Another description of a creature in the doorway.
Xan Shadowflutter wrote: "What did everyone think of that description of the doorway followed by the description of Salvatore? I thought it was overly detailed, overly long, then when I reached the description of Salvatore I just laughed. Another description of a creature in the doorway..."While I was reading the description of the doorway I couldn't help but think of Rodin's Gates of Hell, which were inspired by the 15th century bronze doors of the Baptistry of St. John, in Florence, called the Gates of Paradise.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gat...
I'm curious about Salvatore. Why are we encouraged to see him as such a repellant creature/monster?
Janice(JG) wrote: "I couldn't help but think of Rodin's Gates of Hell..."I thought the same thing! I've seen a fair amount of disturbing Christian art in my travels but I think that's one of the most famous depictions (I saw the cast in France - I'd love to see the original) - so much so that that is very possibly what Umberto based it on.
Janice(JG) wrote: "I'm curious about Salvatore. Why are we encouraged to see him as such a repellant creature/monster? ..."I initially thought it rather judgemental, going strictly by appearance but during that time period people may have thought that a man's soul shone through in his face.
I just finished the first section. The library sounds amazing but it must be difficult to have such knowledge at your finger tips and not have access.
Yes! The descriptions of that library were one of the things that really stuck with me over the years. I've enjoyed rereading... And revisiting the labyrinthine library.
SECTIONS:
Naturally, A Manuscript
First Day
Pages 1 - pages 105
May 1 - May 11