Skip to Main Content

The Navi-Gator: a Gator's Guide to Library Resources

Recommended Fiction: The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

by Pamela Tarajcak on 2022-12-16T08:34:49-05:00 | 0 Comments

“Having reached the end of my poor sinner’s life, my hair now white, I grow old as the world does, waiting to be lost in the bottomless pit of silent and deserted divinity, sharing in the light of angelic intelligences; confined now with my heavy, ailing body in this cell in the dear monastery of Melk, I prepare to leave on this parchment my testimony as to the wonderous and terrible events that I happened to observe in my youth, now repeating all that I saw and heard, without venturing to seek a design, as if to leave to those who will come after (if the Antichrist has not come first) signs of signs, so that the prayer of deciphering may be exercised on them.” (1) 

Cover ArtThe Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco; William Weaver (Translator)
Call Number: FIC ECON (Steubenville)
ISBN: 0156001314
Publication Date: 1994-09-28

Name of the Rose is a heavy book. There is no doubt about it, and it most certainly won’t be for everyone.  The book seems like it has the most absurd anachronistic plot.  In the Thirteenth Century, Franciscan Friar William of Baskerville (a very thin allusion to Sherlock Holmes) takes his young apprentice Adso of Melk to a conference held in a Benedictine Monastery in the Italian Alps.  This conference is to debate the Poverty of Christ. When Brothers William and Adso arrive, the Abbot has something odd for them.  Apparently, several of the monks of his abbey have mysteriously turned up dead.  He knows that William, previously part of the Inquisition, is an expert investigator and uses the most logical of means to solve questions.  The Abbot trusts William, and asks him to figure out what happened to these monks.  What William discovers is that these monks were all connected to the Scriptorium in some way. The Scriptorium was the place where monks transcribed and illuminated books and manuscripts.  His investigation begins to hone in there.  Meanwhile, Adso, being very young, gets exposed to some of the harshness and strangeness of the world.   

Again, this book is not for everyone, but for a lack of a really perfect January read to recommend, I kind of cornered myself into this one.  It’s dense. With lots of nods to medieval and classical philosophy and Latin dialog. it may be a slog for many readers.  Eco was an academic, so most of this book is very academic in tone.  The reason I recommend this is because  it is perfect for the frigidness of January.  Reading the events that happen in that monastery feels really cold.  You feel like you want to be under a blanket for the whole day while you read this book.  The book is also considered a modern classic; so it is a very good way to get one introduced to classic reading.  For all of the denseness, the book is enjoyable (if you can slog through some of the more academic stuff) because William is an engrossing character.  So his brilliance makes the mystery interesting. 

Again, Name of the Rose isn’t for everyone.  But if you can slog through it, it’s a worthy read perfect for a cold January (and it will take you probably the month to get through it the first time).  Well, besides the beginning of the semester, and the rest of your life stuff, what else do you have to do in January? 


 Add a Comment

0 Comments.

  Recent Posts



Recommended Fiction: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
In Recommended Fiction, I tout the physical books that are in our collections. March, being Women's History Month, brings a heavy book with still very of-the-moment tragic topic dealing with how women are treated. This whole book is a trigger warning!
Recommended Fiction: God's Country by Percival Everett
In Recommended Fiction, I review books in our physical collections. As February is Black History Month, I bring an early book by a now, highly honored black author which situates a black character in a highly original setting.
Recommended Fiction: 11/22/63 by Stephen King
In this series, I promote fiction that reside in the physical collections in the library. In January, we often think about fresh starts, changing our lives, and time. With that, here is a time travel novel that makes us question the nature of change.
Recommended fiction: Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan
In this series, I recommend fiction books that physically reside at both campuses. December brings an offering from the Steubenville campus which not only is a quick read, but also brings the family feel, both great for the busy holiday season.
Recommended Fiction: The Big Door Prize by M.O. Walsh
In Recommended Fiction I tout the physical books that reside in either of our campus library collections. November brings a read from the Youngstown collection focusing on a sweet small town thrown into chaos.

  Subscribe



Enter your e-mail address to receive notifications of new posts by e-mail.


  Archive



  Return to Blog
This post is closed for further discussion.

title
Loading...