Yep -- I read the book quite a few years ago after reading Eco's The Name of the Rose. And yes, I loved that book then! I haven't had a chance to reread it these past few years but I may pick it up again.

I'm kind of envious -- the sense of wonder, the sense of discovery, all those things that you're experiencing from reading this book for the first time! I wish I could find another book like it.

After having read Eco's Mouse or Rat? Translation as Negotiation where he discusses some of his books, I got interested in reading Foucault's Pendulum went out and bought a copy. It's now sitting on my TBR shelf and some day I will pick it up and actually read it.

I also have Eco's Baudolino. Dynomytt, maybe that could satisfy your wish of finding another such challenging book. It's not a mystery like Foucault's Pendunum, but there are plenty of interesting references in it.

Actually, I DO have Baudalino and his other book, The Island of the Day Before. Unfortunately, those books didn't measure up to Foucault's Pendulum or The Name of the Rose. His newest book, the one about comic books, looks promising. I've got a copy of it as well but I haven't started it yet.

Dyno, have you read E. Kostova's "The Historian"? It's the sort of tale that leads one to look up more information. Very long, but intriguing. (I had the sense of wonder and discovery when I was reading it). I thought it just as good as "Shadow of the Wind", which I know you liked.

Yep -- I picked up "The Historian" on a whim after reading about it on this website. I couldn't put the darned book down -- I almost took a day off work to finish it. (I didn't end up taking the day off but I SOOOOO wanted to do it)

Anyway, I finished the book in two sittings -- I basically didn't do anything other than read the book until I finished it (Ok, I went to work in between the sittings).

And yes, it was, in my opinion, quite bloody good. ;-) And yes, It was almost as good as "Shadow of the Wind"!

I've lent "The Historian" to a friend who loved "Shadow of the Wind" as well. I warned her not to start it until she had a large amount of time to devote to the book..... ;-)

I'm not sure if it's the thing about looking up more information that got me into those two books. I think it was the story within a story within a story. I guess it may have been the complexity of the intertwined plots. I also loved "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and THAT was quite complex as well. It wasn't as esoteric but it was convoluted and complex.

Deborah - I too am in the middle of it right now. It's slow going for me too, as well as the fact that I have little time to devote to reading at the moment, but I am finding it interesting. I feel like after I finish it, if I come back and re-read it in 6 months or so I'll get a lot more out of it. I think I can only soak in so much at a time.

I could not put down "The Historian", either, and read almost all night long. It sent me scurrying to encyclopedias to learn more, just the sort of book I like. I must look into "Foucault's Pendulum"....

I have been interested in reading "The Historian" but when I saw the sheer size of it in the library stacks, I got too intimidated and put it down. Is it worth the length? Is the story that good?

Lemonhead --

The story is, in my opinion, quite worth it. But, be warned, it's a story within a story and the transitions between the two may not be as clear cut as one may want. Still, I found it riveting. So, you've been warned. ;-)

Rambo --

Yes, Foucault's Pendulum isn't exactly a quick read OR a shallow read. Re-reading it once or twice WILL help fill in gaps and clear up questions. (I think I read it two or three times ....)

Lemonhead, I'll second (or third, or fourth) the recommendation for The Historian, it's wonderful. I was pulled in by both the construction of the story within a story within a story and by all the libraries that are visited by the characters. It is long, but IMO it's definitely worth the time.

Eco's picture is in the Book of Cliches under "Beating a Dead Horse." If he can make a point in a dozen ways he does it in a hundred ways. Which is why I don't think Foucault's Pendulum should be read too closely. He is mocking those who write dense and obscure nonsense by writing densely and obscurely. I'm very fond of conspiracy theories so I found the book to be a hoot. But after a while it grows wearisome. Read it for the framing story rather than the details. JMHO.

Chris,

I'm not reading it for deeper meaning, what I meant by looking things up is; when an author mentions a topic I don't know anything about I like to expand my knowledge by getting more information. I agree that Eco is probably being sarcastic and poking fun of a variety of things, that's also why I look things up so I can enjoy his jokes. I liked the discussion of their "university for useless information". Anyway, I like his books and his stories.

Oh, I like his books also (except for the Island of the Day Before) even the one about comic books (I'd call it more a nostalgia for the ephemeral stories of childhood.) It is just that as someone who takes joy in finding books which call for other reference books to be read side by side, I think Foucault's Pendulum can be overwhelming and it doesn't need to be.

I'm finally almost finished. It's been a busy month so reading has taken a back seat.......it occurs to me that this book is really a satire on the conspiracy books. I find that I am finding parts of it actually humorous. Anyone else agree?

I remember reading Foucault's Pendulum some years ago and absolutely loving it. The thing that really amused me about the whole production was that it went into incredible (and totally irrelavent) detail to finally make a very simple, and obvious point. (For the idiots that thought the "Da Vinci Code" was a great expose - Umberto Eco was there taking the mickey before that stupid book was even written.)

Very funny book - in an odd way. But here at RP it was absolutely SLATED. Now it isn't. I'm glad about that.

It is (deliberately) heavy-going, but worth it in the end. A book that makes a point - allbeit an unusual one.

Wow, FP was the first book by Eco that I read and I instantly fell in love. At a downside, it is my favorite Eco book so the others have fallen just a bit short for me - just a bit, but still like them. They're just not Foucault's Pendulum. I wonder how it feels to be Humberto Eco and to have that kind of talent?

dom-

Have you read The Name of The Rose? I think that is Eco's best work and I think the critics agree.

Deborah, yes I did years ago. When I read a book that I like I tend to read all his/her books immediately, which is bad because sometimes you are stuck in the book you first read. I think that's what happened with Foucault's Pendulum. Maybe I'll give Name of the Rose another chance since it's been so long.