Foucault's Pendulum

[tomwaits]

It's pretty funny that 14 years after this book was released and became popular, The Da Vinci Code suddenly took the world by storm and everyone was talking about how Jesus had married Mary Magdalene and went to France, etc. This book is about many of the same topics, although not in the same way.

This book isn't about how these conspiracies are true, instead they are about people who insist that it's true despite all contrary evidence. This book is a fantastic read with a great theme (the search for the BIG SECRET to life and history). The occult references are endless, but the confusion is part of the appeal.

<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thejamesrandi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=015603297X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&lc1=890505&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr&nou=1" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>

[delphi_ote]

A book where mischievous scholars join forces to write the ultimate conspiracy theory written by a master of literary references. What more could you ask for?

I highly recommend The Island of the Day Before, Baudolino, and The Name of the Rose as well. Umberto Eco always makes me smile.

[Stir]

I too am a great fan of Umberto Eco, and have read all of his novels ... but I put Foucaults Pendulum at the bottom (Name of the Rose remains my favorite). I felt cheated by the ending. It felt a bit like the 'suddenly, everyone was run over by a truck' method of ending a story ... too abrupt and not in keeping with the feel of the rest of the book.

[tomwaits]

I too am a great fan of Umberto Eco, and have read all of his novels ... but I put Foucaults Pendulum at the bottom (Name of the Rose remains my favorite). I felt cheated by the ending. It felt a bit like the 'suddenly, everyone was run over by a truck' method of ending a story ... too abrupt and not in keeping with the feel of the rest of the book.

You sure? I'd say it fits in pretty well. There was no BIG SECRET, just a perceived one (which of course we knew the entire time). The ending just reinforces that...the silliness of it all gone totally amuck.

I've read Name of the Rose and I enjoyed it. I'm also currently reading Baudolino which I like so far.

[JMA]

I also think it's an amazing book.

The Da Vinci Code is just pure crap compare to it.

[tomwaits]

I also think it's an amazing book.

The Da Vinci Code is just pure crap compare to it.

No kidding! My family kept insisting I read Da Vinci Code, so I did and realized it was a Michael Bay script filled with really bad pseudo-history. Imagine how happy I was to realize Eco had written a book making fun of these people over 10 years before!

[bourgeois_rage]

Read it and had a great time looking up many of the more obscure references.

[Arthur Denton]

I have had a hard time reading it at first. I think the first few chapters are hard to follow if you don't know about the Sephiroth and 14 years ago, without the help of Wikipedia, I wouldn't follow it to the end. But I did, and it is a most rewarding book. Yay for Pendulum, all the way down with the Da Vinci's Code (laaaame!)

[Childlike Empress]

A book where mischievous scholars join forces to write the ultimate conspiracy theory written by a master of literary references. What more could you ask for?

Well, i would like to read the book that came out of that effort. The book inspired by strange CT letters written to the authors, those mischievous rascals managing to write the ultimate conspiracy theory ... but wait, it was already published 13 years before Foucault's Pendulum ... Illuminatus!

Eco's book is very enjoyable but it was written for european pseudo-intellectuals while Illuminatus! was written for universal pseudo-kooks, and quite honestly, i prefere the latter. ;)

[Fitter]

I have had a hard time reading it at first. I think the first few chapters are hard to follow if you don't know about the Sephiroth and 14 years ago, without the help of Wikipedia, I wouldn't follow it to the end. But I did, and it is a most rewarding book. Yay for Pendulum, all the way down with the Da Vinci's Code (laaaame!)
I once heard a radio interview with Eco where he stated he makes the beginning of his novels difficult because he believes the reader must make an effort as well as the author.

[Drudgewire]

I loved it, but holy cow getting through the first hundred pages was brutal. http://www.lethalwrestling.com/upload/sweatdrop.gif

[Diamond]

I read the Da Vinci Code to find out what all the fuss was about. It was the most contrived, formulaic pulp thriller I'd ever read. What a piece of crap.