Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

15 reviews

catapocalypse's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

 My feelings are very mixed about the book. As someone who enjoys a thick tome now and then, unfortunately I felt this one needed condensing. Some things were repetitive, including the few times things like the argument about poverty, the history of certain heretical groups (particularly those related to Fra Dolcino's movement), the argument about laughter, etc. came up. There were extended passages such as the dream/vision scenes that felt as if they were drawn out purely to flex Eco's knowledge of history, theology, and semiotics.

The mystery plot disappointed me on the whole. At the beginning, the narrator's mentor, William, performed a Sherlock Holmes-level deduction about an escaped horse. It set my hopes high, but William didn't operate at that level again in the nearly 600 pages that followed.

That said, I didn't hate the book, either. I appreciated the history and there were some compelling passages about books and knowledge I actually loved. I don't regret reading it, but I don't see myself picking it up again. I'd be willing to try more from Eco, but I'm going to need some time, first. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Homophobia, Blood, and Suicide

Minor: Animal death

seanml's review

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A very well-written story, centered on a mysterious death at a Catholic abbey in the 1320s, and the two monks that set to uncover the truth. Despite its length, I thought this book was very well written (Or perhaps, translated since it was originally published in Italian) and goes by quickly. However, if one half of this book is mystery, the other half (And I’m not exaggerating: 50% of the narrative at least) is all theological discussion in the setting of medieval Italy. If that doesn’t sound very interesting to you, brace yourself. And even if that does sound interesting, brace yourself even further because with medieval Abrahamic religion comes intense, indoctrinated misogyny. Is it culturally and historically, accurate? Perhaps. Does the author actually believe in the evil of women? Luckily, no. Nevertheless you’ll encounter multiple sections where monks preach the evils of womanhood, all while the abbey is beset by lies and murder. But as our main characters trudge on, they must ask: Where is the goodness of their God? Where is the justice in His cosmic plan? The answer becomes less and less confident. Equal parts mystery, equal parts Catholic history, equal parts theological skepticism, I thought this was a captivating story. 8/10.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Homophobia, Murder, Death, Outing, Religious bigotry, and Suicide

Minor: Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, Sexual content, Animal death, Antisemitism, Dementia, Incest, Confinement, Islamophobia, Rape, Vomit, Alcohol, and Sexual assault

atamano's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, and Suicide

sherbertwells's review

adventurous challenging informative mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

As the apocalypse looms, two monks investigate the lethal secrets of a wealthy abbey. One of those books which is more smart than enjoyable, but mystery fans will love the labyrinthine plot and fellow nerds will admire the semiotic shenanigans.

“It is a hard thing for this old monk, on the threshold of death, not to know whether the letter he has written contains some hidden meaning, or more than one, or many, or none at all” (610)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Suicide, Gore, Blood, and Misogyny

Minor: Animal death, Torture, Islamophobia, and Drug use

benasbooks's review

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Antisemitism, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Suicide

Minor: Confinement, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Torture