TheBookchemist | Umberto Eco's Novels, Ranked @TheBookchemist | Uploaded March 2022 | Updated October 2024, 6 hours ago.
The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/thebookchemist03221
Umberto Eco's essay "Ur-Fascism:"
pegc.us/archive/Articles/eco_ur-fascism.pdf
[* THE IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE
I describe certain features of Eco's fiction (slow beginnings, rambling endings) as "flaws," but it's important to acknowledge that these things are only flaws according to a very specific and fairly narrow view of what constitutes "good narrative," one that’s steeped in American writing rules born in a commercial and even screenwriterly environment, where every page must create more action and every word must serve a purpose. I don’t want to dismiss these claims altogether (I like my books fast and to-the-point, too), but there is also nothing intrisically wrong with a boring or sprawling ending. Sometimes I might even crave one!]
Eco's seven novels, here listed in chronological order, with a link to my individual review (if I filmed one), and links to buy them on Blackwell's or IndieBound, awesome independent booksellers. (I am an affiliate of both websites):
The Name of the Rose
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=9JHbd34D3zM&t
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Name-of-the-Rose-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099466031/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780544176560?aff=TheBookchemist
Foucault's Pendulum
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=LhFP9_B0ptk
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Foucaults-Pendulum-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099287155/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156032971?aff=TheBookchemist
The Island of the Day Before
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=7gY6x9aZPNg
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Island-of-the-Day-Before-by-Eco-Umberto/9781559273602/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156030373?aff=TheBookchemist
Baudolino
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=7gY6x9aZPNg
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Baudolino-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099422396/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156029063?aff=TheBookchemist
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Mysterious-Flame-of-Queen-Loana-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099481379/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156030434?aff=TheBookchemist
The Prague Cemetery
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=yMZcLVxgPaQ&t [I reviewed this book on Deutsche Welle Books' YouTube channel. The video seems to be private now - in fact I'm not sure I can find the channel at all - but my hope is that they're simply moving their content, and that the video will be back at one point!]
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Prague-Cemetery-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099555971/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780547844206?aff=TheBookchemist
Numero Zero
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=PkUwwPUyQjg&t (ancient review alert!)
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Numero-Zero-by-Umberto-Eco-author-Richard-Dixon-translator/9781784701826/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780544811836?aff=TheBookchemist
If you enjoy my reviews, please consider supporting the channel on Patreon:
patreon.com/TheBookchemist
One-off donations are also always welcome:
paypal.me/Bookchemist
Follow me on GoodReads!
goodreads.com/author/show/15078502.Mattia_Ravasi
Follow me on Twitter!
twitter.com/The_Bookchemist
This video is sponsored by Skillshare!
The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/thebookchemist03221
Umberto Eco's essay "Ur-Fascism:"
pegc.us/archive/Articles/eco_ur-fascism.pdf
[* THE IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE
I describe certain features of Eco's fiction (slow beginnings, rambling endings) as "flaws," but it's important to acknowledge that these things are only flaws according to a very specific and fairly narrow view of what constitutes "good narrative," one that’s steeped in American writing rules born in a commercial and even screenwriterly environment, where every page must create more action and every word must serve a purpose. I don’t want to dismiss these claims altogether (I like my books fast and to-the-point, too), but there is also nothing intrisically wrong with a boring or sprawling ending. Sometimes I might even crave one!]
Eco's seven novels, here listed in chronological order, with a link to my individual review (if I filmed one), and links to buy them on Blackwell's or IndieBound, awesome independent booksellers. (I am an affiliate of both websites):
The Name of the Rose
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=9JHbd34D3zM&t
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Name-of-the-Rose-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099466031/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780544176560?aff=TheBookchemist
Foucault's Pendulum
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=LhFP9_B0ptk
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Foucaults-Pendulum-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099287155/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156032971?aff=TheBookchemist
The Island of the Day Before
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=7gY6x9aZPNg
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Island-of-the-Day-Before-by-Eco-Umberto/9781559273602/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156030373?aff=TheBookchemist
Baudolino
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=7gY6x9aZPNg
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Baudolino-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099422396/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156029063?aff=TheBookchemist
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Mysterious-Flame-of-Queen-Loana-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099481379/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780156030434?aff=TheBookchemist
The Prague Cemetery
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=yMZcLVxgPaQ&t [I reviewed this book on Deutsche Welle Books' YouTube channel. The video seems to be private now - in fact I'm not sure I can find the channel at all - but my hope is that they're simply moving their content, and that the video will be back at one point!]
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Prague-Cemetery-by-Umberto-Eco/9780099555971/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780547844206?aff=TheBookchemist
Numero Zero
Review: youtube.com/watch?v=PkUwwPUyQjg&t (ancient review alert!)
BW: blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Numero-Zero-by-Umberto-Eco-author-Richard-Dixon-translator/9781784701826/?a_aid=TheBookchemist
IB: indiebound.org/book/9780544811836?aff=TheBookchemist
If you enjoy my reviews, please consider supporting the channel on Patreon:
patreon.com/TheBookchemist
One-off donations are also always welcome:
paypal.me/Bookchemist
Follow me on GoodReads!
goodreads.com/author/show/15078502.Mattia_Ravasi
Follow me on Twitter!
twitter.com/The_Bookchemist
This video is sponsored by Skillshare!
