nastya ’s Reviews > Foucault’s Pendulum > Status Update

I am yenpted ro say, that you are not missing anything, that what you have noticed is precisely the point. But that would be a spoiler.

Sadly, I think this book has only become more prescient and realistic as time has gone on, probably thanks to the internet which has made all this stuff easier.

I was tempted to say, but then the templars intervened.

be careful, meet me in the museum!
I was always so confused that it was ok to make fun of scientology, mormonism, qanon, but then you are supposed to respect people’s beliefs in other stuff just because it was created what 2000 years ago? it only makes it more primitive in my eyes. i always thought “if only people started thinking and questioning” but then you see what we get, there’s so much anti science these days when science is at the most attainable levels in history. so education and information is not the answer. as the quote used in this book says:
The conspiracy theory of society . . . comes from abandoning God and then asking: “Who is in his place?”
I don’t think god will fix anything at this point, and what are our options?

but this book is too long

nastya wrote: "be careful, meet me in the museum!
I was always so confused that it was ok to make fun of scientology, mormonism, qanon, but then you are supposed to respect people’s beliefs in other stuff just be..."

I think it comes from the 80s, the time when everything was big, big hair, big shoulder pads, big cash advances to writers, big novels. Something less than 400 pages was almost transgressive then!

I was recently looking for a sitcom to watch in the evenings and started the first episode of Frasier. And guess what - this book was one of the five on his bookshelf, and the only work of fiction! I don't usually think of Eco's books as old, but they certainly are!

nastya wrote: "I was recently looking for a sitcom to watch in the evenings and started the first episode of Frasier. And guess what - this book was one of the five on his bookshelf, and the only work of fiction!..."

I remember when it was fresh and new (just about), I like it a lot, but it is a tricky and awkward text, I think precisely because of your quote. Its not si.ply about the end of God and it's replacement, it is the variety of responses to that. Longing, incredulity, wish to take advantage, rage...it takes a while to get it all across.
A nice piece of set dressing for Fraiser though, I dont imagine him reading it ( or any fiction) but displaying it, yes certainly!

Also-- contrarianism? I stopped watching around episode 6, but I think this book disappeared by episode 2 already. Guess some writer was on set and just thought it would add to his perceived sophistication, since this is a translated work! I don't think americans tend to read those much

p.s. I also blame the popularity of x-files!

also I do think it might be partially my fault. For example I recently read this:
“Surely you don’t expect the Jesuits to work in a straightforward way. What sort of Jesuits would they be then?”

and felt in my gut that this is a hilarious quip if only I knew who the hell are Jesuits. So people should ignore my review

nastya wrote: "also I do think it might be partially my fault. For example I recently read this:
“Surely you don’t expect the Jesuits to work in a straightforward way. What sort of Jesuits would they be then?”

a..."
Jesus! You don't know who the Jesuits are? (A) they are god's stormtroopers (b) don't read the Magic Mountain until you are secure in knowing about jesuits and (c) i thought you had the counter reformation in Ukraine, the jesuits were all over that.

They were a catholic religious order founded by a basque soldier and hid friends, they were the roughest toughest intellectual vanguard of the church militant in fighting Protestantism, backsiding and low standards. They tried to convert the japanese and the chinese, they learnt the languages, studied the cultures and eventally got kicked out. They were active in the Americas and fought a war against more or less everybody to try and preserve their own theocratic state in the region of modern paraguay for decades. They were banned and supressed for a while before being forgiven. They are an archetype of an organised conspiracy aiming for power (at least among non-catholics), the spiritual dimension is just catnip to conspiracy fans

sorry, I feel so ashamed! I guess I learned enough to pass my history in school, vaguely remember there was something about battle of the churches and the birth ukrainian greek catholic church (it was all ages ago, in my defense!!!), and swiftly unloaded all that knowledge even if I had it! And I had no contact with any organized religion my whole life and had no interest in it until recently! I bought that book on christianity and even bible by norton critical editions, I am trying, don't judge me!

I agree with you

Mizuki wrote: "I agree with you"

phew! I was a little surprised that we got a mention protocols of the elders only at 70%. I had an impression that every conspiracy theory shows its antisemitism very quickly. And I know that Prague cemetery exists.

nastya wrote: "sorry, I feel so ashamed! I guess I learned enough to pass my history in school, vaguely remember there was something about battle of the churches and the birth ukrainian greek catholic church (it ..."

No, good for you to have escaped, but you are right to suspect that not having that cultural background means you come at the book with a disadvantage.

same as with his dark materials? and in my east of eden review I was told my issue with that one was that I am not american and I don’t get its americanness. what’s left for me then? what’s even the point of reading fiction? and how the hell is eco an international bestselling author?!

nastya wrote: "same as with his dark materials? and in my east of eden review I was told my issue with that one was that I am not american and I don’t get its americanness. what’s left for me then? what’s even th..."

Seriously?

Just get in the boat with all the rest us and try not to sink it.

I remember you enjoying some novels by George Sand that would frighten off many another reader. Ok you didn't understand the Eco joke about the Jesuits, but you recognised that it was a joke. I think i get about 50 - 60% of Eco's references depending on which of his novels I'm reading - but that's natural, i am not umberto Eco. I am not of his generation, or his country, i didn't have his education or his life!