The Name of the Rose

A wonderful, distinctive tale. Although it has the deep research of a historical novel, it's really a detective story.

Must be ready for deep literary devices though: page-long descriptions and passages in actual Latin.

It's a murder mystery set in a 14th century Italian monastery. It's Eco's thesis on symbols and faith. It drags at times, but the whole picture is such a well constructed story that gives you a great basis to appreciate Eco's later works (which are sometimes a response to this book's success).

Big surprise, I loved this book. It was an entertaining yarn with humor and poignancy, insight and farce, accessible mystery and esoteric theology!

It is interesting that I read it now instead of years ago when I bought it. In that time between purchase and reading, I have read other works that prepared me for this!

Some books truly are better further along in one's reading career