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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
El péndulo de Foucault para pobres. Con el mismo esquema de editorial atrabiliaria en la que se plantea una teoría de la conspiración que da en el clavo por casualidad y pone a los protagonistas en el punto de mira de fuerzas desconocidas. Lo que en "el péndulo" resultaba novedoso y se desarrollaba de forma interesante, aquí queda en un esbozo apresurado sin profundidad o recorrido, un vehículo para las ocurrencias y reflexiones del autor sin coherencia, estructura o interés.
This was somewhat interesting as a commentary on the news industry, but as any kind of story, it left much to be desired. There is essentially no character development, no real sense of suspense or tension, very little plot, and much of the book consists of long, dry passages of narrative dialogue. I found myself simply pushing through it and then wondering why I did.
I didn't feel very much while reading this book. It was interesting, and the translation was a decent one, but it wasn't anything particularly profound or special. I'll admit that a few of the concepts required that I do some Google research to understand them, but I guess I was expecting more from Umberto Eco. This is the first novel of his that I've read, and before trying Foucault's Pendulum I thought I'd try something lighter of his as an introduction to his work, but that ended up not working out as I hoped it would. The character development is excellent and the ideas touched upon are, as I said, interesting, but I will save my assessment of the author for his more celebrated works.
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve loved the Eco I read in the past, but this fell a little more flat for me. Maybe a difference in the translation quality? Didn’t quite capture me, although it was very thought-provoking by the end.
Essentially a minor-key variation on the themes explored in Foucault's Pendulum. The story, such as it is, is pretty predictable and underwhelming. Most of the pleasures in Numero Zero come from its humor (Simei's cynical advice, Maia's droll suggestions) and the fact that Eco still has a knack for capturing the energy and excitement of people talking through a conspiracy theory.
Muy bien escrito, pero el tema no interesó en lo mínimo y tiene una tendencia a dar datos de más. Me temo que este libro me hace reconsiderar la opinión de que Eco es un excelente autor.
Very well written, but the topic didn't interest me at all and he has a tendency to include more facts than needed. I'm afraid this book is making me reconsider my opinion on Eco's excellent writing skills.
Very well written, but the topic didn't interest me at all and he has a tendency to include more facts than needed. I'm afraid this book is making me reconsider my opinion on Eco's excellent writing skills.
I love a good conspiracy theory story, but this one fell very flat for me. Instead of reading a story of a conspiracy theory happening, with mystery and suspense, it is written like I'm just having a conversation with a friend about his crazy ideas. For the most part it is boring, the characters are pointless, and the plot is a guy talking to another guy. Possibly if I knew more about Italian history this may have been more interesting. The narrator, David Colacci, does a decent job for the most part, but you can feel that he is a bit uninspired.
Spettacolare, erano anni che non mi divertivo a leggere un romanzo di Umberto Eco, anzi, ho ancora stampata in memoria l'agonia procuratami da "L'isola del giorno prima" uno dei pochi libri a cui non sono arrivata in fondo. L'apoteosi del complotto: il giornale destinato a non uscire mai, il sosia di mussolini, gladio, licio gelli, il papa ed il fallito golpe di Borghese (con la gentile partecipazione della forestale). Anche se all'inizio mi sembrava di leggere Genna, devo ammettere che nemmeno a lui sarebbe riuscito di scrivere così bene, almeno secondo me.
What to say about Numero Zero? Hmmmm. The first that comes to mind is, "What was the point of that, then?".
That is, I'm not certain what Eco intends this to be. One part scathing critique on the newspaper industry in the early-1990s, one part conspiracy thriller. Amidst this is a un-engaging and unconvincing tale of a hack writer. Surprisingly, given Eco's skill, the book is clumsily structured and shifts from clunky dialogue into pages (and pages) seemingly lifted from Mussolini's autopsy report.
I don't know, but I have the suspicion that is is a second or third draft, in dire need of an editor with a stern stomach and plenty of red ink. Best avoided.
That is, I'm not certain what Eco intends this to be. One part scathing critique on the newspaper industry in the early-1990s, one part conspiracy thriller. Amidst this is a un-engaging and unconvincing tale of a hack writer. Surprisingly, given Eco's skill, the book is clumsily structured and shifts from clunky dialogue into pages (and pages) seemingly lifted from Mussolini's autopsy report.
I don't know, but I have the suspicion that is is a second or third draft, in dire need of an editor with a stern stomach and plenty of red ink. Best avoided.
Em honra de Umberto Eco (1932- 2016).
Tudo que você queria saber sobre o que rola nas redações da Veja, O Globo e Folha você encontra aqui, ou seja, tudo que é pautado pelo mau jornalismo. Crítica contundente à contemporaneidade (embora se passe há mais de 20 anos), especialmente ao público zumbi que se deixa levar pela sordidez da imprensa e agora aos boatos de internet, não chega a ser uma das obras primas de Eco, mas também não deixa de ser um tapa com luva de pelica, que de fato lhe é usual.
Tudo que você queria saber sobre o que rola nas redações da Veja, O Globo e Folha você encontra aqui, ou seja, tudo que é pautado pelo mau jornalismo. Crítica contundente à contemporaneidade (embora se passe há mais de 20 anos), especialmente ao público zumbi que se deixa levar pela sordidez da imprensa e agora aos boatos de internet, não chega a ser uma das obras primas de Eco, mas também não deixa de ser um tapa com luva de pelica, que de fato lhe é usual.