Eco's Friday




Gain New Blog FollowersToday I decided to use a book by Umberto Eco for Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader, and Friday 56, hosted by Freda's Voice, but not one of his fictional works. 'Confessions of a Young Novelist' is really good so far, although a bit complex here and there. But Eco's writing style is humorous, so next to all the tips I get to laugh once in a while, which I enjoy! So, on to the memes:
Follow Friday is hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee

Q: Have you had a character that disappointed you? One that you fell in love with and then "broke up" with later on in either the series or a stand-alone book? Tell us about him or her.

 
Eeeeerm, that's actually a really difficult question. I don't know what to say! I can't remember ever having been really disappointed in a character. Hhmmm. A character that sent me on a rollercoast of emotions was Snape, from Harry Potter. First I thought he was scary, then I started to really appreciate his sarcasm, then I felt sorry for his because James Potter was a pest, then I hated him for killing Dumbledore and then I felt like he was the best ever 
literary hero I had ever read about. So, I wasn't really in love with him, he was my hero. And then my villain, and then my hero again! 



BB:


'These lectures are entitles Confessions of a Young Novelist - and one might well askw hy, since I am marching towards my seventy-sevent year. But it so happens that I published my first novel, The Name of the Rose, in 1980, which means I started my career as a novelist a mere twenty-eight years ago. Thus, I consider myself a very young anc certainly promising novelist, who has so far published only five novels and will publish many more in the next fifty years.'


I quite liked the beginning because it was quite funny but also immediately highlighted the difference between Eco and many other authors. He is over seventy and will certainly not live another fifty years, unless he plans on living until his 120th, because he already had a lifetime of working before starting to write. And the knowledge he has gathered from working at the University for so long is what makes his books so interesting!

F56:


'But Helena Costiucovich wrote something more to establish the parallels between my book and Henriot's. She said that in Henriot's novel, the coveted manuscript was the original copy of Casanova's memoirs. It so happens that in my novel there is a minor character called Hugh of Newcastle (in the Italian version, Ugo di Novocastro). Costiucovich's conclusion is that "only by passion from one name to another is it possible to conceive of the name of the rose".'


Here we have a prime example of why this book is ever so confusing at times. Eco here talks about how readers and critics sometimes interpret things that he never meant to put in his books, such as Casanova. However, in his explanation, which was too long to copy, he uses terms that can be thoroughly confusing and led me to reread the page a couple of times. But I like a challenging read, so this is actually one of my new favourite books!

So, how about you? And how awesome is that picture of Snape? Don't hesitate to leave a link in the comment, I  love visiting back!!!

Comments

  1. This one does seem challenging. I love memoirs, though, and even though they may require my full attention, they're usually worth the read.

    Here's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

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  2. HOW DID I NOT THINK OF SNAPE?? He surely got us all in a roller coaster of emotions...bottom line, he's a BAMF. Period.

    Old follower :)
    Ella
    Drop by my Feature & Follow? :)

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  3. Thanks for following me, here is your comment & follow back! :-)

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  4. Ohhh, dear ol' Snape! I think he gave me the creeps in the beginning. Then I friggin hated him in book 6! Then book 7.... oh boy! Was he the best! I totally love him now. :)

    Also, I'm a new GFC follower :)

    Stop by my #FF and follow back?

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  5. Never read Harry Potter so no idea what you're talking about. Thanks for the post though.
    My FF Post

    And don't forget to enter to win a Kindle Fire. The LPP Kindle Fire giveaway ends Monday April 30th!

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  6. I agree about Snape. Really mixed feelings there. :)

    I'm a new gfc follower. :)

    http://notjustnonsense.blogspot.com/2012/04/ff-feature-and-follow-20.html

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  7. Yes, I can see how it can be confusing.... must be challenging to read.

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  8. {new follower here}

    I honestly haven't read the Potter books {gasps} with that said I have watched the movies and usually I avoid reading a book about a movie unless I don't understand the movie at all.

    {http://www.justonemorechapter.net}

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  9. I haven't read any of Eco's books since The Name of the Rose which I loved. Maybe I'll give this one a look.

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  10. I've only ever read the first Harry Potter book and I was the 2nd grade when it came out, so I hardly remember the characters. But I do understand the whole villain/hero thing or at least thinking someone's a villain and then feeling sorry for them or realizing that they're actually brave. Thanks for stopping by!
    I'm an old GFC follower
    -Olivia

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  11. thanks for the visit juli - i've been remiss with my commenting but i really appreciate people coming by.

    i always knew snape has a side to him that id like. he's a good guy :) as usual, you are reading quite an eclectic spread. i've been putting off reading umberto eco for the longest time - how intimidating is he!?

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  12. old follower :)
    Snape was quite the roller coaster character wasn't he? but perhaps my love of Alan Rickman as Snape has caused me to excuse the times he was the villain versus the hero. lol
    thanks for stopping by! i hope you have a good weekend

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