Eco (WAS: Re: Mason Dixon)

[Ebiri1 at aol.com]

In a message dated 96-10-21 18:51:22 EDT, you write:

<< Anything by Umberto Eco is a great read...almost as great as Pynchon.
 Anyone ever read Eco's novel Foucault's Pendulum?  It makes GR look
 simple... >>

Have to chime in here and say that while I love Eco, I found THE ISLAND OF
THE DAY BEFORE quite tiresome and disappointing.  I felt that the energy of
THE NAME OF THE ROSE and FOUCAULT'S PENDULUM and even his semiotic works had
dissipated completely, and his ability to weave narrative with thematic
complexity was just not there, despite a couple of bright shining moments
that made me wish for ROSE.

I always find it hard comparing Eco and Pynchon.  I've always felt that Eco
had a very non-fiction, discursive style, which makes some sense, given his
background.  Pynchon is clearly a writer of fiction -- despite his
stylization he can still hold back, imply, poeticize, bury, hide -- whereas
Eco seems to be more, for my lack of a better word at this given moment,
"straight-forward".  Both styles I find quite legitimate, though, and quite
powerful when practiced by their respective masters.  Then again, tho', thass
jes my opinion-like.

--Bilge Ebiri