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Prague Cemetery
Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
The #1 international bestseller, from Umberto Eco, author of The Name of the Rose Vintage Eco . . . the book is a triumph. New York Review of Books Nineteenth-century Europe from Turin to Prague to Paris abounds with the ghastly and the mysterious. Jesuits plot against Freemasons. Italian republicans strangle priests with their own intestines. French criminals plan bombings by day and celebrate Black Masses at night. Every nation has its own secret service, perpetrating forgeries, plots, and massacres. Conspiracies rule history. From the unification of Italy to the Paris Commune to the Dreyfus Affair to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Europe is in tumult and everyone needs a scapegoat. But what if, behind all of these conspiracies, both real and imagined, lay one lone man? [Eco] demonstrates once again that his is a voice that compels our attention San Francisco Chronicle Choreographed by a truth that is itself so strange a novelist need hardly expand on it to produce a wondrous tale . . . Eco is to be applauded for bringing this stranger-than-fiction truth vividly to life. New York Times Classic Eco, with a difference. Los Angeles Times "
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Dilara
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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This book had good things and less good things. I liked the way Eco shows how ”facts” are created, people and opinions are manipulated, and truth is subjective and multifaceted. But it was all a bit dry and the plot was ”mechanical” and unconvincing. All in all, I don‘t regret the time spent on it, but it's never going to be in my top 10 for the year.

8 likes1 stack add
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Dilara
Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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About halfway through. It's pleasant enough to read, but I am staying somewhat detached from the story. Eco hasn't really “digested“ his research - this novel is not as “infodumpy“ as Foucault's Pendulum, but its informative bits sometimes feel a bit tacked-on and overly long, and yet, a lot will go over your head if you're not familiar with Italian and French history.

(photo of the Impasse Maubert, where the narrator lives, from Wikimedia)

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Dilara
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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This morning, I started The Prague Cemetery for book group. I was a bit apprehensive because I liked The Name of the Rose, but could not get on with Foucault's Pendulum, and found Numero Zero very disappointing.

Picture of the Old Jewish cemetery in Prague by Slotty, on https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12798487

Ruthiella I‘ll be curious to hear how you get on. I‘ve only read The Name of the Rose and Foucault‘s Pendulum. I want to read more from him but just haven‘t... so many books, so little time! 3y
Dilara @Ruthiella So far so good! I'm starting chapter 5. It's a lot less abstruse than Foucault's Pendulum, but more engaging (to me) and “meaty“ than Numero Zero. 3y
12 likes2 comments
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Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed this book for the historical and political background, but I must admit I was disappointed by the main plot. I understand why Umberto Eco made this choice of plot, mainly to explain and give life to the historical background, but I wasn't captivated. And with all the plots and intrigues, it could have been far much more captivating... I'm thankful for this book, very instructive, with subjects that I now wish to explore more in depth.

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Texreader
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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Ebook on sale today. Would work for #readingeurope2020 and probably #scarathlon for #teamslaughter

38 likes1 stack add
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Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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Tonight, I'm going to go on with my reading of Eco, accompanied by a chai latte, and by my lovely purring cat 🐈
I'm just at page 130, so not at the heart of the plot yet, but there were several references at the beginning of the book (La Salpêtrière, Charcot, Eugène Sue) with which I'm quite familiar thanks to past readings, and I just LOVE when it happens. I feel like it's very rewarding, and enriching.

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Texreader
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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I was researching the tagged book posted by @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick because it looked intriguing but has a low Litsy score. Apparently it has an appalling main character whose anti-semitism is hard to stomach, and it‘s long and boring according to reviewers. That being said, an Amazon reviewer posted this as his favorite quote from the book, which feels very timely.

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 😬 I am 99% certain I found this in a bargain bin and thought 'Ooh, a cemetary in Prague!' And never bothered to read the blurb. 4y
GingerAntics Wow, that is VERY timely. 4y
Texreader @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick That would have been enough for me to pick it up too! 4y
50 likes3 comments
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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#3books dry the bottom of my TBR list.

I've owned these for over 15 years and haven't read them yet. I have many that fit the bill so I picked a 'set in a foreign country' theme.

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

Texreader The tagged book looks so good. I wonder why its Litsy approval rating is so low. 4y
OriginalCyn620 📚👍🏻📚 4y
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookHermit
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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This Friday night is Lit! 🤣
Got my grocery store sushi, sangria in a can and some nasty erudite fiction. Woot woot! 🙌🏻

mcctrish Perfect 6y
Zelma Looks fantastic! 6y
37 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookHermit
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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13 pages in and this narrator! Ah, Mr. Eco, it‘s been far too long since I‘ve picked up one of your novels.

Nebklvr People find reasons to be their worst selves. Religion is just one excuse. National purity has worked too 6y
Echo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 6y
See All 7 Comments
CouronneDhiver I disagree. But I‘m glad you‘re enjoying your book. 😊 6y
BookHermit @CouronneDhiver I am curious where this narrator is taking the story as he has not a good word to say about anyone regardless of nationality, religious persuasion, or gender identification. 6y
RidgewayGirl The main character is hands down the most evil character I‘ve ever encountered in a book. 6y
BookHermit @RidgewayGirl Intriguing! 6y
29 likes1 stack add7 comments
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GatheringBooks
Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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#AdelesMayMashUp Day 3: My daughter and I literally #ChasingPavements in Prague as we visited the famous Vysehrad Cemetery back in 2016.

BookaholicNatty I love this soooo much @GatheringBooks Prague is one of my favorite places in the entire world. Is is soooooo beautiful there!!!! 7y
Mdargusch Great photo! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So awesome!!! I would love to visit there someday!! 7y
See All 6 Comments
Cathythoughts Such beautiful smiles ❤️ 7y
vkois88 Beautiful! 7y
tammysue Great photos! 7y
100 likes6 comments
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Varske
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
Mehso-so

I got started, but found the beginning antisemitic and anti- almost everyone else, a bit disturbing. Eventually I realised it was just some typical attitudes at the time. But somehow it didn‘t encourage me to carry on, although the plot was very interesting about two people who seemed to inhabit each other‘s lives. Or one split identity. Perhaps curiosity will make me eventually go back to find out more.

Anna40 This book focuses on the rise of antisemitism in the 19th century. If you ever decide to read it again, I recommend reading this article. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281391349_Umberto_Eco's_The_Prague_ceme... 4y
3 likes1 comment
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jen_hayes7
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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Another book I haven't read! 😢These challenges are a harsh reminder of all the lovely books I've owned for years and not gotten around to reading. I'm sure y'all can feel my pain. #uncannyoctober #setineasterneurope #hallowedgrounds #hallowreads

diovival Yep, right there with you. 🙈 7y
jen_hayes7 @diovival Thank you!! I knew I wasn't alone in this!! 🤣😳 7y
Varske I got started, but found the beginning antisemitic and anti- almost everyone else, a bit disturbing. Eventually I realised it was just some typical attitudes at the time. But somehow it didn‘t encourage me to carry on, although the plot was very interesting about two people who seemed to inhabit each other‘s lives. Or one split identity. Perhaps curiosity will make me eventually go back to find out more. 7y
23 likes3 comments
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AmandaFields
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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I really want to like this book because the writing reminds me so much of The Count of Monte Cristo, but the anti-Semitism is so hard to read. Have any of you guys read this? Is it worth finishing? What about his other book, The Name of the Rose?

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belleofcph
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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Heavy book.. But definitely worth the read 👍

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GoneFishing
Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco

People are never so completely and enthusiastically evil as when they act out of religious conviction.

APLitlife The Prague cemetery is amazing. Went there several years ago. 8y
74 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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BraveNewBooks
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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Forgot to post my first experience with #bookbinding: a notebook for my sister, who's studying abroad in Prague next semester. I'm not going to quit my day job anytime soon, but I think it turned out pretty well! 😊

#handmade #bookishgifts #yesichangedthetitle

Joybishoptx Very cool! 💕💕💕 8y
BraveNewBooks @Joybishoptx thanks! 😊 8y
24 likes3 comments
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RadwaTheUnicorn
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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I'm loving this book so far. It's a bit heavy with all of these details, politics, religion, anf history, but it seems like I'm gonna take my time with them, and that's okay.

This is my first post here, and I'm still getting used to this but I think I'll love it. #reading #beach #summerread

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Celly84
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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ContentReader
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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"Every nation has its own secret service, perpetrating forgeries, plots, and massacres. But what if, behind all these conspiracies, lies just one man?

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mllemay
The Prague Cemetery | Umberto Eco
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Pickpick

Eco takes real people (except for the main character) and imagines how their interactions might have brought about real and important world events, such as the Holocaust and terrorism. His imagination his incredibly entertaining! Also big thumbs up for the translation by Richard Dixon 👍🏻

Megabooks I just read my first Eco book on January. It was really sad when he died. 9y
mllemay @Ebooksandcooks I know - it's such a shame we won't get anything else from him! This was my first Eco book as well and I will definitely be reading more. 9y
14 likes3 stack adds2 comments