Umberto Eco's Novels, Ranked

The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/thebookchemist03221

Umberto Eco's essay "Ur-Fascism:"
https://www.pegc.us/archive/Articles/...

[* THE IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE
I describe certain features of Eco's fiction (slow beginnings, rambling endings) as "flaws," but it's important to acknowledge that these things are only flaws according to a very specific and fairly narrow view of what constitutes "good narrative," one that’s steeped in American writing rules born in a commercial and even screenwriterly environment, where every page must create more action and every word must serve a purpose. I don’t want to dismiss these claims altogether (I like my books fast and to-the-point, too), but there is also nothing intrisically wrong with a boring or sprawling ending. Sometimes I might even crave one!]

Eco's seven novels, here listed in chronological order, with a link to my individual review (if I filmed one), and links to buy them on Blackwell's or IndieBound, awesome independent booksellers. (I am an affiliate of both websites):

The Name of the Rose
Review:    • The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco R...  
BW: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
IB: https://www.indiebound.org/book/97805...

Foucault's Pendulum
Review:    • Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco RE...  
BW: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
IB: https://www.indiebound.org/book/97801...

The Island of the Day Before
Review:    • The Island of the Day Before and Baud...  
BW: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
IB: https://www.indiebound.org/book/97801...

Baudolino
Review:    • The Island of the Day Before and Baud...  
BW: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
IB: https://www.indiebound.org/book/97801...

The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana
BW: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
IB: https://www.indiebound.org/book/97801...

The Prague Cemetery
Review:    • Видео   [I reviewed this book on Deutsche Welle Books' YouTube channel. The video seems to be private now - in fact I'm not sure I can find the channel at all - but my hope is that they're simply moving their content, and that the video will be back at one point!]
BW: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
IB: https://www.indiebound.org/book/97805...

Numero Zero
Review:    • Numero Zero by Umberto Eco [BookReview]   (ancient review alert!)
BW: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
IB: https://www.indiebound.org/book/97805...

If you enjoy my reviews, please consider supporting the channel on Patreon:
  / thebookchemist  
One-off donations are also always welcome:
https://www.paypal.me/Bookchemist
Follow me on GoodReads!
  / 15078502.mattia_ravasi  
Follow me on Twitter!
  / the_bookchemist  

This video is sponsored by Skillshare!