Frobisher Smith
While this book is ostensibly about conspiracies, ancient orders, secret societies, codes, riddles, catacombs and satanic rites it is also about less esoteric themes - obsession, meaning, reality vs. fantasy. Possibly it is an analogy to the dangers of historical revision. It attacks both modernism and tradition, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. It derides false authenticity, and yet hints at a diffusionism in which nothing can be authentic. Eco combines scholarly treatises, human interest stories, absurd character studies and serious introspection in a story that encompasses all of written history. Taught, measured, delivered expertly in careful doses, the narrative is addictive - I read this book in three days. The only thing I can compare it to is the [b:Illuminatus Trilogy 57913 The Illuminatus! Trilogy The Eye in the Pyramid/The Golden Apple/Leviathan Robert Joseph Shea http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170482063s/57913.jpg 813], but none of its humor is self-aware or full of winking fan-service; or perhaps the film “Pi,” but of course, Eco is much more skilled than poor Aronofsky, and the journey of descent into obsessive desire for grand secret knowledge (and thus madness) is gradually illuminated rather than drilled into our heads... In short, this book is fantastic. You should read it you uncultured fascist pig!
This is a great primer and introduction to gnostic theology, and an even better socio-cultural critique of the early church. She makes the argument that Gnosticism didn't die out because, as some would claim, “it just didn't have enough going for it,” but because its theology was not consistent with the doctrines of papal and clergy authority. The bishops, seeing that their authority was being undermined, branded the gnostics heretics – not out of any actual heresies (they were not Marcionites!), but to ensure their power over the christian community.
But, as I said, this book is more of a primer than an authoritative work on the beliefs of the gnostics. It is a very fun and informative read, and I recommend it thoroughly to people interested in the history of early Christianity. But if you are looking for a book that is more indepth concerning the faith and beliefs of Gnosticism, this one does not suffice.
Brilliantly crisp and full of acidic commentary on the worst parts of academia. I picked this up because the author came recommended to me and I love academic fiction.
While being a little unfamiliar with the British higher education system (especially as it was 50 years ago), it nonetheless holds up and you need not have such historical or experiential knowledge to enjoy this book.
Bitter, caustic, hilarious - it makes you angry almost as much as it makes you laugh. I highly recommend it!
A brilliant collection of stories centered around what Bradbury called his “autumn people.” Of course, anything by Ray Bradbury is going to be high caliber, but these stories speak to me at the heart. Much like “Something Wicked” the stories focus on worlds very similar to ours, but always a little off.
Bradbury is at his best in short stories and every one in this collection doesn't disappoint. If you like the man at his most eerie, weird, disaffected and dark, this is essential reading.
Worlds of funhouses, quack doctors, catacombs, corpses, skeletons, ancient houses, all tied together by a lonesome, empty street, small town feel. Bradbury, while in some stories all but glorifies the small town, in this collection we see the darkest side the master could conjure up about such places.
This is a great story and Seamus Heaney does a masterful translation. What is especially nice is the translation on one page and the original Old English on the other, complete with copious footnotes and definitions of arcane terms.
Even if you don't like Beowulf this is a fantastic book to have for learning Old English. Then again, I don't think I've met anyone learning OE that didn't like Beowulf...
And if you've never read Beowulf, but are interested, this is the edition to get. I can assure you it is much, much better than the movie.
As far as books about the breakdown of society and the collapse of utilitarian morality, this is one of the most prized, but certainly not amongst the best, in my opinion.
I remember reading this in high school - I thought it was a bit hyperbolic (even if it was about children) and the analogies to modern society (the elite, the clergy, the uneducated masses, the power-hungry leaders...) are so blatant its not even fun to analyze.
But oh well, I guess some people need to be beaten over the head with books like this... even though I felt it was crude.