Books like Postscript to the Name of the Rose

“I felt like poisoning a monk.” - Umberto Eco on his inspiration for 'The Name of the Rose' A rare one-sitting read for me, which makes the slimness of this particular volume all the more frustrating (in a good way). I need more. Not content with merely accomplishing it in fiction, here that sly fox Eco employs the essay form to tempt his audience into a full immersion in and perhaps, even a merging with, the text. The man's just so damned inviting, as if he's sitting right next to you, effortlessly expounding on a variety of subjects, whilst respecting your intelligence. It's readily apparent that apart from seeking to amuse his readership with his literary concoctions, he cares a great deal about education as well. In that sense, he comes across as refreshingly selfless and, above all, affable. For the many admirers of the novel, those interested in the creative process or (postmodern) literary theory, you could do a lot worse than picking this one up. Really more of a *** 1/2 stars.