Reddit reviews Experiences in Translation (Toronto Italian Studies (Paperback))

I haven't read them in English, but I've browsed through them (when I bought them for someone else) and they seemed very well translated. If I remember correctly, Eco himself praised his translators in his book on translation (of which the English translation should be this one but for some reason it has only one third of the pages compared to the original.)

Eco's books are full of cultural references that don't necessarily have to be understood in order to enjoy the book, but which add depth and meaning if understood. Whenever a certain reference is too specific to Italian speakers, translators usually replace that reference with something the English-speaking public would understand. In the case of translations into major languages, this is done with the approval of the writer. There is often a series of conversations between Eco and his translators on how this or that passage of his books ought to be translated.

My favorite novels are Foucault's Pendulum and Baudolino. The latter starts funny, in a medieval-ish language that Eco invented for the purpose of this book. Some (including me) love it, others hate it, but if you skim through the first chapter and just focus on the rest you will still be able to understand and enjoy the story.

I did not like The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana, and I don't think I'll ever be able to finish it. I enjoyed the first few chapters, but then it turns into an endless list or catalog, with basically no plot and no hope of ever getting back to a plot, so I gave up.

As for the remaining two books, I only started them and then abandoned them. I've the feeling that I might like them a lot, provided that I read them when I'm in the right frame of mind. I love Eco but I need to be in the right mood. At some point I plan to get to them.

Entertaining and informative: Eco's Experiences in Translation.