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Pillars of the Earth is one of those rare jewels an author creates. If you know Ken Follet’s work, you know Pillars is not in his normal genre. It is a masterful work that takes the reader through territories with characters and situations you would never have expected. It all flows so natural you forget you’re reading and simply enjoy experiencing. Ever serious reader needs to read Pillars of the Earth, and if you a novice reader, this book will make you a serious one.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is an incredibly well-written book with several compelling parallel and over-lapping storylines. But it is hard to get into. Thank goodness for the audiobook. If I had to carry that dictionary-sized tome and look up every weird medieval word, I doubt I'd pick it up a 2nd time. But the reader is excellent and keeps you hooked into the story - once you FINALLY get hooked. It takes a long time because the author insists on giving every iota of detail possible. By chapter 3 you'll be ready to take an exam for an architecture license... and make bread. Also, the minutiae of Catholic Church politics drove me nuts. I just wanted to get on with it already. I guess the author felt it was needed to set the groundwork. But for Pete's sake! I was up to CD 11 (of 32!!!!)before I cared anything about what was happening. I only kept listening because it was my book club's selection. But now we've already had the book club meeting, I know how things turned out in the story, and I'm STILL listening to the CDs. Once you're hooked - you're in. Follett is a great writer and the reader John Lee does him justice. Just be patient. It's worth it.Read full review
Ken Follett has easily transitioned from mystery/conspiracy master to epic author. Reading this enabled me to experience the turmoil of Feudal England in a very real way. It is a very long novel, but the evolution of the story always invited me to the next chapter. Spanning over 5 decades, this novel follows an intricately crafted cast of conflicting and conflicted characters. Their feelings and experiences ars revealed in a tale revolving around the construction of a cathedral amid the country's conflicts. Intrigue, trust and deceit, loyalty and betrayal, warring families and factions, collusion and subversion, Churches and kings collide and collaborate. All of these elements carried me to a surprising ending. Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth" is rich in character, plot, and detail. A really magnificent work. I loved it thoroughlyRead full review
I could not put this book down! Pillars of the Earth is set in 12th century England -- a world of brutal conflict, cruelty, and depravity. Good and evil are present in stark contrast, no less so than within the Church. Follett tells the story of Tom, a stone mason, whose dream is to be the master builder of a cathedral. The character development is fantastic. I really cared about Tom, Aliena, Prior Philip, Martha and Jack, and I hated and despised Bishop Waleran Bigod, William Hamleigh and his mother, Regan. I found myself constantly thinking the author is a master story teller. I just couldn't wait to find what was going to happen on the next page. I wish it were 5,000 pages instead of only 1,000.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!! I can't say enough good about it!! It was fascinating through the whole thing. There were times that I was so tense because of what was happening that I had to stop and breath and then I could continue. The author has the uncanny ability to really make you feel like you are there. He also write in an amazing style where he follows several people's lives, but you are still reading the same story. It was a great adventure and it made me sooo happy when I found out there was another book that follows this one! :) I don't want to stop reading this story!
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