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Title: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett ISBN: 0-7435-2763-1 Publisher: Encore Pub. Date: 01 July, 2002 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 4 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.61 (567 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Best historical novel I've read in 10 years
Comment: I've never been a fan of Follett, and picked this book up with some misgivings - anyone these days can try to do an "historical" novel with some quick sex, some fake archaic new-speak, and a TV-movie-miniseries concept of history. While there are some minor flaws in this book, its sweep, characterization, tensions, and love of its subject are simply riveting. I could not put the darned thing down and have lost sleep for a week compulsively page-turning. Follett, unbelievably, seems to have made little splash with this book when it first came out - more shame to the critics who missed a "Gone With the Wind" from a conventional thriller author.
His primary strength in the book is his magnificent characters. By the end, Prior Phillip, Aliena, Jack, Richard, "Witch" Ellen, William of Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and a host of supporting characters are as real as people you know. Their strengths and weaknesses feel as sound as earth. I've just reached the part where the Cathedral is finished, and its magnificent image, built in love, hardship, and devotion, colors the whole book like light through stained glass. And I suspect the ending will be as immensely "right" as the entire rest of the book in its proportion in spinning out complicated human lives and emotions.
Follett manages to write of an age of religious devotion without tumbling into the two pits - making fun of medieval Christian faith, or uncritically adopting it. An IMMENSELY satisfying read.
I could quibble with what I feel is some gratuitous sex, some slightly contrived plot twists, but that's like complaining about some flotsam in the river as you're going over Niagara.
DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK if you love wonderful story-spinning and history.
Well done, Mr. Follett!
Rating: 4
Summary: Very engaging historical fiction
Comment: ... Few writers can write about history without using the devices of Good and Evil. Neither can Follett. Nevertheless - this book is terrific.
The Pillars Of The Earth faithfully (re-)creates the world of 12th Century England by creating a society full of the minor characters surrounding the titantic struggle between Henry II and Archbishop Thomas Beckett.
The story is an epic - spanning almost 2 full generations of monastic, court, and village life. At the center of the story is the effort to build a magnificent cathedral in the modest town of Kingsbridge - a generation-long effort requiring faith, wealth, medieval engineering brilliance, determination, and luck.
I enjoyed reading the details of Medieval life faithfully told by Follet. I especially loved the discourses on the engineering of Medieval gothic cathedral architecture, design, and construction.
I also loved the human contrasts - the mysterious heathen woman of the forest with her commonlaw husband Tom, strong, and intelligent who began building the cathedral; their son Jack - a mixture of the two; lovely, independent, Aliena; Phillip the humble but human prior of the monastery; Earls, Bishops, tradesmen, knights, etc.
50 years of struggle culminate in ultimate triumph of the spirit over the sword - but just barely. At 980 pages The Pillars of the Earth requires quite an investment - but you will get hooked and enjoy the ride.
Rating: 2
Summary: Plodding plotting
Comment: A disappointment. Slow, plodding, uninteresting and just boring. No real mystery, no deep character development and minimal insight into the thoughts of 12th century folks. Try something else for historical fiction. This one doesn't do much.
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Title: Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett ISBN: 0380733358 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: A Dangerous Fortune by Ken Follett ISBN: 0440217490 Publisher: Island Books Pub. Date: 01 November, 1994 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett ISBN: 0451163494 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: September, 1989 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Triple by Ken Follett ISBN: 0451163540 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: January, 1991 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Lie Down With Lions by Ken Follett ISBN: 0451163508 Publisher: Signet Pub. Date: June, 1994 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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