The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

[Nici76]

Synopsis from Amazon:"The Pillars of the Earth" tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known; of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect - a man divided in his soul; of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame; and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.

My thoughts:
What a wonderful book!

Set in the twelfth century, Ken Follett tells what it would have been like to live in this time. The poverty, the living accomodations, the fighting were all told in great detail.

The characters were brilliantly written and the book flowed from one character to another very well. Some of the characters you couldn't help but love but some, including one is particular was pure evil and another was very cunning in the worse possible ways.

Even though this book was a mammouth 1,075 pages long, I was still turning the pages as if it had only just begun. Ken Follett keeps your attention right to the last page and to be honest I didn't want this book to end. I am going to miss it!

10/10

[Esiotrot]

Great review Nici, Thanks :smile2:
I watched an interview with the author on Tv last week and wondered why I had never heard of the book. He was talking about how it took him 18 years to write the sequal ~ World Without End.
I will be on the look out for this once I have managed to clear a bit of Mount TBR

[supergran71]

Thanks for the review Nici. I have never read Ken Follet before, but this sounds right up my alley. Over 1,000 pages is a bit daunting, but I will make a note of this one, once my TBR list has gone down a bit.

[Louiseog]

As Nici said you don't notice the size because it rolls along so fast, he normally writes sort of boys own thrillers like Alistair McClean which are not really my cup of tea but loved this one!

[madcow]

Think this one might have to go on 'wish' list, great review Nici.

[Nici76]

Thanks everyone for your nice comments! :)

[Gelfling]

Thanks Nici,

I've had this on my shelf since summer (I bought it because it was one of the BBC's top reads) and I've just not got round to it yet, but I think I'll give it a try soon.

I love books that take you to the past and make you experience what it was like to live then. That's the reasons I loved "Katherine," much to my surpirse.

[Renniemist]

Thanks for the review Nici. I have had this book on my shelf for ages. I keep hearing good things about it so I will need to give it a try soon.

[Angel]

I think this one will have to go on the wishlist. It sounds a very good read

[Louiseog]

Have just got the next one out of the library, its about 3 inches thick!!!

[Nici76]

It's well worth it Louise! A wonderful book. :D

[Louiseog]

It's well worth it Louise! A wonderful book. :D
Well I loved Pillars of the Earth ..........

[Nici76]

Ooops read your post wrong! I haven't read that one! :blush:

Hope you enjoy it Louise.

[pontalba]

I've only read Pillars of the Earth...many years ago, probably now long after it came out and throughly enjoyed it. I have the sequel in my TBR mountain, however I've not heard as good things about World Without End. According to some reviews and fellow posters on another forum, it is rather repetitive and not half so interesting. One day I'll get to it myself.

Nici, your review is a good take on it. :)

[burghead lass]

I read Pillers of the Earth last year and really enjoyed the book. It was the first of Ken Follett's work that I have read and look forward to reading more.

[elizabeth Chadwick]

The historical detail in Pillars of the Earth is way off base. It's a page turner, but it's terrible history!

[Louiseog]

The historical detail in Pillars of the Earth is way off base. It's a page turner, but it's terrible history!
But great fun! But that must be very annoying.
I am a history teacher and have forgotten all the history I ever knew but did read the sequel to this which was set in 1340s and it seemed to be exactly the same.
It must be quite frustrating for you to have done lots of historical research....

[elizabeth Chadwick]

But great fun! But that must be very annoying.
I am a history teacher and have forgotten all the history I ever knew but did read the sequel to this which was set in 1340s and it seemed to be exactly the same.
It must be quite frustrating for you to have done lots of historical research....

It is a double edged sword. I can read material in say the Tudor or Regency period and the errors pass me by unless they are glaringly enormous, but with fiction set in the Middle Ages I'm a lot more sensitive. Pillars just doesn't get the mindset and some of the scenes would never, ever have happened back then. The first time I read it, I knew less about the period and got on with the book quite well, but when I re-read it for an online reading group a couple of years ago, I was wall-banging it every few pages.

[Maureen]

I read Pillers of the Earth last year and really enjoyed the book. It was the first of Ken Follett's work that I have read and look forward to reading more.


My favourite of his is 'The third twin'. It is a good story, and I always recommend it, especially to someone who wants to try KF.

[Louiseog]

I do think his thrillers are great, these two historical tomes are easy to read but a bit empty somehow

[Angel]

Started this evening and I'm enjoying so far!

[elizabeth Chadwick]

The historical accuracy is non existent - many of the scenes could never have happened in that period - and some of the sex in it is very much 20thC male fantasy grope stuff (yuk) but I can recognise that it's a page turner.

[emily]

I loved Pillars of the Earth. I didn't think I'd get through such a huge book because my dad gave it to me just after I started reading "grown-up" books so I put it off for a few years but I read it when I was 15 and I could not put it down.
I understand it must be frustrating though for those of you who know the history of the period but even so, I think it's a great book.

I have World Without End but I think it was made on recycled paper or something because the pages seem so fragile, I'm afraid to rip them! I'm going to re-read Pillars of the Earth before I start it though seeing as it's been a couple of years.

[SueK]

This book actually got me interested in the that period of history called "The Anarchy" with the warring cousins, King Stephen and Empress Matilda. As Elizabeth Chadwick says, it is historically inaccurate but a good page turner. What it did for me though was to get me reading books about that period and the best for me were the Brother Cadfael Books by Ellis Peters and the ones by Ms Chadwick of that same era (I've read 'em all). Their research was meticulous and it is a terrific episode in history to read about.

[SaraPepparkaka]

Isn't there a sequel? Did anyone read that?

[bev]

World Without End is the follow up book, but it's not really a sequel, it is set about 200 years later. It can be read alone, so you don't need to read Pillars to enjoy it. I read both books back to back, I really enjoyed both of them, but for me Pillars was the better of the two.
Pillars 10/10
WWE 8/10

[SaraPepparkaka]

Thank you Bev. I have read Pillars of the Earth, but it was many years ago. I will see if I come across World without End, then. I might enjoy it.

[grabit]

i remember really liking Pillars of the Earth all those years ago, i read it not long after release here in Australia.. i have World without end in my TBR pile, sorry to hear it may not be as good.. i'll get to it soon! i'm about half way through Scarlet.. :)

[carm]

I read The Pillars Of The Earth awhile back and really enjoyed it. I'm almost done with World Without End which is also good but it's not capturing me like Pillars did