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Summary: Unplug the phone,computer and television for this one!
Review: This is one of my favorite reads in the last ten years. I didn't think anything could beat The Hobbit until I read Pillars of the Earth. I come from a large family of seven and all of my siblings and parents love this book. There is a large age difference here. This book is not a thriller or spy novel like Ken Follet's other books. It is a great tale about the building of a cathedral and the lives involved in it from Religious people to the lower worker on the scaffolding. It makes you appreciate the cathedrals you see all over Europe. If you like this book , Try Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.
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Summary: Believable at every turn.
Review: Ken Follett describes The Pillars as a "word of mouth" book. He feels that its popularity is due largely to "the personal recommendation of one reader to another." (source: the author's preface to the Jan.'99 Plume edition). Interesting, since this is exactly how I myself was introduced to the book. While at a friend's I noticed it on his shelf, and as I thumbed through it I was literally shocked at the animation with which a few Pillar-cultists in the room began DEMANDING that I read it. It was a non-optional situation. I took. I read. It's become one of my fave novels of all time, and it's definitely true... there's just something about it that makes you want to tell everyone else to read it. Once, while queued up in the aisle of a de-boarding 737 the guy behind me saw my book and said "Great story isn't it?" Seriously, if you read it, you will tell others to read it... Follett is 100% accurate on that!So what makes it so great? Well for one thing, here we have immense subject matter (the building of a huge cathedral), and for a period of over fifty fictional years Follett pulls this thread through all of the lives of those who will serve either in the strengthening or smashing of this cathedral-dream. What results is all of a piece. The story is so captivating that at times I had to stop reading and tell myself to settle down. So believable at every turn. Secondly, it is remarkable in the way it stays in the memory. Usually a book of this length tends to sort of blur soon after the initial reading. But now, almost a year after I've read it, intricacies of the story are still seared in the memory. I can still turn to any page at random and immediately the particular scene is re-kindled in my imagination, the setting as clear as when I originally read it. Finally, the book is as great as its characters. It would be difficult to find anywhere in recent literature a character as calculating and devious as Waleran Bigod; as devoted and consistent as Philip; as unassuming as Tom Builder; as noble and captivating as Aliena; as gifted and winsome as Jack; as resourceful and spontaneous as Ellen... and the villainous evil that lurks and erupts in William Hamleigh makes Shakespeare's Iago look like Winnie The Pooh! Follett says in his 1999 preface: "Many people asked me to write a sequel. (I will, one day)." We must be patient. When it comes out, I predict that the only disappointing thing about that book is that it too... will end.
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Summary: My Favourive Novel
Review: With so many reviews, I cannot add anything new. However, this is my favourite novel. I do not read many books twice, but I have re-read this book several times and my evaluation has not changed. Ken Follett's characters, action, historical descriptions of 11th century England and building technology at that time leave me wanting more.
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Summary: Great Book with a Huge Flaw
Review: This book has almost everything. Great plot, wonderful characters, incredible descriptions, philosophical thoughtfulness, satisfying resolution, etc. The one thing it doesn't have is, unfortunately, originality. Anyone who has ever read Edith Pargeter's 'Heaven Tree,' who also starts reading the Follett book, will go from a strange feeling of deja vu, to a numb apprehension, to utter disbelief: 'Pillars of the Earth' is, as they say in the movie business, a remake. What's worse is that Follett nowhere acknowledges his debt. About halfway through 'Pillars' I found myself hoping that there would be enough differences from the 40-year-earlier Pargeter story to conclude that the similarities were pure coincidence. By the end, I knew they couldn't be. Follett has to have read the Pargeter book and been 'influenced by it,' to put it kindly. Don't get me wrong: 'Pillars' is well written and well worth reading-- which is why I give it four stars. Just don't give too many kudos to the author for originality. And whether you read 'Pillars' or not, you owe it to yourself to read Pargeter's 'Heaven Tree,' if you have any interest at all in historical fiction. It's earlier, it's original, and though the Follett book is good, Pargeter's is far, far better.
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Summary: Best mainstream book I've read in many years.
Review: I first read this book several years ago and since then have bought about 20 copies. I give copies to friends when they tell me they need something to read. It is truly a wonderful piece of writing.
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Summary: Worth every page
Review: Despite the somewhat slow start, Pillars of the Earth is an incredible novel. Its thickness can be intimidating, but it is worth every page. One experiences additional pride when finally finishing the novel. =) I think I liked the book because of its beautiful descriptions of cathedrals. The book also touches upon the evolution of cathedrals. (The main character, Tom Builder, is a mason who dreams of building the perfect cathedral.) But fortunately, you do not need to appreciate medieval cathedrals in order to appreciate this novel.
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Summary: Good, but by far not the best
Review: A woman at the bookstore told me that this was one of the best books she ever read, and because the plot appealed to me, I bought it - I love historical, epic novels. I was somewhat disappointed, due to the fact that I didn't feel as if I was there - the style of writing and the way the characters spoke didn't make me think I was back in that time period. They were far too modern. Another disappointment was at the end when William of Hamleigh met his end - I would've much rather had the author tell it from Hamleigh's point of view. All in all, an interesting book, but not the best.
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Summary: One of the best books I've ever read!
Review: Pillars is a book of filled with passion and rage. It sweeps you off your feet and in no time, your right there in the thick of things. You feel like you are part of the book, and don't want to put it down. The characters have become a part of my everyday life...I wonder and care what happens to them next. A masterfully written book! I would recomend this book to anyone!!
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Summary: Big Sweeping Story that Earns its Accolades
Review: Wow. This is a big story that never fails to enthral and entertain. I stayed up many a night ripping off good sized chunks from a book I did not want to put down. At almost a thousand pages, there are a lot of chunks. Follett uses the thirty year building of a cathedral in 12th Century England to spin a ripping yarn. This is a historical novel that uses the format to both teach about the times and tell a gripping tale of the lives of a score of characters involved either directly or peripherally with the construction. Its all here. Love. War. Torture. Rape. Lust. Greed. Told against the backdrop of an English Civil War and the more immediate struggle between a priory (monestary) and a local earl. The real life Kings Steven, Henry I and Henry II and Thomas Beckett provide the historical backdrop as does the era. If Follett has done his research thoroughlly, then the misery and challenge of medival life is well portrayed (except very few people die of disease and no children or their siblings succumb before adulthood -- an improbable situation given the times). Besides being captivated by a very good story with many facets, you'll learn a bit about the majesty and technique involved in cathedral building, the economics, industry and agricultural practices attendant to survival, medival politics and the struggle within the church and between church and sovereign. The characters are well drawn and varied. Follett populates his story with strong women, and although unlikely given the practices and predjudices of the times, these women help form the focal point of the story and are easy to root for (except for sometime-Earl William Hamleigh's mother -- a cunning villan). The men are more evenly split between good, evil and in between. These characters are not one dimensional and most of the major figures have weaknesses that challenge them and make them very human in this book. A great read you'll not want to let go.
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Summary: "Name of the Rose" for the rest of us
Review: I love historical fiction. Seems that everyone is putting out some book set in twelfth or thirteenth centure. (timeline, etc.) One of my favorite books is Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco--this book reminded me a lot of it. Follet's book is a little more accessible and has very riveting epic story vs. mystery in Eco's. This is a great read and it made me stay up till 4am trying to get further in it.
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