Rating: 
Summary: an excellent piece of historical fiction
Review: I actually listened to this book on tape, while my wife read the paperback. Both of us loved it. I not only recommend the book, but also urge people to rent the Book on Tape version, narrated by David Case, whose acting and narrative talents shine through, bringing the various characters to life. (But still purchase the book from Amazon!) I came to Pillars of the Earth after spending about two solid years reading, in my spare time, nothing but medieval histories, with a focus on fourteenth century England and the Plantagenet kings. I had never before read a book by Follett, who I had assumed mass-produced pulp spy fiction. I only chose the book because of of my interest in medieval history. To my delight and surprise, I discovered the book to be a true work of literature, which might well still be read in 100 years. I found myself amazed by Follett's ability to create an extremely complex and compelling plot, with compelling characters, against a backdrop that seemed true to the histories I had been reading. The early twelfth century is a period neglected by us moderns; but it's one that's inherently interesting. Who, today, has even heard of King Stephen (who preceded the famous Henry II, immortalized twice by Peter O'Toole in the 1960s movies Beckett and Lion in Winter)? Because, in England at least, Stephen's reign was a time of virtual anarchy, Follett was able to use the period to create characters who demonstrate the brutal lengths to which people can go when unconstrained by law and an effective legal order. At the same time, though, he has created religious and other well-meaning characters who, if alien to us because of their belief in Hell and a God intervening almost minute-by-minute in human afairs, display courage and the best of intentions in the harsh face of barbarism. This juxtaposition of the brutal and the well-meaning makes for an interesting meditation on human nature and on the hope for the gradual further civilization of our species. His ultimate message is encouraging, though he certainly doesn't shrink from depicting the nastiness of which humans are capable. In short, the book is a marvelous piece of fiction, in which Follet has done an excellent job capturing the feeling of a distant and neglected period of history.
Rating:
Summary: The best book you'll ever read!
Review: I have read this book 3 times over the past 10 years. Crazy you say! I can't say I have ever read a novel that many times. It is truly a work of art. What makes this book so utterly enjoyable is the beautiful character development woven into the beauty of the cathedrals of the 12th century. This is a part of history that most don't have the oppurtunity to explore. The realization that generations of people spent there lives working on the same cathedral was enlightening. We, today, have no concept of what that process is like, especially in the US where we have nothing that old to appreciate. The power of the catholic church and the connection to politics was a way of life back then, and really shows you why separation of church and state is a good thing! I had the opportunity to travel to Spain and Portugal and visit cathedrals from this same time period. The historical information in this book helped me to be more than awestruck at the human sweat that went into these wonderful works of art. You will not be able to set this book down! I found myself being annoyed by having to put it down just to get some sleep. The disappointment was when I finished reading it the first time and realized I would probably never find it's equal. That search continues.....
Rating:
Summary: The Pillars of the Earth
Review: Pillars is raw human emotion. It is the most amazing book I have ever read. I can't remember ever crying that hard. It is well written and puts you on the edge of your seat from the beginging. I only wish there was a sequal.
Rating:
Summary: Truly captivating
Review: I must say that this has to be my favorite book of all time. The development of the story and the characters was beautiful and kept me enraptured throughout the entire story. I did not want this book to end. You'll laugh, cry, and yearn for blood with each of the characters. It definitely puts you back to a place in time that only Eco and Follet have seemed to master.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional, intriguing, involving
Review: If you like a book in which the heroes and heroines constantly struggle against powerful villains, and must use their cleverness to survive, you will like this book. The conflict is so well paced, it barely hits a lull. And there's enough about history and cathedrals to make it interesting, but not bog the story down. This book is well-crafted, and one of the most enjoyable and engaging I've come across in a while. Read it, if you want a look into the lives of people driven by their ambitions, their past defeats, their love and their vows.
Rating: 
Summary: Fair
Review: This book was good. I wouldn't say it was one of the best books I've ever read, but it was worth the time to read it. I'm not going to be like you "oh boy! I'm going to be unique kind of people," and say this book is trash. It's quite simply a good book. Aventure? You'll get it. Drama? That too. Violence? Yeah. Romance? A bit too much.
Rating:
Summary: Ken is the best...
Review: I've never read a similar book. Reading this book I could feel deep emotions, I cried. I could live on my skin characters' experiences e I think it's fantastic. Sorry for my bad english but I wonted to say my opinion about the best book I've read in my life...Thank you Ken!
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece?
Review: While this isn't a bad book, it is not even remotely close to being a masterpiece. The characters are mildly interesting and the plot is extremely redundant. Basically the plot consists of a monk trying to build a cathedral but unfortunately keeps getting frustrated by two characters. Every time he finds a way around it and every time the two characters find a new way to try and stop him. It gets so tiresome by the end. Fortunately there is a plot twist in the middle but its not enough to warrent calling this book a masterpiece.I did not think the book was horrible but I would not recommend it. Its almost a thousand pages of the same thing over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: the world a thousand years ago
Review: I'm still reading this book, with hundreds of pages to go. But I've not yet read a piece of historical fiction that places you back in its time so well in terms of the feeling of really being there . . . the mindset of medieval people, the difficulties and daily struggles of the people, the kinds of lives people lived and attitudes of the times, etc. Even the details of peoples' lives 1000 years ago are interesting, such as their tools, food, and daily ways of life. So far, it strikes me as an intriging portrait of life in the Middle Ages. It's a great break away from most of the current fiction (including much of Follett's) about lawyers, terrorism, spys, killers, etc of relatively contemporary times. A pleasant change of "scenery" for lovers of fiction, and so different for Follett.
Rating:
Summary: Modern Classic
Review: Modern Day Classic. Read it awhile ago and loved it, reread it recently and it was even better. While is it different from the normal works of Mr. Follet he has out done himself and will never write a better book than this one. It is a true modern day classic masterpiece. Wish there were more books like this out there. It transports you to ancient times and you can feel everything. Rich or poor, priest or peasant. A masterpiece, a treasure, one that everyone should read at least once, especially at school.
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