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Summary: Best book ever...period!
Review: If all of his books were as good as this one, Mr. Follett would be considered the greatest author of all time. Although its size looks imposing at first, the story will suck you in and will not let go...I found myself wishing it would go on forever. Better than "Gone With the Wind." Unquestionably the best book I have ever read.
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Summary: A good long read.
Review: Great story telling. Focuses on a period of history that is rarely dealt with in fictional writing.
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Summary: Essential Reading if you EVER visit a cathedral
Review: I read this book five years ago and loved it, I recommend it to many friends.I am now returning to England from Bermuda to get married in Yorkshire. The area is so littered with wonderful cathedrals that I am buying this book for Anita so that she can fully appreciate the wonderful history of her historic county. The book is an excellent description of man's conquering of apparently insurmountable problems, for the glory of his faith. It's also a jolly good romp through history showing it's true unglamorised aspects. You will not be disappointed.
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Summary: Best
Review: This is the all time best book I have ever read and I have read alot! I passed it on to all of my family and everyone agrees... it is the BEST! I wish he would write another one near as good as this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read
Review: This is honestly one of the most wonderful books I have ever read. It seems to have everything. At first I didn't think I'de like the setting of the book but after reading only a little bit of it I loved it. It got me interested in the Middle Ages and I just loved reading about them in this book. I was enveloped in the book and honestly could not put it down. I recommend it to anyone, it is truly an incredible book. I wish he'd write another novel in this setting.
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Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: My first copy of this book fell apart because I read it so many times and passed it around to as many of my friends who would agree to read such a massive book. I have since happily purchased a new copy which is already deteriorating from use. Although I admit that the first section of the book is a bit slow, it picks us the pace and then becomes one of the best books I've ever read. It is amazing how Follett allows us to watch these characters grow from children to adults. At the same time, he places the story on the vast scale of 12th century England right in the middle of a civil war. If you like epics like I do, this is a book to enjoy over and over again.
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Summary: A lot of pages but every one is great
Review: Truly a novel for everyone's tastes. Fans of stories like The Triumph and the Glory or The Testament will like this book. People who liked The Reader or Memoirs of a Geisha will like this book. People who liked Stones From the River or The Pilot's Wife will like this book. Readers who enjoy Follett will LOVE this book. It has everything one could ask of a book. A vast range and scope of human emotion and experience is encapsulated into this book, in a very eloquent manner. Don't miss this one, it is unforgettable.
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Summary: The Only Novel I've Ever Read Twice!
Review: The ultimate epic of Good vs Evil. Set in 12th Century England, this novel offers a dramatic portrayal of the cataclysmic power struggle between the King of England and the Church of England. Neither particularly good, or overwhelmingly evil. But both infected by the excesses that accompany a pursuit of power and wealth. Follett brilliantly weaves a compelling fabric of characters...some historic and some fictional...whose lives are irrevocably altered by the drama. Four parallel Character sets are woven into the story: A stonemason, and his family...whose only desire in life is to build a majestic cathedral. His motivations are both divine and profane. The cathedral Prior and his monks...who struggle against a wicked bishop to bring God and man together. The pompous earl...whose relentless efforts to destroy the Prior rains tragedy upon his family. Finally, the mystical woman of the woods...who, along with her son, has a story to tell which leads to the ultimate triumph of good over evil. For the church historian, faithful integration of historical detail like the murder of Thomas Beckett makes the novel all the more compelling.
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Summary: The boys came early to the hanging...
Review: It's really too bad that Follett has only written one book in this genre, because I read it, loved it and want more, but have been dissapointed with every subsequent book. This book is amazing, and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good fairy tale, romance, adventure or historical novel. This is truly an all-time must-read.
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Summary: a great historical fresco
Review: I recently read "The pillars of the earth" by Ken Follett. It is a book which combines both a historical fresco and an imaginary novel. On one hand, the author shows the different steps in building cathedrals, from design to construction. He attemps to explain the complexity of the structure of a cathedral and he shows us the variety of architectural styles in England, France and Spain. He mingles a historical view with fiction using created, ad-hoc characters. The reader can see the historical aspect of the story through the eyes of the main characters who evolve within a realistic framework.
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