Rating: 
Summary: Possibly the best book I have ever read
Review: Ken Follet writes this tale as though he personally experienced the world in the 11th century. It takes truly magnificent imagination to create something of this magnitude and genius. Obviously well-researched but interwoven with fiction, this story does not only lend itself to reading, it ABSORBS the reader. Despite its length, I devoured in in one sitting. I did not sleep at all, such was the thrall of the epic (and it IS an epic). I have since reread 'Pillars of the Earth' at least five times, and I shall read it again (as soon as my friends stop 'lending' it permanently). I have had to buy three different copies of this book, and at the moment I am in possession of none. I feel obliged to recommend it to any who care to listen to me for longer than two minutes, and as a result I keep losing my precious copies. I have read few other novels with impact such as this, and anyone who is in the slightest bit interested in English history, revenge and absolute perfection in narration should give this classic book a read. It won't be your last! If you would like any other 'classic' recommendations, you should give 'The Power of One' by Bryce Courtenay, and 'Roots of Outrage'(I cannot recall the author's name at present - scandallous since he is one of my favourites), which both juxtapose fictional characters with chronicled events in South Africa's history. Both of these recommendations are relatively on par with 'Pillars...'. Superb!
Rating:
Summary: A tapestry of medieval cathedrals centered around a drama
Review: Ken Follet actually wanted to write this book years before it was published. But his agent told him to build up his base of fans by writing several more thrillers. His EYE OF THE NEEDLE pushed him up to the best seller list.
At a later point, after writing those novels and studying medieval cathedral architecture, Follet got to write his 900 page novel centering around the British dispute of the crown between Queen Maude and King Stephen; these were the contestants who preceded Henry II, who is best known for his colorful History with Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lion Hearted and the gray King John.
Story centers around several commoner types, with a few exceptions, whose lives intertwine in the eventual struggle to build a glorious cathedral. Without revealing too much and generalizing this story has: lurid scenes of lust, violence, intrigue, political disputes, wars, loves gained, loves lost, main characters dying, a child abandoned at birth and much more. And, to Historian lovers, it even teaches readers of the period.
Highly advised reading, even if the dialogue is a bit informal and the structure sometimes isn't as focused as it could be. If those two points don't bother you, this is a great book.
Rating: 
Summary: Really Really Dumb
Review: Please don't waste your time like I did. This is a very stupid book.
Rating: 
Summary: Very engaging historical fiction
Review: ... 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: 
Summary: Not my favorite title in this genre
Review: A long book set in Medieval England which is filled with many characters over 40 years, as a Prior of the Church and master builders complete a monumental cathedral. For many years this book sat among my to be read collection and while I often thought about picking it up, the size of it 973 pages, was daunting. Then when a book group I am with chose to read and discuss this book, I decided I just had to see what other readers always raved about. Unfortunately I am finding that I am in the vast minority of people who have read this book since I really didn't enjoy this book all that much. I didn't find the writing particualrly good or moving and found most of the book much too wordy and descriptive. The moments of interest were too few for me to rate this book any higher although I do think it must have taken great effort to write this novel. It may just be that historical fiction is no longer one of my genres of choice as I haven't really enjoyed the others I read this year either. But I haven't given up because during the summer I will be rereading an old cherished favorite historical fiction title, Katherine by Anya Seton. I first read this book over 40 years ago so it should be interesting to see if this genre is no longer for me or in fact it was just the other titles I rerad this year which I didn't enjoy. As for Follett, it may be that I much preferred his suspsense books of a number of years ago which included The Key to Rebecca and Eye of the Needle since I haven't managed to get through any of his other boosk in sometime.
Rating:
Summary: Make sure to set a side a weekend
Review: I read this a while ago. And even though I cannot remember the whole story, I do remember my reaction, "That was GOOD!". It took me about 100 pages to get into it, but once in I was in I was unable to put the book down. It felt to me as though some great great great grandmother of mine sat down next to me and told me the whole saga such that you felt you were there living it. You know in the movie Princess Bride how the grandfather is reading the story to Fred Savage, well picture that type of story in a classic time, but without the silliness, with MUCH more plot and about 6 hours longer...because a LOT happens in this book. After writing this review, I think I need to go read it again.
Rating:
Summary: Pillars can barely support interest, let alone the earth
Review: Don't be fooled with its user rating, The Pillars of the Earth is a horrible book. The title itself is a prologue of the ridiculousness of the book. Pillars of the Earth? It can barely support interest and quality, let alone the weight of the earth. The Pillars of the Earth is hardly an epic. Its choppy sentences, flat characters, slow pace, lack of stirring imagery, and annoyingly simple writing style makes it another of the modern books disguised in a mediaeval setting that are becoming so popular. Follett spends pages upon pages describing the architecture of the cathedral or the procedures of cathedral-building. Unfortunately, his descriptions fail to capture the imagination or inspire, as does the imagery of other writers, such as Daphne du Maurier in 'Rebecca' or J.R.R. Tolkien in 'The Lord of the Rings.' And the complex characters? Look somewhere else for that! Follett's characters all fall into two main categories: Good Guys and Bad Guys. Then there's the uncountable number of characters whose only point of existance seems to be to fill up another page. All of these characters are extremely unrealistic. The bad guys are two-dimensional, their motives are fake and predictable. The women are predictable, all fitting nearly perfectly into the mold of 'damsel in distress' or a perversion of the fairy-tale princess. And for those who claim that this is a great introduction to mediaeval England, I have to feel sorry that they're walking around with such a warped view of the Dark Ages. The characters and situations are modern-day scenarios thrown into a mediaeval setting. Characters' values, speech, etc. are incredibly modern. For example, an unmarried couple with children (Aliena and Jack) would definitely be frowned-upon. A witch (Ellen) would probably provoke a witch-hunt. The worst part about the whole tedious book, other than the length, was the writing style. His sentences are short and undetailed, except when the details are unneeded, as in the unneccessary tens of sex scenes. In short, The Pillars of the Earth was a horrible book. Don't be fooled, it's NOT an epic (try the iliad or the odyssey), NOT a masterpeice (most of charles dickens' works are), not a good intro. to mediaeval life (Beowulf is better) and NOT worth your money.
Rating:
Summary: a GIANT of a book!
Review: This is one of my favorite books ever! Follett does an incredible job building a cathedral... and a wonderful story. What an architect!
Rating:
Summary: Simply great!
Review: I loved this book...I might have read it 2-3 years ago and continue to remember the great fun I had with it. Unfortunately for me, that great fun lasted for only one day cause I went through its 998 pages in just 24 hours!!!!.... I love the middle ages so much: when I read a book, visit Europe, or hear music, I love everything that was, worst case scenario, conceived in 15th century at the most. And in this same line I can tell you this is the best book I've ever read concerning the middle ages. The way in which Ken Follet describes the way social entities live together, compite, abuse and cooperate with each other in 12th century England is simply great! Apart from the descriptions of the towns, and of the day-to-day lives of the peoples, one of the great features of the "50 year saga" related in the book, is the contrast between the good fellows and the bad guys. To some point, the bad guys are so intensly bad that throught the book you get easily identified, at least to some extent, with the good guys. In my particular case, I even suffered when good fellows suffered, and couldn't wait to get through the pages know what would end up happening to them!!!! Enjoy it! Great book!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read
Review: This is an excellent book. It tells a terrific story that will capture and hold your attention. At the same time, amazingly, you'll learn some really interesting history and architecture while Follett's rich rendering of the time and customs will allow you to "experience" the book, if you know what I mean. You'll feel a part of it, rather than a witness. Enjoy.
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