Rating: Summary: Historical Pop for the TV era Review: Follet is a competent storyteller but he is betrayed by his compulsive pandering to the lowest-common denominator. This has the feel, the texture, the depth and the authenticity of those old 70's TV mini-series, full of romance, betrayal and as predictable as the four seasons. It has some merit, as pop pulp, coarsely written and very much aimed at the middle of the bell curve, but it is disturbing seeing so many people labelling it as "the best book ever". What books are this people reading? I don't mean to be disrespectful, and I am sure their devotion is sincere. What's more, I think that Follet is due some credit for telling a story that uses all the possible archetypes in fiction and manages to pull through a ton of pages, but... Even for popular fiction, this is simple-minded, digested and very much low-aiming stuff. It is puzzling to me that so many readers find this "the book of their lives". It makes me wonder about our lives, what we read and what we aspire to.
Rating: Summary: Riveting! I could not put it down Review: I read this book for the first time about 5 years ago, and went through it all in 2 days. I re-read it again and this time went straight through it in one sitting. When I lent it to a friend who travels alot, she told me she was so into the book that she got mad at William, and threw the book across the room.
Rating: Summary: WOW the best book ever Review: When I first read this book I found that I could not put it down. It is the type of book that you could read over and over and still be suprised at the grandness of the cathedrals. The love story between Jack and Aleina is one for the ages. If you have to read any books this is the one.
Rating: Summary: A humble experience of life in a different time. Review: I took this book to work with me (on a boat) and during a period of 8 weeks, 7 different people read it and all lost sleep over it. Everyone gave it excellent reviews. The way Follett describes the characters here is superior to his other excellent work. I felt like I was transposed into another place and time, standing right there next to them, understanding how they felt and what they were thinking. After 1000 pages, I would have kept reading if there were 2 or 3 thousand. By the way, what is his thing with Redheads? I haven't read one yet that doesn't have one!
Rating: Summary: A great epic Review: I have just concluded reading Pillars of the Earth. I read a lot, and have to say that this book moved me in ways not many books do. This is the first book I've read dealing with this time period. The story and the characters pull you in and you feel like you are living and working along side them. It is wonderful. Follett is like an artist painting a vast canvas for the reader to gaze into.In some ways, I'd compare this book to Stephen King's The Stand. Both are massive in scope and story. I strongly encourage all to read this.
Rating: Summary: I didn't want the story to end. Review: I have never been so wrapped up and attached to a series of characters in all my years of reading. As soon as the book was over, I wanted to flip back to page one and start again.
Rating: Summary: favorite book ever Review: reading book for third time and i just wanna say that the lives in this book r so real, u feel like u know them and grow to luv and hate them. u see a mirage of betrayal and loyalty, plus peace and war. the length of this book seems shorter than need be after the in depth life of the characters draws you in and ends before their times are gone. it also shows the result of good and bad upbringing in conflicts during the book.
Rating: Summary: Wonderful Characters though oceans of time, love, and loss Review: This book has everything! Totally unexpected! I started reading and I never wanted to put it down! The Characters grow up right with the reader from babies themselves to having children and grandchildren through love, loss, hope, dispair, triump, and defeat with a beautiful backdrop of gothic cathedrals. You laugh and Cry with them and You miss them when their story is over. This story is a perfectly blended piece of FICTION, and it does not matter how much of the history is real, Follet makes it real. I would like to see this made into a movie!!
Rating: Summary: This book offers something for everyone. Review: Through this book you will enter a world full of love, death, war, religion, rape, birth, survival, tragedy, family, magic, and so much more.
Rating: Summary: page turner Review: When a friend recommended the book, I was a little hesitant. I had no idea what to expect. But I now believe that this was well worth the time. Pillars of the Earth, although not historically perfect, is a mesmerizing piece of fiction. I truly could not wait until I got home from work to read more. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something simple and moving. As for the question of historical accuracy??? forget about it. It will only ruin your experience!!
|