Published
on: June 29 2010
By: Berkley Mass Market
Number
of pages: 983
Reading
attempt: 1
Reading
time: 20 days
Rating: «««««
Advice: It’s a must read!!!!!
Also
available in French as: Les Piliers de la Terre
The
context
I have been hearing
the name of Ken Follett for a while now, whether it is related to his previous
thriller novels or his more recent historical ones. But lately with his new book trilogy “The
Century Trilogy” and “World without End” now out on DVD, it’s becoming more and
more of an actual talk than a simple whisper or murmur. This is how I convinced myself to finally buy
the book ... last summer.
As you see, I didn't exactly throw myself into it right away.
Actually it took a push from one of my friends who had just finished
reading the “sequel” a short time ago.
Looking back on those last 3 weeks, I have to say that I owe her many
thanks, because the last 21 days have brought me nothing but amazement.
The story
This is twelfth-century
England; a country divided by a war of succession in-between the weak-minded nephew
of the last king and his last legitimate child, a woman. Their fight will touch many: some will
acquire power and wealth only hoping for more, others will be betrayed and destitute
and seek revenge over those who wronged them.
The main theater, the impoverished Kingsbridge priory and its new prior, who is desperate
to bring back the old glory of his institution with a new and modern cathedral. But others do not see eye to eye with him and
will stop at nothing to interfere in his plans and those of his allies.
The review
This novel is a
thing of beauty. Rarely do you fall on a
book that’s got everything working for it: a great story line, riveting
characters, extraordinary writing style and thorough historical details.
The story plot
is action-packed and features such themes as despair, treachery, corruption,
betrayal and love. The author also
depicts here a fine reconstruction of what twelfth-century life was like. The result makes for a book that is quite
dense and complex where you can never guess what will happen later on,
which makes it a powerful and undeniable page-turner.
The small
downside is that it is a tad bit slow to start and that some of the technical jargon
concerning the architecture and the building of the cathedral might discourage
some. The ending also tends to draw
on a little, even though every single conflict is resolved.
As for the
characters, the author makes it clear that he has great insight into people
behavior as his creations come alive on the paper as well as in our
imagination. The author also adds a
layer of complexity to his story through the intertwining of his characters’s
lives. This effect is achieved through
the over description that is made of their thoughts and their feelings. The result is simply magnificent as you are
powerless to hate those who have a despicable and dark nature and love the
heroes even through their rough patches.
This novel is
not doubt a long-term commitment, but I can assure anyone who will take this
path that it will be worthwhile and that there are no disappointments whatsoever. You will be completely and
utterly immersed in this book until you resurface at the very end of it.
As for those who
still aren't sold on reading it and those to whom the thought of a thousand page-long book gives a hive, you could always settle for the eight-episode TV
series, now available on DVD. As I have
seen it, I can say that it is a fairly good compromise, although you will lack
in story detail and the directors took some creative liberties and tempered a
little with the original story line.
As always, keep reading all of you
bookworms and book lovers out there. Let me know what you’re reading or how you
found it. Who knows, you might inspire me my next great read. But for now, I am preparing myself for yet another
tour of Ken Follett’s world... this one without endJ
Until next time
Ladybug
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