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Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

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Misfit
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Posts: 9581
Joined: August 2008
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by Misfit » Tue January 17th, 2012, 11:20 pm

If you can overlook the characters' overly modern mindsets, behavior, and manner of speaking and thinking, World is definitely entertaining: a fast-paced, tension-filled novel with an epic sweep. I'd recommend it ... unless the historical issues would prevent you from suspending disbelief for the full 1,000 pages! A novel that size might really make a dent in your wall.
That's the thing, what works for one reader isn't always going to work for another, and why it's good to point out what didn't work in a review. There is a HUGE kerfuffle over at Goodreads right now over a very well written critical review and an author's agent who got a wee bit carried away at Twitter.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

laktor
Reader
Posts: 108
Joined: September 2010

Post by laktor » Mon August 27th, 2012, 4:06 am

The mini-series World Without End, the sequel to Pillars will be starting in Canada Sept. 4, just one week away. In the U.S., I believe the start date is in mid-Oct.

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Vanessa
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Posts: 4378
Joined: August 2008
Currently reading: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
Favourite HF book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
Preferred HF: Any
Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Post by Vanessa » Mon August 27th, 2012, 9:59 am

I didn't realise they were doing a series of World Without End. I wonder if and when it's coming to the UK. I'll have to read the book before watching it!
currently reading: My Books on Goodreads

Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind

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Madeleine
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Posts: 5860
Joined: August 2008
Currently reading: "Mania" by L J Ross
Preferred HF: Plantagenets, Victorian, crime, dual time-frame
Location: Essex/London

Post by Madeleine » Mon August 27th, 2012, 10:19 am

I did know they were filming it, and I think I've seen a tie-in edition of the book, which might hopefully mean that it'll be shown here too!
Currently reading "Mania" by L J Ross

laktor
Reader
Posts: 108
Joined: September 2010

Post by laktor » Tue August 28th, 2012, 5:54 pm

Also, of note, is that Ken Follett will begin writing another novel in this series about Kingsbridge, but not until he finishes the 3rd and final book of the Century Trilogy, in 2014.

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Nefret
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Posts: 2994
Joined: February 2009
Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
Location: Temple of Isis

Post by Nefret » Tue September 4th, 2012, 4:48 am

I'm watching the mini-series now. It's okay, I guess. I mostly enjoy looking at Rufus Sewell (one of the characters I liked most of the time.)

I first read the book many years ago, as a trip book. It gave me something to do in the airport, but I wished I'd brought something else.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

SCW
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Posts: 286
Joined: October 2010
Preferred HF: Lately World Two or the time immediately before and after this period
Location: Australia

Post by SCW » Sun March 15th, 2015, 8:10 am

I read 'Pillars' when I was about 17 and really enjoyed it. However, there were a number of things that bothered me about the book. The stand out being the scene where Ellen reacts furiously to Tom Builders news that she has to live apart from him for over a year and then decides to publicly urinate on the monks bible as a way to release her anger.

That was a jawdropper moment because I couldn't believe that this would not go unpunished. Furthermore Tom recollects how 'erotic' he found this. Not for me, I thought I was reading a novel about the medieval era rather than a porn story.

My favourite character was the celibate (and happy to remain so) Prior Phillip.

One male friend said he couldn't finish it because of the many rape scenes in the story. He told me it felt like the author got too much pleasure out of recounting them all.
Last edited by SCW on Sun March 15th, 2015, 8:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

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