Pillars of the Earth

[aikish12]

One of the novels that I will always remember. The hardship that the characters experience got etched in my mind. The characters are so well defined and the story line is simply amazing the way all the characters are weaved together into an intricate web that spans a generation. I had a difficult time putting this book down!

Ken Follett does a masterful job of creating a believable setting and populating it with believable male characters. The novel follows the construction of a cathedral in 12th century England.

[Maud Fitch]

Yep, a truly excellent book.

[Hourglass]

Pillars of the Earth is one of my favorite books. I didn't care for the second book that came out later, but Pillars will always be on my keeper shelf. I'm planning on buying it on Kindle, then I can buy another paperback to replace my much read and battered paperback. Then I can read it on the Kindle and keep the new paperback in good condition.

[Hexipuff]

Fantastic book. Detailed - but interesting detail. Couldn't put it down
I enjoy books about this era - medieval history.

[A24]

I've been listening to this on audio (for quite a while now - it's 41 hours long!) and I love it. I'm in the final stretch and was wondering if any of you that have read this book have seen the mini series? I was thinking of ordering it.

[Fran]

@A24
Fantastic book and IMO still his best but the mini series was a sad disappointment - personally I watched maybe about half and gave up. Read the book and forget about the miniseries would be my advice. I love all his books to be honest but I have a special place for Pillars.

[Aussie-reader]

Pillars of the Earth is one of my all time favourite books.
I love detailed historical fiction, based around real events as this was, starting with the sinking of the White Ship.

Am interested in OP's comment that the male characters were believable - to me, the female characters were too


I enjoyed the mini series too and I enjoyed the sequel World Without End - but it is not nearly as good as Pillars.

[A24]

Wow, I finally finished this one! I listened to it as an audiobook and it took me months! This was a very chunky historical fiction. Loved the detail and characters. It had sort of "soap opera" feel with all of the sub-plots. This book had it all: love, murder, rape, gruesome battles, witchery, lust, very descriptive architecture, revenge (yes, lots of revenge!)......
For as long as the book was, I do feel though that the ending came about so quickly. I found myself questioning who the characters were and what they represented. Even though it came about sort of rushed, I feel good about the ending and there was good closure. The evil ones got what they had coming.
I've come to know some of these characters so well over the past few months that I will miss them. But, on to other (hopefully shorter) books. 4.5/5

[Alle Wells]

I loved this book too. Even though it's been a couple of years, I still get a glimpse of the characters in my head. It took me months to read it, therefore, I wasn't compelled to read the sequel.

[crazyforbooks]

I loved Pillars, but was really disappointed with the sequel even though I know that sequels are usually not as good. Some of the details are painful to read about, and they made me wonder how I would've survived if I lived in that time period. People were so much stronger back then, to have dealt with the hardships and still continue to carry on.

[Aussie-reader]

The sequel is nowhere near as good - the characters are too extreme.

Pillars has all the characters with believable flaws, the heroes aren't perfect people and the villians have motives, like jealousy etc and redeeming features - they are not just born intrinsically and wholly bad - World without End has unrealistic all-evil villians and that really lets the book down.
It doesn't come across as a real story about real people.

[Seni]

I finally will have time to read Pillars of Earth. I have read the first few chapters and so far have loved it. I find many of the female characters so strong and during those times were probably not seen with kind eyes for being that way. I also love the way the times are described, I can almost see myself helping out to build the cathedral.

[Reshmi]

A wonderful book and even the sequel to this book which is 'World without an End' is also very good.

[Seni]

Not sure if I will read A World Without End, as I don't believe sequels are ever that great. I will read the first book of Follett's trilogy The Century: Fall of Giants.

[Hannaa_Campbell]

I just read this book! Totally agree.