Reviews with content warning for Cursing - The Pillars of the Earth

Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

13 reviews

basbleu_dans_labiblioteque's review against another edition

slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

im a huge fan of historical fiction, especially medieval historical fiction. I was really excited for this book, because it was in a setting I find fascinating and was clearly accurate and well-researched, but this guy did not pull it off. Some of the book was boring, and there was quite a bit that was downright painful to read.

Also, that bearbaiting scene absolutely did not need to take around 5 pages!

I couldn’t care about any of the characters, and the book was so. Repetitive.

The “good guys”(Aliena, Jack, Phillip, etc.) would do something good, Waleran Bigod would make a plan, Hamleigh would show up, murder some people and rape somebody, and we’d be back to the beginning.

For 975 pages. All in all, I ended up reading it out of obligation: I felt like I was already into it so I might as well finish.

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aether_seawo1f's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Glacial pacing for the first 600 pages, the last 400 are decent.

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dielilla's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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expandingmybookshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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siniandi's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I understand that this is one of Follett's most beloved works. It is a densely packed work spanning several decades; the plot is nicely interwoven with historical elements and makes one reflect on power structures and injustices that in some form persist to this day. I honestly loved most of the characters and the way the flaws of even the "good" characters reflect in the story. Follett makes sure to create a strong female protagonist, which I love. She seems believable and strong and wields power in ways realistic for the era.

The description of women and sex scenes are a quite male gaze-y though (as is usually the case in Follett's work) and the ending comes a little abrupt and too neatly, as if he really wanted to finish after 1000 pages.

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sydna_lowe's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wow. What a book. This is probably one of the densest books I’ve ever read. I can’t even imagine writing this epic story - it was enough just to read it!

I was very skeptical about reading a book set in the 12th century. Could it possibly be interesting?! Well yes, of course it could be! Turns out 12th century stories provide an endless amount of drama, romance, and adventure. I learned quite a lot of history I otherwise never would have known. Plus, the underlying message of Christianity was quite impressive - intentional or not.

Critically speaking, this book could’ve been shorter. Some of the drama felt a bit repetitive. Like really, the town is going to get burned down again?! But that also just contributes to the epic nature of this book so I’m OK with it overall.

Favorite character by far is Aliena. What a woman!

Favorite quote was on page 295. Philip is talking to Tom Builder. “…God demands the best we have to offer, that which is most precious to us. Is this design the best thing you could offer God?” … “Then rest easy. God will accept it.”

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