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dcliz's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as the first novel in the trilogy, but keeping track of the characters was more manageable than in the second novel. Definitely makes you reflect on the passage of time, especially if you are in your 30s or later and don't find yourself to be a pop star, movie star, celebrated author, or government power broker.
I particularly like two passages:
On the first free election in Poland:
"Instead of marking their preferred candidates, they had to put a line through the ones they did not like.... Tanya suspected the government might have been unwise to choose a system of marking the paper in which rejection could feel so physically satisfying."
On trying to figure out how the United States could take credit for the fall of Communism in Europe:
"'Reagan made that speech though. 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.' Remember?'
'I remember. Are you going to tell people that Communism collapsed because Reagan made a speech? They'll never believe that.'
'Sure they will,' said Cam."
I particularly like two passages:
On the first free election in Poland:
"Instead of marking their preferred candidates, they had to put a line through the ones they did not like.... Tanya suspected the government might have been unwise to choose a system of marking the paper in which rejection could feel so physically satisfying."
On trying to figure out how the United States could take credit for the fall of Communism in Europe:
"'Reagan made that speech though. 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.' Remember?'
'I remember. Are you going to tell people that Communism collapsed because Reagan made a speech? They'll never believe that.'
'Sure they will,' said Cam."
nataliastovall's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cm636's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Ken Follett can't do wrong. Of course it's fictional, of course it's not true to the core but I just enjoy the view of the author and it's really well written. Fantastic book yet again!
illenba's review against another edition
2.0
Not nearly as good as the first two in the trilogy. Very political. i don't mind reading about the bad things the presidents did but at least show the bad that both sides did, not just the republican presidents.
mailvinode's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
lcoverosey's review against another edition
2.0
So disappointed in his last book of the trilogy. Poorly written sexploits of politicians.
dhlunique's review against another edition
2.0
Good story; lousy writing. Very clumsy in many places, especially sexual encounters.
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
4.0
Following the same families over time eased me out of one character and into the next from book to book gently. That was a major disappointment for me in the Pillars of the Earth books. I wanted more of the same characters! The research that he must put into his projects overwhelms me. I do feel like I have a better understanding of international events as they pertain to the Cold War and how the Eastern Block countries tie together and to Russia.
kcummings2040's review against another edition
5.0
I started this trilogy without high expectations. I quickly found myself enraptured by the rich history and vibrant characters. Ken Follett creates a fiction flawlessly intertwined with carefully researched history, most of it the stuff they didn’t teach you in school. Never in my life would I have thought I’d be googling WWI/II documentaries and looking for any opportunity to talk about how the Bolshevik Revolution and the American Freedom Riders are connected throughout history. Ken Follett is an incredibly talented researcher and storyteller. He makes learning about history fun and ignited a fire that inspired me to look into the American Civil Rights movement and the sordid history of the US, from Jim Crow era to present day. You follow five families from across the globe, from all walks of life, though WWI and II and the Cold War and Vietnam. You learn about these events through the accounts of the characters who lived them. This is obviously a work of fiction, but the characters who help tell this story come to life on the pages and begin to feel like real people whose stories are positively captivating. I look forward to reading more from Mr. Follett in the future and getting to know the characters he creates.
10/10 recommend this trilogy and this author.
10/10 recommend this trilogy and this author.
thelamon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5