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czelinskiy's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
english_lady03's review against another edition
2.0
I read this after watching the risible TV adaptation, which was truly one of the worst historical dramas I have ever seen, and only proved Godwin's weird incestuous sexual obsession with Carys was something Ridley Scott added for an undiscernible reason.
World Without End was another mammoth novel (nearly 1000 pages) covering a fascinating and pivotal period in British History from the perspective of 4 people from the fictional town of Kinsbridge. They are Ralph and Mervyn, two sons of a Squire, Carys, the ambitious daughter of a cloth merchant, and Gwenda, the daughter of a poor farm labourer who we would now call a peasant.
Life in 14th century Britain, and the lives and struggles of people in various classes is supposed to be covered through an examination of the lives of these 4, as well as social attitudes. Yet, it doesn't work.
I think this is because the character who get the most attention is Carys, and Carys is a modern woman and Mary Sue uncomfortably shoehorned into a Medieval Setting. Her attitudes to everything: culture, religion, morality, medicine, and woman's roles are thoroughly and unashamedly 21st century.
I hate modern attitudes and ideas imported into historical settings unless there is a credible reason for it, and there manifestly is not one here. Carys is just a modern avatar, if he was male there might even have been a case to consider him a self-insert.
As such I never connected with her, never took her seriously, and never came to care for her. Her incessant preaching of modern ideals did not help the matter either.
Were it not for her efforts to assist people during the plague, she would also be a thoroughly selfish and self-centred character. I think she is selfish, but the medical assistance and aid to those impacted by the plague is used to offset that. Oh, and we really don't need endless intimate details about their sex lives and a possible lesbian relationship thrown in for good measure. Modern virtue signalling much.
In a lot of ways this detracted form the story, and in the last 20% or so I felt there was no real conflict whatsoever, except that between Ralph and Gwenda which lingered from the past.
For the pure story, this book was good, but the characterization and the endless need for modern proselytising and the attempt to spice up the plot with needless sex scenes ruined it.
World Without End was another mammoth novel (nearly 1000 pages) covering a fascinating and pivotal period in British History from the perspective of 4 people from the fictional town of Kinsbridge. They are Ralph and Mervyn, two sons of a Squire, Carys, the ambitious daughter of a cloth merchant, and Gwenda, the daughter of a poor farm labourer who we would now call a peasant.
Life in 14th century Britain, and the lives and struggles of people in various classes is supposed to be covered through an examination of the lives of these 4, as well as social attitudes. Yet, it doesn't work.
I think this is because the character who get the most attention is Carys, and Carys is a modern woman and Mary Sue uncomfortably shoehorned into a Medieval Setting. Her attitudes to everything: culture, religion, morality, medicine, and woman's roles are thoroughly and unashamedly 21st century.
I hate modern attitudes and ideas imported into historical settings unless there is a credible reason for it, and there manifestly is not one here. Carys is just a modern avatar, if he was male there might even have been a case to consider him a self-insert.
As such I never connected with her, never took her seriously, and never came to care for her. Her incessant preaching of modern ideals did not help the matter either.
Were it not for her efforts to assist people during the plague, she would also be a thoroughly selfish and self-centred character. I think she is selfish, but the medical assistance and aid to those impacted by the plague is used to offset that. Oh, and we really don't need endless intimate details about their sex lives and a possible lesbian relationship thrown in for good measure. Modern virtue signalling much.
In a lot of ways this detracted form the story, and in the last 20% or so I felt there was no real conflict whatsoever, except that between Ralph and Gwenda which lingered from the past.
For the pure story, this book was good, but the characterization and the endless need for modern proselytising and the attempt to spice up the plot with needless sex scenes ruined it.
yerggggggg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
teokajlibroj's review against another edition
4.0
This is very similar to Pillars of the Earth. In fact it is pretty much a rehash of the same structure and very similar characters (Merthin is Jack, Caris is Aliena etc). It is more political than Pillars, with a greater emphasis on free thought and free markets. It also suffers from the same fault of being far more modern than people in the 14th century really were.
All that being said, I greatly enjoyed the book.I was eager to see what would happen next and followed all the twists and turns (even if I did know it would work out in the end). Its not easy to entertain someone over 1000 pages, yet Follett certainly succeeds.
All that being said, I greatly enjoyed the book.I was eager to see what would happen next and followed all the twists and turns (even if I did know it would work out in the end). Its not easy to entertain someone over 1000 pages, yet Follett certainly succeeds.
ajs501's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eletoile's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.0
elladan's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
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? No
3.5
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Historical saga that educates and and entertains - very much in the vein of its predecessor
4.5 stars
I've just rewatched both TV series and reread Pillars, just loving the detail, the history, the people. I had to continue the saga.
Over more than 1,000 pages, a new era brings new challenges, new families and relationships, some whiter-than-white heroes and some truly devious and hateable villains. In many respects, it takes the plot and character types of Pillars, though instead of a cathedral to build this time, it's a bridge at the centre of the story.
Another medieval mystery awaits - a knight comes to Kingsbridge amidst violent circumstances to join the religious brothers. A wise woman's young protege and a craftsman's apprentice fall in love, all the while the town around them copes with wool taxes, devious monks, and of course... the Plague.
There are two main couples at the heart of the book - Carys and Gwenda and their respective loves, and neither which has a straightforward relationship. Carys is pure and brave and a little too perfect (and very much like Aliena), and Merthin the 'Jack Builder' of the plot. Gwenda is the hard-working and long-suffering friend who toils 'for her man', who personally I found a bit of a dim drip and barely worth the trouble of such a feisty female. But hey-ho, that's the way it's written. Again, we also have a truly bad villain in Ralph, though he's not quite as detestable as William Hamleigh in 'Pillars'.
I found the historical detail fascinating - the town, trade, policing system, descriptions of medieval medicine, guild talks, all of it. The one scene I had trouble with, found myself grimacing openly at, a revoltingly true occurrence of skin flaying as punishment, was still important to include. This is a graphic scene to read / listen to, and there are a few other sexual scenes, though mostly the book is realistic in its depiction of crime, violence, illness and everyday troubles.
I listened to this on audiobook, and despite being more than 45 hours in length, it flew by and was very easy to follow. Taking place over several decades, mostly in Kingsbridge but with chunks abroad, it's a proper saga of a novel, with many townsfolk contributing to the population that we learn about and come to care about.
I prefer the first, but thoroughly enjoying seeing the town two hundred years further on, on the brink of great social and cultural changes. I'll also be listening to the third book sometime soon as well.
4.5 stars
I've just rewatched both TV series and reread Pillars, just loving the detail, the history, the people. I had to continue the saga.
Over more than 1,000 pages, a new era brings new challenges, new families and relationships, some whiter-than-white heroes and some truly devious and hateable villains. In many respects, it takes the plot and character types of Pillars, though instead of a cathedral to build this time, it's a bridge at the centre of the story.
Another medieval mystery awaits - a knight comes to Kingsbridge amidst violent circumstances to join the religious brothers. A wise woman's young protege and a craftsman's apprentice fall in love, all the while the town around them copes with wool taxes, devious monks, and of course... the Plague.
There are two main couples at the heart of the book - Carys and Gwenda and their respective loves, and neither which has a straightforward relationship. Carys is pure and brave and a little too perfect (and very much like Aliena), and Merthin the 'Jack Builder' of the plot. Gwenda is the hard-working and long-suffering friend who toils 'for her man', who personally I found a bit of a dim drip and barely worth the trouble of such a feisty female. But hey-ho, that's the way it's written. Again, we also have a truly bad villain in Ralph, though he's not quite as detestable as William Hamleigh in 'Pillars'.
I found the historical detail fascinating - the town, trade, policing system, descriptions of medieval medicine, guild talks, all of it. The one scene I had trouble with, found myself grimacing openly at, a revoltingly true occurrence of skin flaying as punishment, was still important to include. This is a graphic scene to read / listen to, and there are a few other sexual scenes, though mostly the book is realistic in its depiction of crime, violence, illness and everyday troubles.
I listened to this on audiobook, and despite being more than 45 hours in length, it flew by and was very easy to follow. Taking place over several decades, mostly in Kingsbridge but with chunks abroad, it's a proper saga of a novel, with many townsfolk contributing to the population that we learn about and come to care about.
I prefer the first, but thoroughly enjoying seeing the town two hundred years further on, on the brink of great social and cultural changes. I'll also be listening to the third book sometime soon as well.
ccorner's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75