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1.9k reviews for:
La Caída de Los Gigantes (the Century 1) / Fall of Giants (the Century, Book 1)
Ken Follett
4.19 AVERAGE
1.9k reviews for:
La Caída de Los Gigantes (the Century 1) / Fall of Giants (the Century, Book 1)
Ken Follett
4.19 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book, though it could drag at times. My biggest caveat: there is no mention of the Flu pandemic. (One character is briefly ill w/ the flu, but no mention of the pandemic and its high mortality.) Considering that it killed more people than the war, it really paints an incomplete picture of the timeframe covered in the novel.
After reading Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, I again (with a lot of books) didn't know what to expect with Fall of Giants. I was so used to his style and familiarity with the Middle Ages, how would reading this feel? And the best thing of all, I actually never knew that the Fall of Giants was this epic about World War I and I absolutely LOVE stories about World Wars I & II but I hardly knew any little details revolving around World War I. My morbid fascination has made me devour this huge tome of a book (985 pages!) in just a short time. Well short for me because I was working nonstop. Ken Follett has officially entered my favorite authors list because he combines two of my favorite things so well: history and drama. I reckon and dare say that I probably love The Fall of Giants more than Pillars of the Earth because it has less articulation and description over architecture. Don't get me wrong, I love design and historical buildings but I love learning about people's history more. Follett was able to write a distinguish cast of characters whom you'll absolutely love or hate (and boy do I dislike Fitzherbert and Lev Peshkov! GOD). It's amazing to see World War I unfold starting from the first few pages as the seeds of doom are foreshadowed by the coal mine blast from Wales. I've also always wondered what was the CAUSE of such a bloody war. What were people thinking when they sent millions of their countrymen to their deaths? What was the purpose of it all? Follett explores both sides of the coin by dabbing in the minds and hearts of the British, German, Russians and Americans. We'll be able to see the evolution of their political views, from servant girl turned feminist politician Ethel of the British, to good peaceloving son turned German spy Walter of the Germans, to poor worker turned Bolshevik officer Grigori of the Russians. We'll see how socialism and the labour party thrived, how the monarchy fell and plenty of good historical drama. Just a note though that there are a lot of pages devoted to politics so if you dislike politics in any way... this may not be the book for you. Follett is a genius for being able to give voice to all 8 of his main characters, I wonder how he must have felt writing this. Thank you Follett for the great history lesson because even if [some] characters weren't real people, at least some events were and it has really given me an eye opener. Gotta find more World War I stuff!
Really really loved this book and I couldn't put it down. Hope it'll the same for you. :)
Can't wait for Winter of the Worlds! World War II is next!
Really really loved this book and I couldn't put it down. Hope it'll the same for you. :)
Can't wait for Winter of the Worlds! World War II is next!
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Quel bonheur de retrouver cette saga ! Je ne pensais pas l'aimer autant, surtout que mes goûts ont évolués en 3 ans !
Mais j'ai savouré les intrigues politiques, j'ai adoré les personnages (Grigori, Maud, Walter, Ethel, je les aime de tout mon cœur eux 💞), certains personnages étaient agaçants mais j'ai adoré les suivre tout de même. J'aime l'écriture aussi : simple, se rapprochant presque d'un documentaire, mais parfois belle quand il le faut !
Je comprends les critiques que ce livre peut avoir : oui il y a beaucoup de scènes sexuelles, oui c'est parfois lent...
Mais cela n'entrave pas mon bonheur pour ce livre, alors je mets 5 🌟
Quelques citations que j'aime 💞 :
"They had waited half the night to see the passing of the train that held the hope of the world. "
"And who will win in the end?"
"The Russian people," Gus said. "They will win in the end."
"Gentlemen, you are history. Fellow workers, we are the future!"
"Fitz realized how clever Walter had been. Not rude, but discreetly provocative, he had stung the representatives of each nation into confirming, in more or less belligerent language, their territorial ambitions."
"Maud was passionate about everything :poverty, women rights, music - and Walter. He felt amazed and privileged that she had fallen in love with him. "
Mais j'ai savouré les intrigues politiques, j'ai adoré les personnages (Grigori, Maud, Walter, Ethel, je les aime de tout mon cœur eux 💞), certains personnages étaient agaçants mais j'ai adoré les suivre tout de même. J'aime l'écriture aussi : simple, se rapprochant presque d'un documentaire, mais parfois belle quand il le faut !
Je comprends les critiques que ce livre peut avoir : oui il y a beaucoup de scènes sexuelles, oui c'est parfois lent...
Mais cela n'entrave pas mon bonheur pour ce livre, alors je mets 5 🌟
Quelques citations que j'aime 💞 :
"They had waited half the night to see the passing of the train that held the hope of the world. "
"And who will win in the end?"
"The Russian people," Gus said. "They will win in the end."
"Gentlemen, you are history. Fellow workers, we are the future!"
"Fitz realized how clever Walter had been. Not rude, but discreetly provocative, he had stung the representatives of each nation into confirming, in more or less belligerent language, their territorial ambitions."
"Maud was passionate about everything :poverty, women rights, music - and Walter. He felt amazed and privileged that she had fallen in love with him. "
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Massive-scope epic set during World War I with characters based in Wales, Germany, Russia, and the USA. With scenes covering 1911 to 1924, the fictional characters interact with the historical figures of the time and confront the major issues surrounding the war, as well as womens suffrage, the rise of Marxism, the Russian Revolution, and the beginnings of prohibition in America.
Follett's attention to detail is great, and he his plotting is impressive in its ability to take characters in different situations and different social strata and find ways for them to come together and to cross paths. There were a couple of instances when this felt contrived (a random meeting in no-man's land during the Christmas Truce), but these were the exception. In general, the story flowed naturally, and the connections between the characters held the plot together.
The characters of Billy and Ethel, the son and daughter of a Welsh coal mining family who find their way into political activism, were my favorites among the cast, and I really enjoyed the endings of their plotlines.
The book was able to make the connections between the large-scale political events and their impacts on the personal level, all while telling great stories.
Follett's attention to detail is great, and he his plotting is impressive in its ability to take characters in different situations and different social strata and find ways for them to come together and to cross paths. There were a couple of instances when this felt contrived (a random meeting in no-man's land during the Christmas Truce), but these were the exception. In general, the story flowed naturally, and the connections between the characters held the plot together.
The characters of Billy and Ethel, the son and daughter of a Welsh coal mining family who find their way into political activism, were my favorites among the cast, and I really enjoyed the endings of their plotlines.
The book was able to make the connections between the large-scale political events and their impacts on the personal level, all while telling great stories.
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is utterly epic in scale, and it could have been incredibly difficult to follow all the different strands of story that weaved through the grand backdrop of the First World War. But it's a testament to the strength of the characters Follett created that I was never bored. The book begins in 1911 and ends in 1924, following a number of families in different circumstances. From Russian workers to British and German aristocrats, Welsh miners and American diplomats, the history of The Great War is unfolded through their stories and it is absolutely fascinating.
So much of the political nuance (which has been carefully researched) I had no idea about, and it was really interesting to read something that encompassed so many facets of society that had an effect on the outcome of the war. There have been so many stories centred on trench warfare (and those chapters are brilliantly written here), but I knew so little about the political battles to end (and in some cases prolong) the war, the rise of the suffragettes in London and the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.
When separated from the huge story, the characters themselves were also really engaging. Grigori Peshkov is so idealistic and noble after a tragic childhood, while his irresponsible brother Lev fritters away his opportunities. Maud Fitzherbert and Ethel Williams are a lady and a maid respectively, and form an unlikely and wonderful alliance while fighting for women's rights. There are characters to love, and some I loved to hate. There are love stories between classes and warring nationalities, and there is still so much more of the 20th century to encounter. I can't wait to read the second installment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Murder, Pregnancy, War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Religious bigotry
El mejor relato de la Primera Guerra Mundial, un libro que te atrapa desde que comienza, Ken Follet logra involucrarte de una manera increíble con los personajes y la historia.
The story was very Follett-esque, "sweeping" and "moving" and enjoyable all-around. However I got the sense that he was behind on his deadline towards the end, because "sweeping" became "sweeping generalizations" and "moving" became "moving along"... He rushed through some key points in the story and left me wishing for more details about certain events.
Maybe more 2.5*?
This was honestly an own kind of dumpsterfire! RTC!
This was honestly an own kind of dumpsterfire! RTC!