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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
A nice blend of history and fiction . What kept me from giving a higher rating is all the “coincedental “ meetings of the main characters . They always seem to be a the right place at the right time . Even on a front spanning from the North Sea coast to Verdun , they happen to be at the exact place , albeit on opposite sides of the front . A bit unbelievable , and not the only time this happens .
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
This is a great book. I cannot wait for the next one. At 900+ pages, it is not small, but I could not put it down.
I really love Ken Follet, but he really missed the mark with some of his female characters in this book. It was kind of a bummer. Rosa deserves better.
Well written, lots of good characters. Not as moving as his Kingsbridge series but still a great read.
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sweeping saga? Check!
Personal impacts of war? Check!
Socialist tract? Check!
Unexpectedly detail about losing virginity? Check!
The best I can figure is that the author was using the analogy that European powers losing their old world innocence in the chaos of modern warfare was akin to losing one's virginity. Or he just really liked to describe sex. I mean, it's not fifty shades of grey or anything, but it struck me as odd that sex was one of the elements he detailed, particular those experiencing sex for the first time, rather than some of the brutalities of modern warfare in WW1.
I did appreciate the time spent in the diplomatic negotiations that lead up to the war and how women's suffrage, the socialist worker's movement, and the Russian Revolution were tied intricately into the historical narrative, as such do not happen in vacuums. But overall, I was kind of glad to just get through the book by the end, rather than caring too much about the
Personal impacts of war? Check!
Socialist tract? Check!
Unexpectedly detail about losing virginity? Check!
The best I can figure is that the author was using the analogy that European powers losing their old world innocence in the chaos of modern warfare was akin to losing one's virginity. Or he just really liked to describe sex. I mean, it's not fifty shades of grey or anything, but it struck me as odd that sex was one of the elements he detailed, particular those experiencing sex for the first time, rather than some of the brutalities of modern warfare in WW1.
I did appreciate the time spent in the diplomatic negotiations that lead up to the war and how women's suffrage, the socialist worker's movement, and the Russian Revolution were tied intricately into the historical narrative, as such do not happen in vacuums. But overall, I was kind of glad to just get through the book by the end, rather than caring too much about the
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-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:
Complicated