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testaroscia's review against another edition
4.0
This is no Pillars of the Earth, It is much better on many levels save one.PofE was a good page turner, but its nature was that of a thriller writer turning their hand at Historical Novel. Ben Hopkins, instead is less plot driven and more a collection of lives that revolve, but are not centered on the Cathedral. The most interesting aspect was the Jews and how they were viewed and treated in the 14c. I will definitely read his future books.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
3.0
"It's a story he likes to tell, how he first came to Hagenburg, how he bought his freedom, how he started as a stonecutters' apprentice, working at the Cathedral." I loved the first line of this novel, which not only fills you in on who is building this cathedral in 1229 Germany, but how they did it. Being involved in cathedral construction was a boon to the workers involved because it would take centuries and could guarantee employment for several generations.
"Cathedral" will make you grateful that you did not live in the 13th century, where life was "nasty, brutish, and short," to quote Thomas Hobbes. But people didn't realize that, as they find amazement in the soaring arches of the growing building, joy in the glory of God, happiness in some good grog and warmth with loved ones. If they are very very lucky, they will avoid getting tangled in the many political plots and dark plans of their betters.
I find Ben Hopkins a better writer than Ken Follett and his characters seem more genuine to their period. But Cathedral is a lot of book and requires attention and patience. If you are in a medieval frame of mind, this novel is perfect.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for digital access to this compelling title.
"Cathedral" will make you grateful that you did not live in the 13th century, where life was "nasty, brutish, and short," to quote Thomas Hobbes. But people didn't realize that, as they find amazement in the soaring arches of the growing building, joy in the glory of God, happiness in some good grog and warmth with loved ones. If they are very very lucky, they will avoid getting tangled in the many political plots and dark plans of their betters.
I find Ben Hopkins a better writer than Ken Follett and his characters seem more genuine to their period. But Cathedral is a lot of book and requires attention and patience. If you are in a medieval frame of mind, this novel is perfect.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for digital access to this compelling title.
noella_t's review against another edition
1.0
I tried reading this and gave up after about 120 pages. I began to scan forward, hoping that several pages down the line, it would get more interesting. It didn't.
It looks like this had been published in parts earlier, but I received a large hardback book of over 800 pages. The book was bulky, very difficult to hold long enough to read, and to be honest, for me, just not all that interesting.
I do note that many people gave it five stars, so I suppose their experience was vastly different.
It looks like this had been published in parts earlier, but I received a large hardback book of over 800 pages. The book was bulky, very difficult to hold long enough to read, and to be honest, for me, just not all that interesting.
I do note that many people gave it five stars, so I suppose their experience was vastly different.
lauratoline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
knittyreader's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at about 75%
Perhaps it is because I am tired, but enough is enough.
This book is interesting in a way. It tells about people, all positioned around building a cathedral, all in their own way. It is about squabbles and money mostly, and about how the money uses the people instead of the other way around.
There are too many characters and too many points of view though. This makes everything seem hasty. Never is there time to get to really know a character and get invested in their story, and on we go. Starting to get interested in this point of view? And on we go, next! And back to the first, and on to the fourth, and ... where were we again? I can take so much before I just give up. 75% in, and I still am not invested in any of the characters enough to care how this book will end.
Perhaps it is because I am tired, but enough is enough.
This book is interesting in a way. It tells about people, all positioned around building a cathedral, all in their own way. It is about squabbles and money mostly, and about how the money uses the people instead of the other way around.
There are too many characters and too many points of view though. This makes everything seem hasty. Never is there time to get to really know a character and get invested in their story, and on we go. Starting to get interested in this point of view? And on we go, next! And back to the first, and on to the fourth, and ... where were we again? I can take so much before I just give up. 75% in, and I still am not invested in any of the characters enough to care how this book will end.
cosetteld's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tkhero's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
caffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
There are a lot of characters to follow in this but you get a good sense of each one and how they work together as a whole. I liked that each of them were flawed yet somehow still I was moved by them, life is complicated even more so then where literally the wrong decision can mean the loss of your head. The cathedral climbs slowly and falteringly throughout with different factions and benefactors, towering over the machinations of man.
I really enjoyed it never wishing it shorter.
I really enjoyed it never wishing it shorter.
bethpaws's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Set in the C12 and C13 the book follows various members of the community of Hagenburg, linked together by their relationship to the cathedral which is being built. Their lives are told in a non-glamorised way and I particularly liked that that no-one was overly likeable and no-one was a one dimensional villan, which made them all realistic. Poverty, wealth, death, politics and religion feature heavily.
At times challenging to follow all the threads (especially as I am not familiar with pronouncing the names), but engaging and enjoyable.
At times challenging to follow all the threads (especially as I am not familiar with pronouncing the names), but engaging and enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism