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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
We have experienced the interactive coal mine of http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/coal-mine/ in Chicago so the initial events in this novel seemed familiar. I learned about the many events that precipitated WWI and the bourgeoisie/proletariat/elitist conflicts throughout Russia and Europe that gave rise to communism. The seeds of Nazism are shown to be sewn as a result of the Armistice agreement with Germany.
On the same level as Pillars of the Earth, and World Without End. Very good and very long.
Easy to read and enjoyable as well as vaguely educational (for the history), but quite predictable at times and characters were quite one-dimensional.
This was my first Ken Follett book and I was enthralled. I love a good, long book (985) pages that I don't want to end and this fit the bill perfectly. I did end up skimming some of the war strategy stuff because that's not my bag, and I wanted more of Lev, but other than that no complaints at all. With the exception of the fore-mentioned Lev, every time I started to think "But what about ____" the book seemed to read my mind and jump to that character.
So the basic cast:
Ethel Williams: Welsh housekeeper turned political activist
Earl Fitzherbert (Fitz): Ethel's employer
Lady Maud: The earl's sister and later, Ethel's employer (I really liked Maud at the beginning, then I hated her, then I liked her again at the end)
Walter: German spy and boyhood friend of Fitz, romantic interest of Maud
Billy Twice: Ethel's little brother, coal miner and soldier
Grigori: Russian peasant turned factory worker turned military man
Lev: Grigori's younger brother, a con artist who moves to America
Gus Dewar: Young American, aide to Woodrow Wilson
Lots of procreation and I'm looking forward to meeting up with the characters again in the second book of the trilogy, which, from all the foreshadowing, should be set in WWII.
So the basic cast:
Ethel Williams: Welsh housekeeper turned political activist
Earl Fitzherbert (Fitz): Ethel's employer
Lady Maud: The earl's sister and later, Ethel's employer (I really liked Maud at the beginning, then I hated her, then I liked her again at the end)
Walter: German spy and boyhood friend of Fitz, romantic interest of Maud
Billy Twice: Ethel's little brother, coal miner and soldier
Grigori: Russian peasant turned factory worker turned military man
Lev: Grigori's younger brother, a con artist who moves to America
Gus Dewar: Young American, aide to Woodrow Wilson
Lots of procreation and I'm looking forward to meeting up with the characters again in the second book of the trilogy, which, from all the foreshadowing, should be set in WWII.
That was a fun read! Great mix of characters telling the story of World War I. Perspectives covered- English (Lords, Coalminers), German, Russian, American. Can't wait to read the next in the trilogy.
Follett's characters seem so formulaic; all of the ones in "Fall of Giants" reminded me from characters in "World Without End" and "Pillars of the Earth." I struggled with this seeming unoriginality. Also, the "coincidental" running-into-each-other moments were forced. But, I'm a sucker for historical fiction. And it's a compelling read, despite it being almost a 20th century version of his earlier works.
Great historical fiction
I'm not one to voluntarily pick up a historical novel, however, since I 'accidentally' read Follet's 'Pillars of the Earth', I have taken to Follet's books.
It's a fascinating insight into life in the early twentieth century. With my limited prior knowledge of pivotal events that occurred during this era, it fuelled my desire to learn more, along with the lives and loves of the main characters. Despite its 852 pages in length, with short bursts of repetitive prose, it's a delightful un-put-downable read. I have since committed myself to completing the trilogy, (hopefully by the end of the year!)
I urge anyone unfamiliar with this genre to give it a go, up won't be disappointed.
I'm not one to voluntarily pick up a historical novel, however, since I 'accidentally' read Follet's 'Pillars of the Earth', I have taken to Follet's books.
It's a fascinating insight into life in the early twentieth century. With my limited prior knowledge of pivotal events that occurred during this era, it fuelled my desire to learn more, along with the lives and loves of the main characters. Despite its 852 pages in length, with short bursts of repetitive prose, it's a delightful un-put-downable read. I have since committed myself to completing the trilogy, (hopefully by the end of the year!)
I urge anyone unfamiliar with this genre to give it a go, up won't be disappointed.
Although I was unsure at the beginning, I really liked this book. I picked it up randomly to listen to in the car because I'd read Pillars of the Earth. It's a great story with characters whose lives all intertwine. I loved the historical aspects of it... learned a lot about World War I that I was probably supposed to have learned in high school. I also loved the strong female characters in the book. I recommend if you have the time to get through it!
“Esta es la historia de mis abuelos y de los vuestros, de nuestros padres y de nuestras propias vidas. De alguna forma es la historia de todos nosotros”. Ken Follett
Una gran novela que narra las vidas de cinco familias: una americana, una galesa, una inglesa, una alemana y una rusa, con el trasfondo de la Primera Guerra Mundial, la Revolución Rusa y los profundos cambios sociales que estas conllevaron.
Este es el primer libro de la trilogía “The Century” y es maravilloso, con sus más de mil páginas enseña mucho más de lo que recuerdo en historia Universal. Trascurren tantos acontecimientos que al final uno termina encariñándose con los personajes. Estas familias tienen su encanto, sus dificultades, una personalidad bien marcada, algunas veces te decepcionan, otras te enorgullecen. Inicia en el año 1911 y termina en 1924 son tantas cosas que siento como si hubiera leído tres libros en vez de uno.
Ken Follett es un excelente autor, comienza narrándonos como era el mundo antes de la primera guerra mundial, quienes dominaban sobre otros, las monarquías, las minas de carbón, los bailes o las reuniones sociales, el trabajo en fábricas, la política, el papel de la mujer, los diferentes estratos sociales. Para luego enseñarnos como se originó esa primera guerra mundial, quienes se involucraron, las batallas importantes, como las familias de las diferentes partes del mundo la vivieron, unos perdiendo, otros ganando en los diferentes ámbitos de la vida. Para luego terminar perfectamente con la caída de los gigantes y los cambios que todos estos acontecimientos trajeron.
Después de leer este libro, aprender mucho y saber que me quedan don libros más (con la segunda guerra mundial y la guerra fría), me pregunto si estamos cometiendo los mismos errores que en el pasado, viendo las noticias cada día podría decirse que sí, quizás todos pasan por alto el pasado y no saben crear el futuro.
Una gran novela que narra las vidas de cinco familias: una americana, una galesa, una inglesa, una alemana y una rusa, con el trasfondo de la Primera Guerra Mundial, la Revolución Rusa y los profundos cambios sociales que estas conllevaron.
Este es el primer libro de la trilogía “The Century” y es maravilloso, con sus más de mil páginas enseña mucho más de lo que recuerdo en historia Universal. Trascurren tantos acontecimientos que al final uno termina encariñándose con los personajes. Estas familias tienen su encanto, sus dificultades, una personalidad bien marcada, algunas veces te decepcionan, otras te enorgullecen. Inicia en el año 1911 y termina en 1924 son tantas cosas que siento como si hubiera leído tres libros en vez de uno.
Ken Follett es un excelente autor, comienza narrándonos como era el mundo antes de la primera guerra mundial, quienes dominaban sobre otros, las monarquías, las minas de carbón, los bailes o las reuniones sociales, el trabajo en fábricas, la política, el papel de la mujer, los diferentes estratos sociales. Para luego enseñarnos como se originó esa primera guerra mundial, quienes se involucraron, las batallas importantes, como las familias de las diferentes partes del mundo la vivieron, unos perdiendo, otros ganando en los diferentes ámbitos de la vida. Para luego terminar perfectamente con la caída de los gigantes y los cambios que todos estos acontecimientos trajeron.
Después de leer este libro, aprender mucho y saber que me quedan don libros más (con la segunda guerra mundial y la guerra fría), me pregunto si estamos cometiendo los mismos errores que en el pasado, viendo las noticias cada día podría decirse que sí, quizás todos pasan por alto el pasado y no saben crear el futuro.