Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
How Kingsbridge--of the Kingsbridge trilogy that began with Pillars of the Earth--got its name.
This is the trilogy's prequel.
No one spins a better yarn than Ken Follett, arguably the finest storyteller of the century. He's written more than 30 novels, each quite long enough for the reader to become completely immersed for a good while. This book is 913 pages long and was finished in three days, during which time your reviewer carried it to the kitchen table, the laundry room, the bathroom, and on dog walks, even waking in the middle of the night to catch another hour or two in the tranquil dark (thanks, Kindle Paperwhite).
Every Follett novel is easy to read and accessible to anyone with a middle school education, although they are clearly adult material. Villains as well as heroes are vividly memorable and colorfully rendered; years later the reader may still recall characters with something akin to love--in this story, those latter ones will invariably include Edgar (loyalty), Ragna (fortitude), Aldred (devotion), and Blod (endurance). The characters we learn to love are highly principled individuals, just as his villains depict true evil whose humanity we can also readily see. So Follett's novels also teach right and wrong, without being preachy about it.
Follett puts his characters through hell as a good story must, but it's not so tortuous for us readers because it all always turns out exactly right in the end, in the true classical Hollywood style today's dystopian gloom has apparently abandoned. He does tease, however!--in this book, we get all the way to page 905 before resting assured that every thread will have been carefully untangled and tied in a bow by the last eight pages. Perhaps now more than ever, that comfort of a happy ending is desperately needed to help heal our damaged national psyche. Unlike many much shorter novels, not a single thread is dropped along the way. Resolution is sweet and complete.
Follett's novels almost always include an accurately detailed historical context. As Pillars of the Earth is set between the Middle Ages and the nascent Renaissance, so this prequel begins in the Dark Ages near the end of the 10th century. It's an easy way to absorb a little history while being thoroughly entertained.
In short, all Follett's novels do what every 5-star book should: they entertain above all, but also display a moral center, teach some history, provide escape, and end well, with no loose ends. The Evening and The Morning is no exception. Enjoy.
This is the trilogy's prequel.
No one spins a better yarn than Ken Follett, arguably the finest storyteller of the century. He's written more than 30 novels, each quite long enough for the reader to become completely immersed for a good while. This book is 913 pages long and was finished in three days, during which time your reviewer carried it to the kitchen table, the laundry room, the bathroom, and on dog walks, even waking in the middle of the night to catch another hour or two in the tranquil dark (thanks, Kindle Paperwhite).
Every Follett novel is easy to read and accessible to anyone with a middle school education, although they are clearly adult material. Villains as well as heroes are vividly memorable and colorfully rendered; years later the reader may still recall characters with something akin to love--in this story, those latter ones will invariably include Edgar (loyalty), Ragna (fortitude), Aldred (devotion), and Blod (endurance). The characters we learn to love are highly principled individuals, just as his villains depict true evil whose humanity we can also readily see. So Follett's novels also teach right and wrong, without being preachy about it.
Follett puts his characters through hell as a good story must, but it's not so tortuous for us readers because it all always turns out exactly right in the end, in the true classical Hollywood style today's dystopian gloom has apparently abandoned. He does tease, however!--in this book, we get all the way to page 905 before resting assured that every thread will have been carefully untangled and tied in a bow by the last eight pages. Perhaps now more than ever, that comfort of a happy ending is desperately needed to help heal our damaged national psyche. Unlike many much shorter novels, not a single thread is dropped along the way. Resolution is sweet and complete.
Follett's novels almost always include an accurately detailed historical context. As Pillars of the Earth is set between the Middle Ages and the nascent Renaissance, so this prequel begins in the Dark Ages near the end of the 10th century. It's an easy way to absorb a little history while being thoroughly entertained.
In short, all Follett's novels do what every 5-star book should: they entertain above all, but also display a moral center, teach some history, provide escape, and end well, with no loose ends. The Evening and The Morning is no exception. Enjoy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
Although I found the writing a bit simplistic, the plot and characters were very engaging. It was well-researched, and the depictions of everyday life in the dark ages was fascinating. While I recognize that life - then as now - was brutal for many, there was too much description of graphic violence and rape for me to thoroughly enjoy the book.
I don't know why I love books set in the Dark Ages so much, but the Kingsbridge series is my favorite. There are definite similarities with the characters from previous books, but so what! They are long books, but don't feel like it. I hope he continues to keep writing about Kingsbridge, although I am not sure how much farther he can go back. Going forward wouldn't be as fun, but I'd totally still read it!
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The third best pillars of the earth book is still amazing
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Having read the other volumes in the Kingsbridge Saga and finding out there is a fifth on the way I decided it was time to pick up this lengthy epic. And boy, I was not disappointed.
it is 993 when the City of Combe Dalls victim to an assault by the Vikings. Edgar and his family are thus forced to relocate to Dreng’s Ferry.
Ragna of Cherbourg falls head over heels for the Earl of Shiring and eventually marries him. She becomes his Countess and has a new life and country to deal with.
Aldred, a pious monk with a well developed sense of right and wrong, finds himself appalled by the corruption he sees all around him.
All three of them will fall victim to the machinations of the Earl’s powerful and ambitious family and be instrumental in the founding of Kingsbridge.
As always I find myself engrossed in Follett’s work, whose gift for storytelling and bringing the past back to life never fail to grasp my attention. This prequel to ‘Pillars of the Earth’ truly is one of those books that wil grab hold of you and is very hard to put down.
it is 993 when the City of Combe Dalls victim to an assault by the Vikings. Edgar and his family are thus forced to relocate to Dreng’s Ferry.
Ragna of Cherbourg falls head over heels for the Earl of Shiring and eventually marries him. She becomes his Countess and has a new life and country to deal with.
Aldred, a pious monk with a well developed sense of right and wrong, finds himself appalled by the corruption he sees all around him.
All three of them will fall victim to the machinations of the Earl’s powerful and ambitious family and be instrumental in the founding of Kingsbridge.
As always I find myself engrossed in Follett’s work, whose gift for storytelling and bringing the past back to life never fail to grasp my attention. This prequel to ‘Pillars of the Earth’ truly is one of those books that wil grab hold of you and is very hard to put down.