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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
adventurous
fast-paced
Cant decide between 3 and 4 so gonna go with 3.5….Slow start, but a fun read. The characters were either good or bad and i wished there was more nuance to them. Recommended to me by gma
It's been a while since I read a Ken Follett book. I cherish the Pillars of the Earth book and TV series. I do not love the World Without End as much. Follett's writing is not so decorative yet very addictive. His writing is pretty straightforward. Book was a total page turner for me despite some issues which I find them uncomfortable. Such is using contemporary terms such as “sexy” and “boyfriend.” Also the lack of research (and reference) regarding the Vikings. If I remember correctly, people then do not refer the vikingr as Vikings. I do not recommend this and Follett's other books if you are sensitive to rape issues.
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For all the people that enjoy a good intense intriguing story occasionally filled with suspense and mystery and enjoy engaging well written characters. ALSO Middle ages and political battles
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn't sure if I was going to review this book because, honestly, I feel pretty ambivalent towards it. I liked [b:The Evening and the Morning|49239093|The Evening and the Morning|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585140756l/49239093._SY75_.jpg|73816656] more than [b:A Column of Fire|33571713|A Column of Fire (Kingsbridge, #3)|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597750114l/33571713._SY75_.jpg|50861690], but still quite a lot less than the previous two books.
I agree with the reviews that say this has a closer feel to the first two books than [b:A Column of Fire|33571713|A Column of Fire (Kingsbridge, #3)|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597750114l/33571713._SY75_.jpg|50861690]. It has that pastoral, everyday life feel that I came to love so much in [b:The Pillars of the Earth|5043|The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576956100l/5043._SY75_.jpg|3359698] and [b:World Without End|5064|World Without End (Kingsbridge, #2)|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509545511l/5064._SY75_.jpg|2845518]. I felt like CofF spun off in an entirely new direction, focusing on the wider political and religious struggles of the world and often forgetting Kingsbridge and its citizens.
Here we find ourselves transported back to England in the year 997 CE. Viking raids are destroying villages and families, just as battles with the Welsh look imminent. Edgar is a young boatbuilder who is forced to rebuild his whole life after Vikings murder his father and destroy his family home. Ragna is a Norman noblewoman who marries Wilwulf, the ealdorman of Shiring, and soon discovers that the customs of England are a far cry from what she is used to. As is Follett's usual fare, bishops and other men scheme behind the scenes for more power.
It was easy to stroll through this book; it never really expected that much of me. The nitty gritty of everyday life juxtaposed with political drama and graphic violence made it somewhat compelling, though I have to say I never really came to love the characters here like I came to love Tom, Philip, Aliena, Jack, Caris and Merthin.
It does seem like Follett has managed to tone down some of his own misogyny for this one. While rape and sexual slavery occur in the narrative, I didn't note as many instances of him describing female characters by the shape of their bodies.
Still, I think maybe male authors should stop writing virginity-losing scenes from a woman's perspective. Good god, when will I no longer read that ridiculous scene where a female virgin feels a resistance, a sharp pain, then BAM! he's in and it's orgasms galore from then on. Literally...
Also:
That's gross. Some things you do really don't need to be shared.
So I have mixed feelings. Would I have started this 900+ page monster if I'd known it was going to be a so-so read? Probably not. Yet there is a sort of comfort, I find, in Follett's novels. The pastoral activities, the marketplace and craftsmen, all add up to something almost... quaint. It didn't make my heart pound, but I sort of enjoyed it anyway.
I agree with the reviews that say this has a closer feel to the first two books than [b:A Column of Fire|33571713|A Column of Fire (Kingsbridge, #3)|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597750114l/33571713._SY75_.jpg|50861690]. It has that pastoral, everyday life feel that I came to love so much in [b:The Pillars of the Earth|5043|The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576956100l/5043._SY75_.jpg|3359698] and [b:World Without End|5064|World Without End (Kingsbridge, #2)|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509545511l/5064._SY75_.jpg|2845518]. I felt like CofF spun off in an entirely new direction, focusing on the wider political and religious struggles of the world and often forgetting Kingsbridge and its citizens.
Here we find ourselves transported back to England in the year 997 CE. Viking raids are destroying villages and families, just as battles with the Welsh look imminent. Edgar is a young boatbuilder who is forced to rebuild his whole life after Vikings murder his father and destroy his family home. Ragna is a Norman noblewoman who marries Wilwulf, the ealdorman of Shiring, and soon discovers that the customs of England are a far cry from what she is used to. As is Follett's usual fare, bishops and other men scheme behind the scenes for more power.
It was easy to stroll through this book; it never really expected that much of me. The nitty gritty of everyday life juxtaposed with political drama and graphic violence made it somewhat compelling, though I have to say I never really came to love the characters here like I came to love Tom, Philip, Aliena, Jack, Caris and Merthin.
It does seem like Follett has managed to tone down some of his own misogyny for this one. While rape and sexual slavery occur in the narrative, I didn't note as many instances of him describing female characters by the shape of their bodies.
Still, I think maybe male authors should stop writing virginity-losing scenes from a woman's perspective. Good god, when will I no longer read that ridiculous scene where a female virgin feels a resistance, a sharp pain, then BAM! he's in and it's orgasms galore from then on. Literally...
She felt a sudden sharp pain, but it lasted only seconds, then all was pleasure.
Also:
She had lost her virginity to the man she loved, and it felt wonderful. Furtively, she pushed a finger inside herself and brought it out sticky with this fluid. She smelled its fishy smell, then tasted it and found it salty.
That's gross. Some things you do really don't need to be shared.
So I have mixed feelings. Would I have started this 900+ page monster if I'd known it was going to be a so-so read? Probably not. Yet there is a sort of comfort, I find, in Follett's novels. The pastoral activities, the marketplace and craftsmen, all add up to something almost... quaint. It didn't make my heart pound, but I sort of enjoyed it anyway.
Just could not put it down. I read Pillars of the earth a long time ago and I’m very good at forgetting books details, just keeping the overall way I felt reading it. So contrary to some other comments I could not see the repetition here. I just enjoyed the story telling and was hooked to it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated