A review by melmo27
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book is very well written and would be fun for any historical fiction fans. The themes such as the struggle between good and evil, the importance of knowledge and education, social change and class mobility, and the triumph of love and loyalty in the face of adversity, are just really well explored and enjoyable. And told against a beautiful and interesting backdrop of the cathedral being built.

My only complaint is the slow pace, and too much violence. By the last 4 hours or so I was just really ready for the book to be done. And I kinda get the sense the author felt the same, as I felt there was just some sloppiness in how a few of the story threads for tied up.

Plot +1
Characters +1
Setting +1
Writing Style +1
Pacing +0
Themes +1
Originality +1
Emotional impact +0
Overall enjoyment +1
Ending +1
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