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

challenging dark hopeful tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I understand why people like this book and why it is a best seller. The pieces and parts of the story came together well, and once I finally got into the story I enjoyed parts of it and was on the edge of my seat for others.
That being said, I was listening to this on audiobook and I had to get 8 hours in before I felt any semblance of being invested in the story. If you struggle with slower-paced books you are going to struggle with this one. There are a lot of pages devoted to the description of buildings (I understand why, but did I enjoy it? No.) and the story is told from multiple points of view spanning decades.
I can overlook and even enjoy all of that, but what got to me and left a bad taste in my mouth was the use of rape as a plot device. It left a bad taste in my mouth that I couldn't get rid of for the rest of the book. Please read the trigger warnings before you pick this one up.
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