David gave me a book to read a few months ago and swore that I would like it. I found it hard to believe, since the book he gave me revolved around building a Medieval Cathedral. But, I know he has good taste in books, so I took on the monstrous almost 1,000 page book. It is called
The Pillars of the Earth.
Here is the overview of the book from Barnes and Nobles:
"As a new age dawns in England's twelfth century, the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral sets the stage for a story of intrigue and power, revenge and betrayal.
Ken Follett, internationally-acclaimed master of split-second suspense, author of six #1 bestsellers, reaches beyond the expected to achieve his most brilliant and remarkable novel. The epic story of the building of a cathedral in 12th century England and the lives of the people entwined with it and each other is a sensuous, enduring narrative, and a gripping tale of faith, ambition, bloodshed and betrayal."
I couldn't put the book down. Oh-so-good. I have read two more of Ken Follett's books since this one, and I'm working on the third. So let's just say- I'm a fan. Granted, I'm a history nerd and I love reading historical books and the author in every book I have read, is able to intertwine the historical with a good drama. The perfect balance.
The second book in the series is
World Without End. It continues the epic story that was began in
Pillars, but continues with a few generations down the line.
Here is the B&N overview for this book:
"In this “epic” (The Denver Post) sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, it is now two centuries after the townspeople of Kingsbridge have finished building its exquisite Gothic cathedral. And on a cold November day, four children slip into the forest and witness a killing—an event that will braid their lives together by ambition, love, greed, and revenge...."
These two books have been made into movies, and I really want to see both of them one day!
The next set of books I am reading by Ken Follet is a trilogy that follows several American, Russian, German, and British families. First through WWI, then WWII, and finally the Cold War. The first two books are out presently and the third is still waiting to be released.
I have never read any book revolving around the first World War and I have to admit- I really enjoyed getting a taste of the history behind it all. Here is the overview from Barnes and Nobles:
"Ken Follett’s magnificent new historical epic begins, as five interrelated families move through the momentous dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women’s suffrage.
A thirteen-year-old Welsh boy enters a man’s world in the mining pits.…An American law student rejected in love finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson’s White House.… A housekeeper for the aristocratic Fitzherberts takes a fateful step above her station, while Lady Maud Fitzherbert herself crosses deep into forbidden territory when she falls in love with a German spy.…And two orphaned Russian brothers embark on radically different paths when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription, and revolution.
From the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty, Fall of Giants takes us into the inextricably entangled fates of five families—and into a century that we thought we knew, but that now will never seem the same again.…"
Sooo good! It was so good that I couldn't wait to run to the book store to get the second book,
Winter of the World, so I downloaded it to my phone, so I could listen to it on my recent trip up to Charleston. I am now like a person living in the 40s myself, sitting in my chair but instead of listening to the radio, I'm listening to my phone! I always prefer having an actual book to read (no ereaders for me) but it is nice to get a break and just listen, since every book I have read of this authors is at a minimum of 800 pages.
Here is the overview from B&N for this book:
"Ken Follett follows up his #1 New York Times bestseller Fall of Giants with a brilliant, page-turning epic about the heroism and honor of World War II, and the dawn of the atomic age.
Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants, the first novel in his extraordinary new historical epic, The Century Trilogy, was an international sensation, acclaimed as “sweeping and fascinating, a book that will consume you for days or weeks” (USA Today) and “grippingly told and readable to the end” (The New York Times Book Review). “If the next two volumes are as lively and entertaining as Fall of Giants,” said The Washington Post, 'they should be well worth waiting for.'"
These war novels go back and forth between characters, families, and countries. There is a lot of historical action going on, but a few love stories too. So that helps for the lady readers :-)
So throw your hands up for some history and go grab a copy of one of these books! They aren't the least bit boring, I promise. If you are like me, once you start reading, you can't put them down!
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