World Without End by Ken Follett Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of World Without End
Book Review: Porn, tedium, tradgedy x 1111 pages
Summary: 1 Stars
I enjoyed Pillars of the earth (POTE) so I got this eagerly.
Pillars had some pretty horrible sex scenes in it, rape, graphic details etc, but the story was good. But World without End is just porn and tedium set in the same universe. Porn, tedium, tragedy x 1111 pages
I wish I hadn't read it, I feel its ruined POTE.
I don't want to read about how semen tastes, enough already!
Book Review: World Without End
Summary: 3 Stars
Having never read Ken Follet before, I was looking forward to reading this book. I have to say however, I was disappointed, it did not live up to what I perceived his writing to be. I thought the story line was interesting enough and appreciated the historical perspective. My main objection to the book is that Ken Follet's dialog was largely unbelievable, given the time period of the novel. His characters seemed to be thinking and verbalizing in more current day vocabulary and jargon. This detracted from the book. While I did finish the book, afterall, I bought it for my Kindle, I would be reluctant to purchase another of his books.Book Review: good, although it lacks originality
Summary: 4 Stars
I started reading the book some weeks ago and I have just reached its half.
The style is a lot like The Pillars of the Earth and, actually, most of the book is. More than a sequel,as they have tried to sell it, it sometimes looks like a 'repetition' of many episodes of the previous book, which in fact has nothing to do with this one--neither the characters nor the story.
In any case, I am quite enjoying reading the book and I do really like it, though sometimes the lack of originality is remarkable.
Book Review: A fictional view of the 14th century: building, rebuilding, sex and plague.
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this book when it was first released but have hesitated to pick it up both because of its size. I need not have worried: the 1100+ pages took about 11 hours to read and it was a delightful escape into a fictional piece peopled with dastardly villains, noble heroes and good-hearted souls.
While 'Pillars' laid the foundations for `World Without End', this book only felt like a sequel when I regarded Kingsbridge and the cathedral as the central characters instead of the people. Once I did that, the story fell quite neatly into place.
This is not a difficult book to read and while historical accuracy can (and should be) questioned, Mr Follett's strength is in recounting the feelings of his characters. Sure, some happenings seem quite contrived to make particular points but basic human needs, wants and reactions have remained similar for millennia.
At the beginning of the book, four children (Gwenda, Caris, Merthin and Ralph) witness two men being killed in the forest. The mystery of the killing is only explained towards the end of the novel and yet it casts a long shadow over many of the happenings. We follow the lives of Gwenda, Caris, Merthin and Ralph for a period of 34 years (1327 to 1361). We share their transition from childhood to adulthood: their successes, their failures, their hopes and dreams. Their lives are intertwined with each other, and also with the future and fortunes of Kingsbridge. These are momentous years: the onset of the Black Plague brings enormous social and economic upheaval while war with France (the early part of the Hundred Year War) provided opportunities for some.
If you finished `Pillars' wondering about the future, and you are happy to revisit Kingsbridge 200 years later, this novel will take you there.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Book Review: Solid Follett
Summary: 5 Stars
A grand follow-up to Pillars of the Earth (but a "stand alone" as well). A joy to read, but horribly heavy to hold up in hardback.