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The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)

Ken Follett

Start date: January 1, 2019

Finish date: March 31, 2019

Discussion: New School Classics- 1915-2005

Why we're reading this: 2019 1st Quarter Long Read
[close] 2019 1st Quarter Long Read

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New School Classics- 1915-2005

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What Members Thought

Dec 30, 2007 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, best-sellers

Before the holidays Oprah chose "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett as her book club pick. It sounding very interesting when she described it . . . 12th century, building a cathedral, love, war, and lots more. I really like historical fiction so I thought I'd give it a try. I bought the book at Barnes and Noble and also downloaded the audiobook from Audible.com. This way I read along with the audiobook when I was home, but since the book was almost 1000 pages and 40 hours of unabridged audiobo ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 22, 2021 Emma rated it it was amazing

Epic! Such a detailed story.

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2017 Nats rated it it was amazing

Loved this. I have been lucky over the past 3 days I have had time just to devour this book.

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 07, 2008 Jaci McCon rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, own

I wanted to give this book 2 1/2 stars but the rating system won't let me. Follet has skill when it comes to characterization, pulling the reader into the psyche of each main character. The book spans such a long period of time (over 60+ years) that parts felt incredibly rushed. The foreshadowing throughout the novel was mostly predictable, which I partly attribute to the book's poor pacing. Having to rush through the decades as he did, essential incidents in the lives of the characters received ...more

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Jan 11, 2009 Gayle rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: finished

Interesting story, but repetitive to an insulting extreme. The graphic nature of the violence was disturbing. I understand that this was the nature of the times, but I didn't think it needed to be in such painful detail over and over. I also thought some of the language was anachronistic, again just put in in case we didn't understand what was happening. Way too long for this type of writing, in my opinion. ...more

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Dec 01, 2008 Carrie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-g, romance, historical-fiction, not-mine, religious, series-overload

I thought it was great. At first when it was lent to me I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it but once I started it I there was no stopping. It made me feel many emotions from great sadness to pure hatred. I would definitely re read it. ...more

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