The Pillars of the Earth
By Ken Follet
“Nevertheless, the book gave Jack a feeling he had never had before, that the past was like a story, in which one thing led to another, and the world was not a boundless mystery, but a finite thing that could be comprehended. ”
What it's about
The Pillars of the Earth is a fictional masterpiece hinged on the building of Kingsbridge Cathedral in medieval England. Set in the 12th century, the book incorporates the blossoming of Gothic architecture and major historical events into the plot. A marvelous nuanced cast - which includes a monk with a mission, a master builder with a dream, and a noblewoman with a twisted fate -takes center stage, and drives the epic story forward. The Pillars of the Earth is a breathtaking saga that transports its reader into a dark enthralling world, all while exploring anarchy, romance, morality, and humanity.
Themes
Ambition, power, love, hate, loyalty, treachery, Church vs. State, religion, faith, war
What I liked about it
This book is indeed SPELLBINDING by its multilayered story and the extremely addicting writing style used. It is shockingly accessible to everyone - I was intimidated by the 1000 pages at first, but I did not want it to ever end once I got to the middle section. I was glued to this book each time I opened it.
The action! Ken Follet actually writes thrillers, so reading this was an absolute experience like never before. It truly felt like historical fiction written with a gripping thriller-type writing style. The events were seriously action-packed! Oh, and the story included A LOT of political machinations too.
Everything about it felt so immense yet intimate. As multiple elements are explored (such as architecture, Christianity, feudalism, etc.), there was a perfect balance between the historical thread and the fictional lives of the characters. Everything felt very real and grounded as external events continuously and immensely affected the lives of the cast. The equilibrium of focus achieved between macro and micro conflicts, a simple community, the monarchy, religious hierarchy, and a small family unit, was absolutely fantastic.
The dark energy of the story accurately encapsulated medieval England. I swear I felt like I was transported into the gothic world. The stakes and conflicts in this book were no joke. They just kept getting higher and higher and more stressful. As a reader, this was highly entertaining!
- It took me on a journey of emotions. Anger, sadness, frustration, happiness... you name it... this book made me feel so much. I mentioned the overall energy is dark, but it was never boring or repetitive.The characters were given time to slowly blossom and form. I felt fully invested in the lives of the characters as well as extremely attached to them. It actually felt like I was reading a family saga, watching each generation grow. ZERO shortcuts were taken in regards to character development, and ALL the character arcs were satisfying!
I think this is the only book in which during one chapter I absolutely love one character, and in the next, I am extremely annoyed. The characters in this book are all very human, none are perfect. They actually felt very similar to the characters of George RR Martin from A Song of Ice and Fire. I can also say they are all full of spark! They are all unique.
It felt very educational and eye-opening. I am new to Gothic architecture and generally the history of England, but this book has piqued my interest in those subjects. There were fascinating pockets of information that I found myself googling or tabbing just to know more about them. Of course, the book is not 100% historically accurate because it’s historical fiction, but who doesn’t like a read that makes them more worldly?
The themes explored (I listed some above) were absolutely BRILLIANT. The bareness or rather rawness of the events that took place throughout the book have allowed me to look at humanity through an incredibly transparent lens. They have allowed me to reflect on my own life too. This is one of those books that I will think about on a regular basis.
What some people might not like about it…
Trigger warnings include rape, violence, and profanity. I personally think these were present in the story purposefully and felt they added to the gravitas of the book. But it can get graphic.
The prologue is fantastic, but the story takes time to build up. The first 120 or so pages lay the foundation of the whole story. I would not say the pacing is slow per se, but it takes time before the reader is given a clue to where the overall plot is going. After the first part, there is a TON of action though!
Who would like it?
Fans of historical fiction, architecture, the arts, medieval history, the dark ages, and honestly Grimdark books/stories might like this.