Customer Reviews
Overlong Unchallenging Medeival Soap Opera - By: H. Morris, 18 Aug 2008 
At over 1000 pages this is a long book. There's no doubt the plot is gripping & the characters larger than life but the same can be said about Eastenders. When the book hits top form it is very good- particularly if you are interestedin the social history of the period. Some of the set-pieces & plot twists are also good value but the book is let down by characters. They are too broadly painted. Everyone is either a goody or a Pantomime villain & the predictability of their actions does start to grate. Also the whole book seems to be a never ending succession of dramas, problems or stitch-ups facing the good guys each with their triumph duly coming a few pages later. Like a dodgy actor faking an accentin a film, the tone & authenticity of the characters also seems to waver. Some of the dialogue is completely unconvincing & at times you have to remind yourself you'rein 12th not 21st century England. I'm no book snob but the prose was far to simple & if it wasn't for the gratuitous sex then it would be suitable for any Harry potter Fan. Basically if you're on holiday & are the type of person who would like to read 3 Dan Brown'sin a row than you'll love this. If you Like your books to challenge you & you have a reading age of over 14 then there must be other books out there that do the same thing but better. ps. I still haven't got a clue what a nave or chancel is...
opened my eyes to the world of cathedrals - By: finn, 14 Aug 2008 
all I can say is apart form Tolkien, this is the (second) best book I have ever read!
brillant, brillant, brillant! did not want the book to end, but could not put it down!!
five stars easy!
Fast Paced and Imaginative ..... Thoroughly Enjoyable! - By: Charlotte Lou, 30 Jul 2008 When a friend of mine who shares my usually overly-critical views of what I'm reading recommended Pillars to me, I must admit I was a bit put off by the fact it seemed to have more pages than the bible! I initially thought it'd take me a year to read & feared I may lose interest a quarter of the way through. BUT - when I sat reading the first chapter at a kids play-centre & a guy on the next table commented to his wife that I was reading 'THE book' & turned to me to tell me how amazing it was, I thought it must turn out to be a great read .....
And how right I was!
You have to get past the first chapter where even I'll admit that I did have to re-read a few pages to get my head around the politics & religious aspects being described - but believe me, the rest of the book isn't like that at all & soon I was gripped by love, lust, betrayal, murder, jealousy, war, revenge,.....etc. Ken Follett'sn writing style is easy to understand &in a way quite simple (which I found a relief as I hate these writers who try to be clever & I end up lost) but equally his descriptions create rich imagesin your head as you're reading & you feel such emotion toward the characters.
Pillars is perfectly paced. If I only have time to read 10 or 15 pages, I know something significant will happenin those few pages leaving me desperate to pick up the book again as soon as I can!
So - don't be put off by the size or the subject matter, it's one of the best books I've ever read .... 10/10!
Monumental medieval saga - By: Martin Belcher, 28 Jul 2008 I just can't get over this book, it was absolutely enthralling & i'm actually very sad that i've finished it.
The book follows three generations of peoplein twelfth century Englandin & around the town of Kingsbridgein a quest to build a fine cathedral. I fellin love with the characters almost immediately & this story encapsulates all themesin life, passion, revenge, power, love, hate & everythingin between. The descriptive narative is powerful & brings to life the gritty, hardness of medieval life. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it will go downin my top ten books of all time & I will certainly be re-reading it very soon.
Awesome - By: waspish, 23 Jul 2008 I've just got to say this, I'm about Two thirds into this book & I must say its one of the most easy reading enjoyable book I have read. Great You have to read it. Buy it!
