Yzabel / December 17, 2012

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

My rating: [rating=3]

Summary:

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. It is in this rich tapestry, where kings and queens are corrupt – and one majestic creation will bond them forever.

Review:

I liked this book enough to want to read on and know what would happen next: even though some of it was predictable, it was kind of a given that reversals of fortunes and new developments would be part of it, and that was something I wanted to read at the moment, so it was alright with me. (Perhaps I wouldn’t have enjoyed it in other circumstances, though.)

The architectural descriptions were accurate enough; I didn’t know that much about cathedrals in that regard, and so I managed to learn a few things in the process. Also, there was a scene that happened in the town I currently live in, and I’ve always had a soft spot for cameos, not to mention that this one was unexpected (at least until the last third of the book).

I’m not giving it more than 3 stars, though, because mostly the characters weren’t that exceptional. I wanted to know more about what would happen to them, sure, and I partly felt connected to them, but nothing more. The ‘good guys’ sometimes did things that weren’t so good (for instance, what Jack did in the first Kingsbridge church), and this helped in making them appear a little less unidimensional. ‘A little less’ being the keyword here. The ‘bad guys’ were really bad, perhaps a little too much—in spite of Philip’s claims, Waleran struck me as greedy for power, period, not as a ‘genuine man of God’ who only took his duties so much to heart that any means to an end would do.

The other reason is the book’s length. I would’ve knocked a good 200 pages off it without blinking. After the first 600 pages or so, I started growing a little impatient, and wanted the twists and turns to stop and the plotlines to be resolved at last. (Good point, though, in that they all are; some readers may find fault in how conveniently everything gets tied together, but on the other hand, there’s nothing left hanging, and this can be a positive aspect too.)