I FINALLY finished reading Ken Follett's epic novel, World Without End. At 1,014 pages of skillful writing, it did take quite some time to read it with relish. This book was written as a sequel to Follett's Pillars of the Earth written 30 years ago. Because I loved the first book so much, I was almost hesitant to read this one. However I was happily surprised to find this book just as good, if not better, than the first.
Set in Kingsbridge, England, in the 1300's, this book takes place about 300 years after Pillars of the Earth. It tells the story about feudal England in the Middle Ages. The story centers around three primary families, a cloister of monks and nuns, and of course, the lord, bishop, and king. There is tons of drama, love, war, disease, hardship. Actually, the whole book is an excellent view of how hard life was during those years. No one had it easy. Even the nobility lived tough lives and toiled, though in different ways than the peasants, to make life livable.
The characters are so real that it is a sad feeling to reach the last page and close the book. You can't help but wonder what they will do with the rest of their lives, and if their children will be able to stave off the next wave of the plague.
That said, I've been reading this book for quite some time now, and I'm ready to delve into the world of Young Adult lit head first. My kids checked out library books on Thursday and Friday, and I wanted to read every single book they took home with them.
Reading... it's so great. I'm pretty sure it's the primary thing that separates us from animals.
2 comments:
Where has Liz gone?
No joke, eh?
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