The Pillars of the Earth - An Epic Masterpiece? (Book Review)

Here's my (spoilerfree) book review of The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

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0:00 - Info
0:34 - What it's about
01:09 - Background
01:42 - TV Show
01:55 - Review

[EliasKhananovEnglish]

Recently found your channel and loved it. I'm a huge fan of Kingsbridge series myself (read the first two novels in my mothertongue), bought an English edition of "The Pillars of the Earth" a couple of days ago, and even did an English lesson dedicated to Ken Follett's work for my students. There's how much coincidence there is :)
Looking forward to your videos, liked your gentle and elegant style. Keep it up!
Shoutout from Russia, with lots of hugs

[CamsCampbellReads]

That's on my TBR for sure. You presented it very well!

[unclejofromthelo]

Yet again, another beautiful edition of this book.

[CEEChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it. There was no risk in buying the other books. I read the prequel, The Evening and the Morning, late last year and loved it. So far, it is my favorite. I am reading A Column of Fire now. Enjoy!

[tarareads]

I’ll have to put this one on my TBR. Thanks for the video!

[MidlifeByKirstin]

I read it in 1989 and loved it. I think I´m due for a reread of the series 😻

[davidmccalip]

Hello Emmelie! I hope all is well with you and your family. This sounds like a very interesting book. I had no idea is was as old as it is (1989). Maybe I can get to it someday if/when my current TBR ever gets reduced to a more reasonable level (I just received four more classic books yesterday, plus today I ordered three more from Amazon in preparation for your Patreon Book Club). Maybe I can find the series somewhere so I can at least watch it and who knows, maybe that will make me move it up in reading priority (just like Dune Part I made me buy and read the book in December/January before Dune Part II was released). I look forward to your next video. Have a great week!

[aaronmyram]

My favorite historical fiction author, I am glad you enjoyed it and the rest of the trilogy is just as good. You have inspired me to pick up the trilogy's prequel and the sequel which are sitting on my self uread for awhile now. Folletts Century trilogy is also great. I just finished Middlemarch by George Eliot last night and I think you will love it when you pick it up later judging by your avatar alone.

[Heartonmysleeve-gjkp]

I've never read the book but enjoyed the mini-series which has a good cast. When you say the writing is not as strong as the characterisation this immediately reminded me of Silvia Moreno-Garcia whose book Certain Dark Things has good story-telling aspects and characters(it's a vampire tale)but is written in simple and direct fashion.

[jensraab]

I loved the book, too!
I've watched the mini-series when it first aired. I think it's a good adaptation but as usual the book is much better! IIRC, some of the side plots were cut in the adaptation but someone who hasn't read the book will of course not miss these parts.

[pages]

I’ve read the first two and need to read third and prequel. I saw the first episode of the mini series on Netflix and it was really good too.

[annamattos]

I love this book too! Will you review the sequels, please? I didn't buy them, because the characters are not the same, but i'm still slightly curious about them.

[emilylee]

Pillars of the Earth is great. The rest are good. You can stop at any point though. You don't get left hanging between books.

[thomasjoyce]

This was a most excellent read. I was a fan of Follett for his spy/espionage work and approached "Pillars" with some trepidation: I am a student of medieval history and I though Mr. Follett wouldn't give the genre justice. How wrong I was. His writing style was pretty much the same in both espionage and historical genres, that is true, but that shouldn't be relied upon to disdain this most excellent story. My reading was some 3 decades ago, and I'm still waiting on another period novel with equal depth and breadth. Thank you for your review. (A side note: shame on you for skipping portions of stories you find 21-Century disagreeable. How can you possibly deign to understand bygone centuries if you are only comfortable with 21-Century morals? Try to work through your shortcomings and read a full story for its - ahem - fullness.)

[ladyfox]

I remember starting this book years ago and was enjoying the descriptions of the construction of the cathedral. Then I got to the first assault scene and was really put off and put the book down.
Don't ever be sorry for skipping scenes or dnf'ing a book if you are not liking what the author is writing. I'd be angry at the cat abuse scene too, and I don't like so many sex or assault scenes, so I'm not sure if I'd read this book. The cathedral building was interesting, though!

[leenverbraken]

I have this one in my bookcase for years 🫣… I have no idea when, but you made me curious to finally pick it up… ❤