I loved all the prior middle ages books in this series, and was worried about not remembering all the characters, but this is a new book set in the eaI loved all the prior middle ages books in this series, and was worried about not remembering all the characters, but this is a new book set in the early 1800s about the dawn of the industrial revolution. Cloth looms are prominent and mechanical looms are just being invented and used to take away jobs from laborers. Was very interesting to read in the context of thinking about what AI is doing/about to do.
People back then had a very different attitude about laborers: "You see, my dear, it’s not good for the laboring classes to learn to read and write,” he said, shifting into paternal mode, the older man dispensing wisdom to utopian youth. “Books and newspapers fill their heads with half-understood ideas. It makes them discontented with the station in life that God has ordained for them."
I quite enjoyed the love stories too and was glad for the happy ending....more
Finally finished this series! The show on Netflix was great to binge watch, this book series was also great to binge read :). I learned a ton about 8/Finally finished this series! The show on Netflix was great to binge watch, this book series was also great to binge read :). I learned a ton about 8/9th century England, which was at the time a series of Kingdoms: Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria, East Anglia, and of course, Scotland and Wales. This is the story of how they became united into one country, Englaland.
It's also a story of continuous wars and shield walls and norse vs saxons, etc. It got very repetitive. But I did appreciate Uhtreds ability to win wars by thinking a few moves ahead of his enemy. I also liked learning about the culture, because it was very much a violent one, with little rule, which meant the strong preyed on the weak.
(view spoiler)[I really wanted more with Aethelflaed and Uhtred! That seemed to fizzle way too fast, and I think could have led to interesting things. (hide spoiler)]
Overall, interesting for me because I have English roots to see how the Norsemen (Danes, Norse, etc) and the Saxons intermixed and became one people. ...more
I loved Pillars of the Earth, so I was very excited for this book, and I tore through all 900 pages. The middle ages were fascinating, and I loved havI loved Pillars of the Earth, so I was very excited for this book, and I tore through all 900 pages. The middle ages were fascinating, and I loved having a picture of what life back then might have been like.
Power plays were common, and rule of law less existent, so people got away with a lot, and often those in power got there by being very corrupt and selfish. But of course, then there are our heros, Edgar the builder, Ragna the Norman nobleman's daughter, and Aldred the ambitious monk. I particularly loved the names in the middle ages - "Wulfwilf aka Wilf" for example.
In the end, live back then seems recognizable because people are people, and have the same general desires: freedom to live, and to love.
An enthralling tale of WWII told through journals of Churchill, his inner circle, and even some of Hitler and Goebbells and some of their circle. I'llAn enthralling tale of WWII told through journals of Churchill, his inner circle, and even some of Hitler and Goebbells and some of their circle. I'll read anything Erik Larson writes - history or historical fiction, as he tells a story really well.
My main takeaway was how strong a case there was for Churchill being "the right man" to be PM during the war. Indeed, he was only PM during the war. But he was a true master of messaging and speeches, and inspiring the British public to not lose faith despite being bombed like crazy during the Blitz for a period of over a year! This was critical, and I think almost entirely due to Churchill and his radio sessions and speeches.
But that poster could easily have been rewritten "Keep calm and wait for the United States" because another impressive bit that shone through in the book is that Churchill knew that England couldn't win otherwise, but that didn't stop him from trying. A tough line to balance as he couldn't appear desperate to his people or to Roosevelt, but he also must have felt desperate at times. Very smart of him to invite Roosevelts man Harriman over and give him so much access.
Highly recommended and it reads nice and fast - my only criticism is that it really skipped through the end of the war (after the US declared) - perhaps another volume is coming?...more
A beautiful story. Neil Gaiman is truly a unique storyteller. I did a combo of reading and listening to this story, and Neil is great at reading as weA beautiful story. Neil Gaiman is truly a unique storyteller. I did a combo of reading and listening to this story, and Neil is great at reading as well. I got interested in this book after seeing the movie, which I really enjoyed. The book is similar - maybe a bit more poetic - but I think the plot in the movie is a bit improved (not much, but a bit).
I imagine this book came about because Neil read the below poem that he includes in the beginning, and then he invented a plot around it. The result is the book reads like a epic poem - it's creative, magical, and really, just right.
Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the devil's foot, Teach me to hear mermaids singing, Or to keep off envy's stinging, And find What wind Serves to advance an honest mind.
If thou be'st born to strange sights, Things invisible to see, Ride ten thousand days and nights, Till age snow white hairs on thee, Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me, All strange wonders that befell thee, And swear, No where Lives a woman true, and fair.
If thou find'st one, let me know, Such a pilgrimage were sweet; Yet do not, I would not go, Though at next door we might meet; Though she were true, when you met her, And last, till you write your letter, Yet she Will be False, ere I come, to two, or three.
I tore through The Pillars of the Earth, and couldn't wait to pick this up. Set in Kingsbridge but a few centuries later, the story has a lot of similI tore through The Pillars of the Earth, and couldn't wait to pick this up. Set in Kingsbridge but a few centuries later, the story has a lot of similar elements: a cathedral that needs repair, a brilliant young builder (Merthin), a love story, a priorship up for grabs, and of course political manuevering, backstabbing and evil church officials. Also like the first one, the characters were developed well, the book was hard to put down, and yet it wasn't a deep book, just a fun one. Thank goodness I finished - it was causing me to lose sleep.
I did enjoy learning about the plague, and medieval ideas on health and medicine. Amazing that the plague wiped about a third of the human population, and how little they knew about it. Was frustrated by the lack of the Monks openness to learn new things, and how little they trusted women. For instance they believed in bleeding as a solution to everything when it actually is harmful in most cases. Also was interesting that there was no such thing as a doctor - instead nuns/monks/etc served that role. ...more
5 stars for being a un-put-downable page-turner, full of interesting and engaging characters I empathized with, and for teaching me about the politics5 stars for being a un-put-downable page-turner, full of interesting and engaging characters I empathized with, and for teaching me about the politics and religion of the middle ages. Follet is a thriller writer, and it shows.
Fascinating that in medieval times, most villages were surrounded by walls (or were inside a castle) - because you couldn't count on the law to marauding rival lords from raping and pillaging your village. And the largest buildings other than the local lords castle, were cathedrals. Why did people spend so much time an energy building these huge monuments to God that took 10-20 years to build? The book explains that bit, with the importance of the Church in society and it's relation to the crown.
I am having trouble putting my finger on what I liked about the book. To friends who asked, I can't sell it every well. But it was a epic saga of love and power, and I loved every second. I think in the end, the lesson was that creating enemies leads you to get what you deserve. This might be a good summary of the book:
(view spoiler)[ For the record, I hate William Hamleigh. I love Jack - he reminds me a bit of Howard Roark. And Aliena was inspirational. Philip was a prude but a good dude - I still can't believe he forgave Remigius. Interestingly, Waleran is once described as good person who just misunderstood his priorities - but I don't buy that. (hide spoiler)]
A wonderful, beautifully written, poignant, subtle, and brilliant novel.
This is the story of an English butler of one the great houses, whose self vaA wonderful, beautifully written, poignant, subtle, and brilliant novel.
This is the story of an English butler of one the great houses, whose self value comes from his duty and his dignity, and who questions his values and his life in the end. It is ultimately a story of regret. It is a story that makes you want to live your life and dedicate yourself to things that you won't regret when you look back. One of the best ways of thinking about regret I've ever come across is from Jeff Bezos in his nerdily titled Regret Minimization Framework.
But what I really loved about the novel is how slow and forcefully it builds. I don't think I've read a book that does that so well since Pride and Prejudice. In the beginning you think it's just a butler going on a motoring trip. (view spoiler)[And at the end, your heart is breaking.(hide spoiler)]
Dignity is a big theme in the novel. Stevens attempts to define dignity several times throughout the novel - his definition generally has to do with self-respect and keeping ones emotions in check. But you have to wonder - his is suppression of emotions what leads him to where he ends up? His pushing himself to "banter" is a an interesting indication of him trying to break that pattern.
(view spoiler)[In the end, Stevens breaks your heart in two ways: he missed out on the love of his life, AND he realizes that he dedicated his life to serving a man who in the end wasn't the great man he thought he was. Good reminder: prioritize love first. And work on things that matter. (hide spoiler)]
Another aspect I loved is just learning about the era and how things in England worked. Fascinating for instance that multi-day stays at large estates were the only way to get a bunch of people together to communicate on an issue. Today, we communicate in very different ways. Seems appealing to try that way.
I'll conclude this with another of my favorite quotes from the novel:
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