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Emily May's Reviews > World Without End
World Without End (Kingsbridge, #2)
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I must confess-- I am addicted to these Ken Follett novels. I finished World Without End and had to pick up A Column of Fire immediately. I'm also going to get to his Century trilogy at some point. These books are bloodstained historical soap operas and I just can't get enough.
Follett knows how to create exactly the right amount of drama and set it to the gory backdrop of history. I've always loved being taken back to times that I've only read about in passing and here we see the horrors of the Black Death up close.
It is one thing to read a textbook about the illness, its symptoms and its wide reach - wiping out up to 60% of Europe's population - but it's another thing entirely to be taken into the lives of characters we come to love and seeing it firsthand. Knowing at any minute that they or their families could be next. It was a truly horrific and frightening disease, and I think the author captures that really well.
Follett once again utilizes a technique that worked very well for him in The Pillars of the Earth - the plot is often driven by our hatred for certain characters. In the previous book, it was William Hamleigh. Here, there are a number of candidates competing for our hatred; namely, Ralph, Godwyn and Philemon. It's pretty effective to despise a character so deeply that we absolutely must read on to see them get their just desserts.
It's also just a fascinating portrait of everyday life in 14th century England. Two hundred years after the events of The Pillars of the Earth, Kingsbridge now has a nunnery (which makes for some interesting politics as the monks try to control the nuns, but they are some seriously badass women) and the Guild plays an important part in decisions for the town, as well as the Priory.
It's hard to explain - between the deaths, disease and war - how much enjoyment there is in the everyday lives of these people, as we live with them through romance, poverty, heartbreak and betrayal. AND these books are so so easy to dip in and out of. I rarely feel ready to commit to a thousand-page book, but I can easily read this alongside other books and return to the story and characters without a problem.
So much fun and drama.
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We who are born poor have to use cunning to get what we want. Scruples are for the privileged.
I must confess-- I am addicted to these Ken Follett novels. I finished World Without End and had to pick up A Column of Fire immediately. I'm also going to get to his Century trilogy at some point. These books are bloodstained historical soap operas and I just can't get enough.
Follett knows how to create exactly the right amount of drama and set it to the gory backdrop of history. I've always loved being taken back to times that I've only read about in passing and here we see the horrors of the Black Death up close.
It is one thing to read a textbook about the illness, its symptoms and its wide reach - wiping out up to 60% of Europe's population - but it's another thing entirely to be taken into the lives of characters we come to love and seeing it firsthand. Knowing at any minute that they or their families could be next. It was a truly horrific and frightening disease, and I think the author captures that really well.
Follett once again utilizes a technique that worked very well for him in The Pillars of the Earth - the plot is often driven by our hatred for certain characters. In the previous book, it was William Hamleigh. Here, there are a number of candidates competing for our hatred; namely, Ralph, Godwyn and Philemon. It's pretty effective to despise a character so deeply that we absolutely must read on to see them get their just desserts.
It's also just a fascinating portrait of everyday life in 14th century England. Two hundred years after the events of The Pillars of the Earth, Kingsbridge now has a nunnery (which makes for some interesting politics as the monks try to control the nuns, but they are some seriously badass women) and the Guild plays an important part in decisions for the town, as well as the Priory.
It's hard to explain - between the deaths, disease and war - how much enjoyment there is in the everyday lives of these people, as we live with them through romance, poverty, heartbreak and betrayal. AND these books are so so easy to dip in and out of. I rarely feel ready to commit to a thousand-page book, but I can easily read this alongside other books and return to the story and characters without a problem.
So much fun and drama.
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Elle
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Aug 21, 2017 12:49AM
how are you enjoying this so far? you've almost definitely heard it before, but the size of this is... ridiculous and i'm really impressed by anyone finishing it!
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I am loving these Follett books! They are HUGE but so easy to dip in and out of, which is why I'm reading them alongside other books. They're basically epic historical dramas :)
You should know Emily that the third installment of the Kingsbridge series is due to get published this autumn! Probably you'll want to read that one as well.
You know when you have read a book and it was so good that you are envious of when someone is reading it for the first time...I felt that when I saw you reading this
Daniel wrote: "You should know Emily that the third installment of the Kingsbridge series is due to get published this autumn! Probably you'll want to read that one as well."I definitely do! In fact, that's why I decided now was the time to read this :)
Have you read Eye of the Needle? It's one of his earlier stand-alone spy novels. I really liked that one. :)
I didn´t know that was going to be a third installment...so happy to know about this.
Pillars of the Earth is still holding strong as one of my VERY favorite books - so I'm salivating to get my hands on A Column of Fire! A World History Professor told me she could teach from Follett's books because he's so factual! Sooooo glad you are enjoying them! He's an amazing storyteller!
Ok, sorry but DAMNNNN "SCRUPLES ARE FOR THE PRIVELEGED." DAAAAAAAMN.
After reading your review I've immediately ordered The Pillars of the Earth! I've been searching for another historical fiction series and love loooong books so this one seems like a slam dunk!
Already put Column of Fire on request at my library! Hoping I'm first to get it! 😋😋😋
Aaah, I'm currently reading this too in preparation for the A Column of Fire release! What made you give it four instead of five stars since your review has such a positive sound to it? :)
'Bloodstained historical soap opera' #nailedit
I did enjoy this, though not as much as Pillars of the Earth. Some sections really dragged for me, especially about those 60 acres ... but the profound changes in mindset wrought by the Black Death were brilliantly done.
While I loved Pillars of the Earth, the Century Trilogy is one of my favorite book series ever. When people ask me for book recommendations it's always at the top of my list.
Of course this book is epic and a perfect source of information about life customs and laws in England.Long ago but it is always fun and intetesting to learn how things were back at this time.
Fascinating review and I agree totally with the fact that how Ken Follett makes us discover so many historical landmarks in such an entertaining manner through the lives of characters he weaves so beautifully. I started with the century trilogy which remains in my opinion Follett's most epic work (probably because I could associate so easily with the 20th century). I followed it up by reading almost all his stand alone novels. Absolutely loved the Pillars of the Earth as well. About to finish reading Triple by tomorrow and then planning on reading World Without End and Column of Fire back to back.
I would recommend to you Triple by Ken Follet, which is also a great book!
Hey I loved pillars of the earth but read it years ago. Do you have to remember it to enjoy this?
Sarah Obsesses over Books & Cookies wrote: "Hey I loved pillars of the earth but read it years ago. Do you have to remember it to enjoy this?"No, not at all. It's a completely new story with new characters :)
His Century Trilogy isn't as well-written as Kingsbridge (though I haven't yet read Column of Fire) - but still a good read.
Not yet read a Column of Fire, but I preferred the Century trilogy to the Knigsbridge trilogy
It took me forever to get these characters out of my head enough to read something else. Pillars of the Earth was quite the epic journey for me. I had to read a few short, YA novels in between these stories just so I could catch a breath. :)
Follett just has this way of taking you by the back of the neck and dunking you under to the point where you don’t even care that you didn’t come up for air! I live for this shit! Lol! #Nerdgasm
Finished the Kingsbridge trilogy recently, 3 awesome books and a epic story Follett is an amazing writer. Personally I preferred the century trilogy as its time span crossed over with my life and event I related to more. But that takes nothing away from the Kingsbridge trilogy one of my fave book series
I understand why people think that these are good stories, but Ken Follett's writing style is totally simplistic, and, compared to books I would normally read, I think the characters are two-dimensional. I cannot feel any empathy for any if them.
Joy wrote: "I understand why people think that these are good stories, but Ken Follett's writing style is totally simplistic, and, compared to books I would normally read, I think the characters are two-dimens..."I can see that. I think it's very soapy historical-fiction, but I find his books really enjoyable.
Joy wrote: "I understand why people think that these are good stories, but Ken Follett's writing style is totally simplistic, and, compared to books I would normally read, I think the characters are two-dimens..."If he had chosen to focus on both storyline and character development the book would probably be about twice as thick.
Had to put it down at page 500. Too much violence.
hi all, my friends copy of this book is missing 15 pages.. would anybody be able to help with sendig pictures of those missing pages so he can continue?
I'm addicted too. I read Pillars in 08 and was enthralled and then World Without End when it was published. I'm now buried in the stunning presequel and plan to reread Pillars and World next. Then, finally, Column of Fire, which I own but haven't read yet. Such fantastic books! I really enjoyed the Century series too. More "grand sweeping" than these books. Perhaps more like Column of Fire (I've read reviews)?
Perfect books while I'm not working due to Covid.
I have never been so excited to finish a book and start it's stand alone sequel. (I still have half of pillars to go.) This series is mind boggling
"Bloodstained historical soap operas".....spot on!
Your review sums up my thoughts perfectly!!! I really enjoyed this book -“bloodstained historical soap opera”-nailed it!!!
I am enjoying this book, but there are so many characters. Other than that, it’s very enjoyable. Not all characters are equally important, however. I focus on the major ones.
