WONDERFUL--As Good as Pillars of the Earth!

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I bought this book as soon as I woke up this morning--been waiting anxiously for it for weeks! I have been listening all day, I'm about halfway through and am just enjoying it immensely. Ken Follett brings the everyday lives of everyday people in the period to vivid life. Ned and Margery are real to me, as are Carlos, Barney, Father Alfonso the Inquisitor (shudder) and all the others and yay...we even have a stupid brutal thug as the Earl of Shiring. Pillars of the Earth was one of my four favorite books of all time (the others being River God, Polar Star and Sailing to Sarantium). I've read and listened to 'Pillars' at least half a dozen times. I'm certain this book will now be added to that list.John Lee is one of my all-time favorite narrators (the other being Simon Vance). I love his work--I always start out a book narrated by him listening to and enjoying the slight hint of a Sean Connery accent, but then soon forget I'm even hearing a narrator's voice at all, I'm just...there,in the story, a part of the crowd listening to the people talking and watching them as they struggle, fight, love, make mistakes and sometimes, die.One funny little anachronism in this story, totally the fault of the editor, but it made me laugh. King Henry VIII's daughter, Mary, is on the throne. A fanatic Catholic, she is burning Protestants and other heretics by the thousands. Religious 'thought police' are everywhere, ordinary people extremely careful in everything they say and do publicly, for fear their neighbors will inform on them. We see a 15 year old girl, daughter of a book printer of subversive Protestant teachings, in the marketplace, she meets a handsome young man and later thinks of him as a 'dreamboat.' Ummm? Seriously, Mr. or Ms. Editor? Teenaged girls in the 1540s thought of handsome young men as...dreamboats? haha, just made me laugh, but didn't diminish the story for me, at all.If you loved Pillars of the Earth, you will love Column of Fire. That is all.

103 people found this helpful

Follett is a Master Storyteller

A Column of Fire is set in Kingsbridge shortly after the death of Henry III. His daughter Mary is queen and England's alliance with the Roman Catolic Church has been restored. Thus, the tensions between Protestant and Catholic faiths are seething. Unlike Pillars of the Earth, where few of us if any knew the history of earliest England, there is little mystery or revelation surrounding the actual events of the times. Yet it is Follett's skill at weaving extradorniary characters and stories with historical events that make this book a worthy sequel.

Within moments, he introduces us to a string villains and heroes we are immediately attracted too. There are impending conflicts, the dread of loss and the hope of true love.

Creating characters with religious motivations is remarkably difficult. One has to assume the subject's degree of education, upbringing, sincerity and moral character to make it believable. Follett is great at this. And even today, it is clear that many sincere people of faith often believe, live, teach and manipulate others in direct conflict with their own religion. However, having studied the history of Catholicism in Europe, I do take issue with Folllet's view of Catholicism (and really all of Christianity) history. His disdain for the Catholic faith is impossible to hide.

I bring that up, because even though I personally took issue with his prejudice, A Column of Fire grabbed me from the beginning and kept me riveted till the end.

87 people found this helpful

Just like the first two...

I have no idea how this ended up with such a low score here. It gets a 4.29 on Goodreads right now, and I cannot imagine the low score is John Lee's fault!

If you loved the other two then you will love this one.

66 people found this helpful

Should have been a stand-alone instead of Book 3

I am about three quarters of the way into this book, and I don’t need to wait until the end to give my opinion.

Overall I liked it, but I found that there was A LOT more 'tell' than 'show' and although it was interesting, it felt more like a non-fiction historical lesson sprinkled over with a few lively scenes rather than a gripping novel. Long stretches of informative narration and very little dialogue.

In addition, I am not sure why this is considered Book 3 in the series; Kingsbridge makes a cameo appearance in the book but most of the story takes place in Paris. I think linking this book into the series was a disservice because everyone is comparing the books and this one is emerging as the weakest in the trilogy. If it was a stand-alone book, I think the reviews would be stronger… including mine!

42 people found this helpful

A great epic by a master storyteller

This is a richly detailed historical novel. The narration is excellent. The story is compelling and reveals the brutal depths of the religious conflict in Europe during the 1540’s to the 1600’s. If you are a fan of Ken Follett you will not be disappointed.

30 people found this helpful

Love Follett, but this wasn’t his best

Similar to the third book in the century series, A Column of Fire is just a bit less entertaining than the previous two of the series. Still worth a listen.

24 people found this helpful

I expected more

The first book gripped me right away. I was an instant fan. The violence and cruelty made me dislike the author for all the misfortune and loss the characters suffered at the hands of greedy b@stards.
Pillars made me smile, made me laugh and made me cry. The book was a roller coaster of emotions. I felt like I truly knew and loved these people.
The second book was just as good, but lost a little of the cruelty and detail that made me so horrified by the first. I was peachy with that.
This last book, although also very good, is just not as gripping as the first or second. I love all the little references to the original book, but the evil plots are not near as sinister as before.

If I had read this book first, I would love it even more. It's a fantastic book. The things that made me dislike the author, hate even, in the first book are what made the book so hard to put down. I just wish he could have kept that same momentum going.

I recently read another book series about a time traveling witch and a vampire, that spend some time in the Elizabethen era, and comparing some of the charachters, such as Lord Umberland, some of the spies, and the Queen herself was a fun little bonus!!

That's all, I hope you enjoy the book!

24 people found this helpful

Lots of History

Historical Fiction for me is a way to learn a lot about history without really realizing it. This book achieves this. The history in this book is woven in a great story and is connected by family. This was a violent time and it was developed appropriately. No one was right and all were wrong. I went to catholic school and somehow missed this part of history. I could not put the book down except when I went to the computer to augment what I was listening to.

20 people found this helpful

Maybe his best one yet!

And John Lee is terrific, as always. I loved the creative backstories for familiar events.

17 people found this helpful

My favorite author !

A marvelous trilogy but I must admit pillars of the earth is still my all-time favorite! I hope there is a book four that follows Jack to the New World !
( hint hint Mr.Follett ) lol

15 people found this helpful