by Ken Follett
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: 1989
Number of Pages: 983
Geographical Setting: England
Time Period: Twelfth Century
Series: a sequel, World Without End, was published in 2007
Plot Summary:
In twelfth century England, Tom Builder endures great hardship before securing employment heading the building of a new gothic cathedral at Kingsbridge, a position that he eventually passes on to his sons. The story includes a varied cast of characters, including priests, nobles, and laymen, with unique and interweaving stories that develop during the cathedral’s construction. While the characters' choices drive much of the action throughout the story, the cathedral itself emerges as the main character, influencing people’s lives throughout its construction until its eventual completion.
Appealing Attributes of the Book:
• Historically accurate details that are seamlessly incorporated throughout the narration
• Dramatic mood, where characters are frequently faced with life-changing decisions, frequently due to circumstances out of their control
• Plot-centered structure where the events of the story take precedence over individual characters
• Pacing moves steadily through a long historical period, with occasional climatic moments
Similar Authors and Works (via NoveList):
• The Jester by James Patterson
• Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
• The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley
• 1356 by Bernard Cornwell
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ReplyDeleteThis is my husband's all time favorite book and one I'm sure I would not suggest if I was doing a readers' advisory interview with him. He usually likes fast paced suspense novels. He reads a lot of Vince Flynn, Nelson DeMille,and Lee Child books.
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point! Sometimes it is hard to know what kinds of books to recommend based on the reader's WIDE variety of tastes! I know my husband is usually a quick read/graphic novel type guy, but he loves Edgar Allen Poe and poetry! That can really be one of the most daunting parts of Readers' Advisory!
DeleteThis book was also a bit out of my usual style - it was a gift from a relative because I had taken an undergraduate course on gothic cathedral architecture and loved it! The portions of the novel that discussed the cathedral construction were my favorite parts; in contrast, some of the sections describing all the political maneuverings just about put me to sleep. I think that if a reader has the patience to stick with a book for almost 1,000 pages, then there's something for everyone in this novel. It may be primarily historical fiction, but there's a bit of mystery, romance, and suspense thrown in as well.
DeleteI have worked in two libraries over the past six years - this book was one of the most requested! I have always wondered what it was about so I was glad to read your interesting, informative annotation! I know very little about that period of time and would like to learn more. I will put this title on my list of future reads.
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