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Denise's Reviews > Fall of Giants
Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy #1)
by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author)
by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating epic tale!, August 5, 2010
This review is from: Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy) (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is a fantastic epic, the first in a planned trilogy by the author of The Pillars of the Earth (now a miniseries) and World Without End. I simply raced through the pages, unable to put this book down even though it was a hefty nearly 1000 pages.
The story moves seamlessly and logically, starting in 1911 and ending in 1925, and has a large cast of characters -- all so beautifully developed that the reader comes to care about each one -- the good and the bad. A helpful CAST OF CHARACTERS is provided at the beginning of the book that may be copied and used as reference, but it is really not needed as the reader is introduced to each and they are so memorable that it's easy to keep them straight. The families are American, English, Scottish, French, German and Austrian, Russian, and Welsh. There are Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Duchesses, Kings, Queens, Earls, Dukes -- even the servants, miners, and other assorted people populate this work of fiction. The author has also inserted real historical figures into the story, and their interaction with Follett's characters is very well done.
Book one of the CENTURY TRILOGY is set in Europe before, during and after World War I. From a mining town in Aberowen, South Wales, to the drawing rooms of the privileged aristocracy in Russia, Britain, Germany, and to the War Room in the White House of Woodrow Wilson -- the narrative captivates as it tells the tale of the people involved in the conflict and their lives during this period of change in the world.
The story is intriguing and complex, but eminently readable. The violence and gore that were present in Follett's previous works is absent here, and the action is fast and the storytelling fantastic. I have a fondness for historical fiction, and this work does not disappoint as the author has obviously thoroughly researched the era and has rendered it beautifully.
I won't and can't provide a synopsis of this book other than to say that it's a drama about life and love during these fateful years and I promise you that this will go down as being one of the best books you've ever read.
I cannot recommend it highly enough and can't wait for the sequel! Historical fiction at its best.
This review is from: Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy) (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is a fantastic epic, the first in a planned trilogy by the author of The Pillars of the Earth (now a miniseries) and World Without End. I simply raced through the pages, unable to put this book down even though it was a hefty nearly 1000 pages.
The story moves seamlessly and logically, starting in 1911 and ending in 1925, and has a large cast of characters -- all so beautifully developed that the reader comes to care about each one -- the good and the bad. A helpful CAST OF CHARACTERS is provided at the beginning of the book that may be copied and used as reference, but it is really not needed as the reader is introduced to each and they are so memorable that it's easy to keep them straight. The families are American, English, Scottish, French, German and Austrian, Russian, and Welsh. There are Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Duchesses, Kings, Queens, Earls, Dukes -- even the servants, miners, and other assorted people populate this work of fiction. The author has also inserted real historical figures into the story, and their interaction with Follett's characters is very well done.
Book one of the CENTURY TRILOGY is set in Europe before, during and after World War I. From a mining town in Aberowen, South Wales, to the drawing rooms of the privileged aristocracy in Russia, Britain, Germany, and to the War Room in the White House of Woodrow Wilson -- the narrative captivates as it tells the tale of the people involved in the conflict and their lives during this period of change in the world.
The story is intriguing and complex, but eminently readable. The violence and gore that were present in Follett's previous works is absent here, and the action is fast and the storytelling fantastic. I have a fondness for historical fiction, and this work does not disappoint as the author has obviously thoroughly researched the era and has rendered it beautifully.
I won't and can't provide a synopsis of this book other than to say that it's a drama about life and love during these fateful years and I promise you that this will go down as being one of the best books you've ever read.
I cannot recommend it highly enough and can't wait for the sequel! Historical fiction at its best.
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He does comment on this mistake on his webpage... And I think this is just for the American edition...
Follett's books are chock full of mistakes. I've begged him for years to let me proofread his books but... The shoddy writing does not help with his cardboard characters regurgitated from his previous books and the plot lines rarely vary. He does take you to historical eras from a realistic pov but his last two books were so bad I didn't finish them Easily the poorest writer ever on the bestseller lists and vastly overrated.
Will this book give me nightmares? Some of Mr. Follett's books are out of the realm, my realm anyway. Is this such a book?
No -- this was a lot less gory and descriptive of horrible tortures and such common in the middle ages!I think you will like it.
Denise wrote: "No -- this was a lot less gory and descriptive of horrible tortures and such common in the middle ages!I think you will like it."
Thank you so much!
If I can navigate back to you I will certainly let you knowIf I liked the book. Do you have other children? Your baby is cute.
Denise wrote: "I have two beautiful daughters -- that is my grandson! The new love of my life :) How about you?"Oh my, I have a friend! Ihave four grandchildren. A teenage boy, twin boys and a girl. When I held my first baby I realized truly what love is. Then with the twins (premature--they weighed a little over 2 pounds) I knew ehat "grand love" was. I know your feeling. There is nothing like a grandchild. You enjoy that little boy and love him fiercely! You look too young to be a grandmother.
Thank you for your comments and I agree 100% about the love -- who knew??? I can't wait for more, I only wish I could see him and the girls more often.Keep in touch!
Denise, I have amnesia....honestly can't remember if I read Fall of Giants.....did it involve a plane? Please help me refresh my memory. I have #2, but don't want to read out of order...thanks
I look forward to his second book in the series.