Fall of Giants (The Century Trilogy, #1) in Reading the Chunksters

Jun 10, 2019 Cindy Newton rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned-books, part-of-a-series, historical, to-read-in-2016

I was a little trepidatious about this book. I was one of the few people on the planet who was completely unimpressed with Pillars of the Earh (please don't hate me!), so I wasn't sure that I was going to like this, but I did! Unlike Pillars of the Earth, this covers a period of history that I find fascinating, and I was also interested in the sources of conflict.

Follett strategically creates characters who provide varying but critical viewpoints on the brewing conflicts and their motivating st ...more

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Sep 15, 2014 Andrea rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-sorted, fiction-historical, 2014-chunkster

I really, really loved this book at first. But when the Russian Revolution broke out and most of narrative plunged into military campaigns, rather than interaction between favourite characters, I started to count the remaining pages. Nevertheless, this was a substantial, fascinating book, and I will most certainly continue with the series. Follett is an excellent storyteller and his style of writing is easy to absorb, so regardless of the chunky physical attributes of the novel, it was an easy, ...more

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Sep 09, 2014 Nina rated it liked it

Shelves: chunksters, feminism-or-thereabouts

What did I think... I think it's a great idea to follow families in England/Wales, Russia, Germany and America during and in the years surrounding the Great War. They are fighting against each other on the battlefields, though a German and a Brit may have more in common than two Brits or two Germans. Our differences are not defined by our nationalities. I also really liked that we got to follow the Russian Revolution and the women's rights movement in the UK. We are taken from Parliament to batt What did I think... I think it's a great idea to follow families in England/Wales, Russia, Germany and America during and in the years surrounding the Great War. They are fighting against each other on the battlefields, though a German and a Brit may have more in common than two Brits or two Germans. Our differences are not defined by our nationalities. I also really liked that we got to follow the Russian Revolution and the women's rights movement in the UK. We are taken from Parliament to battlefields, from factories to bedrooms, from rich to poor, and it is very exciting. It is entertaining. It is not highbrow, but Follett never claimed it was.

Fitz is a scumbag, and I hope he gets his comeuppance. He was whoring his way through the novel and probably have a bunch of illegitimate children around the world and he couldn't care less. He is selfish, a snob, opposes progress and women's rights, he is vengeful and vain. Fitz cares about Fitz and everyone else can go to hell.

Lev is difficult to like as well. I think he might be a psycopath, but a charming one, which is what always saves him. He is a scumbag, though.

Luckily, there are so many likable characters here, all trying to make sense of the world, fighting for justice and a better world. It is people like them who make life more than just bearable for the masses. People like Ethel and Gus who use their intelligence and courage to make the world change for the better, not the aristocratic Fitz who only cares about aristocratic Fitz. And no, I am not supporting the Russian Revolution in any way, but I can see how years of oppression, starvation, police brutality, fear and desperation led to the people fighting back in the hope of creating a better world. They chose the wrong way of doing it though, creating a new dictatorship instead of democracy.

Also, so many babies! In Russia, America, England, Germany, babies, babies, babies. Fitz calls his son George, Boy. Boy George. I hope he lives up to that name and disappoints his father big time. ...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Alana rated it really liked it

Shelves: in-a-series, political, historical-fiction, romance

If you're looking for historical accuracy or realistic characters, this isn't the book for you. But if you like something fast-paced and gives some idea of what the ideals and prevailing political thoughts of the time period might have been, you may enjoy it. I got caught up in the story and characters, soap opera-ish though they were. Worth reading, but don't look for accurate battle or political details. ...more

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