World Without End (Kingsbridge #2)

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Anyone starting this yet? I'll probably start it today and read it very slowly to attempt to stretch it to March. If anyone's curious, you'd need to read 18 pages per day starting today to finish on March 31.

[Valerie]

I've read the first chapter and am already enjoying it. Thanks SarahKat for that calculation, I'm going to stick to that rhythm. I'm also jotting names down as I go, I'm expecting a large cast in such a big book!

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

That's a good idea. Even for the first few sections I've had to stop and think about which kids belong to which parents.

[Chrissy]

I finished the first four chapters so far, listening to the audiobook. I kind of wished I had a list of characters/family tree to look at, so I found one. Unfortunately, looking at it spoils some future relationships, but I didn’t look at it long enough to see anything I didn’t already expect! I could post the top corner that shows the characters in the first few chapters if folks want.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I'm a little more than halfway through and I actually like this book better than Pillars of the Earth, which I had mixed feelings about. (Don't worry, I won't make any spoiler comments.)

I started reading this one a couple months ago which is why I'm so far ahead. I like to read a few pages of several books each day, so I still have probably another 6-7 weeks of reading to finish this one.

[Ashley]

I just got this and will be starting it soon.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I finished chapter 11. Some thoughts that stuck out:

Merthin: (view spoiler)[ I like him and I absolutely knew he would end up knocking up Griselda (is that her name?) as soon as they had really fast hate-sex. I feel bad for him, especially at the end of the last chapter when Elfric puts an ax to his door. I wonder if he will marry her and what will become of Caris because of this. He really screwed over so many people (himself included) for 30 seconds of passion. (hide spoiler)]

Ralph: (view spoiler)[Seems like another William Hamliegh type character. I hated him the minute he shot the poor dog at the very beginning. (hide spoiler)]

Gwenda: (view spoiler)[ I think she will grow to be very interesting, but until this point she's had really crap luck. Maybe not "luck" since it's all just her dad's fault basically. What a terrible human he is. She has that love potion on her. I suggest she tries to give it to one of the outlaws and then uses his affection for her to escape somewhere. We'll see if she takes my suggestion ;) (hide spoiler)]

It is still hard to keep track of who is related to whom and how but it's getting a little easier if I spend some time thinking about it. And luckily Follett seems to be aware of this issue and reminds the reader of the relationships between characters often enough.

[Chrissy]

I hit the halfway mark! I’m enjoying it, though not without reservations.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I'm going to try to speed up my reading of this one a little bit. I was trying really hard to get Les Mis read before the end of the month and finally finished it.

I'm a little over 200 pages in... I think chapter 18 or 19. Some of the things that have happened were pretty graphic. Don't read while eating. (view spoiler)[ Particularly, the detail of Gwenda's escape from Alwyn, and then Earl Roland's skull/brain situation. I'm actually interested to see if he will live and if so, what the psychological repercussions will be. (hide spoiler)]

[Chrissy]

I'm closing in on the end, I'll probably finish by early next week. Follett really likes his unredeemable bad guys!

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I'm about halfway through now. I really like this book but it makes me so angry! Every time things seem to be going well, some jerk ruins everything.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I'm about 70% of the way through. I like this one better than the first one, maybe just because I'm more familiar with the time period? Also, fewer rapes, at least so far.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

RJ from the LBC wrote: "I'm about 70% of the way through. I like this one better than the first one, maybe just because I'm more familiar with the time period? Also, fewer rapes, at least so far."

Interesting. I definitely liked the first one better. I think the characters I liked in the first one were much more likable. I don't feel very attached to any of the characters in this one. They are all sort of rubbish. I'm rooting for Caris, but I wouldn't say she's likable.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I'm about 2 weeks away from finishing. How's everyone else doing?

[Ashley]

I have little less than 200 pages left. should finish it in the next week.

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I think I'm around page 740. (view spoiler)[Caris, Merthin, and Thomas just dug up the coffin with the hidden ornaments that Godwyn stole. Then Godwyn died. Hoping this means Thomas will become prior by default. I've always liked him and wish he were a bigger part of the story. (hide spoiler)]

On another note, reading about the plague during the coronavirus outbreak (we just got our first cases in my state last week) is a bit surreal.
"In Florence, the nuns counseled us to stay at home as much as possible, and avoid social gatherings, markets, and meetings of guilds and councils."

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

SarahKat wrote: "I think I'm around page 740. [spoilers removed]

On another note, reading about the plague during the coronavirus outbreak (we just got our first cases in my state last week) is a bit surreal.
"In..."

I'm a little bit past that point, but I'm glad you brought up the plague. Reading about it in the middle of the coronavirus madness is quite surreal, I agree. I keep waiting for the part where Caris has to stand in line for 3 hours at Ye Old Costco for hand sanitizer and toilet paper.

[Ashley]

I was thinking the same thing about the timing of reading this.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I'm about a week away from finishing. How's everyone else doing?

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

I finished yesterday! While I didn't love any of the characters, I cared about the overall strife of the town and certain innocent victims of the bully characters.

The plague stuff was really disturbing like I said just because of the pandemic we're in the middle of now. Towards the end, (view spoiler)[when they completely wall off Kingsbridge and quarantine themselves within the hospital, I thought, why are these people who don't even know how the disease is spread more on top of things than our 1st world technologically advanced country?! (hide spoiler)]

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I finished it! Enjoyed this one a little more than the first one, like I mentioned before. I'll hold off on reading the third one for a while I think.

By the way, has anyone else heard that a fourth installment will be released this year? The Evening and the Morning will be a prequel to the series.