A Weighty Tome: 2022 Challenge: The Pillars of the Earth

[Alisha]

I just finished Chapter 1. For a long book I'm surprised about how interested and invested I am in the characters already. I agree with Karen's spoiler point about the thief.

Also: (view spoiler)[I'm not especially surprised about the wife (sorry I forgot her name) dying in childbirth but I was surprised about how quickly and suddenly her husband moved on from her death. I was surprised about him giving up the baby on the gravesite but then the baby luckily getting saved by the monks. I imagine the baby will play a big part in future chapters. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Alisha wrote: "I just finished Chapter 1. For a long book I'm surprised about how interested and invested I am in the characters already. I agree with Karen's spoiler point about the thief.

Also: [spoilers remo..."

I agree with you! It was very fast.

I'm not quite finished chapter 2 yet so I haven't read the other comments. But I'm interested how it starts off with new characters

[Daniel]

Just finished Part 1. Historical fiction isn’t usually my thing but I’m enjoying this so far. I feel the women are by far the best characters and hope we’ll actually get some POV from them in future chapters. Can’t wait to read everyone else’s opinions!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Well done, Daniel! I'm aiming to finish part 1 by the end of Feb

[Suzanne]

I'm in the midst of Chapter 1 - it's long! It has been very readable so far. I too cannot imagine wandering, starving, hungry and pregnant! Yikes.

And I I agree with what Karen said above and the thief - I totally expected them to get at least some money back!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Suzanne wrote: "I'm in the midst of Chapter 1 - it's long! It has been very readable so far. I too cannot imagine wandering, starving, hungry and pregnant! Yikes.

And I I agree with what Karen said above and the ..."

yes it is! I am trying to just take a chapter at a time

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapter 2
I love Phillip's story!
It was a good mix of having a monk who believes in god and the order, but also sees the waste and mismanagement of some Priors.
So interesting how he is attached to the baby. I wonder if because of his own memories of being a child taken in by monks.
The small moment of him coming across Tom Builder was a nice tie-in for the chapters. Looking forward to see where we go in chapter 3

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Daniel wrote: "William = the worst so far. I’m in Chapter 3 and I find myself repeatedly putting my kindle down and picking up my phone instead of reading more of his POV. Aliena, girl I am with you 100%."

Yes! isn't he the worst

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapter 3
William is so unlikeable! His whole family. urgh.
(view spoiler)[ Even though I knew they would win the siege, I still hated when it happened. I'm a bit worried what will happen with Aliena and her father at this point. And yet another set back for Tom and his family! This chapter was definitely the hardest to read and the most "Games of Thrones - y" (hide spoiler)]

[Suzanne]

This has been super readable - I keep getting sidetracked by netgalley books I should read, and LIFE, but I'm enjoying coming back to this book.

I loved Chapter 2 and Phillip. Probably a favorite part of the book was reading about his first experience as prior. I loved the way he handled everything.

I'm in the midst of Chapter 3. Aliena seems like a perceptive young lady.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapter 4 and end of part one

I liked going back to Phillip and Tom's stories after that terrible chapter of William!
It is interesting how today, if (view spoiler)[ the church inexplicably burnt down on the same day a penniless builder arrived it would be super suspicious. Whereas they see it as God's will. I have a terrible feeling that the truth will come out and Tom will be blamed eventhough he had noting to do with it.

There is also clearly more to the history with Ellen, the Bishop and some of the monks. Now she has left back to the forest I wonder how this will all come together. I honestly don't really remember this from the TV show - it has just been too long!

(hide spoiler)]

Overall I have found this whole part really enjoyable and easy to read. I don't know how the rest of the book will go (seems a long book to just be around the building of a church), but with the characters and different, intertwining storylines, introduced so far I think we have a lot more politics/family/character storylines to come!

[Tina Reads]

I just finished Part I. It's pretty compelling, for the most part, and I'm looking forward to getting into the meat of the story now that we've set up the main plot and story arcs in part I.

(view spoiler)[I love Prior Philip, he's my hands down favorite character thus far. I like that's he's a good man, though I suspect his naivety is going to get him manipulated throughout the story unless he realizes quickly that he's not just a man of god now that he's Prior of Knightsbridge.

I'm with everyone that despised William - he's a maggot in human form and I hope he falls off his horse and breaks his neck - but I suspect we'll see lots more of his disgusting self before the end of the book. I hope he doesn't marry Aliana because he will abuse her for pricking his ego.

I don't see why everyone is fascinated with Ellen and wants to f-ck her. Yes, she's got a story arc still, but I think she's vulgar, though I do like her stance on the church - piss on it! Tom Builder disappointed me when he immediately abandoned his son, forgot his dead wife, Agnes, and then let his bully son beat on Jack. (hide spoiler)]

[Keely]

I still haven't started this yet. I've kinda been putting it off until Uno starts, so that if I end up binging the whole lot I can use it for Uno.

But I am looking forward to starting it as you all seem to be enjoying it and finding it rather readable. I might start it sometime in the week.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Tina wrote: "I just finished Part I. It's pretty compelling, for the most part, and I'm looking forward to getting into the meat of the story now that we've set up the main plot and story arcs in part I.

I lo..."

The Ellen storyline is interesting. (view spoiler)[ I wonder if it is the author trying to show that not all women of the time were "good" and not all priests or monks were either.
I loved when she lifted her skirts over that book. haha (hide spoiler)]

I actually like Tom. He has made some crappy decisions, but he also doesn't have a lot of choices.(view spoiler)[ In those times how would a penniless starving father raise a newborn baby?
The whole "love story" (is it that?) with him and Ellen is weird. That was just so sudden.
And how he ignores what is happening to Jack is super annoying. But then when he said that he has to learn how to fight, again I went back to the time period and it was pretty brutal.
Maybe I am just too sympathetic to him because I really lked his character and the actor in the TV show. haha (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Keely wrote: "I still haven't started this yet. I've kinda been putting it off until Uno starts, so that if I end up binging the whole lot I can use it for Uno.

But I am looking forward to starting it as you a..."

Ah I did the opposite and wanted to get as much read as possible before UNO as I won't finish it during. ;D

[Tina Reads]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "The Ellen storyline is interesting."

(view spoiler)[I won't be surprised if Ellen is burned as a witch or tried as one later. I do want to find out her backstory and why the older men that hung Jack's father are afraid of her.

Tom's choices haven't been very good considering he has a family to feed because he wants to build a cathedral. He's lost everything, and here's his cathedral to build. Was it worth it? I'm sure we'll find out. That said, Tom and Ellen's U-haul relationship vexed me and I'm glad she left him after peeing on the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Cat]

Interview with Ken Follett today: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...

[Suzanne]

Thanks - that was fun to see some of the history of this book!

And Tina - I agree about Ellen. I sure want to know more about her backstory. And (view spoiler)[ the peeing on the book - boy probably not a good idea. But it did make her HAVE to leave -and showed how impulsive she is. (hide spoiler)]

With Jack (view spoiler)[ his whole train of thought with setting the roof on fire seemed spot on to me for a young kid. (hide spoiler)]

I am now reluctantly putting this down for Uno. I'm hoping my teammates overread, so I can come back to this book :) I'm really really enjoying it.

[Audrey Jane]

Cat wrote: "Interview with Ken Follett today: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandst..."

Thank you for posting this. I see him regularly on French tv (his french is so good!); last time promoting his book about Le Notre-Dame. He's really passionate about it.

I'm planning to start this book during Uno as well.

[Stacy]

I've finished part 1, I'm enjoying the book. My favourite character at the moment is Prior Phillip. I think the hardest part for me is going to be sticking to the schedule, I really want to know what happens next!

[Melissa (ladybug)]

I just read the part (view spoiler)[in the beginning where the thief hits the little girl just for a pig!!! Follett is very expressive and I can feel myself there. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Stacy wrote: "I've finished part 1, I'm enjoying the book. My favourite character at the moment is Prior Phillip. I think the hardest part for me is going to be sticking to the schedule, I really want to know wh..."

Yes, he is great :)

[Melissa (ladybug)]

I like Prior Phillip. He really believes in his vocation.

[Alisha]

I finished part one (Just in time!) I could read it faster but I'm enjoying pacing it out.

I agree with Daniel that William = the worst.

I also agree with everyone that likes Philip.

Ellen is another potential favorite character and I hope we get more of her POV.

(view spoiler)[Hooray Tom finally got work! Let the building of a cathedral commence! (hide spoiler)]

[Teri]

Melissa (ladybug) wrote: "I like Prior Phillip. He really believes in his vocation."

I adore him!

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

You should now be complete with Part 1 and time to move to Part 2


March & April 2022

Part 2
Chapters 5-7

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Alisha wrote: "I finished part one (Just in time!) I could read it faster but I'm enjoying pacing it out.

I agree with Daniel that William = the worst.

I also agree with everyone that likes Philip.

Ellen is ..."


Yay!
And oh yes with your spoiler. What a relief!

[Gabby]

So yeh massively behind but read chapter one so far... I am finding it a little foreshadowed in some areas but still very enjoyable.

Agree Ellen will be a really interesting character :D

[Stacy]

I have just finished reading Part 2, Chapters 5-7.
Thoroughly enjoying it so far 😀

(view spoiler)[ Well, Philip is still my favourite character, he begins to show his intelligence and cunning and the Hamleighs and the Bishop suffer for it. I loved how Phillip outwits them all. I hate William, he is a horrible person and his actions just keep getting worse. Everything is good for Tom, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to achieve his dream of building the church. Aliena and Richard, I feel sorry for. I hope things get better for both of them. (hide spoiler)]

[Alisha]

Stacy wrote: "I have just finished reading Part 2, Chapters 5-7.
Thoroughly enjoying it so far 😀

[spoilers removed]"

Totally agree! As for your spoilers: (view spoiler)[I love Philip. Absolutely an amazing character. William is the absolute worst. I fear he is just going to get worse as this book goes along. The r*pe scene made me physically ill. I think it will be an uphill battle for Aliena and Richard but I also hope things get better for them. Probably not until the end, I'm afraid. (hide spoiler)]

[Martha]

Is it ok that I just started this book? Can I still be part of the challenge?

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Alisha wrote: "Stacy wrote: "I have just finished reading Part 2, Chapters 5-7.
Thoroughly enjoying it so far 😀

[spoilers removed]"

Totally agree! As for your spoilers: [spoilers removed]"

Yes I agree with both of you!
Unfortunately due to reading challenges I haven't kept going with this, but I will pick it up again on 1 May :)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Martha wrote: "Is it ok that I just started this book? Can I still be part of the challenge?"

Yes of course. The read goes all year and we are currently reading Part 2, chapters 5-7.
May is a break month so you have a great opportunity to catch up and start reading Part 3 in June :)

[Sammy]

I've been saving this one for TT ;)

[Keely]

I am now also saving this for TT as I haven't yet got around to starting it :P

[Tina Reads]

Part 2 Chapters 5-7

I wasn't sure I would get to this before the month was over, but I found a slot in my TBR this month to finish Part 2. First of all, I'm enjoying the novel overall. BUT. I really don't like how Follett writes about women. I am also enraged on behalf of the women of this novel for their poor treatment. Ahem.

(view spoiler)[Most of all, I hate William and hope he falls into the space between the walls of the cathedral, to be interred there a la The Cask of Amontillado after being gelded with a pick axe. Along with Walderan and the horrible Hamleighs. I don't understand the Hamleighs greed and spite when Phillip helped them get what they wanted.

I feel terrible for Aliena, what she went through. I'm glad that Phillip is kind to her and is helping her and her brother. I have mixed feelings now that Ellen and Jack are back. I mean, good for Tom and all, but I dislike Jack's fascination with Aliena. I don't think any good can come of it, especially since he burned down the old cathedral, and he doesn't seem to fully understand right and wrong. (hide spoiler)]

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

May is a catch up month!

You should have completed Part 2 (end of chapter 7) by the end of May, ready to start June with Part 3 :)

[Eldarwen]

May will be my month to finally start this! :-)

I was finishing up Gone with the Wind and then was reading for Uno, but will start with this in May now, yay! (Only 4 months behind, not too bad for me haha.)

[Daniel]

Thought I’d catch up while waiting for TT. A quick 180 pages. Easy Peasy. Then I got to THAT William scene at the end of chapter 5 and now I’m going to read a book about a serial killer as a pallet cleanser. I’ll finish Pat 2 after that…maybe.

[Sammy]

Read this one over the past couple of days, and loved it! I loved the epic scope, the setting and (some of!) the characters.

Loathed William with a passion, but that's hardly a surprise, lol.

[Keely]

I finally started this and I listened the whole of part 1 in the past 24 hours. I agree with what everyone has said about the characters in part one so I don't really have much more to add.

I'm really enjoying listening to this so I might even finish it this weekend if I keep up this pace. I have too much time right now.

[christene_littlelibrary]

Will be catching up with this book. One of my TT books.

[Judy]

Finally properly started this one! The first and second(?) chapters are rereads but I think it's been 5 years...

Chapter 1: not a huge fan of the instalove with Ellen and Tom but that seems to be a Thing Ken Follett does, huh? I've "only" read the Century Trilogy but that happened there, too...

[Audrey Jane]

Finished The Evening and the Morning (prequel of Kingsbridge series) a couple of days ago. I concur with Judy, that it seems to be a recurrent thing in Ken Follett's books. And in case of the The Evening and the Morning, not only instalove but a mismatched couple.

I was planning to start The Pillars of the Earth immediately afterwards, my mother owns all the hardcovers however turns out she lent The Pillars of the Earth to a colleague years ago but never got it back and she can't remember which colleague either...I will have to hunt for a secondhand copy first.

[Sammy]

oh, didn't even realise there was a prequel! will hunt it down :D

[Audrey Jane]

Go for it, Sammy! I enjoyed it, hope you do too.
I wonder at the amount of Ken Follett that's being read for TT :D

[Judy]

Audrey Jane wrote: "I wonder at the amount of Ken Follett that's being read for TT :D"

I definitely read the Century trilogy for TT in 2019 hahaha!

[Judy]

I'm a little annoyed cause I'm reading this on Kindle but it doesn't count the sub chapters, only the big chapters... so they're all an hour and a half long! Which is sooo discouraging for me. I'm considering trudging to the library and picking up a physical copy...

[Sammy]

I don't tend to listen or read by chapter, so it never bothers me. I just read for as long as I have time, and it very rarely works out that that corresponds with a new chapter, lol.

If I were to only read by chapter, I'd never get any reading done!

[Sammy]

Audrey Jane wrote: "Go for it, Sammy! I enjoyed it, hope you do too.
I wonder at the amount of Ken Follett that's being read for TT :D"

Probably loads, lol. I have book 2 ready to read already, and will probably pick up 3 before the end of the challenge too :D