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

[Gabby]

Judy i tend to work to the nearest character POV change or *** break rather than the chapters otherwise yep I would be in the same boat. I get frustrated sitting mid chapter on some books as I can end up rereading the same few pages forgetting I already read them. :P

How is the prequel. I wasn't sure if i should start there or if they are read in any order sorts of books (overall changes but separate characters.)

[Judy]

Yep I do that too! But the Kindle doesn't tell me how far it is until the next one (I'm the person who always flips ahead to see how long the chapter is) 😫

[Megan]

I finally got my copy of this book. I will try my best to catch up to where everyone else is at.

[Tina Reads]

I've picked up the book again for Part 3 and sensitive readers might need TW's for the beginning.

(view spoiler)[I had forgotten how much I hated William. He's a monster and I hope Aliena's brother, Richard, kills him before the novel is over. The rape scene was horrible, and what he did in the town was brutal. I know that authors want to make their villains terrible, but why do they always resort to rape? Ugh. (hide spoiler)]

Edited to add: I finished Part 3. I have a lot of feelings about this section and want to keep going to find out what happens next, but I'll wait. For all that I have issues with some of Follet's characterization of women and a few other quibbles, he can write a really compelling story. I didn't think I'd like the novel as much as I do.

[Judy]

Finally finished chapter 2! I keep getting distracted by the maze and other shiny books hehehe

I keep flip-flopping between really enjoying this and being kind of bored because I'm not sure yet if I care about the characters or story. But I'll keep trudging...

This is also definitely where I stopped the first time I tried to read this - I didn't want to deal with a chapter from William's POV. But I guess

[Sammy]

I jumped in to book 2, World Without End the other day, which is also very good, though has a very similar story to this one. book 3 will probably happen soon :)

[Judy]

When I'm actually sitting down and reading this, it's actually going by fast... and it definitely helps that I've got the paperback from the library now!

Finally finished part 1. Alfred makes me so angry... sort of glad Ellen and Jack have left. And also re: William – Follett is so good at writing despicable POV characters, he's making my skin crawl

[Judy]

I don't think I've ever hated a character as viscerally as William...

[Tina Reads]

Judy wrote: "I don't think I've ever hated a character as viscerally as William..."

Truer words have never been spoken. I didn't hate Joffrey from GoT as much as William.

[M]

Tina wrote: "Judy wrote: "I don't think I've ever hated a character as viscerally as William..."

Truer words have never been spoken. I didn't hate Joffrey from GoT as much as William."

As I'm heading into Chapter 9, I feel like William is who Joffrey would have become had he gotten older....like Ramsey but worse.

[Gabby]

I have finally reached chapter 12 and is it just me or has Alfred and William really made this hard reading. Alfred really has become so much darker and vindictive and William aiming so hard to hurt Philip and Aliena by doing what he has (view spoiler)[ burning Kingsbridge and killing Tom (hide spoiler)] really removed the growth and joy being found by Tom and Phillip in building the Cathedral.

So much has happened and so dark or sad that I am really not finding it easy reading at the moment.

[Tina Reads]

I finished Part 4 last night and it keeps getting more soap opera-y. I still hate William.

I'm on vacation and don't have a computer to write out a long post. I'm looking forward to finishing it in November.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'm super far behind due to UNO and Tower Teams, but getting back to it now. Just starting part 2 :o

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

End of part two
William and his family are the worst villains! Ah not sure if I can cope unless they get some consequences soon!

*that* scene with Aliena was awful. (view spoiler)[ It shows how naive and vulnerable they were just living in the house for three months and not attempting to sell any goods or find somewhere to live (hide spoiler)].
Phillip is still the best character. Looking forward to the next part

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Tina wrote: "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 real..."

I totally agree about William and his family and I was also glad that Phillip has at least helped (view spoiler)[ Aliena and her brother.
I know what you mean about the writing of women. I’m
Not sure we need all the descriptions of Aliena, and now with Jack lusting after her too… oh boy. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Daniel wrote: "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..."

Haha I now understand why you needed that serial killer book!!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I’m starting chapter 9… and I have to say I’m struggling with every chapter that includes William.
I’ve started to switch off the audio and read the actual chapters that include him just so I can get through it faster.
I get that he is the ultimate villain, but gracious….

[Sammy]

Yeah, William isn't exactly a pleasant individual...

All I can say is, if you're struggling to deal with him as a character, don't bother adding to your TBRs, as Angus makes William look like a caring teddy bear and he's in the whole darned book!
In fact, I'd avoid Stephen Donaldson altogether!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Sammy wrote: "Yeah, William isn't exactly a pleasant individual...

All I can say is, if you're struggling to deal with him as a character, don't bother adding [bookcover:The Gap Into Conflict: The Real Story|42..."

haha thanks for the tip

[Sophie, The other one]

William doesn't get any better at the end of part 3 (view spoiler)[burning the town during the fleece fair (hide spoiler)]. Having said that, I think Alfred is capable of being as malicious, he just doesn't have the societal power and backing to pull of the same level of malevolence.

[Gabby]

The only reason that William manages half the political things he does is his mother and Bishop Wallerand. He has no morals and other than violence little brains. Am I wrong in thinking every time something goes wrong he runs to one or the other?

[Tina Reads]

Gabriella wrote: "The only reason that William manages half the political things he does is his mother and Bishop Wallerand. He has no morals and other than violence little brains. Am I wrong in thinking every time ..."

Absolutely! He's the epitome of privilege gone evil and when things go wrong he doesn't have the brains to think of a solution himself. Walleran is going to not need him at some point and then William's goose will be cooked! I'm 1000% there for that!

[Stacy]

I've finished now. Wow - what a fantastic book! I am going to wait until more people finish and then I'll come back and discuss. I have learnt one thing about myself during this challenge. I should never split a book up like this again lol, the last half for me was an emotional rollercoaster and I didn't want to stop reading. 😀

[Tina Reads]

Congrats for finishing, Stacy! I'm keeping to the timeline since I'm using it for another challenge. I'm really looking forward to finishing it!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

wow well done Stacy

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'm in Part 4 and on track to finish this part to the schedule... but I am struggling.
Not with the writing. Just with William and Wallerand. Maybe it is just due to the sheer size of the book, but I get so agitated when baddies just keep getting away with stuff. lol.
I've moved away from the audio and to the physical book as for some reason it doesn't feel quite so bad when I read their passages rather than hearing the audio. There is something much more personal about listening to it somehow :oa

[Tina Reads]

It's about time to start part four and I've been waiting to start this again. I hope to get it read in early November and be finished with this challenge! Anyone else ready to finish this weighty tome?

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

We are in the final stretch!!

November & December 2022

Parts 5 & 6
Chapters 14-18

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Tina wrote: "It's about time to start part four and I've been waiting to start this again. I hope to get it read in early November and be finished with this challenge! Anyone else ready to finish this weighty t..."

I'm still in part 4 and struggling. The writing is great but the baddies are just so.... infuriating. I haven't touched it for a month so I will try again

[Stacy]

Some of the stuff the evil characters do in this book is hard to stomach. I found that the writing is that good that it provokes hefty emotions. Coming from someone who has already finished the book, it is well worth the effort in my opinion. I am currently reading The Evening and the Morning
That's how much I enjoyed it lol. 🤫

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

😆 thanks Stacy
I really enjoyed the TV adaptation but I guess it gets to the consequences for baddies faster and isn’t quite as visual / graphic (strangely?)

[Stacy]

I haven't seen the TV adaptation, but I would assume half of the things William did - can't be in it? If it were as graphic as the book, people would not watch it. He's the stuff of nightmares! They probably condensed it, to make it more palatable lol. The book hits hard, I'm a big reader of Roman historical fiction, you know big battles, lots of gore... and even I was a bit shocked by this! 🙂

[Tina Reads]

I finished the book a little bit ago! It was a really good book, and I'm glad to have read it. I'll revisit it in a few days when I'm at my home computer so I can post spoilers under a cut 👍

[Helen]

I finished the book this week! I liked it better than the prequel book.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

2023 Weighty Tome nominations are open here:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...



Nominations close 20 December

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Phew! I finished!!

The writing is great and I loved being transported into the time period but William and Waleran became so hard to read. I found myself super uncomfortable every time they came onto a page from part four. My sense of justice was just very challenged!! I’m glad I finished but wouldn’t continue the series.

Thanks to everyone for helping me push through!

[Sammy]

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Phew! I finished!!

The writing is great and I loved being transported into the time period but William and Waleran became so hard to read. I found myself super uncomfortable every time they came o..."

If it makes any difference, the sequel is set at a later time with all different characters ;)

[Suzanne]

I am almost done (resumed with Part 2 in late November) and thought I would check in here. My feelings have been well expressed by Karen - the writing is so good, but I'm so frustrated with the bad guys and I just want them to be dead. And I got very tired with the war.

I hope to finish this today - we'll see.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Haha thanks Sammy. I still don’t feel I can go there 😆

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Best of luck Suzanne!
Glad I’m not alone 😬🙌

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Voting is now open for 2023 weighty tome

https://forms.gle/cafqu5YbSBUwPQQB7

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

And the winner for the 2023 Weighty Tome with 10/13 votes (including 2 x first choice) is...



Closely followed by The Count of Monte Cristo with 8 votes (incl 3 x first choice). For those who are interested, there is a prior buddy read thread here

Thread for 2023 Weight Tome is here

[Keli]

Two years in a row I have set out read the weighty tome. I buy it and begin well, but something happens and it all falls to the wayside. Luckily for me, this year's book is not my sort of thing, so no set up for possible failure. However, I will try to finish both Gone With the Wind and Pillars next year. Happy reading to you all for 2023.

[Eldarwen]

It took me a few months into this year to finish Gone with the Wind as well and I still haven't gotten very far in Pillars, only a few pages, but I was planning on reading that this year as well.

So if you want, I'll keep you company, Keli :-)