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Fall of Giants Chunky Read with reading schedule
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Meg
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Oct 01, 2010 10:32AM
I would like to start another new chunky read. Any takers for Fall of Giants starting in November? Please let me know so I can run the schedule.
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I have started it, Meg. It is quite good but at 1008 pages a bit "chunky" I would sure love to join in on the discussion.
I pre-ordered it too and saved a lot that way and it just arrived. YAY Also, after a lot of persuasion, it is now on Kindle if anyone wants to do it that way. Does starting it mid October sound doable for all? I agree Tera it will be a hard one to read slow, we might have to up the reading schedule on this one.Marialyce -- is it a fast reading book?
Oh it is, Meg. I am already on page 250 after two day and I am holding myself back! :)
I just ordered this book yesterday.
I downloaded the Kindle sample. I'll check it out.
I'm on the list at the library for it. Do you mind if I join in, too?
If I get around to it, I will join you guys.
Reading Schedule:October 17: Read up to page 166 (through CHapter 5)and discuss
October 24: Finish Part 1 discuss Read pp 325-570 (through Chapter 20)
October 31: Discuss pp 325-570; Read 571 - 692 (through Chapter 24)
November 7: Discuss 571-692; Read 692- 802(through Chapter 29)
November 14: Discuss 692-802; Finish book
November 21: Discuss entire book
If we all feel we can't put it down, we can push up the schedule. Looks like a fast read. Can't wait for us to start!!!!
Can't wait to get the book.
I've just downloaded the kindle sample and I am already 30% done with the sample with distractions from my babies. I can't seem to pull away. I was immediately drawn in and the cliches can go on. I am going to pick up my copy this week to join in.
I have a library copy and it's due on the 13th so I will have to read the whole book by then, but will participate in the discussion. It is a quick read and ever so un put it down able I think.
Are there chapters in the book you can refer to in the schedule? We don't page numbers on the e-readers...
Done Elena! thank you for pointing that out.
Thanks Meg. Looking at some highlights of the book I saw this book was published this year. Surprise! I always associate chunky books with classics.
Interesting, a lot of the chunkies are classics, but there are quite a few that make it on the current best seller lists. This book was just released last week.
I wanted to mention what I found out in another group regarding the average rating of this book at Amazon. It is only 2 stars because it has 136 one star ratings (out of 201). These are not real reviews, but a campaign to protest the price of the book for the Kindle. What a shame! Can't they find another more noble way of protesting? Just don't buy it. The rating is 4.19 here in GR.
....and worth that rating for sure (the goodreads one)
For those of you that read the GR newsletter, they interviewed Ken Follett in regards to his book Fall of Giants. Take time to read it!One particular question that interested me:
GR: Readers who have long noted your predilection for strong, interesting female characters will be pleased to meet Maud and Ethel and see that the cause of women's suffrage is an important component of Fall of Giants. With so many historical themes to consider, what inspired you to include this critical piece of women's history?
KF: The greatest social change of the last hundred years is the change in the role of women. Victorian women believed they were inferior to men; my daughters take it for granted that they are equal. This did not happen by accident: Women fought a tough political battle and won.
I have seen the GR newsletter in the past is there a link?
Rebecca, on the top click on explore and then authors, it is on the right hand side of the page about half way down
Should I read Pillars of the Earth before starting Fall of Giants? I would like to read both, but I know that there is no way at this point in my life that I can complete Pillars before this discussion begins.
Pillars and Fall of Giants are not related at all. You can read Fall of Giants first with us, (hopefully) and at another time read Pillars. We would love to have you.
Thank you Meg, I think I will take on this as my first chunky read with COL. Irene
I haven't gotten my book yet. I hope it comes soon.
Well you have a couple of weeks, even if you start late it will be ok Jayme. Welcome Irene and Emily, glad to have you aboard.
Thanks, Meg! I've been reading on CoL for about a year and a half now, but haven't read a chunky one. It'll be good to read with the group on this Ken Follett. I've definitely heard mixed reviews.
Emily, I am really loving this book. I am about 3/4's done. It is not as fast a read as POTE was, but ever so good and interesting. Follett is definitely establishing a time line of his characters and their involvement in the early events of the 1900's. (1914-1915) as well as the War years.
I'll definitely look forward to it. His books are always enjoyable for me.
One of the things I missed when reading on my Kindle, is the ability to easy flip through pages. This book has a list of characters at the beginning, and even though you can bookmark it, it is not practical for me. Here is a link I found to the list of characters. You can print it and have it as reference.http://www.ken-follett.com/century/ch...
OK I didn't know how quickly this was done but Reading group guides already has one for Fall of Giants!
OK, as you start reading, the very first chapter deals with mining, talking about the first experience being lowered into the bowels of the earth. I can't help thinking about what it was like for the Chilean miners who have been trapped for so long. Do you think that you could go down into the earth like that? If so, how do you think you could survive it? Can you even imagine it?
I could never do that as I am very afraid of tight spaces especially those that are below ground. I went into a cave once and felt so lightheaded that I got out of there as fast as I could.Even reading about Billy going into the mines made me tense. I really don't know how people do that job. I have great respect for them and was ever so happy to hear that some of the Chilean miners have been rescued. I also couldn't help but think how cruel was the joke they played on Billy with leaving him in the total darkness. I would have died of a heart attack!
I am also very claustrophobic. I don't think I would last a minute underground. I am not even comfortable in a room without a window. I can relate the story to the time I went to Russia. Their subway system is very far underground. You have to take escalator after escalator to get to the very bottom where the trains are. I was pretty panicky doing that and it was wide open spaces!I thought the situation that Billy had to go through was really cruel. I too would not have made it!
My book finally came in today:)
Great Jayme! I hope you will enjoy it as much as I am.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I found the first 166 pages easy to read and hard to stop reading! I hope I am not alone.1. On pages 66 and 67, they start mentioning the Women's Movement/suffragettes where both Lady Maud and Ethel are noted to be "liberals" because of it. I think one of the themes we will follow, as Follett himself mentioned, is the women's movement. Do you think the portrayal of women in this reading gives inkling to the conflicts women faced at the turn of the century. If so, what are some examples?
I just finished the first chapter. I received the book this afternoon. I have to give Billy a lot of credit for carrying on like he did. I know that I probably would have freaked out, especially when the rats joined the party. Looking forward to continuing with the reading.
I do think Follett gives a major voice to the Women's movement in this book. Women did not have the ability to vote and some countries forbade women the right to inherit property. All their lives they needed to rely on the good will of husbands, fathers, brothers etc. They were not as educated as their male counterparts and were looked upon as less than desirable if they expressed their opinions or seemed to have a brain. Men preferred their women docile, pretty, and able to run the house. They weren't looking for equals, they were looking for women to be at their beck and call.
Vicki, The best is yet to come. Enjoy!
Yeah, I don't do docile well.
Docile isn't in my vocabulary!Remember that this is starting around 1914, the Women's vote in America didn't happen until 1919-1920. But it was more than the vote that was happening. We are being introduced to very strong women, at least strong for their time and/or their position. It will be interesting to follow the "unchaining".
I would find it hard to go in a mine. I don't even like elevators, and waiting for them to stop. I think it's intresting to talk about given the happenings to the Chilean miners.
Chicks On Lit
Books mentioned in this topic
The Pillars of the Earth (other topics)The Woman in White (other topics)
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists (other topics)
