Book Journal: Pillars of the Earth

I finished this 950 page book in 2 and a half days. Need I say more?

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet

This book is amazing. There is little else to say. But I'll concede to talking about it because it is just so, so good.

First of all, I had eyed this book for awhile, but usually pulled away for it for two reasons: one, the book sleeve doesn't exactly make is seem that interesting (yes, it is about building a cathedral, but there is so, so much more to it, that that description does it no justice whatsoever). Two, at nearly 1000 pages, its length was simply too much for me to handle in college. Between reading and writing for all of my classes and the haphazard schedule of any college co-ed, I didn't want to start it up, get into it, have to shelve it for a bit, and then go back to it half a year later and start over again.

But now I see the error of my ways. I believe I would have holed up in my apartment for a week straight to finish this amazing book. And what's amazing about it? Simply that Follet, sort of like Rowling, is just a good storyteller, and thus the kind of guy I really look up to. Sure, Maguire and Golden and others have a way with words as well, and one that I hope I can grow into, but the story is where the heart is, and Follet knows it. Follet writes to entertain, which is my goal as well. And he does that well. The villains are heinous, the heroes engaging, the world realistic and well-researched. There is drama, action, romance; there are touching scenes and there are sickening ones. It's just got everything in it! And that's why it rocks!

Not to mention Follet keeps the pace going with crisp, easy, intelligent writing. He eschews the esoteric nature of Maguire for pacing effects and in a case like this it absolutely works. I'll return to this one day, for sure.

9.5/10