Oprah's Favorite Things 2007 -

Oprah's Favorite Things 2007- The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Oprah recommended Aussie author Ken Follett's epic novel, The Pillars of the Earth, as part of Oprah's Favorite Things 2007. I always appreciate the boost that Oprah gives to authors. Ken Follett has been around a long time, and sometimes his books don't receive much notice. It's nice to see this particular book of his attracting more attention.

That said, I don't think that The Pillars of the Earth is Ken Follett's best book. It is a good book, however.

Before you buy this book, ask yourself if you're in one of those wintry moods where you want to curl up with a long historical style of novel.  Are you ready to take some time to get to know the characters and become familiar with the setting?

Be honest with yourself. If you're in one of those short attention span moods, you're probably better off jumping on a John Grisham novel than tackling The Pillars of the Earth. This book will demand a bit more of your time and energy to truly enjoy it. That's not a bad thing! I'm just letting you know what you're in for should you decide to grab Ken Follett's latest tome.

Follett's earlier works have all been a bit, well, zippier. They are more of the international intrigue/thriller genre, and they're quite good. This one is what you could call a character driven story. It's not about action, it's about reaction. It's not about car chases, it's about character development. It's much slower paced than his other work.

That said, it's very interesting as a stand-alone piece. I actually think people who haven't read any of his books before will probably love it because they won't have preconceived notions about how a Follett story should be told.

The story takes place in 12th century England and spans a 40 year period. The plot concerns three men and the building of a cathedral. The men have very different personalities, problems, and motivations, which is all very interesting. I liked a lot of the day to day detail in the book about what life was like back then. From the vantage point of a comfy armchair with a plate full of cookies and some evening tea, this book is very cozy and interesting to read. Might be a bit too heavy for a plane ride where you're more easily distracted. This is a book that will take some commitment on the part of the reader to stick with it. I have to admit, I started it, got several chapters in, and then lost interest for a while. But when I returned to it several weeks later I liked it a lot and finished the rest in one quick week.

And don't worry - the book takes place in the 12th century, but Follett doesn't bog down the tale with having his characters speak in lots of "thees" and "thous" or any period language. So the characters and their stories remain accessible despite the time period of the setting for the book.

Anyway, I guess you could call my review a qualified recommendation. Yes, it's a good book, if you're in a certain mood (ready to read something ambitious) and are willing to stick with it. Not a good book for someone in search of a quick, superficial read. The characters and their experiences are more in depth and "adult" than a thinly-crafted Grisham type of hero. And that's just fine! It's a rewarding book, if you stick with it.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett