Nunca leí 'La Biblia', pero siento como si lo hubiera hecho.

No me culpen, es decir, un gran contenido religioso y un gran -gran- número de páginas, ¿no cumple con todos los requisitos para ser mi nuevo libro sagrado?

➤ "Si todo resultara fácil el hombre no necesitaría la guía de Dios."

OK, comencemos diciendo que este libro es sorprendentemente adictivo, y hago especial hincapié en el "sorprendente" porque ¿¿¿un libro histórico sobre la Edad Media que gira en torno a una catedral??? No suena a algo que a la mayoría le gustaría, ni siquiera puedo decir que tenga una trama específica en sí, es solo una ambientación de época que va desarrollándose con los sucesos que van desencadenandose y así PERO, de alguna forma, todo esto funciona.

Y creo que uno de los pilares (no de la tierra, sino del libro :) mal chiste?? Definitivamente), para que todo esto funcione de tal forma, son, definitivamente, los personajes. Existen novelas que leí cuyos personajes me nombran y digo ¿quién?, es decir, olvidables, y otras donde me pasa todo lo contrario: son memorables. El libro pertenece a esta última categoría. Contamos con Philip, un monje con el cual se empatiza al instante, por su resiliencia, pasión y fé verdadera (¿¿un ateo simpatizando con un monje?? esto no se puede dejar pasar así como así...); William y Waleran cuyos roles de antagonistas son logrados a la perfección, porque los desprecio con mucha intensidad (-pausa para vomitar-); y hasta iconos femeninos dignos de destacar: Aliena y Ellen. Las mejores, más en un contexto donde "mujeres" e "independencia" parecen conceptos antagónicos.

Básicamente nos sumergimos en el medioevo, un contexto histórico plagado de reinos y monarquías, fuerte presencia e influencia eclesiástica y bastante oscuridad, se es poco suave sobre este último punto, hay muchas escenas de violencia física y sexual. Mientras corremos en círculos en una aparente construcción de una catedral, nos entretenemos con los dramas de la época: corrupción en la Corona e Iglesia, alianzas y traiciones, amor y desamor, justicia e injusticia, rebelión, etc. Y todo es un entretenimiento satisfactorio, también, debido a la narrativa del autor, suspensiva, ligera y clara, las páginas simplemente corren sin sentirse un verdadero peso. Por último, es de destacar la presencia de cierto contenido ¿arquitectónico? Muchas escenas son dedicadas para describir la arquitectura y características de ciertas edificaciones (y sí, muchos conceptos los tuve que googlear), además del contenido ligado a la Iglesia, sus costumbres, comportamientos y, sobre todo, sus fallas como institución (también me gustó que el cristianismo no es un hecho absoluto, sino que también existieron personajes que lo rechazaron).

➤ “Jack tuvo que contenerse para no echarse a reír. ¿De qué servía arrojar dinero a un pedazo de madera? Pero la gente había sido adoctrinada por la Iglesia hasta tal punto que su reacción automática ante algo sagrado era la de dar dinero.”

Comentario random en medio de la nada: hacia el final me dio una fuerte sensación de nostalgia, a medida que se avanza a través de las páginas, también se lo hace a través del tiempo, vemos la evolución de todos los personajes y crecimiento. Adjunto cita:

➤ “Los años parecen pasar con más rapidez a medida que te vas haciendo mayor."

Ahora bien, siempre es una especie de desafío leer libros tan largos de hojas como este, pero, por sorpresa, acabó convirtiéndose en uno de mis lecturas favoritas y curiosamente aumentó más mi gusto por las novelas históricas, que comenzó a aparecer desde "Medio Sol Amarillo". Por mi parte, procedo a stalkear al autor y tirar algunas de sus obras a 'quiero leer'; vi que esta novela tiene una especie de continuación no directa… ¿debería...? Eso creo.

El llamado gran maestro de la narrativa y el suspense nos transporta a la Edad Media, a un fascinante mundo de reyes, damas, caballeros, pugnas feudales, castillos y ciudades amuralladas. El amor y la muerte se entrecruzan vibrantemente en este magistral tapiz cuyo centro es la construcción de una catedral gótica.

La historia se inicia con el ahorcamiento público de un inocente y finaliza con la humillación de un rey. "Los pilares de la tierra" es aclamada como la obra maestra de Ken Follett y desde luego constituye una excepcional evocación de una época de violentas pasiones.

Basado en la Edad Media y la arquitectura gótica de las catedrales de la época. Aunque esto pueda sonar a libro pesado no lo es.

Follet hace que el gran número de páginas que tiene el libro vuelen y quieras más mientras lo lees es una gozada exquisita el aspecto tanto histórico de la época como las construcciones.

Una documentación y labor histórico magnífico e irreprochable. Prosa adecuada y ágil que nos encandila desde el principio. Todo acompañado de personajes que nos interesan, sobretodo su devenir. Ingredientes de todo tipo. Tenemos de todo en esta historia.

Historia que te engancha desde el principio, en la que hay traición, mucha muerte, aventura, amor y dolor.

Describe muy bien cómo se debió vivir en ese tiempo y sus costumbres. Ycon la Iglesia por encima de todo el reino cual halcón.

Pero debo decir que al terminarlo no sé si es debido a la fama de este libro como uno de los más vendidos y una obra maestra que no voy a discutirlo, no me ha impresionado tanto como para ponerlo en dicha categoría. Se me vienen a la mente varios que pondría antes en mi lista que este. Buenísimo sin duda pero tampoco me ha parecido tan espectacular.

Ha tenido sus momentos. Ya sabemos lo de los gustos, colores, momentos y creo que también la trayectoria como lector influye. Si esto hubiera caído hace 3 años antes de que llevase todo lo que llevo a la espalda.. quién sabe..✍️

Even though Ken Follett's so-called "masterpiece" has received so much popular appraisal (like the sales-boosting membership to Oprah's Book Club), I have to say I don't really see the novel's appeal beyond some decent medieval research and adequate character development. Spanning the length of most of the 12th century, Pillars of the Earth is yet another epic novel that follows several generations of the same families, members of whom seem to be simple reincarnations of their ancestors. In 900+ pages, Follett often seems to be too lazy or not creative enough to develop new characters as they are needed, or even new plot lines. Reading the struggle between good and evil, the humble prior seeking to rebuild his cathedral vs. the power-hungry lord who seems be driven by nothing but pure revenge (church vs. state, anyone?) gets old after the first 250 pages, after which the same struggles are reincarnated over and over again, between all of the characters. Additionally, the dialogue is quite thin, and the characters themselves seem to recycle, right down to their looks (the same damn hair colors and facial features are constantly reappearing--hasn't Follett heard of recessive genes?). If you need a book to get you though a long flight or something mindless to wean you off your last round of exams, this is a good choice; otherwise, Follett's rather remedial prose leaves you feeling like you just wasted quite a bit of time digging through a massive, yet empty, tome.

n  “The most expensive part of building is the mistakes.”n

Look, it's difficult to explain exactly why I liked this book. Seriously, if you take a look at the blurb, note the 973 pages, and the fact it's a very long story about building a cathedral in Medieval England, you might think I've been smoking something. But for me - and I'm assuming for a large number of other readers - it was so damn compelling.

I'm going to get the crap out of the way first - if you are sensitive to scenes of rape, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. Medieval England is a shitfest of misogyny, violence, accusations of witchcraft and, yes, rape. One of the scenes is especially disturbing and graphic; I actually had to take a break from the book after reading it.

I should say that it is not portrayed as a positive, or even a normal, thing. Scenes of rape and brutal violence in the book largely serve to make us despise William Hamleigh with a ferocious passion. It turns out that a deep, seething hatred can really keep you turning pages, waiting for that bastard to get what he rightly deserves.

Anyway, yes, the main plot is about the building of the fictional Kingsbridge cathedral. But, really, it is about all the characters that come into contact with Kingsbridge, its cathedral, and Prior Philip - their loves, desires, ambitions, conflicts and heartbreaks. I was pulled in from the very dramatic prologue when a young woman arrives at a hanging and curses the three men who guaranteed her beloved's execution.

There are love stories in here, as well as tales of ruthless ambition, and betrayal. Follett has created some incredible and unforgettable characters: Tom Builder, Philip, Ellen, Jack, Aliena, and Waleran Bigod. And, of course, that snivelling stain on humanity that is William Hamleigh.

I haven't read any of Follett's other work, but it is not surprising to hear he was a thriller writer before beginning The Pillars of the Earth. He has carried that with him into this story. Just when everything seems to be going right, some catastrophe happens to throw a spanner in the works. Just when it looks like Philip is going to succeed, some more shit happens. But it was an effective way to keep me looking over my shoulder.

It's a strange book because it's a bloody, heart-pounding page-turner wrapped up in a 900-page, serious-looking, cathedral-building package. Strange, and yet I find myself wanting more. I guess I'll have to read World Without End.

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OMG, this book was HUGE!! I do not mind reading big books if I like them (e.g. Shogun). The pillars felt so, so long because it was boring (for me anyways). Not because there is no action. There is plenty of it. The reason i was bored is that I couldn't care less about the characters. Any of them. The author did not succeed to make me like any or become interested in their destiny.

What I also found peculiar with this book was that each chapter was gripping in itself but after finishing it I did not feel the need to start the next one. There was some sort of resolution in each chapter which, in my opinion, is not the way to keep someone on the edge of the seat, reading. In order to finish this huge book I wanted to not be able to let it from my hand. I read some reviews and it seems some liked this kind of writing.

Moreover, the writing is not much. I really do not believe it is worth calling this a classic of historical fiction. Also, the dialog does not feel from the 12th century, it is pretty much modern.

Finally, the whole plot is way too melodramatic.

I learned some interesting historical info about the period and about building churches, not that i needed that in my life. It was entertaining to read the book at times but I think there will be no more Ken Follet for me.

Nigdy nie bawiłem się lepiej obserwując, jak ktoś stawia cegłę na cegle.
I to przez 40 lat.
Recenzja: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyXH1...

This book was okay. It started out in an engaging manner, pulling me into the characters of Tom, his wife, Ellen and Jack. The strength of the book is clearly characterization. It's the struggles of the people within, their hopes, loves and pain that makes this story work. The villain is well developed and incredibly hateful, which is what villains should be.
The problem for me was that after 400 pages or so the tendency to drift into narrative detail about architecture became overwhelmingly boring. I had long since passed the point of no return to dnf a book, and I did want to see what happened to the characters, but eventually I just wanted it to end. Three stars is a bit generous considering the struggles I had and the skimming that eventually got me through it. There are definitely moments that shine in this book- they're simply too few and far between for my taste.
Two and a half stars.

It was a little overlong and could have done with another careful edit, but this story was generally gripping and very cleverly put together.

I read this one awhile ago. I remember it as one of my top five reads of all time even though I mostly dwell within the mystery/thriller genre. I'm hot and cold on Ken Follett books but this one is a wonderful read. I am always on the look out for a book that first and foremost immerses me in the Fictive Dream and this is one of them. And it's an epic so the ride was long and comfortable. My world fell away as I entered this one.
Highly recommend.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.

OK, I get it, it is not a sophisticated work of literature. It ain't Shakespeare for sure :-).
And I normally stay well away from works of popular historical fiction that tend, like this one, to sacrifice historical accuracy for popularity and readability.

However, I enjoyed reading it, warts and all. The plot is often quite gripping, some of the characters are interesting, and the narrative has some atmospheric moments that manage to credibly recreate some of the peculiar cultural, religious and social features of the period. And the author does demonstrate rich imagination and a capacity to create a highly readable work of historical fiction.
Yes, there is some predictability, recurrence of characters and themes, some questionable stereotyping that would not be out of place in a B-movie on the Middle Ages, some over-simplistic black-and white characterizations, some unwarranted transplanting of modern sensibilities into a medieval setting, and an occasional teenagerish tinge to it (a couple of sex scenes do verge on the preposterous).

But, I must reiterate, I found the reading of this book quite an enjoyable experience. I did like it, quite a lot actually, maybe because I was in the right frame of mind to take pleasure in light, low-brow entertainment for a little while.

Just perfect as summer, indulgent beachside reading, suitable to anybody willing to temporarily suspend judgment and apply some leniency to issues of historical imprecision. Escapism at its best. 4 stars.

“Having faith in God didn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing.”

I have never read a book so imbued in the power of faith and its effect on fate. I am not a steadfast believer in “what will be, will be”, but Follett does a masterful job of proving me wrong. It’s strange; certain acts are perpetrated, people make rash decisions, but nothing ever turns out the way they want. FATE
Some of the characters do really well for themselves and then are just constantly shat on FATE some seem to be constantly tested FATE and one man no matter what constantly prays
My emotions haven’t been riled up by a book this much in ages. My poor dear friend had to read a litany of texts from me berating the author on a nightly basis.
One sticking point is the ending wrap-up. I think it plays with history too much. I understand why this plot twist was necessary. But it just rubbed me wrong for some reason. Through the book I felt like the historical aspects were really there as a crutch or slight framework, well except for Bigod, but Bigod was made to be the perfect villain. The ending was thrown in my face.
Regardless this was an excellent book. I just can’t read Book Two yet. My blood pressure is still high.

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

This book was popular? As in a mini-phenomenon? Seriously? Am I being punked? Tell the truth--no one else read the book. It was all an elaborate media/pop culture scheme to trick me into reading this book. Please lie to me about this. I'm not sure I can go on living if I have to believe that this is what my fellow man is reading these days.

My utter disdain for the book comes from many a source:

A) It's 900 pages. Mind you, I'll read 900 pages, even 1,500 pages, if it's amazing. But it has to be a crackerjack of a book. This was not.

B) Here's where this book and I really parted ways: Tom Builder's beloved wife, Agnes, dies in childbirth on the side of the road. Only hours later, Tom's rolling in the leaves with an attractive forest wench in a sex scene so ridiculous I could practically hear the "bow-chicka-wow-wow" music in the background. Poor Agnes' body isn't even cold yet and Tom's getting it on with a woman he had a 15 minute conversation with earlier in the book.

C) It's hard to believe this is medieval England, what with all the modern sensibilities and modern vernacular.

C) It could have been whittled down by about 500 pages if the scenes of people eating had been omitted.

E) The women, oh, the women. Witches or whores or victims of tag team rape.

Here's the basic rundown of the plot:

--Building a church, building a church, building a church . . .
--Oh, crap, a plot complication! We might not be able to build the church.
--Crafty Phillip overcomes the complication.
--Insert licentious sex scene.
--Building a church, building a church, building a church . . .
--Oh, crap, a plot complication! We might not be able to build the church.
--Crafty Phillip overcomes the complication.
--Now insert gratuitous sex scene.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. For 900 pages.

Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder