Can't wait to read the next one!

This was a century with many important events and changes in the world.

Grandchildren of initial characters are already grown up and taking an active part in making history.

Exciting books that show tipping points in history.

First off, I cannot review this book without spoilers, so please, please read at your own risk.





SPOILERS AHEAD


I was disappointed by this book. Maybe as a standalone version it would have been better received, but as the third of what had been a superb trilogy I was let down.

First:
Why drop so many characters we were invested in the first two books and which in the closing of the second made it look like we should look forward to what happens to them? The second books ends with Erik (Carla's brother) being enthusiastic with an East German uniform (similar to how he had joined the Nazi Army before) yet no mention of him, even in passing is made here.

The second book ends with Volodya showing his scientist wife a Sears catalog. Nothing comes of that, and the book focuses on the fraternal twins of Volodya's sister (whose marriage no one was thrilled about).

What about Billy Williams and his family? The seond book ends with him being a leading Labor MP and him digging up Ty Gwyn's gardens for coal.

Second:
No payoffs for many of the characters we do get to follow,

More than once Natalya keeps mentioning that she would like to escape to the West and that Vasilii (her author friend) deserves to get the recognition he deserves. Would it have cost too much for Follet to add a 2 page chapter where he receives some accolades (or maybe a fictional Nobel Prize of sorts) once the Soviet Union has been dissolved?

Maud dies, Grigory is visited on his death bed, what about the rest of the characters we loved and hated?

Third:
A heavy political agenda.

Basically liberals are good, conservatives are bad. Reagan should have been punished but wasn't, Bush 41 was clueless. After a point I did not like it at all. Follet made one character conservative and made him a heavy cartoon of one.

Fourth:
Many people complained before me, too much pointless sex. Does he really have to tell us that a brother and sister do not mind seeing each other naked? Hiding in a women's lingerie store was a great idea for two women looking not to be followed, but comparing breasts? And that "if I was a lesbian" line? Seriously? Plus the whole thing about Walli shaking hands with Karoly's husband and "seeing something" then Lilli remembering it was absurd.

Those are the things that disappointed me in a book I was soo looking forward to read. Sorry Ken, this onw gets only 3 stars.

And BTW just a passing mention (twice) of how Ty Gwyn is now a College with no explanation?

I found the first book in the series completely enjoyable, by the second I felt like the end would never come. Curiosity kept me going with the third installment but I must say, walking away at the end of the first would have been most satisfying.