Wetumpka Library Blog

Book Review by Book Bites book club member Sue Barnet January 15, 2009

“Pillars of the Earth”
Book Group Choice for January

Ken Follett’s “World without End” was one of the best historical novels of 2008. It’s a thousand page, traditional historical novel with a great storyline backed by meticulous research. The book is the story of the rebuilding of a fabulous gothic cathedral in Kingsbridge, England.

“World without End” is the sequel to “The Pillars of the Earth,” and our book group decided to read these blockbusters in order. “The Pillars of the Earth” tells the story of the Kingsbridge cathedral from 1135-1174, from its first conception to completion. It’s the story of how a huge stone cathedral is constructed from the foundations to the topmost spire. It’s the story of Tom, the master builder and Philip, the Prior of Kingsbridge, and their intertwined lives. It’s the story of the expansion of commerce in a medieval town. And it’s full of intriguing details of town’s daily life, military life, and monastic life, all set against the backdrop of civil war.

First published in 1989, “The Pillars of the Earth” was an international bestseller. Master storyteller Follett surprised everyone by writing something different than his usual excellent thriller. Follett’s Edgar award winning “The Eye of the Needle” is the book most people know. Yet “The Pillars of the Earth” is now my favorite Follett novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the medieval soap opera that intertwined with detailed information on the building of a gothic cathedral and medieval life. If you want to find out what ordinary people ate and wore and how they made a living, what the monks in a monastery did other than pray, and the political maneuverings of the time, this is a book you’ll enjoy.

Inspired to do a little background research on the Middle Ages, I reread “Cathedral” by David Macaulay. This is a “picture book” for all ages with highly detailed pen and ink drawings showing every step of cathedral construction with a straightforward narrative to accompany the drawings. It’s an award winning book itself and will clear up any mystery about how the keystone is positioned in a vaulted ceiling without crashing to the ground. I’d be willing to bet Ken Follett, cathedral enthusiastic that he is, owns a first edition.

Ken Follett’s “The Pillars of the Earth” and “World Without End,” and David Macaulay’s “Cathedral” are available from Wetumpka Public Library.
The book group meets on the third Tuesday of every month at noon at the Wetumpka Library. Our book list for the next six months is available at http://tinyurl.com/8zp579. Please join us for lively, book-centered discussion.