Many of us felt the same way as you did while reading the book. I think you picked up on a very interesting point. One I never even thought of &have not seen posted. It really rung true. Thank you. You gave me something to think about & more depth to this beautifully time traveled book

So angry to have finished... I feel the same way, I'd just finished Rutherford's Princes of Ireland before Pillars but the latter captured my interest. As you said, Might always takes over Right. Our world is much the same today...

I loved Princes of Ireland and Rebels of Ireland. I enjoyed them more and have thought of them much more than I did Pillars.
Have you read any other of Rutherfurd's books and, if so, what would you suggest as a next Rutherfurd read?

Actually, I've read all the Rutherford books....loved the Ireland books...London, Sarum, the Forest.....Love Michener as well, and have read them all but Space and Poland, I think. Historical fiction (especially the epic style) is my favorite read. I am a history teacher, so I guess it's natural for me to like that genre. I have also read Gary Jannings and like his work (Aztec, the Raptor,etc).

Like you, there were several times when I had to stop reading because I was so enraged by William. I have to say I was also very frustrated by the constant back and forth. Specifically, when Richard killed Alfred to protect his sister, I just saw it coming......that William would hypocritically arrest Richard. At that point I literally almost threw my book in the ocean. But what kept me reading was the hope of hearing about William's regret and suffering and I was disappointed with the lack of description of Williams fear in the end. I felt that if the author could describe, in great detail, the moments of several rapes and continue on and on about Aliena's pubic hair then at least he could allow me to savor Williams terror in the end.

I am so excited to hear about some good historical fiction. i teach history too, but the past few years i've been reading autobiographies and biographies. I haven't read any books by the authors you mentioned..thanks

I tried to read London by Rutherford but it just didn't have any interesting characters with pizazz that TPOTE has!

I had the same problem with London.

Thank you for pointing out Gary Jannings. I am on my way to check him out. I found Rutherfurd's Ireland books enthralling. They pulled me in ...captivated me. I can't really explain how I feel about these two books. But, like Michener, he (Rutherfurd) writes over such a long time span. Centuries. You start almost at the beginning of recorded history and travel through the centuries not only with the characters but also with the land, the culture. You can feel empathy for all of these. It seems, to me, as if you are a time traveller of sorts. As social, political, cultural changes occur in the books...you feel impacted. Maybe it is because you were "there" at the beginning so to speak and feel a connection with the people who came before. I feel a passion for the work of Michener and now for that of Rutherfurd....and I tend to babble Going to look for M. Jannings.

I agree with you. I bought this book on the day of our 16th wedding anniversary and it was the best gift I gave myself. I just finished it last night after reading it many a times until 5:00 in the morning sometimes. I had to stop during the violent parts and thought the suffering would never end for the people in Kingsbridge. I have picked up reading after a long time and this book opened new avenues for me to spend the little time I have. I am anxious to read the sequel. I agree with you when you said that there was hope for the people but majority of the people did live with fear and there was no justice for the poor and Follet captured the emotions of the people excellently in this story and made you actually feel the fear when you hear or see William Hamleigh in your mind when you read the book. These were truly the dark ages.

Hi

Finished the book over the Christmas holidays...Between that and East Pray Love...I am rejuvanated

I would have liked to have seen the sister's character flushed our more. She got left behind in the story

Hi

Finished the book over the Christmas holidays...Between that and East Pray Love...I am rejuvanated

I would have liked to have seen the sister's character flushed our more. She got left behind in the story

I never read books that have made other people angry

re: anger over william's rapes, etc. I too reached the tedium level of follett's over the top use of william as rapist, arsonist, bla bla. When it happens to a reader, your anger should make u stop and NOT ask why william and guys like that had to be this way. remember it is ken follett not william doing the writing. Instead, it should make you mentally do the following.

1. Quickly establish a rating system in ur head of "Good Lit in This Genre." If you don't have one, no prob. don't worry. Your criterion could be "Good Lit." u will find that if yu check your list of great books that you internally KNOW are good, you'll find the top of the criterion list includes "Doesn't exploit rape/ bodice-ripping scenes/masturbatory graphic depictions of sex" as in the top two criteria.

3. Resolve to cross off the writer as a serious writer. This way you keep your discernment and emotional investment level and in check, awaiting, as it should, a really good book.

I confess, like anyone the forward slant (page turning) of this book kept me going for 1000 pages. Yes, kill me, i'm human. But no goldarn way is a bodice-ripper of a novelist going to win me over to him. He is exploitative and this is not high literature. It's a dirty comic book.