_Edge of Eternity_ by Ken Follett

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Jul 132016
 

edge

_Edge of Eternity_ by Ken Follett

As promised, I have finally made it to writing about the last of The Century Trilogy.

Despite some reviews saying that they did not like this one as much as the others, I found that I enjoyed it just as much if not more. The family lines started in the first of the trilogy continued into another generation during a time that saw the Kennedy and Martin Luther King years. Perhaps because it is more recent and relatable to my time period, I was fascinated by the events recalled in this story. I even found myself wondering what the story would be for our current times and what kind of characters would be developed.

So, I think Follett did a good job with the last of the trilogy and I continue to be impressed with his ability to write so many pages with interweaving stories. How much effort must have been spent in keeping the storylines straight! I can barely follow one as I do my own writing. 😛

Again, if you like historical fiction and can handle modern times stories, then I still recommend this series and think the trilogy was well worth the read!

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Day 18:  What piece of art are you grateful for?

singularities

This is my all time favorite piece of art done by Salvador Dalí. Now, I know Dalí is not necessarily most people’s favorite as he is known to do some very abstract work, but when I first saw this piece in an exhibit in Japan (I think) I fell in love immediately with it. It’s provocative, vibrant and complex on to many levels – plus a crazy Dalí piece. I do like strange works such as M.C. Escher or some Picasso’s more than classical Renoirs or Rembrandts. I have a copy of this piece to be put up in our new home, but I have struggled where to put it since not everyone will appreciate as much as I do. However, as some friends said to me, “Who cares?!” If I love it, then I should put it where I like. So, once we move, I shall do just that! 😀

~T 😀

_Winter of the World_ by Ken Follett

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Jul 042016
 

winter

_Winter of the World_ by Ken Follett

The Century Trilogy #2 following _Fall of Giants_, which I read about three years ago now continues with the next generation of characters during the World War II period. Following characters from Germany, Russia (Soviet Union), the US and Britain provides all different sides of the war time. Follett’s continuation of characters from the first novel makes it even more engaging and worth the read of the many pages of this novel.

As I do like historical fiction, despite my lack of attention to current events, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and was excited to see the overlapping of characters. I was able to lose myself in their lives and feel almost as if I were there or even in a film engaged in the imagery provided. Follet also does a great job of including social changes and thoughts from the period that he is writing about. Overall, a big thumbs up from me! 😀

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Day 9:  What place are you most grateful for?

Well, if you asked me this question before June 4, I probably would have thought up of some place I have traveled to or a place of my past. However, right now, right here, I am most thankful for 415. Without 415, we would be either totally homeless or forking out a load of money for a hotel that we could not afford. Thanks to the amazing generosity of our dear friends, we are able to stay in the 415 for free and have a sense of ‘home’ for the time-being. We are certain we will have our own new home very soon, but in the meantime there is no other place I could be more grateful for than where we are right now. 🙂

~T 😀

_World Without End_ by Ken Follett

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Oct 012013
 

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_World Without End_ by Ken Follett

This is the second novel following _Pillars of the Earth_, which I read earlier in the summer.

The story continues a few generations later in the same area of England where life has not necessarily changed much in terms of people’s struggles to survive and overcome the power struggle of the rich or higher statused.

Even though I was reading this after work had started, I still found it a little bit slow compared to the first novel. I’m not sure what it was exactly…maybe it was just too much similarity or something and I found less to be involved in as the stories progressed.

In any case, it seems there are some films on these books, so perhaps I will watch them one of these days. 🙂

-T 😀

_Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century Trilogy_ by Ken Follett

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Aug 222013
 

Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century…

_Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century Trilogy_ by Ken Follett

So…I think this may be near the end of my summer reading books. There might be time for just a couple more before real life returns and I do not have as much freedom to read, but we shall see. 😉

Anyway, after reading _The Pillars of the Earth_ by Follett, I was not so sure if I would read another book by him so soon. However, knowing that one of my friends quite enjoys his books, I went for another title. _Fall of Giants_ is a totally different kind of book from _Pillars_ and perhaps more my kind of novel. It is set in the time leading up to and just after World War I. There are characters showing points of view from Russia, the UK, the US and Germany. Of course, it is a fiction novel using possibilities and some true events from WWI. Still, it was more interesting to read than an actual WWI history book. 😉

I enjoyed the way Follett intertwined the characters’ lives somewhat subtly, but in a way that shows our human connection to people around the world despite times of peace and times of war. It’s amazing (sad?) to think that one could be shooting a relative just because of nationality or the demands of differing governments. There is patriotism and loyalty, but at what cost to humanity? War is such a weird thing and makes no logical sense, yet continues around the world….

Anyway, I did enjoy this novel and have already downloaded the next in the series. I am reading another war book at the moment and may go back to Atwood for a break from war stories, but eventually I shall return to Follett’s series. 🙂

-T 😀

_The Pillars of the Earth_ by Ken Follett

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Jul 062013
 

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

_The Pillars of the Earth_ by Ken Follett

This is a book I have heard a lot about and an author who has gotten a lot of attention, yet I have never really paid any attention to either one. However, when a friend at work read another book by him (don’t remember the title), I thought I would try this one since I had heard it mentioned many times.

Usually I try to know what the book is about before I start to read, but in this case I merely went off of title, name and fame. 😉

It was written in historical fiction style with elements of a fantasy novel, but not fantastical in any way. I suppose one might say it is set in medieval times or at least early medieval times when religion, kings, knights and small villages were the norm.

The story revolves around the characters of Prior Phillip, Tom Builder and his family – Alfred, Jack, Ellen, Martha -, Aliena and her brother Richard, and Bishop Waleran Bigod. The names are interesting as they relate to the characters with common names in today’s world and ones that are representative of the character’s personality.

As is common in many contemporary stories, there are a lot of overlapping incidences and what one might call coincidences of events in the lives of the characters that bring them together. Their world is indeed small, so feasible in reality, yet also dramatized for the sake of the story.

Overall, it was an entertaining read and definitely not one I probably would have chosen had I paid attention to the content. So, it was a good new kind of novel for me and I will consider future Follett books later. 🙂 Most interestingly is that there is a mini series of this novel and as I was reading it, I kept thinking – this would make a good movie or TV drama…. So, I will be looking for it to watch later as well!

-T 😀

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