The book has many of the virtues and flaws of Pillars of the Earth, but the story seems less inspired, more like Follet is using the same pattern without the same inspiration.

Overall, his setting, as in the first book, is impressive, and he has successfully advanced the setting to the 14th century. His understanding of architecture and building techniques are just as intricate as Pillars, and his knowledge of the economy and law of the fourteenth century medieval village is more sophisticated than his previous work, and he creates dramas that impressively illustrate and enlighten dry medieval economics and law. Well worth the read.

The characters and stories and dramas, though, sound more like he's trying to recreate "Pillars of the Earth" than like he was inspired to create something new. Same complicated romances, same manipulative power struggles, same unconscionably ambitous nobles and clergy. They are good stories, but even more superficial than in the first, and just as 20th century, rather than medieval.

His characters do deal with specifically fourteenth century medieval issues in this book, such as the changing roles of women in society, or the transition from superstition to a more scientific world view. This is well done especially in the sections about the Black Death.

Some reviews have said Caris seems too modern, but there were women in that era struggling for more independence. Women in fourteenth century towns were guild members and business owners and council members, and maybe even fighters, and often female monasteries offered a path to power that women couldn't find in the secular world, and nuns were conscious of this role, judging from medieval sources. Follet did his research there.

Overall, good research, good medieval setting, but somewhat mechanical storytelling.

I started this book right after listening to Pillars of the Earth and was a huge mistake. I took a break before tackling it again. Same style as Pillars, but seemed to just drone on and on, tiresome in fact. Too many repetitious details too. Felt as if the author thought I was sleeping thru part of it and needed to explain it all again and again. Good read, but not rigth after Pillars!

I really enjoyed reading the Pillars of the Earth, so I looked forward to this book, in spite of some of the reviews it received.

On one hand, once you suspend all knowledge of the middle and lower classes of 14th century England, the characters are lively and fun. It's also nice to see them grow from childhood to retirement.

On the other hand, the strongest female lead (Caris), is a bra burning Florence Nightengale that is drawn so unrealistically, it's laughable. In addition, the hero (Merthin) is a brilliant builder who seems to have gleaned all his engineering knowledge from casual conversations and a single book, which enables his to build tall towers and immovable bridges. The details of which Follett gives on these structures is fascinating at first, then turns into a long slog towards the end.

There is lots and lots of sex in this book. I can only think of two instances in 40 hours of listening where the sex actually moved the story along. Anyway, I don't mind gratuitous sex, when it is well written. I think Follett was going for earthy as opposed to exalted sexual congress, but he often comes across as a lascivious old man. Ultimately, these scenes made me feel dirty and not in a good way.

The worst part of this book was the repetitive details. In such a long book, it's a good idea to have some reminder of what happened 400 pages ago. However, when you have an evil character, and you have him shoot a dog in the beginning of a story, you don't have to remind the audience of this every 50 pages or so. More than likely, people will remember, especially since he spends a good deal of his time torturing other people and animals along the way.

Overall, I liked this book well enough to not be sorry I listened to it. I wish that it had been edited to cut about 300 pages or one eight hour part. By the time I listened to the last section, I was anxious to get it over with and move on.

I thought Pillars of the Earth was the best book I had ever read but Ken Follett once again creates a long ago world as if it were just around the corner and you know every character.

Very Positive, I really enjoyed the book.