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The Pillars of the Earth (Enhanced Edition)
The Pillars of the Earth (Enhanced Edition) | Ken Follett
The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect - a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett's historical materpiece. 'Enormous and brilliant . . . this mammoth tale seems to touch all human emotion - love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair. This is truly a novel to get lost in'
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Texreader
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Ebook on sale. A definite favorite of mine.

35 likes1 stack add
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thebacklistbook
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I like reading any historical fiction

First read was bare bones by Kathy Reichs

Longest ever was the tagged book, unless I count textbooks from my lit courses, then it was one of them at somewhere around 1500 to 2000 pages. #wondrouswednesday

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intothehallofbooks
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My favorite #12Booksof2023 from February was also my favorite book of 2023! How can it not be? It‘s a masterpiece and it‘s set during my favorite historical time period. So sweeping, so dramatic! The story is so BIG. I just loved it. I loved some of the characters and I really hated others. It took me a full month to read it and then I watched the movie series! So good.

Andrew65 A personal favourite! 4mo
MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm This has been sitting on my TBR for a while. Sounds like I really need to prioritize getting to it! 4mo
30 likes2 comments
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vonnie862
Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett
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JMPemberton
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My first #kenfollett book. It‘s a hefty thing, weighing in at over 1100 pages. A tale set in the 12th century following 3 characters around the building of a cathedral. That sounds dry I know, but trust me, it‘s a real page-turner. I‘m on page 180, and can‘t put it down! There are 3 other books in this series, god help me! 😂

TheSpineView Loved it!❤️📖📚 4mo
6 likes1 stack add1 comment
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JenDR
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I am over summer. I know we still have at least two more months of it left, so.... thought a massively long audiobook set in cold damp England would help at least mentally get me a reprieve from the heat and humidity. Am also curious about this book. For years people have said to try it. I only have read Eye of the Needle by Follett before - wondering what a historical drama from him looks like.

7 likes1 stack add
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Ast_Arslan
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView tagged by @The_Penniless_Author ❣️

1. Well, here in Italy we do not have such holiday 😅 Even though I will had to work anyway
2. I will ask for normal things like having all the books that I desire

@mavey @TheNeverendingTBR @Cazxxx wanna join?

TheSpineView Ah books!!! Thanks for playing 💙📘📚📚📚📚📚 11mo
TheNeverendingTBR Thanks for the tag Val, hope you're well! 🙂 11mo
Ast_Arslan @TheNeverendingTBR I'm fine, thanks! And you? 11mo
TheNeverendingTBR @Ast_Arslan Good, thank you. I seem to be in a slight reading slump, though. Just so busy and with the excitement of getting a break away. I think I'll try a graphic novel, that usually helps. 🙂 11mo
24 likes4 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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Starting this one tonight. Holy #chunkster Batman! I‘m finally caught up, although I‘ll never finish this one by the end of May 🤣

GinaKButler One of my favorites! 11mo
49 likes1 stack add1 comment
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intothehallofbooks
Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett
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I read 8 books during February (2 were started in Jan but finished in Feb). Here are my favorites:

Pillars of the Earth will surely be a contender for my favorite of the year; Elevator Pitch started slow but built into a tension-filled, super fun read; and Nicole Deese has skyrocketed to the top of my sweet, no-drama author list. A very good month for reading!

#FebruaryReads

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intothehallofbooks
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Pickpick

A very high pick for this one!! I loved everything about it: the backstabbing and betrayal, the cathedral-building, the lives of the everyday medieval people, the conflict between King Stephen and the Empress Maud in the background which ultimately drove the story. Ken Follett is a master, one of my favorites, and this was everything I‘d heard it would be. The good vs evil was almost exhausting-I went thru nearly every emotion over and over again.

GinaKButler I read this in college and loved it! It‘s about time for a reread! 14mo
Kangaj1 Yay! I am about two days away from finishing this one. It's my first Ken Follett! I bought books 2-3 in this series, but I also want to check out his other work. 14mo
Cuilin @intothehallofbooks @Kangaj1 the prequel is also great. 14mo
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Kangaj1 @Cuilin ooohhh, did not know that existed! 14mo
intothehallofbooks @GinaKButler I can‘t believe I made it this far in life and just read it for the first time! It was fantastic. 14mo
intothehallofbooks @Cuilin I agree! I read The Evening and the Morning when it first came out so that was my introduction to Kingsbridge. You will love it, @Kangaj1! 14mo
Kangaj1 Adding it to my TBR now! 14mo
Cuilin @intothehallofbooks @kangaj1 I‘m reading Cathedral right now by Ben Hopkins which is about the building of a Cathedral in Germany in the 13 century. It‘s been compare to Pillars. It‘s very good. Different but good. 14mo
intothehallofbooks @Cuilin I‘m glad to hear this! I have my eye on Cathedral by Ben Hopkins too. One of these days, I‘ll get to it. I will probably catch up on the Kingsbridge series first though. Medieval historical fiction is my favorite thing to read. 14mo
Cuilin @intothehallofbooks me too. We should do a buddy read sometime. 14mo
45 likes10 comments
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intothehallofbooks
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I‘m finally at the halfway point of this book!! I‘m enjoying it so much. The bad guys are SO bad!

Stressful days at work often mean I chop some vegetables and throw together a soup for dinner. There is something about chopping that relieves all the tension from my shoulders 🤷🏻‍♀️ My husband and son are both out right now, and I‘m home alone, which means a few minutes with dinner and my book.

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intothehallofbooks
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Three weeks after starting, I‘ve finally finished Part One!! I‘m loving this SO much.

Page 287/973

TEArificbooks I loved this book and the mini series 1y
intothehallofbooks @TEArificbooks I‘m so excited to watch the mini series when I‘m done reading it! 1y
Kangaj1 I started this week and am not quite as far as you, but I am also loving it! I'm astounded how he can make us care about these characters, so that I don't want to stop turning pages. 1y
intothehallofbooks @Kangaj1 I feel the same way! I really feel for some of the good guys, and I‘m really really disliking the bad guys. A lot. I have a feeling I‘ll really detest them by the book‘s end. 1y
39 likes1 stack add4 comments
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intothehallofbooks
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I‘m SOOO excited to be starting this chunkster!! I absolutely loved Follett‘s The Evening and the Morning and I can‘t wait to immerse myself in this world again. I can‘t decide if I want to fly thru the story or drag it out and savor it for a long time. This period of time is my favorite!!

This is my first time reading this book. I hope it lives up to all the praise it has received!!

DebbieGrillo I remember standing and cheering for this book while I was reading it. It is THAT good. Enjoy! 1y
Kangaj1 I am planning to do a slow but steady of this in Feb! 1y
AkashaVampie Beautiful art work. 1y
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Fr3NcHtOaSt
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This book gets so much praise and I figured it was high time for me to finally read it since I‘ve been skeptical all these years because it‘s definitely not one of my go to genres. I must say though it has hooked me and I‘m 60 pages in and don‘t want to put it down.
#ThePillarsoftheEarth #KenFollett #ebook #kindle

Andrew65 Love this book, enjoy! 1y
14 likes1 comment
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wanderinglynn
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I‘m organizing books and working on my 2023 goals.

First goal: I‘m finally going to tackle these two chunksters. 973 pages and 1040 pages

Who else has a chunkster goal for 2023?

bnp I didn't plan one, but then realized that the read I have planned for January is 800+ pages. Kin by Jergovuc is a family saga that covers the 29th century.

1y
wanderinglynn @bnp that‘s a chunkster! 🙌🏻 1y
IndoorDame I have a few lurking around my shelves, but so far the only one I‘m definitely planning on for next year is House of Leaves 1y
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wanderinglynn @IndoorDame 🙌🏻 that‘s on my TBR too. 1y
Crazeedi They are both definitely worth reading! There was a time when I specifically picked chunksters to read. I loved these books 1y
wanderinglynn @Crazeedi thanks! My mom enjoyed these books, so I figured I should give them a go. 1y
Crazeedi @wanderinglynn if you enjoy history you'll like 1y
eanderson These are great books! 1y
mommyincolortv World Without End was wonderful! 1y
wanderinglynn @eanderson I‘ve heard good things! 1y
wanderinglynn @mommyincolortv did you like it better than Pillars? 1y
mommyincolortv @wanderinglynn Um...I think Pillars was just a tad better. I think I'll reread the series to refresh my memory. 1y
62 likes12 comments
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OutAndAbout
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Pickpick

This is such a long book and so rewarding. The characters were so well developed that I wanted to keep listening. I had the written version too so I could flip back and forth as my attention span demanded. I knew it was about the building of a church, but I didn‘t know that there would be villains and heros, peasants and royalty. Well worth the investment of 41 hours. Not sure I‘ll finish the series but I will get the dvd miniseries to relive it!

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Curiouser_and_curiouser
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Started this book one once again.
I'm listening to the audiobook atm as my novels are still boxed & sitting in a gigantic pile below the stairs of our new house and not yet on shelves since our move 2 months ago.
Enjoying this story so fat :)

CoverToCoverGirl I loved this entire series! 1y
perfectsinner One for my fav series ever. Love Follett. Kingsbridge is such a special place! 1y
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Susanita
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This book has a pretty harrowing #childbirth scene…and other harrowing scenes. #indeliblemoments

Eggs Haven‘t read this one but it sounds interesting 🤔 2y
28 likes1 comment
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La_Cori
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#alphabetgame
#letterP

I read it in my teens and I think it started as a joke with my father, it was his book and I couldn't believe he could find such a big book interesting from start to finish.. I ended up reading it in a couple of weeks! 😅
(Bonus: the miniseries is a good adaptation and there's a great cast!)
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing!!📚 2y
50 likes1 comment
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Amor4Libros
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Next up! One of my best friends gifted me this for my birthday this year. Told me that this book made him fall back in love with reading 10 years ago ❤️

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TheSpineView
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Eggs Great pick! 2y
51 likes2 comments
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MoonWitch94
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📖June 7th: 600+ Pages #BookMoods #June7th #600plus

This is one of my most favorite novels of all time. I just adore it, and think maybe it‘s time for a revisit to Kingsbridge 🥰

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome 👏🏻📚 2y
Eggs 📚⭐️ 2y
51 likes2 comments
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Kelly326
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June #bookspinbingo list. Lots of car time traveling for baseball tournaments this summer, so 5 audios on here. I should also finish Don Quixote my 2nd quarter #chunksterchallenge book.
#bookspin
#doublespin

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 2y
10 likes1 comment
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Kelly326
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My May #bookspinbingo board. Not a very productive month, but had a lot going on. I also was working my way through Pillars of the Earth off and on all month. I didn‘t quite finish though, about 150 pages left.
#bookspin
#doublespin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Great month!! 2y
9 likes1 comment
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Addison_Reads
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#SavvySettings @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

The setting of the fleece #Fair in this epic novel and mini-series is one of my favorites in the book because it's where Aliena realizes she can stand on her own too feet and take care of herself.

Eggs Love this photo 2y
vivastory I have yet to read anything by Follett 😬 2y
43 likes3 comments
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mrp27
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#savvysettings #church

Love how beautiful this book cover is. Still need to read it.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful cover ⛪️ 📚 2y
Eggs Gorgeous 2y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Bookish.SAM
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My favourite scene when the bf is here for the weekend… always a table scattered with lots of books 📚❤️

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The_Penniless_Author
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Pickpick

What a strange origin for a book. A bit of research by Follett to help him better describe buildings in his novels becomes an obsessive hobby visiting Gothic cathedrals, which leads to an interest in the people who actually built the cathedrals, which culminates in this, a thousand-page dramatization of the lives and events responsible for the construction of fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral in 12th-century England.

The_Penniless_Author I was impressed how "alive" the characters felt, even as the time from which they hailed was so clearly different from our own. Follett does a great job demystifying the Middle Ages and reminding us that these were human beings, with the same basic motivations, hopes, dreams, and frailties we have today. Huge thumbs up! 2y
jen_the_scribe I tried to read this back in high school and I think I was not ready for it then lol. I might need to try again. 2y
IuliaC Great review! I've got it on my list too, just need the courage to dive in 😊 Is this one only the first in the trilogy? 2y
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Cortg I loved this book. I remember reading it and my mom commented that it looked awful! I need to read World Without End soon. 2y
The_Penniless_Author @IuliaC I think so? I was always under the impression it was a standalone book, but it looks like I was wrong. If feels like a standalone, so I'd recommend it even if you don't feel like tackling a whole series. 2y
The_Penniless_Author @jen_the_scribe There's certainly enough sex and violence to satisfy a high school kid 😂 Of course there's also ecclesiastical politics, theological debate, in-depth descriptions of architectural concepts and supply management, etc. Things that are surprisingly interesting, but maybe wouldn't appeal to a high schooler's attention span. I say try it again. 🙂 2y
The_Penniless_Author @Cortg I need to check the sequels out. Do they jump way ahead in time or involve the same characters? 2y
BookwormM I loved the tv adaptation with Ian Macshane but must confess I haven‘t read the book 🤣🤣 2y
Cortg I haven't read it yet but according to the tagged book description, it take place in the same town of Kingsbridge two centuries after the church is completed and it sounds just as good!
2y
The_Penniless_Author @BookwormM Ian Macshane rules, so I'm sure it was good. I'll have to check it out. 2y
The_Penniless_Author @Cortg Ooh, I like the two-centuries-later idea. I might just have to cave and buy it 😄 2y
DivineDiana I also have this waiting on the TBR stacks! One day! 😄 2y
63 likes4 stack adds12 comments
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The_Penniless_Author
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#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

1. Tagged
2. Knife of Dreams
3. I don't actually have any at the moment. You can't go too wrong with Agatha Christie though, so I would definitely read The Mystery of the Blue Train.

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The_Penniless_Author
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#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Philip had not yet got used to sleeping alone.

(First line of Chapter 4, Part II - it's taking me a LONG time to finish this book 😄)

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The_Penniless_Author
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In a broad valley, at the foot of a sloping hillside, beside a clear bubbling stream, Tom was building a house.

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The_Penniless_Author
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#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94

Thanks for the tag @TheSpineView !

1. I never set reading goals, but even if I did they'd be out the window already. Work has been nuts since the New Year. I haven't read a single page in 2021.
2. Derivative
3. Tagged (hopefully I can finish it by summer 😂)

Tag @Ast_Arslan @IuliaC @RaeLovesToRead @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @RamsFan1963 @bthegood

RaeLovesToRead Thanks for the tag! 😊😁 (I've wanted to read The Pillars of the Earth for a while.) 2y
TheSpineView You're welcome! Loved 2y
IuliaC Thanks for the tag! 2y
See All 6 Comments
The_Penniless_Author @RaeLovesToRead Me too. I noticed a copy at my friend's house and mentioned it, and since he and his wife had both read it they gave it to me unsolicited. I figure now's the time to do it, right after finishing the Wheel of Time, when a thousand-page book doesn't seem all that intimidating 😄 2y
RaeLovesToRead I think I bought a copy about 5 years ago 😅 This seems to be the case with a lot of my books... (I also have the first Wheel of Time book but I think it's too much of a commitment right now) 2y
Ast_Arslan Thanks for the tag! 😊 2y
42 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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eanderson
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March pick! I loved this book! I need to finish the series and plan to early 2022. #12booksof2021

Andrew65 A brilliant book. 2y
TrishB Love this one too ❤️ 2y
46 likes2 comments
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Bookish_AF
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Just a couple of bookish items included in my gift from @Nerdfins 😍 Not pictured: the coffee I am enjoying this morning.

My goal this year is to finish Drums of Autumn (75% in!) but I‘ve already got quite the line up waiting for 2022 and I‘m pretty excited to dive in to this one!

MicrobeMom Love the RGB socks!!! 2y
magyklyXdelish Those socks are everything!!! 2y
30 likes2 comments
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MoonWitch94
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#ThoughtfulThursday

📚I really dislike when this happens. It makes me feel stupid for putting my trust in that character. I then question every single thing about the story that I thought to be true, and it sort of ruins the read for me 🤷🏻‍♀️
📚Any of my Gryffindor/Ravenclaw items 😍
📚I love the tagged book! I recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction.

✨Everyone is welcome to play! Don‘t forget to tag me & some others to play✨

TheSpineView Thanks for the tag! ❤🏷 2y
AmyG Thanks for the tag! 2y
Jerdencon Great choice for a series! Thanks for the tag! 2y
See All 6 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you ❤️ 2y
wanderinglynn Thanks for the tag! 2y
Andrew65 Thanks for the tag 😍 2y
47 likes6 comments
review
Burpito
Pickpick

Been a while but this was an enjoyable romp in jolly ol England. A bit preachy!!!

#witchgang

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yoavshai
Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett
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#BookCoverChallenge
Day 86.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

4 likes1 stack add
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GoddessEirea
Pickpick

I was daunted by its size but jumped in anyway. It took me a few chapters to get interested in the story. I personally was not prepared for the vulgarity and the triggers contained in this book. Yet I could not put it down. I always wanted to know what happened next. By the end of the story I had characters I hated and those that I loved. I will recommend it for anyone who is ready for an amazing story with complex characters and vivid imagery

BookDadGirlDad I read this. I decided to not read further in that series. I was satisfied with just the first book. 3y
5 likes1 comment
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Kimberlone
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#FallTreasures #Day14 #PublishedYearYouWereBorn

This book was published in 1989, and it‘s been on my TBR for at least a few years. I‘ve seen the miniseries, and definitely still want to read this one eventually.

Eggs Well done 👍🏼 3y
KCofKaysville @Kimberlone A good story. There was a movie too or a series. 3y
Traci1 It's a great book. 3y
CoverToCoverGirl It‘s a fantastic read! I recommend you bump it you on your TBR pile. 🙂 3y
59 likes4 comments
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Ast_Arslan
Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it. Some will be old, some will be new - don't judge me, I have a lot of books.

Day 124th

Join the fun if you want!

#tbrpile

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staci.reads
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I have been working with the same list since January, so I switched it up a little for the month of July. #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
66 likes1 comment
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JeanaRae
Pillars of the Earth | Ken Follett
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Currently about halfway through. So far, I'm enjoying it.

6 likes1 stack add
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AliD73
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Pickpick

I love this book; this is a story you can get lost in. The rich detail of the everyday lives of people in twelfth century England provides an immersive reading experience and shows that Ken Follett did his research and knows his history. This book tells the story of Kingsbridge, a fictional English city, and its cathedral which is the center of life there. This book has a large cast of fascinating characters and an interesting storyline.

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Chiperskee
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This one has been on the nightstand for too long.

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Astroneman
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Pickpick
RachelAmphlett Wait until you discover his books Hornet Flight, Eye of the Needle and Jackdaws! 3y
Astroneman @RachelAmphlett I add these books to my tbr! 3y
35 likes2 comments
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #SeriesRead2021 @TheSpineView

This was just as amazing the second time as it was the first.

It still surprises me that a book that focuses on the building of a cathedral is one of my all time favorites. 💚 The characters in this book are complex, well-developed, and relatable. I'm excited to start my reread of the second book now.

TheSpineView Way to go!👍📖📚 3y
DebbieGrillo One of my all time favorites too! I've never read the sequel. 3y
LapReader Have you watched the series? I got the prequel this week for $1. 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Addison_Reads @LapReader Yes, I did watch the series. I was surprised that I enjoyed it. I mean the books are better, but overall I felt they did a good job. 3y
41 likes5 comments
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TheSpineView
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Pickpick

Now I see what all the fuss was about. Such a well written story. Get plot and wonderfully detailed characters. The prose was incredible. 5⭐

Addison_Reads I just finished a reread of this one so I can finally read books 3 and 4. I loved it just as much this time around. 3y
TheSpineView I am looking forward to reading the next book. 3y
84 likes1 stack add2 comments
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mcausten_sister
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I'm determined to do no school work today, so I'm giving The Pillars of the Earth a good college try. A friend thoughtfully gave it to me because they enjoyed it and thought I would too since it's a book based in the central middle ages and cathedral building.

#itsahardsellforme