readhikerepeat's review against another edition
5.0
Every time I pick up a Ken Follett novel, particularly one of his trilogies, I know I’m going to love it. I first discovered him with Pillars of the Earth, which is a stunning historical fiction series about the building of a cathedral, and was such a hit it was turned into a mini-series. His latest trilogy, The Century Trilogy, is just as stunning but takes place in more “recent” times. The books span from the beginning of World War I to the end of the Cold War, with the first novel, Fall of Giants, ending around the end of World War I. The second book, Winter of the World, picks up some years later during the events leading up to World War II and through the war itself. Staying true to his penchant for impeccable continuity, the characters in Winter of the World descend from those in the first book and their intertwining lives only become more enmeshed as the world itself becomes more interconnected.
While the entire series embeds itself into the politics of the time, I was more in-tune with the events in Winter of the World simply because I am more familiar with the time period. Even so, I learned a lot about the nuances within countries, such as the warring military factions within Russia and their staunch pride and belief that they were the superior nation. But more importantly, Follett humanizes events in a way even some non-fiction I have read could not. His ability to write about the rise and fall of fascism and the battle between communism and democracy is proof of his gift for taking massively complex ideas and bringing them down to the individual level.
We see, firsthand, how someone beaten down by poverty can get caught up in the promise of a new day and the lengths the oppressed will go to to protect themselves and their families. We see the effects of changing one’s ideologies during a tumultuous time. We see how difficult it was for women, particularly those who wanted to stand up and do more, to do so. From the London bombings to the concentration camps to the Berlin occupation, Follett ensures that every single group of people impacted by the horrors of that time are represented. He touches on homosexuality, the rights of women, interracial relationships, premarital sex, abortion, and more. But more than just write about these topics, he writes to make you feel, and he succeeded.
That said, the book is not filled solely with despair. Woven within the real-life events are delightful characters whom I fell in love with. There were plenty of instances when I laughed out loud, widened my eyes in mock horror, and teared up because of the impossible love stories contained within the pages. In these volatile times when there are discussions about a Muslim registry and daily abuses are committed against people of color, I found myself more connected to this book than I would have expected. It is, at times, utterly gut-wrenching, but at others offers hope that, even in the darkest of times, there is light. Today, I am choosing to focus on the light.
Originally reviewed at The Book Wheel.
While the entire series embeds itself into the politics of the time, I was more in-tune with the events in Winter of the World simply because I am more familiar with the time period. Even so, I learned a lot about the nuances within countries, such as the warring military factions within Russia and their staunch pride and belief that they were the superior nation. But more importantly, Follett humanizes events in a way even some non-fiction I have read could not. His ability to write about the rise and fall of fascism and the battle between communism and democracy is proof of his gift for taking massively complex ideas and bringing them down to the individual level.
We see, firsthand, how someone beaten down by poverty can get caught up in the promise of a new day and the lengths the oppressed will go to to protect themselves and their families. We see the effects of changing one’s ideologies during a tumultuous time. We see how difficult it was for women, particularly those who wanted to stand up and do more, to do so. From the London bombings to the concentration camps to the Berlin occupation, Follett ensures that every single group of people impacted by the horrors of that time are represented. He touches on homosexuality, the rights of women, interracial relationships, premarital sex, abortion, and more. But more than just write about these topics, he writes to make you feel, and he succeeded.
That said, the book is not filled solely with despair. Woven within the real-life events are delightful characters whom I fell in love with. There were plenty of instances when I laughed out loud, widened my eyes in mock horror, and teared up because of the impossible love stories contained within the pages. In these volatile times when there are discussions about a Muslim registry and daily abuses are committed against people of color, I found myself more connected to this book than I would have expected. It is, at times, utterly gut-wrenching, but at others offers hope that, even in the darkest of times, there is light. Today, I am choosing to focus on the light.
Originally reviewed at The Book Wheel.
hiltzmoore's review against another edition
4.0
I was torn between 4 and 5 on the rating here, and it was very close to a 5. I loved how much this book taught me about WWII and its immediate aftermath, and I couldn't believe how little I knew about this time in history, even though it is one of my favorite eras of historical fiction books. The spy network was particularly interesting. I think the characters were just slightly less interesting than Fall of Giants, and convenience/timing of the Pearl Harbor section of the story was a little irksome. I do think this book will stay with me for quite a while. I'm always impressed with how real Follett makes history feel for the reader.
fantomas78's review against another edition
3.0
page 540 : She tried to read Moby Dick but found it tedious.
clara_lotte's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
rebeccatc's review against another edition
4.0
The second installment in Ken Follett's Century Trilogy, Winter of the World covers the time period from 1933 to 1949. While the characters from Fall of Giants are part of the story, the point of view is that of their children: the von Ulrichs in Berlin; the Williams family in London; the DeWar family in Buffalo and Washington, DC; and the Peshkovs in Moscow and in Buffalo. The scope of this book is enormous, creating a sense of daily life and also examining the political intricacies of a turning point in history when the world hovered precariously between the twin evils of fascism and communism. I particularly liked the description of life in Berlin under Nazi rule, and of London during the Blitz. The only area I felt lacking was the way he glossed over the Holocaust. If this book were my only source of information about Nazi Germany, I would be left believing that the Nazis only executed political prisoners and the handicapped. The format prevents any real intimacy with the characters, but I still found myself rooting for the feisty young Berliner Carla von Ulrich, the anti-Nazi spy Werner Franck, the romantic idealist Lloyd Williams, and Daisy Peshkov, the Russian-American ex-patriot who has something of a Scarlett O'Hara - style awakening in London during the Blitz. Follett's books never disappoint, and he really humanizes history in an accessible way. Looking forward to the third installment.
karlynrose's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sarahpreskitt's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0