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krosa's review against another edition
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Rape, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
sonygaystation's review against another edition
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Rape, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
buecher_und_huehner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Animal death
siniandi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The description of women and sex scenes are a quite male gaze-y though (as is usually the case in Follett's work) and the ending comes a little abrupt and too neatly, as if he really wanted to finish after 1000 pages.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism
joypouros's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The rape makes this difficult in places, yet that's a major part of a main character's, and several other character's, arc and story.
Follett does a good job showing the reader what motivates each character and how that leads to inevitable conflict.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage and Antisemitism
maddyisreading23's review against another edition
4.5
I decided to start the new year with a not so light reading and I don’t regret it.. I can’t describe the plot well because there are so many things going on, but I think I can say that it revolves around the construction of a cathedral in medieval England...but it is also a story of love, violence, revenge, politics, wars and battles, betrayal, hope, loss and other things.
Honestly I really liked this book, so I’ll start with the things I liked the most.
1. Each character was developed quite deeply and each chapter or section was narrated from the perspective of a different character.
2. I really liked that although there are many different stories of many different people who have many different relationships with each other, each story comes to an "end" and has an explanation.
3. Despite the 1000 pages, the book was quite easy to read (well, most sometimes) because something always happened... you go from descriptive parts to very dynamic situations and dialogues.
4. The length of the book allowed me to empathize with each character and it is something that I really enjoyed... Follet left nothing to chance.
In general I found it a very pleasant read.
Now let’s start with the things I didn’t like:
<SPOILER ALERT>
1. I didn’t like (and I didn’t even really understand) the scene where Tom, on the same day that his wife died (giving birth to his child, by the way) dreams of having sex with an angel who, apparently, is Ellen, a woman with whom he had a 15 min conversation the same day. And I found it even stranger that she said things like, "I’ve loved you since I’ve seen you," like... you literally had ONE conversation with him. I think this part could have been written in a more normal and less ridiculous way... I think the author needed to find a fast way to get to Ellen and Toms love story.
2. Description of rape: scenes of rape weren't descripted that well...it was all from the rapist's perspective, which was William most of times, and I think the author didn't give these events the importance they would have deserved.
Some of you may be asking: but the story isn't about this, a scene of rape isn't so important for this plot, INSTEAD I think it's essential.
Obviusly, the most "important" of this kind of scenes is when William rapes Aliena. The act of raping is decribed in such a fast and insignificant way and it doesn't give a f about the fact that the rape is only the point of the iceberg...I mean, we read about Aliena and Williams story before the abuse, but the scene is described in such a dry way...
Also, Aliena starts talking only after the abuse and I wouldn't mind if she had talked about the rape...but she doesn't, or better, the author doesn't. This isolates the rape part even more.
<END OF SPOILERS>
3. I understand that all the plot revolves around the construction of a cathedral, but I think some descriptive parts could have been avoided, because sometimes it was difficult not to skip those descriptive parts.
In point 3 of things I liked about this book I wrote that there was balance, and this comment is refering only to specific little parts that in a 1000 pages book can make a difference.
To sum up, I would recommend this book, but it's violent and cruel some times and I think sensitive people should stay in alert especially if you are suscetible to rape/sexual abuse because I think sometimes it has been described in a disturbing way.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Animal death
turtlebucket's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
nadia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The pacing was a little funny at times and given the investment and build-up to certain parts, I expected some of them to pack more of a punch and to evoke more emotion, but the way they were narrated got in the way and made the story feel a little flat at times.
Still, a great book! Perfect if you love huge books, or are fascinated by 12th Century English history, cathedrals, or the art of constructing grand buildings!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and War
icebrg8's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Rape and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
flowerowl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol