spiderfelt's review against another edition
1.0
While I loved the historical and cross-cultural elements of this story, I found the soft porn tedious and ultimately revolting. What a terrible way to ruin a perfectly good read.
gizmoto16's review against another edition
4.0
I definitely enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as the first in the series, Fall of Giants. Part of that was the subject matter and his honest portrayals of the brutality and hatred associated with WWII. Some of the scenes were hard to get through, though they were well done and helped set the tone of life during that war, and helped with character development and motivations throughout their life. And I'm still very excited for book 3 - though I think I'll still have to wait a year before it comes out - by then I'll have forgotten who all the characters are and the various ways their lives have intermingled :(
amygeek's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I'm ready to start reading about the cold war. Historical drama with a bit of a soap opera twist, but entertaining and fun to read. Moving on to the third part of the trilogy now...
jessthebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
This is the second book in Follett's Century trilogy. Whereas the first book dealt with various families across the world during World War I, this book now picks up with those families again and follows them through World War II.
Follett once again gives us a broad view of the goings-on leading up to, and during, the War. We see things from a German, British, Russian and American perspective.
I did not enjoy this one as much as the first, and I'm not quite sure why. I think it's because it felt like this book concentrated more on relationships between various characters, but the problem was, the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. So when something bad happened to a character, myself as the reader did not not really care. I didn't really care who died or who got married, it all just seemed very unemotional.
I also thought the parts of the War that Follett chose to focus on were strange. I mean, there are characters based in Germany for the purposes of offering an "on-the-ground" view of Germany during the War, and yet, there was nothing about the Holocaust. I got closer and closer to the end and I was wondering when this would feature. But no, nothing. Just a brief mention in one sentence.
Another thing is that Winston Churchill is usually a huge feature in history regarding this War and in this book he barely featured at all. The author chose to focus on America and Russia's part in the War more than anything else.
In conclusion though, it is an easy read, although very long, and it is a nice way to get a bird's eye view of World War II through an historical fiction lens.
Follett once again gives us a broad view of the goings-on leading up to, and during, the War. We see things from a German, British, Russian and American perspective.
I did not enjoy this one as much as the first, and I'm not quite sure why. I think it's because it felt like this book concentrated more on relationships between various characters, but the problem was, the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. So when something bad happened to a character, myself as the reader did not not really care. I didn't really care who died or who got married, it all just seemed very unemotional.
I also thought the parts of the War that Follett chose to focus on were strange. I mean, there are characters based in Germany for the purposes of offering an "on-the-ground" view of Germany during the War, and yet, there was nothing about the Holocaust. I got closer and closer to the end and I was wondering when this would feature. But no, nothing. Just a brief mention in one sentence.
Another thing is that Winston Churchill is usually a huge feature in history regarding this War and in this book he barely featured at all. The author chose to focus on America and Russia's part in the War more than anything else.
In conclusion though, it is an easy read, although very long, and it is a nice way to get a bird's eye view of World War II through an historical fiction lens.
bentheoverlordsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Quite a step down from the last one, this one felt its length and was bloated, yet seem to speed over all the important moments. I kinda wish this was split in two and we were given more depth for the characters because man at points it was so rough
maddelleine's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
The story still continues to be fascinating in the 2nd volume of the Century Trilogy, but the action kind of lags. As in Fall fo Giants, there are many characters' storylines going on in parallel, intertwining (maybe in somewhat predictable ways), but it seems more a recollection of events rather than a novel. Probably because the author prefers narration instead of dialogue, sometimes just recapitulating what had happened during a specific period rather than telling the story as it happens, which gives the impression of someone getting you up to speed with something you've missed - but "sumarising" in a novel-length rather than summary length (around 36 hours/ 1000 pages).
As in the first volume, name-dropping occurs and famous historical characters are part of our protagonists' lives, either in-person or just as contemporaries influencing history. It is, of course, to be expected, considering that Winter of the World happens mostly during WW2 and for a short time afterwards.
One would expect that in a thousand pages the story goes to the most profound depths, but the feeling left by the end of the book is that, with all the running around from one part of the world to the other following the different families, one keeps missing out on the stories that go on unfolding backstage, as the focus is on just one of them. We get a short account of their status by the end of the book, but that seems insufficient as well.
Maybe a shorter timespan or more closely-knit relationships would help with the cohesiveness of the saga.
The story still continues to be fascinating in the 2nd volume of the Century Trilogy, but the action kind of lags. As in Fall fo Giants, there are many characters' storylines going on in parallel, intertwining (maybe in somewhat predictable ways), but it seems more a recollection of events rather than a novel. Probably because the author prefers narration instead of dialogue, sometimes just recapitulating what had happened during a specific period rather than telling the story as it happens, which gives the impression of someone getting you up to speed with something you've missed - but "sumarising" in a novel-length rather than summary length (around 36 hours/ 1000 pages).
As in the first volume, name-dropping occurs and famous historical characters are part of our protagonists' lives, either in-person or just as contemporaries influencing history. It is, of course, to be expected, considering that Winter of the World happens mostly during WW2 and for a short time afterwards.
One would expect that in a thousand pages the story goes to the most profound depths, but the feeling left by the end of the book is that, with all the running around from one part of the world to the other following the different families, one keeps missing out on the stories that go on unfolding backstage, as the focus is on just one of them. We get a short account of their status by the end of the book, but that seems insufficient as well.
Maybe a shorter timespan or more closely-knit relationships would help with the cohesiveness of the saga.
oscar_foxtrot's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
phrust's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
aprater's review against another edition
5.0
While reading these novels, I have discovered a new more clear empathy for the people who lived in a time when hindsight was not yet available to see the folly of the World Wars. Political messages heard through contemporary ears sound much different than the way they were heard through the time they were issued but these tales help me sort through the feelings of the people and their personal motivayions.
kristenlesperance's review against another edition
5.0
This book is amazing. I love this trilogy with a passion. I thought the last book was an amazing book then I got to this book and since I have already been so invested in the characters, I felt like I knew then personally. I have never ever cried because of a book, but there was a few times tears came to my eyes when characters died. I have a strong passion for history that I find grows stronger everytime I read a book that is about history, fiction or non fiction. This book just overflowed that love and passion. This book is a must read for anyone who loves history.