Scan barcode
incendiofawkes's review against another edition
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and Stalking
skyliner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I love how it manages to grab my attention in a way that feels so effortless. I'm not one for long books but this compels me on consistently. Descriptions of the stonework of cathedrals? Yes please, tell me more! The politics of medieval monasteries? You bet I want to hear it! It's an enigma of a book as no one can really pinpoint what is so enthralling, it just is. Sort of.
When I first read it (and gave it 5 stars), I was much younger and this time around I picked up on misogyny that I overlooked last time. Though I have no idea how. Obviously there's sexism that's on the part of the characters but there's always this niggling undercurrent that the author isn't too far removed from those views himself, and it's something that gathers at pace once he gets started. The first third of the book it can be overlooked maybe but after that it descends into the pits of Follett's testicles.
The women (and girls) are either sexualised, or they're disfigured and ugly. The "good" women are thin with massive tits. The bad ones are fat and hideous. With the exception of Agnes who is a good woman but a little bit fat and not very hot, naturally she's killed off as soon as Follett can manage to be replaced by Ellen who is hot, thin, lean, muscular, agile, heavy breasted....etc. I take it Follett is a boob man. Even women in famines are big breasted. Women terrified of sexual assault tell us so by the panicked fall and rise of their "ample breast". When a monk is hot he has sweat on his head. When a woman or girl is hot they have sweat trickle over their breasts and down their inner thighs.
A couple of bizarre references to women, medieval women some 800 years before gilette told us to shave, being ashamed of themselves for having such hairy vulvas.
Strange childbirth descriptions (on their back as if he didnt bother to research women, let alone medieval women, in his 15 years of book research), or just casually popping a child out whilst, incredibly briefly, knocked out by a falling stone.
Thankfully, we get an audit of every woman's pubic hair whether relevant or not. That one that's about to be killed, well nevermind that, first let's throw some shade at her graying pubes.
Aside from all this, there's a very peculiar thing several times in the book where he repeats himself or summarises parts of the book that are bits over which there'd be no confusion. Something happens on one page then really clumsily repeated half a page later like his editor had just given up at those points.
The disasters and roadblocks are quite farcical but keep the pace of the book and are enjoyable until about 70% of the way through when it's too much to bear.
Jack has absolutely no personality as an adult and I found I started to skip over his bits.
Overall, I still really enjoyed the story and whatever it is that keeps you reading, there's no doubt parts of the book are very enjoyable but there is no way in good conscience I can give this 5 stars again and I'm ashamed that I did on that first read years ago.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
aether_seawo1f's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
dielilla'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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, and Alcohol
motobart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
This book takes place in the 1100s, and some things that were commonplace then will seem abhorrent by today's standards. It is best to be open-minded reading this as historical fiction, with the understanding that the world was a different, though often similar, place.cheazcakeguy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I only finished this because I read it for a book club. Way too much unnecessarily explicit SA & pedophilia (just because it's "historically accurate" does not mean I want to read full details of a 14-year-old being r*ped by someone twice her age), characters were mostly one dimensional and often more like caricatures, and the pacing was uneven. The plot and the character Philip were the only things keeping me going, as it is ultimately a good story. The descriptions of the cathedral and the building process were also great. However, all of the tension and story beats ended up feeling super repetitive and recycled, and for the last couple hundred pages I was rolling my eyes at the dramatic twists and turns which felt contrived and meaningless at that point. I really wanted to love this book, but ultimately it was unremarkable. Hard to recommend, unless you like to read soap operas with one-note characters and you're okay with repeated graphic SA. I suppose if you *really* like drama and architecture, and have extreme patience, this is the book for you.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Emotional abuse and War
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Antisemitism, Alcohol, 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
gretabeta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
delvesinshelves's review against another edition
I don’t shy away from challenging books, but there has to be a strong why when it comes to this degree of sexual violence.
The most recent series I read with content of this sort is the Poppy War trilogy, which deliberately covers a parallel to the rape of nanking.
This book is not covering real historical events, and not all of the rape/attempted rape seems to be serving a purpose of any kind in the story.
I was really excited to read about the building of a historical cathedral over the decades, but I think this book may be harmful without sufficient redeeming qualities for me to push through. DNF.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage
stellabyproxy'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? Yes
3.0
“Build a beautiful cathedral for me.”
It is not every day that I pick up a book of this volume, but the title immediately caught my eye. Though deathly slow, akin to the ennui of a long dreadful winter, I found it rather fascinating.
I must say, after the first 800 pages I began skimming, simply skipping to the dialogue to try bulldoze through what remained but as I reached the sixth, and final, part of the book I became immediately invested again. For all its vulgarity, and violence, and frustration, it is a well written book and I cannot take that away from Follett. I feel rather optimistic with the idea of finishing the trilogy (something I would’ve done regardless, out of pure spite) however I pray that it does not become more graphic. Going into a book starting in 1123 I knew what to expect, historically, however I can’t help but be left with a bad taste in my mouth from all the brutality forced upon the main female character, and the almost lack of regard for her suffering. Though resilient, powerful and graceful to the end, as happy as i was to see Lady Aliena get her justice, I’m of the option that she should’ve never had to seek it to begin with.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Blood