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flyer_ch's review against another edition
2.0
I can't believe this book was written by the same author as the first, Fall of Giants. The characters are shallow and two-dimensional. There are good guys,who can do no wrong, and there are bad guys, who drip Evil. Stereotypes and clichés.
It's a pity that it was written with hindsight of the knowledge of what happened during that period. Rather than from the perspective of someone of that period. It would have been a lesson to our generation against the rise of the extreme Right.
From a style point of view, it felt that it was aimed at teenagers.
Very disappointing. I thoroughly enjoyed Fall of Giants.
It's a pity that it was written with hindsight of the knowledge of what happened during that period. Rather than from the perspective of someone of that period. It would have been a lesson to our generation against the rise of the extreme Right.
From a style point of view, it felt that it was aimed at teenagers.
Very disappointing. I thoroughly enjoyed Fall of Giants.
szachary's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
timturnip's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure Winter of the World was quite as strong as Fall of Giants, but that's like saying that pork belly isn't quite as wonderful as bacon.
A great novel, for sure, Winter of the World had me thinking of Herman Wouk's novels (Winds of War, War and Remembrance) pretty often. In fact, one wonders just how influential Wouk is for Follett...
The setup for book three is excellent, and I can't wait to read it.
A great novel, for sure, Winter of the World had me thinking of Herman Wouk's novels (Winds of War, War and Remembrance) pretty often. In fact, one wonders just how influential Wouk is for Follett...
The setup for book three is excellent, and I can't wait to read it.
brittney_tyler's review against another edition
5.0
Star Rating: 5 stars
When I made my reading list of 52 books for this year, I was in a major historical fiction mood, so I decided to put all of Ken Follett’s books on my yearly TBR as I owned them all and wanted to read and annotate them. Ever since then, I have been slowly making my way through them. (They are really long, and I am not the fastest reader, so it takes a while.) Anyway, I was finally able to pick up Winter of the World by Ken Follett, the 2nd book in the Century Trilogy. This book continues the story of the five international families established in book 1 and chronicles their journey through the Great Depression, World War II, and the beginning of the Cold War with their story destined to be completed in book 3, Edge of Eternity, (which I will read later this year as I have some new releases to get to first).
The best thing about this series remains the different lenses that Follett uses to look at these great historical events. Instead of looking at them with a broad, global lens or a tight lens focused lens on one character, he decides to do a combination of both, which allows his readers to not only understand how the event affects things on a worldwide scale but also how it affects people on a human scale. I have never read another author that does this, although I have heard about some, which I will be looking into next year. (My reading list is created at the beginning of the year and I stick to it all year so any new authors I want to explore will usually appear on the following year’s list after they are discovered.) However, since I found Follett first, he will always hold the title of introducing me to the type of historical fiction that I adore.
Although this is a historical fiction and most people read these kinds of books to experience what it was like to live through these times and the characters are usually just the lenses that allow them to do that, these characters have amazing story arcs that make them much more than that. Because of these amazing arcs, the book became so much more exciting than it would have been normally.
All in all, if you want a historical fiction book that has a mix of worldview and individual view but with great character arcs that kept you turning pages, then this is the book/series for you!!! 5 stars and one of the best things I have read all year!!!!!!!
When I made my reading list of 52 books for this year, I was in a major historical fiction mood, so I decided to put all of Ken Follett’s books on my yearly TBR as I owned them all and wanted to read and annotate them. Ever since then, I have been slowly making my way through them. (They are really long, and I am not the fastest reader, so it takes a while.) Anyway, I was finally able to pick up Winter of the World by Ken Follett, the 2nd book in the Century Trilogy. This book continues the story of the five international families established in book 1 and chronicles their journey through the Great Depression, World War II, and the beginning of the Cold War with their story destined to be completed in book 3, Edge of Eternity, (which I will read later this year as I have some new releases to get to first).
The best thing about this series remains the different lenses that Follett uses to look at these great historical events. Instead of looking at them with a broad, global lens or a tight lens focused lens on one character, he decides to do a combination of both, which allows his readers to not only understand how the event affects things on a worldwide scale but also how it affects people on a human scale. I have never read another author that does this, although I have heard about some, which I will be looking into next year. (My reading list is created at the beginning of the year and I stick to it all year so any new authors I want to explore will usually appear on the following year’s list after they are discovered.) However, since I found Follett first, he will always hold the title of introducing me to the type of historical fiction that I adore.
Although this is a historical fiction and most people read these kinds of books to experience what it was like to live through these times and the characters are usually just the lenses that allow them to do that, these characters have amazing story arcs that make them much more than that. Because of these amazing arcs, the book became so much more exciting than it would have been normally.
All in all, if you want a historical fiction book that has a mix of worldview and individual view but with great character arcs that kept you turning pages, then this is the book/series for you!!! 5 stars and one of the best things I have read all year!!!!!!!
sofi0518's review against another edition
4.0
Great book. Simple writing but gripping story. Can't wait for the last in the trilogy.
flopps's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jdf_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Not enough European history and it all wrapped up a little too nicely
lonk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
alienstory's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0