The Pillars of the Earth
Why this book?
I am an avid reader and love to learn about history and the people who shaped this world in times gone by. I have an eye for literary craftsmen and give special praise to those who really excite my interest and keep me reading long into the night. I first picked up Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth back in college and it blew me away in terms of historical details, plot, and characters. I had never quite read anything like it before. It’s a lengthy saga detailing a small town in Britain during the Middle Ages but the gripping tales of Tom Builder and his struggling family made the time pass quickly. The trials they faced were real but the bonds these characters forged throughout the story renewed my hope in humanity. It taught me that history did not have to be stark and boring…it could come alive in new and exciting ways! Truly the best historical novel I have ever read.