World Without End
by Ken Follett, 2008, New American Library, Penguin Books Ltd., London
I am a bit conflicted on this book. Follett is a very good writer who can keep the pace going in his novels, at least to some extent. This particular book, however, I would call “Novel Without End” as it is over 1,000 pages and keeps going on and on. The setting is interesting as are the characters, but the theme is very repetitive. The bad characters and the good characters clash, the bad ones seem to be the victors, some time elapses and the good characters figure out a way to overcome the bad ones. The good characters live for a while reaping the benefits of their new situation and then the bad characters try a new scheme and the plot repeats itself.
Follett employs sixth grade prose to keep the book moving forward. This technique seems to be a bit more appropriate for the suspense novels he has written versus a supposedly serious novel depicting the life and times of medieval England.
All in all, the novel seems to be a bit of a downgrade from Pillars of the Earth, the prequel of this novel. While it was interesting, it didn’t seem to be as enjoyable as the first one.
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