Finished!

My fellow bookworms know the peace, relief, and sadness that comes with finishing a particularly excellent book. Today, just now, I completed The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

Ken Follett is a best-selling author of suspense thrillers, and it surely came as a surprise to his publishers when he brought forth this novel about building a cathedral. However, this novel far outpasses his other works. It is historical, but not dry, it is detailed, but not weighed down, and it is long, but not slow.

The plot is an intricate tapestry of events spanning several decades. The reader follows a knotted path with twists and turns at every corner; Follett's narrative is never easy to put down. The characters are richly woven together with ornate, lifelike personalities. One cannot help but to cheer as their favorites win small victories, gnash their teeth as the villains come up with new schemes, sigh with pity when the misguided repent, and cheer when the truly evil are brought to justice. The medieval backdrop provides a setting so frought with danger, chivalry, greed, love, vengence, and hope that it lends itself so naturally to the tale as to seem undeniabley real.

The book captures you and commands your imagination. Once you've started it you will not be able to let it go.

In short, this book is a masterpiece which deserves to go on the top of your book list.