Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Set in 12th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The ambitions of three men merge, conflict and collide through 40 years of social and political upheaval as internal church politics affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists.

My Take: I loved this book! More than Fall of Giants and more than Winter of the World. The characters were fascinating and engaging. I knew little of this time period but the book created enough interest for me that I did research the period a little further. I was unsettled by the animal abuse more than the rapes, but that's just me. Animal abuse is a sensitive topic for me so I found those parts difficult. The book is very large and I would have preferred the graphic issues be edited out. I just don't need that kind of stimulation to keep my interest in a book but I understand that I am not representative of the majority of readers. I'm looking forward to the sequel!