Helpful Score: 3
A gripping tale of several families that at first outlook appear to be unrelated and furthermore unable to have any relationship given their distance and the time period, but nothing brings people in close proximity like a war. This book is rich with true history, but fictional in its main characters who are both likeable and dispicable. The story follows these families through their struggles and triumphs and characters both fall in and out of relationship with each other. It is a very engrossing read, but with over 980 pages, it takes some time to finish the entire book. The length of the book makes it difficult during the first 300 pages to remember the relatinoships and what characters belong to what class and country. Once fully emmersed in the book, the reader is able to read quickly and keep up without issue. Being that this is a trilogy, this reader is hopeful that the author is busy writing the next in the series so the reader does not have to relearn the characters and their relationships in two or three years. All in all I gave this book 4/5 stars. If you enjoyed this authors previous works, such as Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, you will no doubtly enjoy this one.
Helpful Score: 1
Above-average historical fiction covers time before, during, and just after WWI. Follows 5 families in England, Wales, the U.S., Russia, and Germany. Easy to keep track of who is who, and moves fast. First in a trilogy.
Helpful Score: 1
I give this tale 4.5 stars; Id go a full 5, but hesitate due to its length and complexity and lack of pace in some spots. Any book thats almost 1,000 pages long is going to drag in spots Id think though. However, as Ive said, great complexity and amazingly developed characters. Truly a masterpiece itll be a shame to have to wait for the other installments in this trilogy. Characters that you truly love or despise; some you wish ill of; and those you are rooting for against the odds
I really liked Billy Twice, Ethel, Gus, and Maud. I thoroughly despised Fitz and Otto and Lev. The rest fell in between but all were good.
You can see, or I can guess, how the second book will go - probably with the children of this first tale and with a backdrop of WWII.
I really liked Billy Twice, Ethel, Gus, and Maud. I thoroughly despised Fitz and Otto and Lev. The rest fell in between but all were good.
You can see, or I can guess, how the second book will go - probably with the children of this first tale and with a backdrop of WWII.
Helpful Score: 1
It was interesting to startwith and I liked the historical aspect of it despite the vulgarness in the book but the book could have been about 200 pages shorter. I couldn't wait to finish the book so I could throw it in the garbage. I get the feeling that the author is a socialist but he does make the communists look ridiculous. With them, everything was a committee. There only seemed to be two characters in this book with any morals of any kind.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed Follett's tale of World War 1, told from the perspectives of German, British, American and Russian characters. Its a long one and a bit slow to start but its the first in a series and once you get going it is well worth it.
Helpful Score: 1
i did not think i would like this book but i couldnt put it down.cant wait to read the next one
Helpful Score: 1
I Loved this epic tale of several families that takes us through the first World War. Follett is a masterful story teller who will keep you turning pages. This is a long novel, not for the faint of heart (or anyone with arthritic hands.)
Helpful Score: 1
A novel of love and war by master storyteller Ken Follett. Fall of Giants is the first in his new Century Trilogy, covering the beginnings of the twentieth century.
We follow five families from several countries through the period right before World War I up to the mid 1920s. Viewpoints of people and politicians from Russia, Germany, Britain, America and other countries involved in WWI were distinct. We see glimpses of battlefield trenches, espionage, diplomacy strategies, love affairs, and women contributing to the war effort from home. I learned a great deal about the political intricacies of the war, class struggle (fall of the aristocracy and rise of the working class) and the womens suffragette movement. Much time is spent on the politics of war, and while I would have preferred more plot development, I respect the research that went into this historical tome.
Each character is well-fleshed out and the plot nicely paced. I found the characters fascinating and distinct, but dwarfed by the ramifications of war. The love story between a British woman and German man was icing on the cake, but left me wanting for more information about them. My favorite character was a miner from Wales, William Williams (or Billy Twice). Two Russian brothers switch identities. The implications of that are fascinating. The cast of characters is nicely organized by country in the beginning of the book.
Many reviews on Amazon scrutinize and criticize the book for stereotypical characters according to ethnic origin. I read the book purely for pleasure and enjoyed being entertained and instructed. Nothing can compare in my mind to Folletts brilliant Pillars of the Earth, but perhaps I just prefer the medieval period. Still, Fall of Giants was compelling enough for me to want to read the next two installments in the trilogy.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
We follow five families from several countries through the period right before World War I up to the mid 1920s. Viewpoints of people and politicians from Russia, Germany, Britain, America and other countries involved in WWI were distinct. We see glimpses of battlefield trenches, espionage, diplomacy strategies, love affairs, and women contributing to the war effort from home. I learned a great deal about the political intricacies of the war, class struggle (fall of the aristocracy and rise of the working class) and the womens suffragette movement. Much time is spent on the politics of war, and while I would have preferred more plot development, I respect the research that went into this historical tome.
Each character is well-fleshed out and the plot nicely paced. I found the characters fascinating and distinct, but dwarfed by the ramifications of war. The love story between a British woman and German man was icing on the cake, but left me wanting for more information about them. My favorite character was a miner from Wales, William Williams (or Billy Twice). Two Russian brothers switch identities. The implications of that are fascinating. The cast of characters is nicely organized by country in the beginning of the book.
Many reviews on Amazon scrutinize and criticize the book for stereotypical characters according to ethnic origin. I read the book purely for pleasure and enjoyed being entertained and instructed. Nothing can compare in my mind to Folletts brilliant Pillars of the Earth, but perhaps I just prefer the medieval period. Still, Fall of Giants was compelling enough for me to want to read the next two installments in the trilogy.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book, but very long. I thought the last 150 pages could have been cut and the story would have been just as good. I will not read the next book, not getting as good of reviews. Good read, but not his best
good book but now you need to read all the rest to see the final out come of all the characters in this Ken Follett's first of a trilogy.
This is a wonderful epic story about the time before and during World War I. The story is very character driven as you follow family members from Wales, England, Germany and Russia. Ken Follet did an excellent job in researching the political and social events that happened during the time before, during and immediately after the war. He did an excellent job in getting the reader to care about the times and to care about the characters. I am looking forward to the next book of the trilogy.
Interesting historical fiction of WWI time period and the lives of several individuals.
I love a big, epic novel that follows a group of characters whose lives intertwine. This book absolutely fit the bill! When I finished, I felt like I was losing good friends and look forward to the next novel in the trilogy.
"Fall of Giants" was pretty good, and I learned a lot about WWI but it was too much politics for me. Most I'm sure will love it.
Excellent book! Couldn't put it down! I learned alot about WW1 and the story line is great!! Was a little wary at first because of the size of the book, (I thought it would take me forever to read it), flew through it!!
The overall histroical view was one of Follets best.
Real people, he's brought to life again. Can't wait for the other two in this series. Must read for Follets' fans
Real people, he's brought to life again. Can't wait for the other two in this series. Must read for Follets' fans
It was OK. But it was a disappointment after some of his other books. I finished it because I had waited so long to get it. But eeeeeh. I just didn't get caught up in it.
I really enjoyed this story. Reading about the people and culture (albeit fictitious) impacted by WWI, and watching them deal with the changes in their lives and society was interesting. Ken Follett has a knack for putting you there with the characters -- very good story. Cannot wait for the 2nd book.
I couldn't get into it, the characters weren't riviting.
Follett describes characters on differing sides of the conflict in WW1 realistically. As in any conflict, there are different sides. Some want war; others do not. Some are elites; others are poor. Some are noble; others are not. The protagonists show a snapshot of the fall of the class system throughout Europe. Welsh miners, English landed gentry, Prussian and Russian aristocracy, Russian peasants and workers and American diplomats all fall on different sides of the conflict they are powerless to stop. The story told through the protagonists and intriguingly complex plot and subplot aptly demonstrates how the the balance of power and the lives of individuals are dramatically changed as the world enters a new era.
The story begins in a Welsh mining town of Aberowen. The miners and their families are impoverished and overworked by a mining company. The company pays the proceeds to an English nobleman, Earl Fitzherbert. Fitzherberts assumptions as to the deference the lower classes ought to pay him are overturned by the end of the story. He plays the sexual field with the housekeeper of his estate. Not surprisingly his lover, Ethel, ends up pregnant. At the end of the story, Fitz and his legitimate son run into Eth and the son he wont acknowledge on a staircase. Symbolically Fitz and son are descending. Eth and son are ascending in such a way that the earl and his heir must show deference to his former housekeeper by standing aside to let her pass.
Folletts narration is wonderful especially in his use of dialogue. I can hear the Welsh lilt, the Cockney accent, the aristocratic British accent and the German and Russian accents as the characters interact. The only drawback is that upon occasion Follett doesnt quite tell us how some of the Welsh place names might be pronounced. However, the stories of his characters are so powerful, all is forgiven.
The characters and their interaction ring true because they are driven by their passions. The passions run the gamut of patriotism and justice to greed,envy and lust. Not all characters are likable; however, because the protagonists have a desire for a better future, it is compelling to care what happens to them even if their ideas of what will make a better future widely differ.
In short this is a wonderful first book to the Century Triology that portrays human near- and far-sightedness as humanity was caught up in the worlds most horrific war before WW2. Shifting borders, a dream of a League of Nations and Germanys hyperinflation end this wonderful historic novel on the brink of what is yet to come.
The story begins in a Welsh mining town of Aberowen. The miners and their families are impoverished and overworked by a mining company. The company pays the proceeds to an English nobleman, Earl Fitzherbert. Fitzherberts assumptions as to the deference the lower classes ought to pay him are overturned by the end of the story. He plays the sexual field with the housekeeper of his estate. Not surprisingly his lover, Ethel, ends up pregnant. At the end of the story, Fitz and his legitimate son run into Eth and the son he wont acknowledge on a staircase. Symbolically Fitz and son are descending. Eth and son are ascending in such a way that the earl and his heir must show deference to his former housekeeper by standing aside to let her pass.
Folletts narration is wonderful especially in his use of dialogue. I can hear the Welsh lilt, the Cockney accent, the aristocratic British accent and the German and Russian accents as the characters interact. The only drawback is that upon occasion Follett doesnt quite tell us how some of the Welsh place names might be pronounced. However, the stories of his characters are so powerful, all is forgiven.
The characters and their interaction ring true because they are driven by their passions. The passions run the gamut of patriotism and justice to greed,envy and lust. Not all characters are likable; however, because the protagonists have a desire for a better future, it is compelling to care what happens to them even if their ideas of what will make a better future widely differ.
In short this is a wonderful first book to the Century Triology that portrays human near- and far-sightedness as humanity was caught up in the worlds most horrific war before WW2. Shifting borders, a dream of a League of Nations and Germanys hyperinflation end this wonderful historic novel on the brink of what is yet to come.
First of a trilogy-Five families that face history in the beginning of the 20th century, loves, losses, and war.
good
