It is customary for us to suggest books for summer reading during the few weeks that many educators have to retool and re-energize.
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Two books have had me almost totally engrossed over the past several weeks, preventing me from spending the time I should with more professional explorations. They are both fairly dramatic departures from the author’s usual themes of mystery and international intrigue. Ken Follet spent more than three years writing the first of these books, Pillars of the Earth, finally published in 1989. The book covers the lives of several families in the town of Kingsbridge, England, and the building of a great cathedral. The fictitious characters become wrapped up in some of the historic events of the 12th century, including the assassination of Thomas Beckett.
The second book I’d like to suggest is the sequel, World Without End, published in 2007. The second novel carries the story on, two centuries later, with descendants from the first book. The historic context is the Hundred Years War and the Black Death (morte grande).
These two books eloquently describe the economic workings of the town, the impressive engineering that was known, discovered, or invented, and the iron control exercised by the nobility and the church over the affairs and aspirations of common folk.
Both of these books are difficult to put down and can ruin your chances of getting anything else done during the day.
Have a great summer!
Thanks for mentioning these. I have read Ken Follet’s books in the past and haven’t lately so I’ve added these to my “I plan to read” shelf in shelfari.
I agree – Pillars of the Earth is a very engrossing read. My suggestion for beach reading would be Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper. It is the story of a family that conceived a second child in order to have a bone marrow donor for their older child, who is ill. As the younger daughter becomes a teenager she decides to sue her parents for the right to make her own medical decisions. The story, told from all of the different points of view, is realistic and has a big twist at the end. It’s a really great summer read!
Were you aware that Pillars of the Earth has inspired a board game? I have yet to play the game or read the book, though both are things I want to do once I can spare some time from the lit reviews I’m working on. But first I need to read The Forsyte Saga. I think my brother is a little annoyed that I haven’t taken his recommendation yet.