2 Minute Book Review: Fall of Giants

Estimated reading time for this post: 1 minute 52 seconds. Read it Later?


Book: The Fall of Giants (first book in Century Trilogy)
Author: Ken Follett
Narrator:  John Lee

This intricately woven, epic story is yet again another masterpiece by what is becoming my favorite author, Ken Follett. This is the third book of his that I have read (listened to). The other two, The Pillars of the Earth and it’s sequel, World Without End were engrossing. Some of the credit for my love of the audiobook is the narrator, John Lee. John’s ability to give personality and management of each the different accents of speech are admirable. This book in particular follows five families in Wales, England, Russia, Germany and the United States at the early 1910s up until the end of the first World War. The depth of each character plays key as does their local idioms to construct a detailed world that revolves around the the heroics, indiscretion or diffidence whether real or fiction.

This novel is not just about war, it’s about humanity, family, love, hate, revenge, loyalty and the legacy we leave for our children. I can’t imagine the amount of research that is involved with Follett’s novels but I appreciate the detail and historical accuracy he is able to include in his books. The intricacy of how each story is intertwined is beautiful. I love that I learned things about the early 20th century in addition to being entertained and it's clear the author understand that the average reader it not going to have this much knowledge about this time in history. Woman’s suffrage, trade unions, protocols and manners of societal classes, politics, government, revolutions and wars, these topics were never covered in my history classes with such clarity and thoughtfulness, it was fascinating.

If I had but one negative thing to say, it would be that I felt like the ending was rushed. Explanations of how loose ends were tied seemed lacking in the details that were so complete in the beginning and middle of the book. It seemed like there were odd jumps in the time-line near the very end but it could have just been my misinterpretation.

In all, I can’t wait until the second installment is published.  As for the narration work of John Lee, he could read the phone book and I would listen with a smile! The fact is, I have looked for books he’s narrated just to hear him read. Granted, I have logged many hours driving so I go through books rather quickly and am always looking for my next one.

If you have any book suggestions, please leave me a comment!