I felt really cheated when I read A Column of Fire, primarily because Follet called it the third in the Kingsbridge series yet we spent more time out of Kingsbridge than in it. I also didn't feel the deep connection I felt with Prior Phillip or Tom or Jack or Aliena or Caris or Merthin or the rest of the crew. Column of Fire read much more like a history text book than the "real world" feel of his first two books. I loved Pillars or the Earth and World Without End because Follet focussed on the characters, whereas this book focussed on the politics and not the people. I really, really felt cheated. I waited so very long for another Kingsbridge book. I longed to be re-immersed in the town and its people and the reading experience I received with Column of Fire was not at all what I signed up for. Worst of all, I feel like Ken Follet calling it a Kingsbridge novel was misleading and that, more than anything else, left me feeling sorely manipulated. I finished the book, of course. And, in all fairness, the plot was good, the research substantive. But it was a mediocre read compared with the first two books. Years after having read the WWE and PotE, I remember names of characters and specific scenes. They still resonate with me. Less than a year after having read Column of Fire, I couldn't tell you the name of the primary protagonist. Anyway, that's my rant for the day and thank you for loving WWE as much as I do. I saw it on your face and heard it in your voice when you were talking about the book. Was awesome :)
Someone help me out without giving too much information away. But clarify something for me, does A Column of Fire feature any of Jack and Aliena's decedents as chief protagonists like World Without End did with Merthin and Ralph? A simple yes or no would suffice! no details please & thanks.
Hi Kyle, Thanks for reviewing this book. I took you up on Pillars of the Earth after watching one of your videos and agree with you 100%. That is one of my favourite books of all time. Follet really does a spectacular job at character and timeline development. I was really disappointed in World Without End maybe because I was expecting it to be at the same or at least just under the level of Pillars of the Earth. Can you tell me if A Column of Fire is +/- World Without End? Looking forward to more reviews. Thanks.
World without end is probably my fav book of all time, pillars not far behind
I felt really cheated when I read A Column of Fire, primarily because Follet called it the third in the Kingsbridge series yet we spent more time out of Kingsbridge than in it.
I also didn't feel the deep connection I felt with Prior Phillip or Tom or Jack or Aliena or Caris or Merthin or the rest of the crew. Column of Fire read much more like a history text book than the "real world" feel of his first two books.
I loved Pillars or the Earth and World Without End because Follet focussed on the characters, whereas this book focussed on the politics and not the people.
I really, really felt cheated. I waited so very long for another Kingsbridge book. I longed to be re-immersed in the town and its people and the reading experience I received with Column of Fire was not at all what I signed up for. Worst of all, I feel like Ken Follet calling it a Kingsbridge novel was misleading and that, more than anything else, left me feeling sorely manipulated.
I finished the book, of course. And, in all fairness, the plot was good, the research substantive. But it was a mediocre read compared with the first two books. Years after having read the WWE and PotE, I remember names of characters and specific scenes. They still resonate with me. Less than a year after having read Column of Fire, I couldn't tell you the name of the primary protagonist.
Anyway, that's my rant for the day and thank you for loving WWE as much as I do. I saw it on your face and heard it in your voice when you were talking about the book. Was awesome :)
Jean l'Anglais aka Rollo Fitzgerald and Pierre Aumande de Guise.
Someone help me out without giving too much information away. But clarify something for me, does A Column of Fire feature any of Jack and Aliena's decedents as chief protagonists like World Without End did with Merthin and Ralph?
A simple yes or no would suffice! no details please & thanks.
I've read it a year ago but i wanna say YES
Hi Kyle,
Thanks for reviewing this book. I took you up on Pillars of the Earth after watching one of your videos and agree with you 100%. That is one of my favourite books of all time. Follet really does a spectacular job at character and timeline development. I was really disappointed in World Without End maybe because I was expecting it to be at the same or at least just under the level of Pillars of the Earth. Can you tell me if A Column of Fire is +/- World Without End?
Looking forward to more reviews. Thanks.
It's worse.
Excellent review man!
glad you enjoyed it
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