Anyone who has ever seen me with this book that has read it themselves always comments that it's either their own personal favorite or one of their favorites. As a flight attendant, I've said the same thing to several passengers who have been reading the book themselves. I've highly recommended it to other people, and everyone rates it as one of their all time favorites, if not the best ever. I didn't think it sounded quite like my type of book, but my best friend (who is really girlie and a bit prissy) and her husband (who doesn't mind hunting and is always doing guy things) both recommended it to me and couldn't say enough about it. Considering how different they each are, I thought I'd give it a try. So glad I did.

I work in a library. Actually I've worked in two different libraries in two different states, and when someone walks up to me and says, "You know what my favorite book is......" They almost always end it by saying Pillars of the Earth. I agree. It's my favorite, too. It's hard to think that someone could make a book about the building of the cathedrals into something as action packed and dramatic as Follett does, but he captures the time, the place and the characters masterfully. Not only is it an extremely well researched, detailed novel, but the characters are wide and varied and easy to find appealing.......or disgusting, depending on who it is. Highly recommend it, often recommend it.

This is a very satisfying historical work of fiction set in the 13th century. It follows the lives of a poor but talented stone mason, as he struggles to support his family while dealing with extreme hardships in his quest to build a cathedral. Follett's research is meticulous and his writing style engaging: one is drawn into the lives of his characters as they struggle daily to survive. The power of the church, the hardships of the poor, the selfishness of people in power, the intrigue, plots, wheeling and dealing - all create a fast-moving story that held my interest throughout the 900-odd pages. I learnt a lot about the architectural detail and building methods of the time, particularly in relationship to cathedrals in England and France. There is quite a lot of brutality, and also some beautiful tender love scenes. This is a classic. I look forward to Ken Follett's next novel, which I have recently purchased. Warmly recommended!

I read this book when it first came out and loved it. I was traveling through Europe at the time and it enhanced the experience as Pillars made the ancient cathedrals of that continent more accessible to me. Not to mention the history and wars that shaped all of Europe. I read this book again recently and realized it is the only book I can point to that I've given or recommended over the past 15 years that has earned unanimous high praise from those I've given it to. That result is ironic since most people look at me like I'm nuts when I hand them a book about thirteenth century cathedral building. But, of course, its about much more than that - survival, war, religion, passion, and bravery. Its a true page turner and its a gift that keeps on giving, because once its done, you will find yourself smarter and more interested in a period of history and an architectural discipline that may not otherwise have earned your attention.

This is the first Ken Follett book I've read and, if this is a good example of his writing style, it will probably be my last.

To give the author his due, he HAS researched the book very well - he certainly knows his stuff about architecture and the 12th Century. This, though, only held my interest for the first 100 pages or so. At a 900-plus pages book, it needed a lot more for me to want to continue reading it. I finally gave up at page 342 - not worth spending another week of my life to finish it.

Follett's characters are lifeless and stereotypical and I couldn't get interested or empathetic about any of them. The story is predictable, the villains are expected, and the book needs trimming by 50%. Somebody get him a good editor - Please!!!

I'll give him a 2 star rating for the research, but it doesn't honestly deserve any more than a 1 for the writing. Don't waste your time. There are much better written and more interesting novels out there.