Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century Trilogy Mass Market Paperback – International Edition, September 4, 2012

Let me begin with the statement that this NOT a review of Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Eaarth. It is a review of "Fall of Giants. That said, author Follett became a favorite of mine when I read his historical novel "Pillars of the Earth." The book is far from Follet's usual mystery/spy genre, (i.e. "Eye of the Needle"). It is a wonderful, unputdownable book which took me by surprise by its depth and scope. In "Pillars of the Earth" Follett provides a view of family life, civil wars, and the power struggle between the monarchy and the church, between good and evil, in twelfth-century England. Most importantly it focuses on the building of a cathedral in the town of Kingsbridge, England. With storytelling skills that focus on suspense, Follett unwinds a captivating tale that follows the failures and successes of several generations of prominent families in the fictional village of Kingsbridge.So...if you are wondering why I am discussing "Pillars of the Earth" and not "Fall of Giants" it is because I never thought the author could top "Pillars of the Earth." Well, he certainly did, in my humble opinion...or at the very least "Fall of Giants" is the equal of "Pillars." "Fall of Giants," is book one in the "Century Trilogy," and follows five interrelated families, American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh, throughout the course of the 20th century between 1911 and 1924. This first book covers notable events such as World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage. The characters are well fleshed out and complex. The author provides an index of names so the reader can refer back to see who is who is who and what countries they are affiliated with. I never needed the index. Those who people this tale are so memorable that they stick in one's mind.Most importantly, for me, the novel is historically accurate. It contains many real life characters, the "Giants" of European monarchy and the larger than life political figures who play such an important role in the beginning and aftermath of WWI. I had read Barbara Tuchman's extraordinary WWI history "The Guns of August," and became familiar with why WWI began along with horrendous trench warfare, and the politicking behind the war. I think "The Fall of Giants" makes this episode of history even clearer and it is utterly fascinating. A warning for those who do not like long books. This one has almost 1000 pages, all worthwhile, and weighs about 5 pounds, but I don't think there is a boring part in all of the pages and time flies by as one reads.I found myself unable to put "Fall of Giants" down and have just begun novel #2 in the series, "Winter of the World," which picks up where "Fall of Giants" leaves off, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the great dramas of World War II, and into the beginning of the long Cold War. As with "Fall of Giants" I cannot put this historical fiction down. I highly recommend this book and series. Happy reading!!JANA

Ken Follett is a very good writer. He is successful and smart. I've read many of his excellent books. "Pillars of the Earth" and "Eye of the Needle" are thought by many to be lasting 20th Century literature, and both of those books remain favorites of mine."Fall of Giants" is soap opera at its best. It's truly "made for TV" and is populated by shallow but relatively believable characters, doing everything they can to ruin each other, themselves and the civilized world in the name of ..... well, maintaining the status quo, and/or fighting for progress and/or annihilating those who disagree or whom they fear. I am certain we will soon see at least a movie, if not an elaborate and lengthy TV series stretching for 2 or 3 seasons, created from this book and the 2 which will follow it. The resulting show will be as gaudy, elaborate and sexually depraved as "The Tudors," no doubt.Follett has a great knack for turning important world events into the soap opera they probably actually were!! "Fall of Giants" is exactly how I like my world history - abundant sex, populated by badly-behaving people, strewn with idiots and led by self-centered world and local leaders (and followers), who are concerned mostly with saving their own skin as their only life-worthy objective. Few of these characters can think beyond the boundaries of their sex organs.While I think he got most of the historical facts relatively correct, there were a few errors. On page 614, for example, high-born Briton Earl Fitzherbert (Fitz) complains about President Woodrow Wilson, saying "But he did not declare war." Follett should know better. The president of the United States cannot ever declare war; that's the prerogative of Congress. Only George W. Bush violated that rule, and we all know what happened as a result.There are no perfect characters in this book, which chronicles the lives, successes and failures of 6 families, 2 American, 1 British, 1 Welsh, 1 German and 1 Russian. These people and their offspring (and friends and enemies) will continue through the following 2 books. Which family is most successfully portrayed? In my judgment, it is the Welsh family Williams, a working class (mining), poor family which produced 2 very smart children, Ethel and Billy, who become extremely successful political figures, championing labor and women's rights. They're the most believable and most endearing. Who are the least successful? The Russians, whether it is Grigori or Lev (one having immigrated to Buffalo, NY, and marrying into a mob family; the other having remained in Russia to star in the Revolution of 1917), were not only unlikeable but also rather unbelievable. Often, he is better with negative portrayals (the elder Von Ulrich, Earl Fitzherbert, elder Mr. Williams, President Wilson, and Lev Peshkov) than he is with those more positive, upbeat characters advancing the causes of progress. Follett seems to write men better than he writes women - a theme through all his books that I have read. He also writes scenes better than he writes people. Some of the battle scenes, and scenes of the ordinary home-life of his characters, were very well done.My basic problem with the book has to do with the way-too-many, way-too-cute and way-too-coincidental, chance (or arranged) meetings of various characters at various times in the story - often during the course of WWI. Just didn't work for me, all this coincidence. In most instances, the story would have been stronger without these key players meeting unbelievably at odd places, whether on the battlefield, during Paris peace negotiations or somehow magically appearing at a hotel or some other place, as if it were easy to accomplish. These chance meetings were not needed to knit the story together.Follett omits (even though the book is 984 pages long) too many details of some of the episodes through which his characters survive. How Fitzherbert and his wife escaped from Russia during the peasant uprising was never written; they just escaped we later learned. It would have been interesting reading to see how Follett got them out of that life-and-death jam that he got them into. Or, how did Walter Von Ulrich escape, after being wounded on the bridge during battle with the Americans? You expect these kinds of dropped story lines in a short book (such as Anabel Lyon's brilliant but all too brief "The Golden Mean") but not in this tome. At the very least I expect all episodes in "Fall of Giants" to have a beginning, middle and end. The end was often missing.There's a lot of preaching of human and civil rights throughout. Follett can't seem to let it go, this passion he has to bring "democracy" to everyone - not exactly what WWI was all about, after all. At times, the political passions voiced by some characters seemed to be Follett's own.It's a really quick read, despite its heft and length - about a week. I enjoyed it quite a lot. I disagree strongly with those who rake this book over the coals with their negative reviews.I give it a 3.75 and round it up to a 4, if for no other reason than admiration for a writer having successfully undertaken the task of preparing us for the upcoming TV show by writing this entertaining, if superficial and perhaps stereotypical, expansive view of political and actual life in the first 25 years of the 1900s. Without commenting on their literary value, Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina" and Flaubert's "Madame Bovary" were deadly boring in comparison. All three authors, however, cleverly use (heterosexual) sex, sex, and more sex to keep reader interest. All-in-all, it's just a grand scale soap opera to enjoy.

Now I must admit I am in the habit of buying too many books that I don't have the time to read. (I'll get around reading them eventually, I guess). Anyway, I was talking to my brother about my Grandfather and how he was a hero in the First World War and he recommended Fall of the Giants which he said was a great read. Why should I read it I asked? I've already got more books than I can get through as it is."Well, for one thing, there's plenty of sex in it" he responded. Sold! I ordered the book and it came the next day. I haven't come across any sex parts yet, but the book is a good yarn and well told. I guess that's why Follett is a best selling author. He knows how to spin a good story.

When embarking on a book of 852 pages, the initial thought is obviously one of whether you’ll get fed up with it mid way through, but in this instance, not a bit of it. Enthralling from the first page to the last. An excellent historical novel covering the First World War from the perspectives of all the main protagonists, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the USA in particular, with several separate but intertwined stories all running alongside each other. I enjoy Ken Follett’s books, but I think this one surpasses all the rest. Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

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The media could not be loaded. Any historical fiction enthusiast, or World War enthusiasts NEED to read this book. I have always been a fan of books that primarily focus on the major events of the 20th century, and it helps to have an indulging and cozy fictional story accompany the non-fictional events. And this book has done just that.It was a pleasure to read, right from page 1. Please don't be intimated by the length. The plot, the characters and the writing is so interesting and intriguing that you'll be glad that the book is 800 pages long. I got hooked right from the beginning and developed a deep attachment to all the characters and how the war changed their lives for better or worse. Despite knowing the outcome (since its historical fiction) the book still managed to keep me enthralled and sometimes even at the edge of my seat!The author managed to cover most of the significant, life-altering, major events and also the minor but still important ones. It felt so good to witness the intricate details of all the movements and revolutions and war and to appreciate the delicate dance of International relations.... Just amazing!I can't wait to start Winter of the world, which is the sequel. Overall this book was a treat to my eyes and brain and at the cost of 170 Rs (!!!) it was an unbelievable treat to my wallet as well!

Libro straordinario di Ken Follett. Seguo l'autore dai tempi dell'Uomo di Pietroburgo. Bellissimi i suoi romanzi storici. Letto in lingua originale è stato un'ottima palestra per il mio inglese grazie anche alla lettura su kindle