Ranking The Kingsbridge Series | Pillars of the Earth Series by Ken Follett

[@corinnamattison]

I love these books!! I'm a history buff and story lover. They made me realize we are all the same people, just in different times and places eating different food and wearing different clothes but we have always had similar struggles and we are all human at the end of the day...

[@JoLovesToRead]

Wow that is a really wonderful way of looking at the books, you’re so right! 🤩

[@breishere123]

Agreed! I feel the same why when i read historical books in general.

[@mariavalente6304]

We need more fans of Ken Follett on booktube.

[@JoLovesToRead]

I'm excited to start his Century Trilogy! I hope it's as good as or better than the Kingsbridge series. I haven't heard many people talk about him either. Mostly I've heard people say they want to read Pillars of the Earth, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[@Makida937]

Agree! Fifteen years ago, I read the (Cathedral) Pillars of the Earth - I was hooked. He became my favorite writer of historical fiction. I'm reading The Armor of Light, his latest and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

[@stevenmclaren2730]

The first two books are so, so, so good. I don't have words. Read them

[@ianthereader]

I just read The Pillars of the Earth this month!! Very excited to see that the second book is even better, in your opinion! Glad I found your channel!

[@JoLovesToRead]

I hope you enjoy book two!! Let me know what you think ☺️

[@Claudius43CE]

I loved all four of these books and am presently re-reading Pillars. My one grumble with Follett is that his books often end in a neat and tidy way as if he’s afraid of offending his readers. There were a couple characters in the Evening and the Morning who I wanted to see publicly executed for their treachery. It would have been interesting to explore Ethelred grappling with the dilemma of having to punish a noble while he still had the need of his knights to fight the Vikings. Great ranking!

[@JoLovesToRead]

I will definitely do a re-read of Pillars too! It was my first book of such epic proportions and I want to see how I enjoy it with a bit more experience under my belt. Have you read any more of Follett's books? I like that he gives happy endings, but I do agree that some of them don't get justice dealt as much as I'd like. In World Without End, although I was happy Merthin ended up with Caris, I was annoyed that she so easily blew off him cheating on her because they had to work out who the father was of Griselda's child. I don't even remember if there was so much of an apology from Merthin. Thank you so much!

[@Claudius43CE]

@@JoLovesToRead I’ve read the Century Trilogy and can’t recommend it enough. Jackdaws is also terrific. Happy reading!

[@JoLovesToRead]

Thank you for the recs! I was thinking of trying the Century trilogy next and now I definitely will 😍

[@allaussietraveller9879]

Omg Wynstan should have been drawn and quartered, such a piece of poo.

[@gregschulte2953]

Follett really changed the historical novel - brilliant. All the books are outstanding. You seem to be drawn to the romance while others will appreciate the historical context of the stories. These books seem to touch on all of that and more, hence the popularity.

[@T.Q209]

I’m glad someone’s talking about this.

[@JoLovesToRead]

Thank you! It's such a great series! 😄

[@kapdone]

Pillars of the Earth was the best story I read, that is until I read World Without End. Column of Fire felt out of place. It's not a bad story, it just didn't fit into the series very good. Most of the series involved lives in and around Kingsbridge, while Column of fire was more world involved. Enjoyed the review, thanks for sharing.

[@JoLovesToRead]

That’s a great way to describe it why Column of Fire felt a bit off! It’s crazy how books can be so different from the same author. Are you going to read The Evening & The Morning?

[@kapdone]

@@JoLovesToRead Hi. I might be a little out of place here, but I would like to elaborate some if I may. When I say "I read," I should in fact say "I listened." I had a job for a while that consisted of a lot of driving. I discovered this series by accident. I was canceling my subscription and decided to get my money's worth by obtaining the longest audio book in the historical fiction category. Pillars of the Earth was the last book in my library and was the last story I listened to. Honestly, I didn't think I would enjoy it much. I was very wrong. Soon I was purchasing World Without End. About the time I was finishing the second book I learned that a third book would soon be released. I actually went back through and listened to the first two stories and timed it so that I would finish at the time that the third book was released. Expecting an experience similar to the first two stories I was a little disappointed. I have read another book from Ken Follet in another more modern series, and couldn't get into the story much. I found that struggle with Column of fire. Actually, I felt that Column of fire probably would have been suited better in one of Ken's other series. World travel, fighting across oceans, spies and more government control. I believe these were the biggest issues I had with Column of fire. The first two books were based around the lives and actions of the people that influenced the town of Kingsbridge. There was some travel to mainland Europe, and of course there was fighting and there was some big government control. However, these were presented to show how these actions affected the people of Kingsbridge. And in many cases the people were able to find ways to distort or change the laws that were governoring them. Now, given the course of the Kingsbridge series, the time frame was to be expected in a somewhat more modern era. Some mentions of the new world were expected to be mentioned and curiosity had me questioning if anything in the new world would have effects on Kingsbridge. I was disappointed to learn that the story would hardly revolve on anything effecting the town of Kingsbridge, but instead the people of Kingsbridge effecting the world. Instead of people trying to have an influence on the government, they were now working for the government. In the first two stories I enjoyed the history how the way of life was. How the government and church were struggling for control and the happenings of the cathedral. Now in an era where the church has basically been stripped of any power, the cathedral was hardly mentioned. The pillars of the Earth so to speak, had been removed. The story had taken on so many political instances and governmental history that the story lacked any good attention from me. As I stated before, it wasn't necessarily a bad story, it just wasn't what I was looking for or expecting based from my experience of the first two stories. I feel that it would have been better if it had been placed in another of Folletts series. And now to answer your question. I have started the fourth installment. However, I have changed jobs and hardly have time to listen to the story. So much time passes between my sessions that I have restarted the story twice to refresh my memory of what is happening. I do seem to be enjoying it more than third story as it is more inline with first two books of the series. However, I don't know if it will take a seat on my favorites list. We will see.... Sorry for the long reply to a simple question lol.

[@JoLovesToRead]

Sorry for taking so long to reply!! I honestly loved reading your reply and how much you wrote, it made my day that you cared enough to type so much 🥰 100% such a smart plan to get your money's worth with the biggest audiobook and these would have been GIANT. I can't even think of how many hours in total 😵 but I'm also not the best audiobook listener, I'm still getting used to that format with fiction. I totally agree with your review of the series and it makes me question whether I'll enjoy more of his books. After reading Pillars & World Without End I thought Follett would be one of my all time favourite authors, but after Column of Fire I'm not so sure. I definitely enjoyed the Evening & the Morning more, but still not as good as the others! I hope you have time to finish it or have finished it now 😊

[@kapdone]

@@JoLovesToRead a good audio book is dependent on the one reading the story. The best readers can't save a bad story, but a bad reader will always ruin a great story. I have my favorites as many audio book listeners do.

[@petermcculloch4933]

I agree.Of the four books Column Of Fire was the least satisfactory.

[@carenome1]

Anno Domini - year of our lord

[@JoLovesToRead]

Thank you for the information! 😊

[@davidlona7553]

GREAT RANKING. YOUR AWESOME..... THAT'S WHAT I LOVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND ON THAT NOTE THIS IS MY RANKING: 1. PILLARS OF THE EARTH 2. A COLUMN OF FIRE 3. THE EVENING AND THE MORNING 4. WORLD WITHOUT END PILLARS OF THE EARTH BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, YOU COULD TELL THAT BY READING THIS NOVEL THAT MR. FOLLET WAS IN LOVE IN WRITING THIS BOOK AND IT SHOWS AS A READER I APPRECIATE IT GREAT VILLIANS AND GREAT HERO'S A COLUMN OF FIRE AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING. I ACTUALLY ENJOYED IT FOR THE SAME REASONS YOU DIDN'T LIKE IT OR GOT YOU FRUSTRATED, I WAS HAPPY THAT THEY WERE MORE POLITICAL AND THAT THE ROMANCE KINDA TOOK A BACK SEAT TO THE STORIES. ON THE BOOK A COLUMN OF FIRE I LOVED READING ABOUT QUEEN ELIZABETH THE 1st AND MARY OF SCOTS AND THEIR RIVALY AND THEY WERE COUSINS. AND IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE EVENING AND THE MORNING WAS THAT NOT ENOUGH VIKINGS. AND MY LEAST FAVORITE BOOK IS IM SO SORRY ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT THIS IS YOUR FAVORITE. BUT WORLD WITHOUT END OH LORD HORRIBLE. WORLD WITHOUT END IS MR. FOLLETT TRYING TO MAKE A COPY OF PILLARS OF THE EARTH WICH IS O.K BUT HE TRIES TO HARD AND IN DOING SO IT BECOMES BORING READING A CHEAP VERSION OF PILLARS OF THE EARTH THE HERO'S WERE SELFISH THE VILLIANS WERE WEAK. BOY AM I'M GLAD I READ THIS BOOK LAST IF I WOULD'VE READ THIS AFTER PILLARS I PROBABLY WOULDN'T OF FINISH THE SERIES AND FOR THE ROMANCE🤮🤮🤮🤮. BUT IM THANKFUL FOR THIS COPYCAT BOOK BECAUSE IT MADE ME APPRECIATE A COLUMN OF FIRE AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING EVEN MORE. AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT I READ THIS BOOK IN THE HIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT COVID AND THE BLACK PLAQUE WERE NOT THAT DIFFERENT. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO I FOUND IT AWESOME. MY FINAL QUESTIONS IS HAVE YOU READ OTHER BOOKS BY KEN FOLLET? I'VE TRIED TO READ THE CENTURY BOOKS BUT I JUST COULDN'T GET INTO FALL OF GIANTS WICH IS SAD BECAUSE I LOVE HISTORY AND POLITICS. I HEAR THAT MR. FOLLET WAS LIKE A SPY WRITER BEFORE WRTING PILLARS OF THE EARTH, I WOULD LIKE TO READ BUT HERE ON THE STATES THEIR HARD TO GET DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT I CAN ORDER FROM AMAZON

[@JoLovesToRead]

Hi David, sorry for such a late reply! I love hearing other opinions and rankings too! Thank you for leaving yours 😄 If I was to re-read any of the books, I think I would re-read Pillars, even if it wasn't my absolute favourite. I love Philip and Aliena, and I'd love another chance to appreciate the book with a more developed reading skill. It was one of my first big epics and although I loved it, I think I would love it even more now. I do agree that World Without End was pretty much a copy of Pillars - even if it worked for me! A Column of Fire and The Evening and the Morning are definitely different whilst being in the same world. I loved learning the origins of Kingsbridge. Unfortunately I haven't read anymore of Ken Follett and I'm planning on reading the Fall of Giants first - interesting to see how I enjoy it now!

[@ElCuentodeRoma]

Awesome video! By the way: A.D. stands for Anno Domini, not "after death." That's Latin for something like "In the Year of the Lord"

[@JoLovesToRead]

Thank you! And thank you for the information! After some Googling you are correct, "In The Year of the Lord". I shall stick that in my memory 😊😊

[@chenkeith7272]

I haven't really got down to this series probably because I am not into that era. Are they really super good?

[@JoLovesToRead]

I found the second really engaging and easy to read, it had themes of medicine and romance which I love. The first was good but dragged a bit. The final two were okay but not great. If you don’t have a problem with abandoning books or series I’d give the first a go, but if you find that hard, I’d read the blurb for book 1 and if it’s not catching you think about why you want to read it. They are very long books.

[@stevenmclaren2730]

Honestly, the first two are amazingly good, read them

[@danielaayers3449]

I’ve been wanting to read this series for so long, but intimidated by the page length! Would you recommend reading in order they were written or start with the newly released prequel? Thanks!

[@JoLovesToRead]

They are giant but I’ve found them so worth it 😍 I recommend going with the order they were written. The prequel was so much more satisfying knowing what the town would become 😁

[@LeftyKaren]

Thanks for the reco. I read pillars of the earth more than 20+ years ago 🫣🫣🫣and with the prequels being released, I was contemplating on re-reading and refreshing myself with Pillars or start with the prequel. Appreciate the insight ❤

[@MooseTalksBooks]

I’ve only read pillars of the earth by follet, but it’s interesting to hear your thoughts on some of his other books!

[@JoLovesToRead]

Thank you for watching the entire video after only reading the first ☺️

[@stevenmclaren2730]

I've read all of Ken Follett, and I would say the only two completely outstanding works are the first two of the Kingsbrige series. Absolutely blew me away with quality and reading experience. The rest, great, but not amazing

[@JoLovesToRead]

Have you read The Armour of Light? I have it but nervous to start because I loved the first two Kingsbridge but felt the other two weren’t as good.

[@stevenmclaren2730]

@@JoLovesToRead yes, it is definitely good like all the series, but, for me, more the standard of the latter ones. There are so many coincidental meetings of characters on battle fields and on foreign campaigns it really does stretch the imagination at times. But I'll say no more! Enjoy

[@DavidLona-pg9zt]

Have you read the Armor of light? By Ken Follett

[@JoLovesToRead]

No I haven’t. Is it good? The next Ken Follett I own to read is Fall of Giants 😊

[@DavidLona-pg9zt]

@@JoLovesToRead No I Haven't I'm going to read it this Weekend. Have you started reading fall of Giant's? How is it? I LOVE the Kingsbrige Series

[@JoLovesToRead]

When I replied to your comment I had no idea Armor of Light was another Kingsbridge book. I just saw it in the bookstore this weekend and got super excited! It’s going to be my Christmas present from my husband so it’ll be a while yet before I read it. I’d love to know what you think of it! Happy reading!

[@FruSalling]

The only thing I hated about these books, were the scene, (and there was one in every book) where abuse of animals is descibed in great detail. I actually liked your least favorite the most, more or less for the same reasons. Less love story and more european history. This time the cathedral is not the sun that all the story is circling around, instead we are more out in the world. I like that.

[@HeidiGraham1982]

Just rereading The Pillars of the Earth yet again, and I cry every time I read about William's favorite game, "Stoning the Cat" (even if that particular cat eventually escapes). Also poor Hop at the beginning of World Without End...😭

[@deelak2329]

Wait, did you really use CE as a way to spare people's feelings. Or is it actually in the book this way?

[@tommyotero7465]

I have enjoyed the series, but have to agree, the romance of the last two books seemed to detract from the story's overall development. Also, the 4th book is just so...idk...brutal? Negative? The second half of book 4 seemed like one bad thing after another happening to Ragna. Her essentially becoming a sex slave just made it extremely difficult to get through the book, much less enjoy the book. Imo the first two books were the best by far

[@JoLovesToRead]

I totally know what you mean about the 4th book. I feel the earlier books still depicted a hard life for the characters, but ultimately they triumphed, even if in small ways. It was much more upbeat. I also agree about the romance. I didn't like that the characters were less genuine about them, especially in book 3.

[@tommyotero7465]

@@JoLovesToRead agreed. Curious have you read any of Bernard Cornwell's books? Would love to hear your take!

[@JoLovesToRead]

Unfortunately I haven’t! But maybe I should add one to my to read pile

[@gus-jn1nr]

AD mean Anno Domini Year of Our Lord

[@JoLovesToRead]

Thank you 😊

[@allaussietraveller9879]

Probably well late to the party but it's heresy "hea-ra-sea" 😜

[@carenome1]

Hair - a - see

[@allaussietraveller9879]

@@carenome1 Hair, a see, a female see Ray, a golden drop of sun!

[@carenome1]

@@allaussietraveller9879 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍 excellent!!!

[@JoLovesToRead]

This has been a wonderful thread 😂