reading in 2011: book #1

yes, i understand that the second month of the year is almost over and i'm just now finishing book number one of the year.  i unfortunately did not read on a regular basis and the book is over 1,000 pages; those are my excuses. 

regardless of the time spent reading, fall of giants is definitely worth the read.  after finishing pillars of the earth and world without end, i was excited to learn that ken follett would soon be coming out with book number one of his 20th century trilogy.  i purchased the book immediately after its release. 

fall of giants takes place at the beginning of the 20th century, just as the world is about to embark on the "war to end all wars".  as he does so well, mr. follett intertwines the stories of families from five different countries to create an excellent historical fictional piece that takes place during the first world war, the russian revolution, and the fight for women's suffrage.  

i was immediately taken into the story and felt connected to the many different characters.  once the war had begun and much of the story surrounded the actual battles taking place, i started to find the reading a bit cumbersome.  once the war was over and the lives of the people were once again the focus, i found it hard to put the book down until it i reached the end. 

the ending of the book is amazing and it provides the perfect cliffhanger and lead-in to book number two of the trilogy.  i cannot wait for its arrival! 


current read:  the bucolic plague:  how to manhattanites became gentlemen farmers:  an unconventional memoir.  by josh kilmer-purcell