Somewhere along the way I had put Pat Conroy in a lightweight beach-reading category, and it wasn't until I read a review of this most recent book of his that I realized he was a more serious author than that.
South of Broad was a good read. It is about a group of friends who grow up together in Charleston, South Carolina, and alternates between their lives as teenagers in the late 1960's and then as adults twenty years later. As children, the group forms around Leo, a bright kid who appreciates who his friends are, independent of race, class, and sexual orientation. Years later, he remains the stable force who keeps the friends together.
The character development was definitely the most compelling piece of this book. In addition to Leo, there were at least seven or eight main characters, all of whom I felt like I knew. In particular, I was impressed by Conroy's ability to develop the characters over 20 years. I also liked how Conroy addressed several major social issues without that being the central theme of the book.
I would definitely choose something else by him in the future.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
World Without End by Ken Follett
Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth - the epic story of several generations building a cathedral in the 12th century - is one of my all-time favorite books. Recommended by my high school guidance counselor as a great example of someone who combined two lifelong interests, it was captivating from the first page.
When World Without End, the long-awaited sequel, came out a few years ago (and 20 years after Pillars) my dad sent me a copy the day it was released. I was excited to read it but somehow couldn't get started - Web read it instead and then it sat on my bookshelf.
Well once I finally opened the book I couldn't put it down. It was great!! It seemed to be written in a less sophisticated style than the original, compounded by the beginning of the book following several young children who are playing in the woods. Another difference from Pillars was that in this book, two of the main characters were women, a point of view I enjoyed reading. The story was about the town the cathedral had been built in, and how it had evolved 150 years later. The relationships between the royalty, the Church, and the guild were really intriguing, and I also enjoyed the inclusion of real historical events like the Plague. All of that coupled with a cast of good characters (as well as some great "bad guys") the book read quickly.
If you loved Pillars, (how could you not/?) this is a good sequel. I think the book would stand alone also, but you may as well read Pillars first.
When World Without End, the long-awaited sequel, came out a few years ago (and 20 years after Pillars) my dad sent me a copy the day it was released. I was excited to read it but somehow couldn't get started - Web read it instead and then it sat on my bookshelf.
Well once I finally opened the book I couldn't put it down. It was great!! It seemed to be written in a less sophisticated style than the original, compounded by the beginning of the book following several young children who are playing in the woods. Another difference from Pillars was that in this book, two of the main characters were women, a point of view I enjoyed reading. The story was about the town the cathedral had been built in, and how it had evolved 150 years later. The relationships between the royalty, the Church, and the guild were really intriguing, and I also enjoyed the inclusion of real historical events like the Plague. All of that coupled with a cast of good characters (as well as some great "bad guys") the book read quickly.
If you loved Pillars, (how could you not/?) this is a good sequel. I think the book would stand alone also, but you may as well read Pillars first.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
