World Without End

World Without End by Ken Follett

What was this book about?

Four children are in Kingsbridge, a medieval town, Caris, Gwenda, Merthin, and Ralph. Ralph and Merthin are brothers, while Caris is of the wealthy class and Gwenda the poor class. They shouldn’t want to be friends but an event in the woods outside of Kingsbridge changes their lives forever. It puts them on a path that will force their lives to forever be entangled.

Follow each of them as they get older. They try for love, for fame, for wealth. Life in this time period is hard though and the intrigues of their lives will keep you interested!

What did you think about the book?

Another one of those audio books – and this one is definitely going in my husband’s to be listened to pile. It is set in olden days (which he likes) and has a bit of a epic story feel to it. It wasn’t what I expected – I expected it to be all about the mysterious letter that was found in the beginning. Instead it is more about the people that it discusses in the beginning.

Life isn’t easy for them and the paths that they took made them the people they are. They were all tied together for a lifetime. It has a touch of “real” history in it – but it is more about how life would have been lived for people back then and their relationships then about the history itself.

I haven’t ready any of Ken Follett’s other works but I definitely will now!

What genre would you consider this?
Epic

Overall:

Question for You!
What sort of research do you think is needed to write a book like this?

Genesis of Shannara – The Gypsy Morph

Genesis of Shannara – The Gypsy Morph by Terry Brooks

What was this book about?

The future has brought with it the destruction of the world and many of its races. They must bind together to defeat the evilness that will destroy it. Man must work with faerie (which they didn’t even know existed). They all must work with the Lizards – the creatures that were human that have evolved into something less.

The Knight of the Worlds must help everyone find their true mission in life.

This book is hard to explain in just a few paragraphs there is so much going on. I guess I would continue to say it is a saga of a world and of people doing their best to survive and help others.

What did you think about the book?

I have never read any of Terry Brooks books before and this was my first time into his world. I have to say it is quite complicated. It reminded me an of an extended Lord of the Rings. It kept me interested even though I felt like I had started reading half way through the book. There is just so much going on, so many characters, and he has written so many books that I think to fully appreciate it you should start at the beginning. Now I am just guessing – I haven’t read any more of this books yet – but I plan to. I am going to attempt to “start over” with at least this part of the series. He has written so many books that there is no way that I can try to start at the beginning but – it seems like there are mini-story plots in his world that I could take a look at.

So overall my thoughts are that I really enjoyed the book. I think I would have like it more if I had read more of his stuff and that just tells me how great a writer he is. Look for more on Terry Brooks here.

What genre would you consider this?
Fantasy

Overall: