Looking for books like Pillars of the Earth and World Without End

[tylerdylan]

I just finished World Without End and LOVED it. Pillars of the Earth has been a favorite of mine for many many years. I have tried a few other Ken Follett books, but couldn't get into them. Can anyone recommend books similar to these? I love time era (13th Century, during the plague in Europe).

[dflanag2]

Check our Sharon Kay Penman; not exactly the exact time period you are looking for, but I really enjoyed the trilogy that started with _Here Be Dragons_ in particular.

[Traci mom23boys]

I LOVED both of them as well. *Doomsday Book* by Connie Willis was good, also set in Plague ridden Europe. (not as great, but well worth reading)


~traci

[womenswisdom]

IIRC Pillars of the Earth correctly, it takes place over a fairly long time span? Edward Rutherfurd's books are similar in that they take place over several generations. They are each centered on a particular space and tell the story of the space through time. One of my favorites is The Forest. I believe they are all set in England.

[chrissy]

subbing b/c 'Pillars of the Earth' is dh's favorite book and i need ideas for gifts for him.

[tylerdylan]

Originally Posted by chrissy

subbing b/c 'Pillars of the Earth' is dh's favorite book and i need ideas for gifts for him.

Has he read the sequel?? It's called World Without End and was just published in 2007 (30 years after the original). I actually liked World Without End even better than Pillars!

[lorijds]

Seconding the Rutherford recommendation.

My favorite of his is "Sarum" closely followed by the Dublin saga, which is broken into two books, "the Princes of Ireland" and "the Rebels of Ireland".

ETA: Sarum does, to a great degree, focus a significant portion of the book upon the building of the cathedral. Not quite as much as Pillars of the Earth, but still...It's a great read, as is the two Dublin Saga books.

[Viola]

I preferred Pillars to World, but I did like the bubonic plague part of World--I mean I thought it was interesting. The description of the man getting flayed really ruined the book for me. I didn't even read the whole scene, but I am still traumatized by it. So if you read World Without End, best skip right over that part.

Oh well, no suggestions, but I'm going to try the Rutherford books now. Thanks!

[MissMommyNiceNice]

This book is sort of similar, because it spans a long series of time, but it mixes the woven history (both real & folk - which for the country are both one and the same) of Ireland through a storyteller's tales and his grandson. I love it and have read it several times.

http://www.amazon.com/Ireland-Novel-...0833168&sr=8-4

If you like a little more science fictiony, you could try the Avalon series by Zimmer Bradley.

[tylerdylan]

Originally Posted by MissMommyNiceNice

This book is sort of similar, because it spans a long series of time, but it mixes the woven history (both real & folk - which for the country are both one and the same) of Ireland through a storyteller's tales and his grandson. I love it and have read it several times.

http://www.amazon.com/Ireland-Novel-...0833168&sr=8-4

If you like a little more science fictiony, you could try the Avalon series by Zimmer Bradley.

Looks good - I will definitely check it out, as well as all the other suggestions. Thanks.
Any time era is great (aside from 20th/21st century) - I find it facinating to read how people lived before us!!