Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century Trilogy

To be honest, the life and death struggle of the five families in this book didn't really grip me. These types of historical dramas always hit harder when a character you identify with is struck down. In Giants, Follett didn't break our hearts thusly as none of the families suffered a catastrophic or tragic loss. I mean, Gregori's lost opportunity at life in America was the closest the author came to serving up the type of life altering sadness that hurts the reader. Perhaps if Billy had not been saved from ten years in prison, after he had survived the horrors of trench warfare, the unfairness that sometimes crosses life would have reminded the reader that cruelty can strike down any man, even one that is just and morally responsible. It's still a good read. In a lot of ways the roll of history reminded of Mr. Chute's grade-10 history class. Mr. Chute would have loved this series.

Great read!! Follett does an exceptional job of mixing actual historical events into his story. One of the best books I've ever read.

It has been a while since I enjoyed so much reading a book. This impossible to put down book follows the interrelated stories of 5 families at the time of the first world war. History is lived through the fictional but historically accurate lives of the characters, German, British and Russian proletarians and nobility. It's mesmerizing to observe empires, political and social systems that have been existing for centuries crumble into dust, and to see a new world order emerging from the ashes of what it was, from all the destruction and the million of death. The book made me realize how much social progress toke place in such a short time span, it made me grateful and appreciative of everything I have, and gave me hope for an even better future. Thanks for all those who fought for justice and democracy, and gave their life to give all of us a better world to live in.