Book Snails Book Group discussion

Pien and I plan to start reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett next week with an initial pace of one chapter per week.
We’d love to have others join us if anyone is interested!

Reading Schedule
March 25-31: Chapter 1
April 1-7: Chapter 2
April 8-14: Chapter 3
April 15-21: Chapter 4
April 22-28: Chapter 5
April 29-May 5: Chapters 6-7
May 6-12: Chapters 8-9
May 13-19: Chapter 10
May 20-26: Chapter 11
May 27-June 2: Chapter 12
June 3-9: Chapter 13
June 10-16: Chapter 14
June 17-23: Chapter 15
June 24-30: Chapter 16
July 1-7: Chapter 17
July 8-14: Chapter 18 (End)

Looking forward to it!

I went ahead and read the epigraph, the preface, the preface to the 25th anniversary edition and the prologue 😆
I’m definitely intrigued and looking forward to getting into this one!

Just finished chapter one! My goodness!!! I hope the entire book isn’t as… extreme as this was 😳
Let me know when you finish Pien!

Oh my… Yes I finished the first chapter. What did you think? It certainly kept me reading, this story but how extreme! Do we use spoilers or can I talk about it freely? I don’t remember how we did that last time..

If it’s just us, I don’t think we need to use spoilers unless we read ahead.

I had so many emotions with this one.
I was terrified when the man clubbed Martha. Pregnancy loss and infant loss and death of young children is such a trigger for me. I was so relieved she ended up ok.
I was sad that Agnes died right at the beginning of the story.
And then I was shocked when Tom decided to leave the baby. I don’t care how he tried to justify it to himself, how on earth do you just leave a baby in the woods??? I kinda thought Ellen would end up finding it, though I think it’s prospects are better with the priest.
And the way Tom slept with Ellen when his wife had JUST died? And then he asks her to marry him??? Poor Agnes!

I’m wondering if Tom will ever face any repercussions for murdering the man who struck Martha and stole the pig. And I also can’t believe that Tom thinks he won’t get into any kind of trouble if he approaches the priest and comes clean about abandoning the baby.
Tom is not my favorite person so far 😆

What are your thoughts so far?

Martha being struck like that was shocking indeed. I was shure she died there! And I was so worried about the family when they lost that pig! Who would have thought I’d get worked up about a pig but I did. 😄
Agnes dying was so awful, she was a nice and strong woman.
I couldn’t believe it either, when Tom just left the baby there. How could he? He was in shock, shurely, but this decision was so strange because to him it felt like an objectively best thing to do. Where was his heart?
I’m quite shure Ellen is a witch who put a spell on him. He would never make love to another woman at such times, no one would?! And the fact that he asks her to marry him,

… when he didn’t realize he said those words until he did. She must be a witch!

I’ll join the conversation once my book comes in! It said it would be available in 2 weeks. :)

Pien wrote: "Martha being struck like that was shocking indeed. I was shure she died there! And I was so worried about the family when they lost that pig! Who would have thought I’d get worked up about a pig bu..."

😂 I was definitely hoping they would get the pig back. Or at least the money the thief got for it.

Interesting theory about Ellen being a witch! 🤔
There’s certainly something interesting going on with her. And she did “curse” the people who hung Jack’s father at the beginning.

Samaria wrote: "I’ll join the conversation once my book comes in! It said it would be available in 2 weeks. :)"

Yay! We’re so glad to have you join us Samaria!
Sorry we posted spoilers for chapter one! Hopefully you haven’t read them and can avoid them until you get through it.

Pien, we can hide our “spoilers” for the next few chapters until Samaria has a chance to catch up.

Actually I read chapter one, before my kid decided to lend out my copy of the book and never saw it again. So I’m hoping to get the one I order soon and hide it this time 😂

How great you’ll be joining us Samaria! I hoop you’re book is available soon and is able to stay this time… 😉

Samaria wrote: "Actually I read chapter one, before my kid decided to lend out my copy of the book and never saw it again. So I’m hoping to get the one I order soon and hide it this time 😂"

Well I’m so glad we didn’t spoil anything for you!
And yes, hope you can hold on to this copy! 😆

Books are arriving on Friday!! Yay!!

Samaria wrote: "Books are arriving on Friday!! Yay!!"

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Yes!! That’s great 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Just finished chapter two!
The gruesome story toward the beginning was rough, but otherwise I very much enjoy how the story is developing!

Yes I finished it too now. I like the story, and the characters. (view spoiler)[ It's obvious how Tom and Philip will be joined into one story, but I'm very curious what will happen next. I also think its pretty interesting to read how life in a convent actually is, and how much business and organizational skills a prior needs to have. Philip is a person I root for, if that's how it's said in English? Tom, I'm not completely sure. I think he's a very good man only being manipulated into bad behavior, but maybe I'm wrong. That Waleran is a bit of a creep but as a character I very much like him for this story. Can he be trusted? (hide spoiler)]

I was shocked by (view spoiler)[the gruesome details of the murder of Philip’s parents! And then the monk made him and Francis close their parents’ eyelids themselves?!? How traumatizing!!! (hide spoiler)]
I think Philip is my favorite character thus far. I can’t wait to see (view spoiler)[what he does as prior of Kingsbridge. Waleran was definitely sneaky lining himself up to become bishop, though I had a suspicion the bishop was already dead. It will be interesting to see how his character unfolds as the story progresses. (hide spoiler)]

Hi Samaria, did you get your book? (And safely secured it 😄) Today we start reading chapter 3!

Yes I’m currently reading chapter 2 almost done :)

Samaria wrote: "Yes I’m currently reading chapter 2 almost done :)"

Yay! Hope you don’t mind our slower pace once you get going 😬
I’m thinking this one chapter a week deal is working pretty well for me 🙈

I don’t mind at all. A week sounds good.

Hi! I started reading chapter 3 and just couldn’t stop reading until I had finished it! So grabbed by this story! (I typed so crabbed 🦀 first!)

😆 My kindle tells me I have half an hour left. Hopefully tonight 🤞🏻

Managed to finish ch 3 via audiobook while running errands.
William is so utterly despicable! I hope he gets what’s coming to him 🙈
I’m definitely hooked though and enjoying the interconnectedness.

How do you like it so far, Samaria? Have you been able to catch up yet?

I am crying as I read how Agnes dies, and how Tom replaced her so quickly 🙄 there is something about Ellen that I’m not liking.

Did either of you read the preface in which Follett discusses how he became fascinated by cathedrals and developed a “hobby” of visiting them which led to his inspiration for the book? I feel like he really wants readers to be able to clearly picture the church, but nevertheless, I’m having difficulty doing so and have been googling pictures to try to help me with it 😏

I read it twice Erin, and I’m still confused and can fully picture it

Samaria wrote: "I read it twice Erin, and I’m still confused and can fully picture it"

😂 Glad it’s not just me!

I’m a lazy reader; if there isn’t a photo or map coming with a description, I just think: must be looking like a cathedral / home / mountain etc 🤭

Pien wrote: "I’m a lazy reader; if there isn’t a photo or map coming with a description, I just think: must be looking like a cathedral / home / mountain etc 🤭"

I really wish there was a sketch for readers to refer to. I’ve read quite a few books that have provided one.

Finished chapter 4. I have an audiobook from the library for the time being so I managed to get through it pretty quickly between a long walk and an hour spent in the car today.
There are so few likable characters, it’s a bit frustrating. I like having people to root for. And it’s basically just Philip and Martha right now 😆 Alfred is wretched, Tom is a competent builder but a crappy parent, Ellen is crass, and even Jack let me down in this chapter. Sigh!
Did the book mention why Jack’s father was being hung at the very beginning? Am I just forgetting? Or is it meant to be a mystery for now?

It don’t recall reading anything in regards to jacks father. 🤷🏻‍♀️I’m still on chapter 3 half way but I don’t have many characters that I like so far 😒

I looked it up, he was hanged for stealing a bejeweled chalice (? A goblet to serve communion wine in church in)

Pien wrote: "I looked it up, he was hanged for stealing a bejeweled chalice (? A goblet to serve communion wine in church in)"

Ah, that does sound familiar now. Thanks!

Samaria wrote: "It don’t recall reading anything in regards to jacks father. 🤷🏻‍♀️I’m still on chapter 3 half way but I don’t have many characters that I like so far 😒"

Do you recall if that’s how you felt throughout the whole story as you’ve read it before? I have a harder time connecting to a story if I don’t care for the characters, though fortunately the plot is pretty interesting so far.

How are y’all coming along with chapter four?

Finished it yesterday. I still enjoy the book, and while I usually really need to like the characters, it doesn’t bother me in this one. I’m so interested in what will happen next. The only one that irritates me a lot is Alfred. The others are ‘enjoyably evil’. Hope that doesn’t say anything about me 😄

Almost done the chapter. I do like the plot of the book. Im confused did Alfred really burn down the church or was he just imagining and it came true. I might re read that part.

Samaria wrote: "Almost done the chapter. I do like the plot of the book. Im confused did Alfred really burn down the church or was he just imagining and it came true. I might re read that part."

It’s my understanding that he actually burned it down. I think he kept trying to convince himself that he wasn’t going to do it because he knew how wrong it was, but he did it anyway.

Started chapter five last night and managed to finish it today listening to the audiobook during my five mile walk this morning.
Actually glad to take a break from it for several days now. So many vile characters. This is not at all a feel good book 😆
I’m curious, who do you both find the most villainous? Who is second most villainous? After this chapter, I’d definitely have to place William at #1 but #2 is trickier. 🤔

I only just started ch 5, but yes, the biggest creep to me is William. He must be pathologically ill in the head, with his fantasies of hurting people. Reading about him feels really disturbing.
Second, Alfred. Because he’s such a bully and should be more protective of the younger kids when they are all hungry.
Third, Ellen, who uses everyone to reach her goals. (I think she chose Tom only because she wanted her son to get into contact with the world and she could use the protection of a man). And must be a real witch whose done something awful in the past.

Ive finished the fifth chapter

How are you coming along Samaria?

What did you think of this latest chapter Pien? I’m wondering if (view spoiler)[ Ellen will make another appearance in the book and if so, how she’ll come back into it. It would be pretty strange for her to entirely disappear at this point. (hide spoiler)]
And what is your view of (view spoiler)[Waleran now? His true colors are really shining brightly. How despicable to act as a man of God when really he only seems to have his own interests at heart. How will he get back at Philip? (hide spoiler)]
Overall, I’m enjoying the plot and the twists it’s taking (view spoiler)[(Philip’s alliance with the Hamleigh’s was interesting) though I really struggled toward the end of the chapter. The part with William and Aliena - How vile and brutal! My heart breaks for Aliena, even though she’s a fictional character. 🙈 (hide spoiler)]

It was again quite eventful! 😀 (view spoiler)[ The last part was awful to read, as you said. I was hoping she somehow could get away from him before he did it, but there was no way. He wasn’t even trying to do it in secret. I hope his mother will find out and punish him. She won’t accept this behavior will she? And she can be incredibly mean, don’t you think?
Yes, I also expect Ellen to return, with a vengeance! She must have some secret witchpowers, I’m quite shure. But who will be the victim? Might be Philip.
I thought the way Philip was described was so good. With a bit of pride but also a lot of uncertainty about his status and then the realization that clothes and status are not what counts and how that gave him strength. Really beautiful. And Waleran amazes me, not in a good way. I thought he was just smart in playing a political game (not that I thought that was just) but finding out about his lies and that castle! That proves I was wrong, he’s really one of the ‘baddies’. If there are any good people. Well, I still like Philip. (hide spoiler)]
This week we’re away on a holiday and I brought another book, but I’ll have next weekend to catch up again. I cheated and read the first two parts of the next chapter before we left and the story doesn’t get boring!

I despise William there is no need for gruesome violence! He seems to be Power hungry and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. But I understand where he gets his bile character from as his mom has shown to be also hungry for Vengeance.
Felt so bad for Alaina she didn’t deserve her fait I do hope she comes out strong in the next chapters.

Honestly, I don’t believe William’s mother would find any fault in his actions. She has such a low opinion of Aliena for rejecting her son. I wouldn’t be surprised if she felt that Aliena deserved it. But I do hope things turn around for Aliena. I’m very interested to see how her character develops throughout the story. I can see her undergoing a huge transformation. There’s quite a bit of development already in chapter six.

I do hope Ellen comes back into the story. It would make her presence at the start seem pretty pointless if not.

Philip is definitely the one bright spot in the story, the one character to really root for.

I managed to finish our next chapter this morning on my walk and was remarkably happy to hear it end on a positive note! 🙌🏻