I usually do a “Reading and Eating” post on Wednesdays. The problem is, I just finished Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants, and I can’t stop talking about it. The book follows multiple storylines, taking the characters from 1911-1918 during the Great War in Europe.
Simultaneously, I listened to ten episodes of a history podcast about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the lead up to World War I. I’m obsessed with the question: if Gavrilo Princip had not murdered Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo- let’s imagine that he shot at him and missed- could World War I have been avoided?
I think it’s possible! There might have been a smaller war in Europe, perhaps between Austria and Serbia, or possibly no war at all. And without Germany’s humiliation after World War I, there would have been no Nazi party and Hitler coming to power, and no World War II.
It’s mind boggling to think of the catastrophe of those wars being avoided. On the other hand, if you change those events maybe something worse could have happened. Offhand it’s hard to think what could be worse than the atrocities committed during World War II, but you never know.
Anyway- all this is to say, I highly recommend Fall of Giants. From listening to the history podcasts, I can attest to the fact that Follett kept very close to the facts, so reading these books is like a very, very fun history lesson. The story lines are all compelling, and while those of course are fiction, you feel like it all could have happened. After all, there were real people living through that time in Europe and the United States, and they suffered losses and triumphs just like the characters in this book.
You can see how I can’t stop talking about it! And the best news is, Fall of Giants is the first book in a trilogy! I’ve already moved on to the “Rise of the Nazis” series in my history podcast, to get me ready for the next book, Winter of the World.
While I’m waiting for that book to arrive, I’m tidying up some loose ends. First, I’m finishing our Cool Blogger’s Book Club book:
I feel like I did this book a disservice, because I tried to read it while I was reading Fall of Giants. I kept reluctantly tearing myself away from the Ken Follett to read our book club chapters, and as a result I didn’t enjoy I Capture the Castle as much as I could have. I’m happy that I can just focus on the book for the final few chapters.
(Side note: It was Engie who recommended Fall of Giants, and she also runs our book club. So even though it made no sense, I kept blaming her for my reading conundrum. Yes, Engie, this is all your fault for making me read two excellent books simultaneously!)
Then, a library hold came in:
I said I wasn’t going to read any more Japanese mysteries for a while, forgetting that I had already placed a hold on this one. Okay, I’ll read it! It should be quick, and then I’ll be ready to dive into book #2 of my trilogy.
Coming up tomorrow- Eating! More Kamala Kookies and… a food dedicated to Tim Walz. It starts with a “W”- can you guess what it is?
What are you reading now?
17 Responses
Oh, Kamala Kookies! Fun! W food? Watermelon?
I finished I Capture the Castle this afternoon. I really enjoyed it! I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever read any Ken Follett. I feel like I read one about a cathedral being built in France or England and it was very good, but I was overwhelmed by it. Was that him? Quick search, yes, Pillars of the Earth. I wonder if I might enjoy being immersed in a big story like that if I listened to it. Hmmm. I’m currently listening to Homegoing, which is very good but as with all books about slavery and racism, it’s also a rough read. I Capture the Castle has been a nice counterpoint.
I finished ICTC last night, and I loved it! And- yes, it was a little hard for me to commit to such a long book at first, but then I got really into it. I’m pretty sure Engie listened to the entire trilogy, so apparently it’s very good on audio!
Waffles?!!
I loved that trilogy, and I think I even liked the second book more than the first. I will admit, I think I liked the third book the least of the three, but enjoyed all of them. I just finished his book Never, which talks about a possible WWIII, and is an interesting concept and story too if you are not tired of him by the time you finish this trilogy.
I’ll most likely take a break after this trilogy, but I’m sure I’ll come back to him at some point. Never does sound good!
I bet it’s waffles!
It’s so interesting to think about the domino effect of WWI. I agree that Hitler’s rise to power was a direct result of the dire straits that Germany was in after WWI. The most interesting elective I ever took in university was a German History course that went from Kaiser Wilhelm to post-WWII. It was absolutely fascinating and so complicated. I probably will not read those books but I could think and talk about that topic for days. DAYS.
It’s so funny because I just finished Early Morning Riser which I loved so much but I would NOT recommend for you at all (I think you would hate it, and then we’d always have this as a wedge between us, Jenny!). Anyway, I loved it and kept looking back at certain scenes, all the while starting a new book. And I had to go put Early Morning Riser away as it was affecting my ability to enjoy the new book that I was reading, Such A Bad Influence. I had to remind myself not to compare the two! Just like with children, I guess.
Okay, I won’t read Early Morning Riser because I don’t want a wedge between us! But, we could definitely discuss German history during that period. It really is fascinating and complex.
I am DEEP into 11/22/63, so yes the “what if history had happened a little differently” theme is very much in my head right now. I’m 70% of the way in, right at the point where Sadie gets out of the hospital (poor Sadie – hopefully this will be her only hospital visit in the book but I feel like it might not be).
I like ICTC, and I just have one chapter left and I’m dying to see what happens but also it has been hard to step away from 11/22/63 some nights.
I might listen to the history podcast. Most of what I know of the WWI comes from movies of the time, which is a very interesting but not necessarily accurate perspective. There was a time after WWI when everyone just wanted to forget the war so it was like it didn’t exist, and then after that there were a ton of war movies. Some focused on the horrors of war, and some took the “hey isn’t it great that we fought The War to End All Wars and that there will never be another war ever again” track – it’s really jaw dropping to see a movie with that message knowing what came after.
Well, I definitely know what’s coming up in 11/22/63 so I won’t say anything. When you’re done we can discuss it!
Yes, it would be interesting to hear the point of view of people in the time between WWI and WWII. We have perspective that they didn’t! And, I think you would like the history podcast. The hosts are British and very smart and entertaining.
I am also guessing that your W food is waffles!
It is interesting to think about the trickle effect of decisions or conflicts. I think about how my life would be different if I changed one decision, like if I went to a different college. It would be nice to redo history and avoid the great wars but it does seem like something else might have happened and maybe it would be worse. But maybe it would have been better!
Right now I am reading Emily Henry’s latest romance, ‘Funny Story’ which I am enjoying! I finished ‘the Wedding People’ over the weekend and it was soooo good. I didn’t want it to end!!
Someone else just read Funny Story… was it Stephany? I probably won’t read it because I don’t usually like romances. The Wedding People sounds good though.
Yes, if you had gone to a different college you would not have the life you have now! Crazy to think if we had done one thing differently, our kids wouldn’t exist.
It was me! I just finished it!
I’m reading Funny Story right now, too. So far I just want to shake everyone in the book, so…
I refuse to take blame for sending good books your way! Also, I’m also so happy that you found Fall of Giants so riveting. It’s like a history soap opera and Follett does that genre so well. I thought all three books were just as good! I also really liked the Kingbridge books (Pillars of the Earth is the first book) and talked to a medieval historian once about it and she said that he did such a good job with the details. Huge thumbs up!
So apparently he does a great job researching whatever period he’s writing about. At some point I’ll have to get to the Kingbridge series. Right now I’m just glad I have two nice, long books to keep me occupied. I’ll definitely skip Funny Story though!
I’m deep into the next installment (_Winter of the World_) now Jenny and it does not disappoint either. I can understand you wanting to take a break from Follett after this trilogy, but _Pillars of the Earth_ was truly sublime. (If I remember right, the second in the series was ok, but the last one was trashy.)
I’m also reading _Chevy in the Hole_ a novel about different generations living in Flint, Michigan and it’s amazing as well. I’ve been lucky in books lately.
Ooh, so interesting about your book! That is such a fascinating topic. Have you seen that older movie now called The Butterfly Effect? I don’t remember it in detail but the premise is that a guy has the capability to go back in time and change the outcome of a difficult situation. Let’s just say, it’s not that simple! I kind of want to rewatch that again because I find the whole topic and concept fascinating.
I am tempted to put a hold on this but I have an overwhelming number of holds PLUS books I’ve bought on super-sale through Apple Books (I’m like the only Apple Books user out there, I swear) and so… I am putting myself on a book buying fast. Unless a new JD Robb book comes out. Ha.
My mother LOVES Ken Follett’s books… wish I’d picked them up long ago, sigh. Retirement, perhaps? (HA)
And YES to the what-if’s – one of my favorite things to do, with history, and with my own life. 🙂