The Evening & The Morning


"When people were happy they were slow to quarrel and committed fewer crimes. It was in the miserable depths of winter that men strangled their wives and knifed their rivals, and it was in the hungry spring that women stole from their neighbors to feed their children."

When I began reading this book, I wondered in my head if I had made a mistake picking this for my next read. The sheer size of the book was a deterrent. I wasn't sure if I'd remember any of the characters introduced early on in the story by the time I reach the second half of the story. To my surprise, my doubts faded away pretty soon. 

The Evening & the Morning is a page-turner. I tore through the 900 pages in no time. The protagonists are interesting and full of substance. Edgar the builder, Ragna the Norman nobleman's daughter and Aldred the Ambitious Monk - all three always forge on with persistence and indefatigable spirit even in the face of evil and oppression. Their quick-wittedness and perspicacity keeps the thrill alive till the last page. There were so many moments when I just couldn't continue reading the book because I didn't have the heart to face the imminent doom looming in one of the protagonists' way and once that happened, I couldn't wait to resume reading in anticipation of what would happen next!

Ken Follet is a remarkable story-teller. The ease with which he carves his characters and breathes life into them is fascinating. This story, like all his stories, keeps the reader on the edge and makes the book unputdownable. 

2020 ended miserably for me and 2021 had me ambushed with a rocky start. But I'm glad I had Ken Follet's genius by my side to keep me company and to help keep my worries at bay. With that, I give this book 5 shiny stars. I've already bought a copy of its sequel 'The Pillars of the Earth', another huge read, which I cannot wait to lose myself in! But before that, I've picked up 'Salt to the Sea' for my next read. This was a secret Santa gift by a colleague and I have absolutely no clue what this book has in store for me. But that's exactly how I like my books! :D 

Be back with a review real soon! Until then, happy reading. :)

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