I first read Pillars of the Earth in college, and I quite liked it then. I was pleased when my book club picked it, because after reading World Without End last year, I was looking for an excuse to revisit Pillars. I'm happy to report that it holds up well.

Pillars of the Earth is centered on the construction of a cathedral at Kingsbridge in twelfth-century England. The prior of the abbey, the master builder and his family, a nearby earl, a displaced brother and sister, and the presiding bishop comprise the core set of characters, and their complex relationships form the core of the novel.

There's nothing fancy about this book. The writing is incredibly straightforward and clear, and the characters are uncomplicated. The joy of the book is in how the dozen or so main characters interact over the course of several decades, how the "good" guys finally prevail and how the "bad" guys fall. It's just good storytelling, plain and simple.