Superb Story!
Even though the book is extremely lengthy, it manages to sustain interest because there is a lot of drama and suspense involved. The language is not incredible and some parts read like trashy literature. Nevertheless, the story is superb and revolves around the lives of three men (a prior, a bishop and a builder) and how the building of a church in 12th century England, causes so much chaos and upheavals. It also is a witness to the power of the belief in God and how that helps a prior face adversaries in the face of utmost hardships. The most interesting aspect of this historical novel is that it reveals the turmoil that results when political and religious ambitions collide.

Pillars of the Earth - a riveting book
This book will make readers out of non-readers - it has everything from deviousness, piousness, and others twists and turns. It's a great book to share with others when done with it too. Have already ordered the sequel due out in October.

Still the best book I have ever read
I read this book years ago but still has remained very fresh in my mind. Great masterpiece, full of passion, action, middle ages atmosphere, cruel as the times were. Pity there are not so many books like this one. Read recently World without end, also very good but not up to Pillars. If anyone can recommend to me similar type of book as Pillars I would be grateful.

Wonderful book.
Fascinating reading, involving interesting characters as well as what life was like and how cathedrals were built in 12th century England.

Wonderful!
I haven't enjoyed a book as much as this in quite awhile. You need no knowledge of the time-period to enjoy the story. I found the book to be a page-turner from the very beginning. I didn't want to put it down at all. The ending was anti-climatic for me though but the book was so good throughout that it didn't matter at all.