SHANTARAM and THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH
by Gregory David Roberts (Shantaram)
and
by Ken Follett (Pillars)
What better time to tackle those huge tome-like books you have always meant to read than during an overlong quarantine? That was my thinking when I finally sank my teeth into Shantaram, which appears on many “all-time best books” lists and had been sitting on my shelf for years. After finishing that and recovering by reading several shorter books, I decided to take the plunge into The Pillars of The Earth, my first-ever Ken Follett book.
At 900+ pages, Shantaramwas quite an undertaking, but one for which I was rewarded handsomely. Although the book is classified as fiction, after reading the author’s biography on the book jacket, I realized the book is clearly informed by his life. An Australian who spent 19 years in prison for armed robbery and then escaped and fled to Bombay where he spent 10 years, Roberts’ protagonist follows a similar path. Shantaram is set in Bombay, shortly after the main character, Lin, arrives with his fake passport determined to start a new life. The myriad adventures Lin experiences are one more fascinating than the last. He lives in the slums of Bombay, becoming an honorary native, and sets up the only medical clinic for thousands of slum residents. He manages to get thrown into jail and spends months barely surviving until his friends get him out. He gets involved with a criminal ring and hones his passport forging skills. And, thank goodness, he falls in love with an elusive woman named Karla. Shantaram has it all. You will lose yourself in it and you will thank me for recommending it.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett also weighs in at more than 900 pages and is the first book in a trilogy (yes, trilogy)! Set in 1123-1174 CE England, it is the sweeping saga of one man’s quest to build the country’s most beautiful cathedral and his son’s and grandson’s commitment to fulfilling that quest. It involves the Church and kings and earls and the injustices caused by the feudal system of that time. There is plenty of intrigue and revenge and long-postponed love stories. Follett narrates his tale masterfully. I now understand why he has such a loyal following. If you are ready to jump into the deep end, Follett is worth the jump. Enjoy the experience! (Liz)
