Pillars of the Earth

I haven't read Ken Follett in a very long time (think Eye of the Needle, or Key to Rebecca) but I wanted something that would last the length of time I had to spend in airports and planes while travelling in December, and this certainly met the bill. You would have to say this is a "meaty" work with substantial amounts of detail, not just about the political maneuverings during this time period (England from 1123 - 1174), but about the nitty gritty of how to build a cathedral. I certainly can't fault Follett on his research, but I did feel bogged down occasionally. You did truly come to know the characters and there is quite a cast, including some wonderful strong women who broke the mold and paid the consequences; however, I doubt that they would have chosen to try and conform if they had it to do over. Some wielded power by manipulating men, some by gaining money, and some by withdrawing from general society. Apparently there is now (18 years after Pillars) a sequel to this work called World without End.