Fall of Giants (Century Trilogy #1) by Ken Follett

 

For a brief period of time, Ken Follett was my identity. I LOVED the Kingsbridge series and while I acknowledge that there are some flaws (they are very long, violent, and just a soap opera on the page), I refuse to actually discuss those flaws with other people. Well, recently I was in a bit of a slump where I didn't want to listen to podcasts, didn't want to listen to music, and there was a 30-hour audiobook available of Fall of Giants, the first in another Follett series, and who was I to deny myself another crack at becoming a Follett loyalist?

Look, I love this. We're following a bunch of characters through the leadup and aftermath of World War I. We've got a coal miner who just so happens to be in pivotal battles in France. We've got an advisor to Woodrow Wilson. We've got a housekeeper who becomes a socialist journalist. We have two Russian brothers - one who is an irresponsible womanizer and the other who is raising his nephew as his own son. WE HAVE IT ALL. 

I was so riveted. I kept taking Hannah out for extra walks* because I wanted to be able to listen more. I chose longer workout videos so I had an excuse for listening. I was addicted. What would happen to Maud? What of Baby Lloyd? Are the Russians ever going to get their shit together? 

Did you love Kingsbridge? You will love this. 5/5 stars

Lines of note:

He told himself not to be a coward. He had to behave like a man, even if he did not feel like one. The worst thing of all would be to disgrace himself. He was more afraid of that than dying. (timestamp 28:30)

I liked this glimpse into toxic masculinity.

Fitz must not know in advance for he would try to stop her. He might simply lock her in her room. He could even get her committed to a lunatic asylum. A wealthy, upper-class man could have a female relative put away without much difficulty. All Fitz would have to do is to find two doctors willing to agree with him that she must be mad to marry a German. (timestamp 9:31:24)

I feel like this would still be true today, sort of. If you have enough money, you can make any problem (woman) go away.

"But you don't love your family because they're kind and considerate. You love them because they're your family." (timestamp 10:39:34)

Ain't that the truth.

But she found herself unable to enjoy such pleasures when soldiers were suffering in the trenches. She told herself that one couldn't spend one's whole life being miserable, even in wartime. (timestamp 17:50:13)

I think about this a lot. Last Wednesday, I was driving home and I'd had such a good day at work and felt really useful and good at my job and it was a lovely day and the windows were rolled down and I was rocking out to a Bon Jovi song, but in the back of my head, there was a niggle. People are dying. Right now. In wars and conflicts all across this globe. This very country's rule of law is at stake in court cases and an upcoming election. But, I don't know. It was a nice day and I felt good. But sorta guilty, too.

Democracy was not as simple as it seemed. (timestamp 20:43:02)

Another hard truth from Follett.

In consequence, families had been broken up and thousands of harmless people had spent years in British concentration camps. It was stupid, but people needed someone to hate and the newspapers were always ready to supply that need. (timestamp 27:15:51)

I didn't know anything about this topic. Further reading, if you're interested. 

It seemed trivial. After the battlefield, it was going to be difficult to take seriously some of the stuff people worried about in peacetime. (timestamp 27:23: 13)

Similar to my conundrum about enjoying Bon Jovi in the car on Wednesday.

"The revolution in  Munich is over," he said.
"For good?"
Walter shrugged. "They've caught the leader. It's Adolf Hitler."
"The head of the party Robert joined?"
"Yes, he's been charged with high treason. He's in jail."
"Good," said Maud with relief. "Thank God that's over." (timestamp 30:26:24)

This isn't a funny quote, but you should have heard me guffawing as I was walking Hannah and I heard this. There are two more books in this trilogy, Maud!

My rule is: Either the scene did happen or it might have. Either these words were used or they might have been. And if I find some reason why the scene could not have taken place in real life or words would not have been said, if, for example, the character was in another country at the time, I leave it out. (timestamp 30:37:24)

This quote is from the author's note at the end. I love hearing about process and how people make decisions. Writing historical fiction is hard and I feel like this is a pretty good rule to follow. 

Hat mentions (why hats?): 

DUDE!! 78 hats in this book!! SO MANY HATS. That's a hat every 12.5 pages. We had eleven top hats, a few bowler hats and cloche hats, a couple trilby hats, lots of trimming hats, and so many hats decorated with feathers. Here are a couple of highlights.

But a woman had to wear a hat and these days it was almost impossible to buy one that did not have ostrich feathers, ribbons, bows, and silk flowers. (timestamp 6:01:11)

...in a large red hat with ribbons and ostrich feathers...(timestamp 14:53:59)

"I've got a friend who can get me work trimming hats, putting on veils, ribbons, feathers, and beads. It's skilled work and it pays a lot better than sewing uniforms..."(timestamp 17:06:10)

No one has ever asked, but this is how I keep track of hat mentions in audiobooks. I bookmark each mention while I'm listening and then write them down when I'm finished. Usually there are not 78 hats, though. 

*Dr. BB has mostly taken over the afternoon walk because he's home and this is great because I have a bit more time when I get home to do slightly longer workouts, but it's also sad. I feel like poor Hannah feels like I've abandoned her. 

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Have you ever read a Ken Follett book? Do you have a favorite book about WWI?