Lie Down With Lions Review
I have enjoyed everything that Ken Follett has put out . . . this recent purchase is no exception.
My wife is a member of a women's book club and I recommended "Lie Down with Lions" as a possible selection for them to read and review . . . fortunately, for me, Ken Follett came through again . . . they loved it . . . found it not only interesting but educational as well . . . my primary choices are historical fiction based on fact . . . this book truly fit the bill . . .
Thank you!
Carlton "Chuck" LeDrew
Lie Down With Lions Overview
A riveting tale of international intrigue-and a dangerous Cold War love triangle-set in Afghanistan.
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Customer Reviews
Read the Novel, Ditch the Audiobook - H. K. Berman - Pennsylvania
It's a shame there's no separate place to review audiobooks, because frankly I can't be certain if this book is good or merely mediocre.
Having recently adopted a long commute to work, I began listening to books on CD. I started with "World Without End" and was so enthralled I immediately delved into "Pillars of the Earth". Both were fantastic... dramatic, engrossing, and thoroughly engrossing. I decided to follow these with another Follett novel and was immensely disappointed.
The narrator is emotionless and tepid, and reads through the novel so quickly it's as though someone instructed him, "Hey, we have to fit this all on eight CDs!" The "actors" are even worse... six people voicing a few dozen parts. Whether you're listening to a French woman, an Afghan woman, or an American women, it's as clear as day that this is the same person with the same monotone and lifeless inflection just using a different accent. I couldn't help but think of a class of seventh-graders sitting in a circle reading their parts in succession.
For these reasons, I only made it halfway through before I had to stop listening. I found the story relatively uninteresting and unimaginative and the characters as dull and lifeless as the voices portraying them. I also have a problem with Follett's pacing, even in the wonderful "Pillars" and "World"... he write each scene as long as has more to add, then moves on. A woman giving birth may take up 30 pages of the story, while a pivotal battle scene is over in five. Another battle scene later on may take 25 pages. It's all quite randomly-paced.
I may have to pick up the book soon, as I always try to finish a novel unless it's totally dreadful, but I will not play another of those CDs. I'd rather listen to soft-rock FM radio (and that is to say... I'd rather stick needles in my eyes)!
Worthwhile read - V Ember - Utah, USA
Follett is reliable for turning out interesting, easy to read novels. This was the first I read, and it was definitely good enough for me to try others. By doing so, I came to realize that this is not his finest work; Pillars of the Earth and Worlds Without End were truly exceptional. While this book lacks the same gripping scope and plot, it was still very well done.
One of the worst Follett books is still really, really good - Bill Garrison - Oklahoma City, OK USA
Ken Follett is easily one of my favorite authors and I've been putting off reading LIE DOWN WITH LIONS since it is the last book of his I haven't read. Knowing Follett is coming out with an ambitious 3-book series starting in the fall, I decided to read this classic tale of espionage set in the Russian/Afganistan war in the early 1980s.
Ellis is an American spy and madly in love with Jane, but unable to tell her his profession. Circumstances lead Jane to traveling to Afganistan for a two year mission to provide medical care to the rebels. Jane doesn't know it, but the doctor she travels with, Jean Pierre is a Russian spy. The intrigue is typical Follett stuff. There's the twists and turns, the simplistic and humorous characterization, and a very steamy sex scene.
The novel is extremely relevant today, considering the current war in Afghanistan . The novel is worth reading just get a perspective on the times when America was on their side. Unfortunately, this book falls on the lower end of the scale for Follett novels. Too much time is spent on describing the scenery and landscape and the hardship of traveling in Afghanistan . There are several minor characters, but the novel revolves around Jane, Ellis and Jean Pierre, and it moves slowy at times.
Follett fans should definitely read this novel, but others who have read his recent novels and are interested in his earlier works should try THE MAN FROM ST. PETERSBURG, DANGEROUS FORTUNE, or HORNET FLIGHT.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Oct 01, 2010 04:45:08
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