A Dangerous Fortune
by Ken Follett
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Book Reviews of A Dangerous Fortune
Book Review: Another great read by a master storyteller
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the third Follett book I've read in a row. It all started with Pillars of the Earth, the best book I've ever read. I read A placed Called Freedom right after that and enjoyed that alot as well. And I just got finished with A Dangerous Fortune. I can't possibly say enough good things about Ken Follett. Once again, it's the characters that drive the book. He takes you on a journey with these characters through many years of their lives and you get to see how they encounter, react and truimph over adversity. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this is another 'must read' in my opinion. His characters are varied and colorful and the relationships, from friendship to love, villainy and hatred are so genuine I couldn't help but wish that these people lived at that point in history. A wonderful read that I will no doubt enjoy again in the future.Book Review: Entertaining but predictable
Summary: 3 Stars
I checked this out of the library as an audio book, and I would say this is a perfect choice for a road trip. I would not have wasted my time reading, nor would I purchase this book. The characters are unbelievable--the main character is the ethical Hugh who is crossed over and over by his purely evil Aunt Augusta, and yet he never sees it coming and keeps coming back for more. By the end of the book I could barely care about Hugh--there's innocent and then there's obtuse. The plot is pretty predictable at times, the characters are flat & mostly one dimensional, the "coincidences" are as unbelievable as those of any Gothic novel, and much of the story is hard to believe given the time setting.
However, for a long car ride, it was perfect--certainly didn't have to think too much and the story does mostly keep you engaged.
Book Review: Murder and money in Victorian England
Summary: 4 Stars
Ken Follett writes two kinds of novels: good spy thrillers or good historical novels. This is the latter, a book where the reader is dipped into the subterfuge and manipulation of a major banking company in Victorian England, owned by the Pilaster family who have been haunted by an event which happened at a boarding school years ago. The plot has more twists than a corkscrew as the family's need for money and recognition plunge them into devious playing of Victorian values, ambitious plans and even murder. Hugh Pilaster, the hero of the story, has a kind of Hugh-Grantish confusion about him, even as he fights to keep the love of his life and his position in society, which is at times both endearing and annoying, and we find out more about Victorian brothels than we really want to, but other than that, a brilliant read.Book Review: School boys : good boys, bad boys , homicidal boys...
Summary: 3 Stars
Another historical novel about this period is Gai- Jin.
A dangerous secret haunts the live of five upper class British and south American boys. Two of the boys are from a famous rich banking family.
There is a recurring theme of banking crashes in the book as well.
We get a good guys and bad guys picture of the world that for all the prostitution and women's rights issues mentioned is still a dualistic picture of the world in black and white. One comes to expect more from admittedly great writers.
I this book we get a commercial novel
that lacks the depth of an Ken Follett masterpiece.
Book Review: This is one of the Best Books I have ever ...
Summary: 5 Stars
... had the pleasure of reading and I've read many, many books. It was one of those - cannot put down, just one more page before bed, can't wait to get back to - books. I probably read it more then 15 years ago, so I won't comment too much on plot, pros and cons. I'm about to start "Pillars of the Earth," so I'll have to re-read "Dangerous Fortune" a couple books after I finish Pillars and "World Without End." But, I remember LOVING this book, thinking how great it is with each passing page and how many people I have to lend it to. It was definitely my luck to just pick this book up bored one night many years ago. Follett is a great writer, but this book is one of his best ... fantastic!!!