I love Oprah's book recommendations. Her suggestions are always for books that I would never think to pick up. I don't always like all the books on her list... but I try to stretch myself at least once in a while. I am an easy read kind of girl... and her Book Club choices always challenge me.
This is definably an historical fiction in grandest sense... it's almost one thousand pages. It's often listed as a Mystery Thriller... and it lives up to that category.
This really is a can't put it down book.
The plot revolves around the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. Spanning over four decades the building of the cathedral involves almost every character.
Violent images are evoked by the author who starts the book with a mystery and continues to avoid solving it until the end. It is exciting and breathtaking...
This book is not new, it was first published over 20 years ago. I am often amazed with Oprah and company in their quest for finding good reading materials that aren't dry... and always thought provoking.
As with almost all the Book Club recommendations... it's a women's book. Most men would not appreciate the underlying Historical Romance theme. Watch out for the human emotions of ambition, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge and love.