That's it! It was some years ago when I read it, but I can remember enjoying it at the time. From memory it was quite a long book, and somehow this made reference to the building of such a monumental piece of architecture. Also, at the time I'd only read his sea trilogy and Lord of the Flies. I must look him up again because his writing was beautiful. June -----Original Message----- From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ian Macrae Sent: 24 April 2013 08:15 To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: AN OLD FAVOURITE I think you may be thinking of The spire by william golding June, a book I've not read since I was at college and it was part of my 20th century English literature studies. On 23 Apr 2013, at 18:26, Tar Barrels wrote: > David, I've been racking my brains trying to think of the names of > those books - thanks. Someone else mentioned that to me the other day. > I find it fascinating reading about the building of these huge > Cathedrals. Was this book based on the building of Salisbury > Cathedral, or am I thinking of something else? > June > > -----Original Message----- > From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of David Russell > Sent: 22 April 2013 22:22 > To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: AN OLD FAVOURITE > > June, > > I think Ken Follett's best books are the two books about building a > cathedral. "Pillars of the earth" was the first and best, closely > followed by "World without end". > > David > > -----Original Message----- > From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Tar Barrels > Sent: 22 April 2013 20:44 > To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: AN OLD FAVOURITE > > David, I read my first Follett earlier this year, and I do so agree > with you about his storytelling style. It was a bit one dimensional > emotionally, but there's no doubting the action. I think he's probably > good at his research too, because I find a lot of it just about > plausible. Which do you think is his best? > June > > -----Original Message----- > From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of David Russell > Sent: 22 April 2013 20:31 > To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: AN OLD FAVOURITE > > June > > I love Artcher's books. They somehow seem to be a guilty pleasure, > mainly because the man himself appears to be so thoroughly > self-absorbed and utterly dislikeable. His books are often > stereotypes, but he can tell a very good story. > > Another good storyteller is Ken Follett. His books vary a good deal > and the coincidences are often hard to swallow, but you always want to > know what will happen next. Neither will win the booker, but I for > one always look out for their latest offerings. > > > > David > > -----Original Message----- > From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Tar Barrels > Sent: 22 April 2013 20:25 > To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: AN OLD FAVOURITE > > I wouldn't read Herbert if it wasn't for my book group. But there you > again, Clare, being nice! ;-) I've already said that in the main I > prefer to read the more complex characters who are perhaps not so > nice, but I do find that I'm sometimes put off reading a book when I > dislike the author. However, there are exceptions to every personal > rule and Geoffrey Archer is one - odious little man, but I must admit > he can tell a good story. I followed the Koomson thread, and I must > confess that I'm intrigued by what was said and will look out for her. > June > > -----Original Message----- > From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] > On Behalf Of Clare Gailans > Sent: 22 April 2013 17:36 > To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: AN OLD FAVOURITE > > June, I have only read one James Herbert, and won't be returning to > him. I hadn't heard of Dorothy Koomson until the other day, and now I > am falling over her all over the place. I stumbled across her being > interviewed on Woman's Hour this morning if anyone wants to look for > it. She sounded a very nice person which always encourages me to read > people. Clare > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2241 / Virus Database: 3162/5764 - Release Date: > 04/22/13 > > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2241 / Virus Database: 3162/5765 - Release Date: > 04/22/13 > > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2241 / Virus Database: 3162/5765 - Release Date: > 04/22/13 > > ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2241 / Virus Database: 3162/5768 - Release Date: 04/23/13