Title: The Godmother

Author: Carrie Adams

Summary

While 30-something Londoner Tessa King questions her no-strings-attached lifestyle, she also witnesses her friends’ difficulties in marriage and parenthood while playing godmother to their broods. Nick and Francesca battle to keep their sullen teenager out of serious trouble; Billy, a single mom, can’t break ties to her now remarried ex-; Helen and Neil, fairy tale parents to twin boys, are hiding something; successful Claudia and Al struggle to conceive; and Ben and Sasha have no plans to have children. But Ben also happens to be Tessa’s best friend, and perhaps the love of her life. When tragedy eventually strikes the group, bonds are tested, and Tessa is forced to re-examine what she thinks will really make her happy. A painful look into the fears, doubts and desires that make and break marriages, this debut novel from Londoner Adams is notches up from the usual chick and mom lit fare. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (Taken from Amazon.com)

Positive Elements
The characters in this story were well developed, which is probably why I read the whole thing. I wanted to find out what happened to them!

Sexual Content
There are explicit scenes in this book. (I can’t count the number of times the word “shag” was used.) I really didn’t expect these scenes in this book. I was under the impression it was more of a fun-loving story of “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” idea ( “always a godmother, never a mother”). I don’t think they were at all needed in this story. The main character, Tessa, leads one promiscuous life!

Violent Content
There was not any violent content that stood out to me.

Profanity
There is profanity throughout this book.

Drug Content
There is teenager in this book who smokes pot. The main character, Tessa, his godmother, joins in with him. It does speak of being high and there is a scene where he is passed out on the sidewalk. Tessa also frequents bars and parties, so alcohol is mentioned several times. Another character has issues with alcohol as well.

Conclusion
I was disappointed in this book. Like I mentioned before, I was under the impression that it was a fun-loving story of “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” idea. Maybe I should have researched the book a little more before reading it. It turned out to be a sad tale of a woman’s life and the miserable state of her friends.

Title: Pillars of the Earth
Author: Ken Follet

Summary

In a time of civil war, famine and religious strife, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against this backdrop, lives entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age. (Taken from here)

Positive Elements

The story line is compelling. The author is so vivid with the details reading this book makes you feel like you are part of the 12th century. You empathize with the characters and their plights. It is a classic good vs evil saga. This book has elements in the story that would appear to variety of readers; a love story, war, medieveal history. It is a long book, 900 pages, it moves very fast. It almost like watching a good movie.

Sexual Content

There was more sexual content in this book than I imagined there would be. Early on in the book there is a rape scene between two of the central characters of the story that sets the stage for the entire storyline. There are also several vivid descriptions of sexual encounters between the characters. Some, I believe a little to gratitous and not necessary to the overall story.

Violent Content

The setting of this novel is 12 century England otherwise known as the Dark Ages. A term you will understand much more after reading this book. This time in history was known for its savage wars, unmatched cruelty and desperate means of survival. There are many paticularly violent scenes. The book open with the hanging of a thief. This sets stage for more savage acts including rape, murder and torture. I was a little disturbed by the amount of violence in the book. Some of the violence was central to the storyline in helping the reader understand the conditions of 12 century lifestyle. I often skipped over detailed descriptions of fighting and the war as I thought it was unecessary to the plot of the novel.

Profanity Content

I do remember several instances of profanity. It would seem to appear in random points through the book. Much of the profanity is related to the degradation of women.

Drug Content

None that I recall.

Conclusion

This book covers two generations and their quest to survive one of the most brutal periods of history. I would give caution to those readers who are sensitive to violence, as Follet spares no details in their description. The plot of this novel revolves around the building of magnificent cathedral. However, I would not call this a religious or Christian book by any means. The priests and the bishops portrayed in the book are the most ruthless and corrupt characters of the entire book. The novel certainly doesn’t provide a reader with a very positive view of the early times of the church. I thought that the story was well written and the characters are well developed. This book is well over 900 pages. So it will take some time to finish this book.