Never A Novel

A novel with several plots woven together in a glimpse of life and politics in varied parts of today’s world. The conclusion is shocking and disappointing in the all too often way that reality is. The characters are well and fully formed with lives both within and independent of the multiple plots.While enjoyable to read, it stimulates thought about how tentative our lives are in this modern World.

This novel is a departure from Follett’s modus operandi. He developed the characters as usual but with less depth. I would have LIKED to see a different ending, but realize that his ending was likely the natural outcome of conflict between the U.S, China, North Korea and South Korea. When I served with an air defense unit near the DMZ in the 1970’s we always “joked” that we weren’t there to stop North Korea, but to stop South Korea from invading North Korea.

That Ken Follet is one of the best story tellers of our time, and many others? I almost exclusively write my reviews for the author and not for potential readers. I have to switch it up in this instance, because Mr. Follet has written about his scenario that is modern and possible. I am a man, but I am proud that he chose a woman as the president in this time of a global conflict. It shows what I always have believed, that some women, just as some men, have the fortitude and intelligence to lead this country in good times and bad. While I do not believe that this particular scenario would play out in today’s global economy and interconnectedness, it does show how even minor events can pull the world into a conflict just as how World War I was started. I believe that Russia is not our main concern, but the China will be. I also believe that the United States is in decline. History has shown us time and again that no nation state survives the passage of time. We have been number one for the last hundred years or so, add it is only human nature to dislike and want to knock number one out of place. Russia, and most likely China have contributed to build the divide of our own nation. However, they’ve only acted as minor catalysts, and the American people have no one to truly blame but ourselves. I will coin a phrase that I’m sure future historians will not use, I am calling it the great American divide. This is a point where Americans hate Americans for no other reason then not sharing some fundamental beliefs that politicians, religious leaders, and men who like to mettle just for the fun of it And told them what to believe. Any educated, freethinking, American should know that we are being played and those without multi million dollar bank account I’ll be the ones who suffer. The Bible, which is just a book written and compiled by some of these same types of men, state did the meek shall inherit the earth. Nothing could be further from the truth. Only the Strong, prepared, and probably wealthy will do the inheriting if there is an earth left to inherit. If not, the earth will not miss the human race. All go on as it has for billions of years. 99% of all species that have ever inhabited the earth are extinct. That one percent is simply the species that exist today. What hubris we must have to think that we can beat those odds. Have you ever played poker? Would you go all in if the odds of winning were only 1%? If so, then someday I hope to meet you across from me at a poker table.

Awesome book, but scary as hell. We all live on the last page of this book for eternity. I hope it never happens.

Ken Follett always makes history interesting and approachable. He’s able to make boring topics exciting. I didn’t want this book to end for so many reasons, but I hope the title is accurate.