Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett

Good fun. A bit of something for everyone, except for the highbrow literary crowd - they generally aren't much fun anyway; no offense intended. Close to one thousand pages, serial style middle ages adventure with a cast of characters that include an energetic and devout monk, not so savory religious and political figures, a builder, a woman who lives in the woods, a female wool merchant, a brilliant and creative architect/engineer and poet, and some historical figures like Thomas Beckett. A journey to southern Spain to visit the moors, political intrigue in Westminster, quarrels at a stone quarry, raids on towns, battles for the throne, love, sex, murder and humor. All of it swirling around the building of a cathedral in an English backwater. It will keep you turning the pages and will educate and entertain you. I've read a bunch of other Follett works - many years ago (Eye of the Needle, Key to Rebecca, Lie Down with Lions, On Wings of Eagles, Man from St. Petersburg) - this was the most entertaining and best written (Eye of the Needle is a close second). I've just started "World Without End". Enjoy, it's worth the effort.