Rating: 
Summary: A mix of action, suspense, romance, and humor, in one book.
Review: Ken Follett's writing talent really overdoes itself in Lie Down With Lions. He somehow adds the violence of a war, the heat between two nemesis' and a woman, romance, and even a little bit to laugh at, into one book. Lie Down With Lions is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. Based mainly on Ellis Thaler, the American, Jean-Pierre, the frenchman, and Jane Lambert, the beautiful English woman whom they have both fallen for, Lie Down With Lions takes you from the terrorism and lies of Paris, to the violent war in Afghanistan. Ellis lies to Jane about what he does for a living, and she ends up marrying Jean-Pierre and leaving with him to Afghanistan. But after some intriguing words from his ex-wife, Ellis is determined to get her back. Lie Down With Lions is romantic adventure and twisting suspense at their best, and I highly recommend it to anyone. This book guarantees to keep you on the edge of your seat, and if not, its because it made you fall off.
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner
Review: Lie Down with Lions contains an excellent plot, employing an array of techniques that keeps the readers interest right from the start. From the beginning, the book is filled with scenes of passion, deceit, treachery, and action. These characteristics are all coupled together making for a page turner from start to finish.
The author keeps the readers interest through the first few chapters by detailing the end of the relationship between Jane and Ellis. Their relationship comes to a climatic end, which is a story in itself, but it gets better. After Jane weds the clear antagonist (Jean-Pierre) and the couple embarks on a volunteer mission to Afghanistan, Ellis heads to Afghanistan on a covert operation for the CIA. Soon Jane discovers Jean-Pierre is working for the KGB pitting them against each other, and Jane finds herself on Ellis's side working against her husband, this is where the book really takes off. The Cold War rivals are in a fight for Jane's heart, Afghanistan, and world supremacy. Follett takes the reader all over Afghanistan giving accurate descriptions of the people and landscape.
A great read, Follett will put you in a trance.
Rating: 
Summary: My Review Does Not Ruin the Plot
Review: One of Follett's best, Lie Down with Lions is a fast-paced, intriguing read. While I feel he will never touch Eye of the Needle, Pillars of the Earth or The Man from St. Petersburg (hence, the four-star rating), Lie Down with Lions showcases Follett's best skills virtually on every page. If you have never read Follett, start with one of the aforementioned books. They are his best (especially "...Needle" and "Pillars...") and will make you appreciate some of the finer nuances in Lie Down with Lions. My only gripe (I WON'T ruin the plot) is that the last 80 pages were a little too detail-oriented giving the effect of being just a TAD too slow-paced. Only a tad though. Certainly not enough to keep anyone from reading this fine novel. But it is somewhat like exiting the freeway at 70mph and suddenly having to do 55mph. 55mph is still quite fast for the surface streets, but 70mph was better (for the freeway, of course)! Take this book on vacation. Read it over a lazy three-day weekend. Use it as a wonderful escape during your lunch hour. Just don't do what I did: clocked in late from lunch everyday! Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: An electrifying, thrilling... SEEDY ROMANCE NOVEL?!
Review: Sure, the plot clips along (read the other reviews for voluptuous praise of that point) but Lie Down With Lions is a romance novel in an action novel's clothing.In the greatest tradition of WEB Griffin, Follett insists on beating his audience over the head with the torrid affairs of his characters. How does comparing the lovemaking styles of the male points in a "love" triangle advance the plot? The simple answer: it doesn't, but it seemed to have tittilated Follett or his editors... or his accountants. It's understandable that realistic characters will ultimately be sexual beings, but it's difficult appreciate CHEAP sex thrust meaninglessly into the heart of a novel. Maybe its a sign of the times. In any case, it seemed like a really cheesy obsession of his. Another point: the characters are so polarized into black-and-white, good and bad, that they feel like newsprint. Given, this book was written in the 80s, when the Cold War was still raging, but as Sting so aptly recognized, "Russians love their children, too". If you're going to write a novel, why not make your villians human? (Thankfully, not every Follett book reads this way.) Lie Down With Lions does not come recommended as your introduction to the work of Ken Follett.
Rating:
Summary: A good adventure stoy...
Review: That relates to world events now in 2004.A must read if you're into learning about Afghanistan and her people.A real page turner! See for yourself!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book. Looking forward to reading his others.
Review: The pace is perfect. It never slows down and constantly keeps your attention. I have a pile of his other books just waiting to be read. Where shall I start? Decisions, decisions
Rating:
Summary: Afghanis vs. Soviets - A Super Suspense-Thriller + Romance!
Review: The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan began on Christmas Eve 1979. The inhabitants of this geographically isolated land, rose up to defend their country. They armed themselves with whatever was on hand, gathered into loose formations and began to attack and sabotage the Soviet Union's personnel, installations, depots and transports with any available weapons. Scattered guerrilla bands, with fierce pride, and a tremendous ability to endure, fought against the far superior and more numerous Soviet forces and sophisticated weaponry. "Lie Down With Lions" opens in Paris in 1981. John Ellis, an American CIA agent, is working undercover and living with a politically active Englishwoman, the sensual, lovely Jane Lambert, who he plans on proposing marriage to as soon as he completes his assignment. Jean-Pierre Debout, a French doctor and member of the Communist Party, is going to Afghanistan, ostensibly to provide medical assistance to the rebel forces fighting against the Soviets. He has, however, another agenda. Jean-Pierre also loves Jane and wants her to accompany him to Afghanistan as his nurse-assistant. Ellis, after capturing an important KGB agent, is exposed as CIA. Jane leaves him in disgust, not only because of his job, but because he lied to her. The Valley of Five Lions, a place of ancient legend, lies deep in the Afghan mountains, far removed from civilization. Jane and her husband, Jean Pierre have been working here, in a rebel village, for a year. They minister to the local inhabitants, who have never seen a doctor before, and patch together and stitch-up the wounded warriors. An American visits the valley with an important message for Masud, a famous and effective guerrilla leader, from the White House. The messenger is John Ellis. A terrible treachery is discovered, shortly after he arrives. A nightmare flight with the Soviets in pursuit occurs, across the Hindu Kush, leading to an extraordinarily suspenseful confrontation. The action here is unbelievable with Ken Follett, the master of the suspense-thriller, at his best. As usual, Follett's narrative is riveting and the action intense. His characters are well drawn and believable, with all their complexities and conflicts. There are so few novels written about Afghanistan, especially during this important period in history, and that makes "Lie Down With Lions" all the more worthwhile a read. P.S. Yes, there is also an amazingly erotic, and well written sex scene.
Rating: 
Summary: Good FICTION but ...
Review: This book was excellent reading in terms of FICTION. It should by no means, however be used as a basis for learning about the Afghan people. My main objections are with regard to his character's sweeping statements about the "cruelty" of the Afghans and how almost all of the men are portrayed as chauvanists and almost all of the women as weak and subservient. Also, if one is going to borrow the persona of a real man to use as one of his characters, he could at least have researched the man's character a little more. Ahmed Shah Masud was by no means the cruel, impassive commander who would order the casual execution of a Russian captive. In fact there were several young Russian fighters who actually ended up joining his forces.
I could go on and on about the depth of character of Masud and the Afghans that were missing from this book, but I realize that the purpose of this book was mainly for entertainment.
For a real taste of Afghanistan and her people, there are many other great books out there. ...
Rating:
Summary: cut to the chase
Review: this is one of the dumbest novels i have ever read but it has one of the most explosive sex scenes in the history of writing. the protagonists lie down in grass under the moon and make out marvellously and the author's descriptions are superbly graphic, intensely erotic and unabashedly provocative. this one scene is worth the price of admission. read this scene and unwind afer the worst day you've ever had at the office.
Rating:
Summary: Not my favourite....
Review: This is the first book I have ever read by Ken Follett, and it does not leave me begging for more. Seriously, this is one of the worst, most shallow, cheap-action-packed novels that I have ever read. The realness of this novel is ridiculous. It`s the same old American good guy/bad guy story all over again, and to me it is not that appeling. If this book ever made it to the movies ,then I`m sure that James bond would play the main character. I`m mean...who else could beat up five menn inside a helicopter while they are cuffed on both hands?
|
