From 2004 Christy Award-winning author Brad Whittington. Mark Cloud (“the enormously appealing, literate, self-deprecating young hero,” says Publishers Weekly) escapes Fred, Texas, to relish the anonymity of college in the final book of this widely adored fiction series about a restless preacher's kid in the 1970s. But the proverbial time of his life skips a beat when a series of catastrophes leads him back home and then on a soul-searching road trip through America's heartland where his deepest questions have surprising answers.
Escape from Fred (The Fred Books)
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More About the Author
Brad Whittington was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on James Taylor's eighth birthday and Jack Kerouac's thirty-fourth birthday and is old enough to know better. He lives in Austin, Texas with The Woman. He is greatly loved and admired by all right-thinking citizens and enjoys a complete absence of cats and dogs at home.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This final chapter in the "Fred trilogy" brings our hero, preacher's kid Mark Cloud, full circle and all grown up. Having graduated from high school in the last book, Mark is ready to get to college and start over - escaping Fred, Texas, and all that's associated with it, including his identity as a PK (preacher's kid).
Things don't turn out quite the way he plans, however. While he initially finds fun, friendship, and even romance at college, his own mistakes and those of others soon destroy his carefully-constructed "new life." When another tragedy strikes back at Fred itself, Mark makes another escape, leaving everything behind and setting out on a road trip of self-discovery.
Through it all, Whittington carefully weaves in intriguing historical references from the 70s and earlier. The Beat Generation and their writings play a major role this time around, and the early growth of the Nation of Islam even plays a part. None of it feels forced, although at this point, alas, the similarities between my own upbringing here in Texas and Mark Cloud's come virtually to an end. I never did hardly any of the things he does in this book (though I did think about a few of them...). However, I feel I must say this, Mr. Whittington: Mark's new friend at college? The Captain? I knew that guy. Only he went to a different college and a different year. He has to be the same, though. No one else could talk quite like that...
The humor and spiritual questing as vital elements are unchanged from the previous two books, picking up on past threads and carrying them to satisfying conclusions (Jolene's wedding, for instance...). This whole trilogy is one of those excellent stories that demands multiple readings. In fact, it's ideal for reading aloud to a loved one.
There's not much more I can say than I've already said on the previous two books. If your tastes in reading ordinarily don't approach this kind of story, you're seriously missing out. Highly Recommended.
Things don't turn out quite the way he plans, however. While he initially finds fun, friendship, and even romance at college, his own mistakes and those of others soon destroy his carefully-constructed "new life." When another tragedy strikes back at Fred itself, Mark makes another escape, leaving everything behind and setting out on a road trip of self-discovery.
Through it all, Whittington carefully weaves in intriguing historical references from the 70s and earlier. The Beat Generation and their writings play a major role this time around, and the early growth of the Nation of Islam even plays a part. None of it feels forced, although at this point, alas, the similarities between my own upbringing here in Texas and Mark Cloud's come virtually to an end. I never did hardly any of the things he does in this book (though I did think about a few of them...). However, I feel I must say this, Mr. Whittington: Mark's new friend at college? The Captain? I knew that guy. Only he went to a different college and a different year. He has to be the same, though. No one else could talk quite like that...
The humor and spiritual questing as vital elements are unchanged from the previous two books, picking up on past threads and carrying them to satisfying conclusions (Jolene's wedding, for instance...). This whole trilogy is one of those excellent stories that demands multiple readings. In fact, it's ideal for reading aloud to a loved one.
There's not much more I can say than I've already said on the previous two books. If your tastes in reading ordinarily don't approach this kind of story, you're seriously missing out. Highly Recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I received the last installment of the Fred trilogy for my birthday and started reading it that evening. As usual when faced with Brad's musings, I could not put the book down. This is bad if you get up at 5 a.m. the next morning to go to work. Laughing out loud in bed at 1 a.m. is not something I've done in a long time. My wife is ambivilent as to whether I should ever do so again.
The trials of Mark Cloud (and his creator) have always resonated with me, but Escape From Fred had several scenes that brought me to tears (even if Mark didn't respond that way). The endless questioning by each new generation is a source of irritation to us old folks. I only hope that the whippersnappers get as much guidance from us as we got from our forefathers, and foremothers.
Grief and grace, yin and yang, Muslim and Christian, Fred and Chicago.
Who could ask for anything more?
Charlie Jehlen
The trials of Mark Cloud (and his creator) have always resonated with me, but Escape From Fred had several scenes that brought me to tears (even if Mark didn't respond that way). The endless questioning by each new generation is a source of irritation to us old folks. I only hope that the whippersnappers get as much guidance from us as we got from our forefathers, and foremothers.
Grief and grace, yin and yang, Muslim and Christian, Fred and Chicago.
Who could ask for anything more?
Charlie Jehlen
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Escape from Fred by Brad Whittington is a powerful, moving conclusion to the Fred, Texas trilogy. Unlike other series dependent upon a recurrent character, not only does Mark Cloud mature throughout the books, but the writing and plot do as well. This book is much more story driven with Mark making some unexpected choices, but I see that as being true to life. As we get older, we focus in more on specific goals or desires, and we often leave behind friends and family. So while we don't spend much time actually in Fred, Texas in this book, Whittington does a wonderful job of making Mark grow up and face the world. I would very much like to know who the inspiration for Jolene is, partly so I can make sure I'm never even in the same state she is! I also really enjoy the exchanges between Mark and his sisters; they are hilarious with just the right touch of meanness for sibling rivalry. I happen to be reading the book of Job right now in my Bible, so reading about Mark struggling with it and through it helped me through it as well. The book was excellently written and ended the series on just the right note. The last few paragraphs are a letter of love just for the readers: perfection.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Is Mark Cloud Blue Like Jazz?
From Preacher's kid to college man, what you see of Mark Cloud is sometimes what you get. Sometimes like in his final adventure, "Escape From Fred," you get more than you bargain... Read more
Published on March 30, 2009 by Wolfe Moffat
a boy named Phyllis
They say that if you go to bed and aren't asleep in 30 minutes, you should go to another room and read for about 20 minutes. Read more
Published on October 14, 2008 by Brendt Waters
magnificent & delicious
"Passion." "Honesty." "Truth" with a capital "T". These are what I found in "Escape from Fred". I was looking for entertainment and I found transcendence. Read more
Published on December 19, 2006 by Jack E. Heald
Escape To Fred...
Without the benefit of reading the entire series, I found much to like in Mr. Whittington's Fred.
I will be reading more of Mr. Whittington's books. Read more
I will be reading more of Mr. Whittington's books. Read more
Published on October 6, 2006 by Kelly Klepfer
A Grand Finale
Book three of the Fred trilogy. Mark Cloud escapes from Fred to enter college. He hangs out with the wrong crowd, though. Lots of shenanigans ensue - very funny scenes. Read more
Published on August 5, 2006 by Spiro
We Love Fred!
My wife and I've read the Fred series together, and Escape From Fred is a terrific culmination to this fantastic series. Read more
Published on June 10, 2006 by Ron A. Arnold
A fantastic finale
I decided, after a chaotic weekend, to come home and spend some time relaxing with "Escape from Fred".
Only I didn't relax. My fingers were curled up in a small ball. Read more
Only I didn't relax. My fingers were curled up in a small ball. Read more
Published on April 21, 2006 by Rebekah J. Hamrick
A welcome third installment in this delightful series
Mark Cloud, whom we first met as an eight-year-old in Brad Whittington's debut novel, WELCOME TO FRED, is all grown up now and on the other side of one of those truly life-changing... Read more
Published on March 2, 2006 by FaithfulReader.com
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