"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become." -C.S. Lewis |
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Escape from Fred
by Brad WhittingtonPublished by: Broadman & Holman Publishers (2006) 264 pages Rating: 10/10  Buy it Now:  
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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Through it all, Whittington carefully weaves in intriguing historical references from the 70s and earlier.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.
