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The Fred Books #3
Escape from Fred
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.
- GenresChristian FictionFiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2006
3 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Brad Whittington
15 books31 followersVisit BradWhittington.com to sign up for email notices of new releases, sneak peeks, and freebies.
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. Previously he has been known to inhabit Hawaii, Ohio, South Carolina, Arizona, and Colorado, annoying people as a janitor, math teacher, field hand, computer programmer, brickyard worker, editor, resident Gentile in a Conservative synagogue, IT director, weed-cutter, and in a number of influential positions in other less notable professions. He is greatly loved and admired by all right-thinking citizens and enjoys a complete absence of cats and dogs at home.
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. Previously he has been known to inhabit Hawaii, Ohio, South Carolina, Arizona, and Colorado, annoying people as a janitor, math teacher, field hand, computer programmer, brickyard worker, editor, resident Gentile in a Conservative synagogue, IT director, weed-cutter, and in a number of influential positions in other less notable professions. He is greatly loved and admired by all right-thinking citizens and enjoys a complete absence of cats and dogs at home.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 7, 2024
A very well written coming of age story.
March 5, 2014
The final book in the Fred series. Mark Cloud goes to college and distances himself from his PK image in order to figure out who he is and what he really believes. He is attracted to Lori and finally woes and wins her. Pranks and a pot-smoking friend get Mark in trouble. When he faces a personal crisis, he begins to seriously question his religious beliefs, attempts to make a bargain with God, and then, when God doesn't do what Mark wants ("God didn't keep his end of the bargain."), Mark tries to drown his anger. He disappears from home to find some stability. Writes weekly to Lori but she doesn't answer.
The book completes the coming of age story of the first 2 and deals with serious and very difficult questions about why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Mark's father, a pastor, is a good example of listening and guiding a young adult without demanding obedience and conformity. Islam and Buddhism get in the picture but there's no overt commentary on truth or fiction in these belief systems. There is some excellent writing — the passage with Mark describing his first experience with jazz is wonderful. I could almost hear the music.
Some anomalies:
• how did Mark learn to develop B&W pictures — I don't recall that being something he learned in the first two books.
• how is he able to process his first experience with jazz with no musical background?
All in all, I enjoyed the book.
The book completes the coming of age story of the first 2 and deals with serious and very difficult questions about why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Mark's father, a pastor, is a good example of listening and guiding a young adult without demanding obedience and conformity. Islam and Buddhism get in the picture but there's no overt commentary on truth or fiction in these belief systems. There is some excellent writing — the passage with Mark describing his first experience with jazz is wonderful. I could almost hear the music.
Some anomalies:
• how did Mark learn to develop B&W pictures — I don't recall that being something he learned in the first two books.
• how is he able to process his first experience with jazz with no musical background?
All in all, I enjoyed the book.
March 4, 2011
A satisfying end to the series.[return]Mark Cloud continues his journey as a preacher's kid growing up in rural Texas in the 70's. Mark is at last leaving Fred--and the confines of his father's house--for college. At first he relishes in his freedom, enjoying hijincks with his new friends and a new girl that comes into his life. But while he has abandoned pursuing faith, God has not abandoned pursuing him as changes in his life force him to confront his profoundest spiritual questions--and reconnect with old friends and family. It seems escaping from Fred is going to be harder than Mark thought after all.[return]While this might sound like a bit of a downer, Whittington fills the book with several humorous scenes as Mark encounters several strange characters along his journey. Also you must have read the other books in the Fred series to make sense of this one. Fans of Christian fiction with memorable characters, zany characters, and thoughtful explorations of life issues should definitley check out the Fred series.
May 22, 2014
Fred, Texas
The third installment of the Fred books was an appropriate ending of the series. Brad Whittington writes with feeling about the search of a PK (preacher's kid) for the meaning of life. That sounds a bit deep for this humorous book but when you think about the life of a young male in college you can see the absurdity of it.
I enjoyed this book but felt the ending was a little abrupt. I was glad to know the fate of Mark and Lori. You can read this as a stand alone but I recommend reading the books in order to get the full experience of Fred.
The third installment of the Fred books was an appropriate ending of the series. Brad Whittington writes with feeling about the search of a PK (preacher's kid) for the meaning of life. That sounds a bit deep for this humorous book but when you think about the life of a young male in college you can see the absurdity of it.
I enjoyed this book but felt the ending was a little abrupt. I was glad to know the fate of Mark and Lori. You can read this as a stand alone but I recommend reading the books in order to get the full experience of Fred.
February 24, 2015
This is a more serious book in tone than the first two, mainly because Mark Cloud (POV character) is in college and struggling to discover direction and purpose in his life. I appreciate how the author depicts his characters--they make choices and react to each other like real people (which is not as common in books as one might wish), and the world they live in feels genuine. The themes touched on here are deep and the answers never simplistic. A refreshingly honest read that left me thoughtful.
September 21, 2008
This is the third book in the Fred series. It's considered Christian literature, but I found the entire series an interesting look at growing up and developing one's beliefs, regardless of what they are. I enjoyed most of the book more even than the previous two, but as it neared the end it got mired down in religious conclusions and quotations that didn't resonate with me.
February 28, 2013
Just finished reading the series of Fred books about a PK growing up in a small town in Texas named Fred. Highly recommend. The books are easy to read and I love the author's sense of humor. He also tackles real life spiritual issues and deals with them in an easy to understand way but also makes you think as the main character deals with the issues in his own life.
December 31, 2013
I have loved the Fred series. They are easy reading spiked with lots of humor. They are more than just the story of a preacher's kid growing up in the 70's. It's that blend of sweet naivety, and the straight-forward approach to tackling real-life spiritual issues, that spark a winning combination.
May 20, 2013
I was surprised by how much I liked this book! I love the writing style & how "real" everything felt. I was also very thankful that Escape from Fred asked a lot of hard questions, and didn't pretend to have all the answers... I'll be mulling over Mark's story for a long time.
May 25, 2008
Not as strong as the first book by Brad Whittington, "Welcome to Fred", but I wanted to see the protagonist grow into adulthood. The book had a satisfying ending.
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June 2, 2010F WHI fred bk.3
July 20, 2008
See review of Welcome to Fred
June 1, 2012
Not quite up to par with the first 2 in the series but still well worth the read!
April 3, 2013
Loved it!! The ending was amazing. I will have to purchase the series now I think.
September 2, 2013
Great series! I really enjoyed these books and look forward to more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews