Rating: 
Summary: Engaging historical romance
Review: "A Place Called Freedom" is a good book, not a great one reminiscent of the works of other very popular yet lighter weight authors. The story kept me interested but seemed somewhat watered-down when compared with other Ken Follett titles. A good one to read on the beach or on a plane.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed...
Review: ...when I finished this book. This was one of the fastest reads I've ever had. The story starts out in the coal mines of Scotland and ends up in the "new west" in the United States. Great story. If you like Follett and the "new colonies" time period, you'll love this book.
Rating:
Summary: A place called freedom, by Ken Follett
Review: A great novel wich I eated in half weekend,even if I normally take few weeks to read such a book.
As I'm Italian and live in another country I could much relate to emotions, like "leaving something behind" and such.
Similarity to "Far and Away"? I don't know, but I'm surprise no body made a movie out of this one.
After all, a place called freedom, is in all our spirit.
A great travel through history and emotions, love and romance, high and low, but above all... persistence.
Thank you Mr. Follett
Rating:
Summary: A predictable but well written yarn.
Review: A historical novel that takes the reader from the coal mines of 18th century Scotland, where a male child is promised to the Lord of the land for 10 pounds at birth. He will then find himself a slave to the mines till he dies of the black lung or some mishap. It is Mack McAsh that stands up for his rights along with the rights of his fellow workers. A struggle that brings on a lifetime of hardship from the first pages of this book till the very end. From the moment Mack meets Lizzie, the privileged daughter of a once wealthy landowner we know they are meant to be together, hence the predictability, but a good story none-the-less. This book seemed to span a lifetime as we moved from Scotland to London, then to a convict ship that leads us to a plantation in Virginia, and finally to the uncharted wilderness that existed west of the Cumberland Gap. The search for freedom is elusive but there for the taking if only one tries hard enough to overcome the obstacles. This is my first book by Follett. I would give it 3½ stars if the option was available to me. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed covering so much territory. The author was knowledgeable and presented the material in an interesting manner that kept me reading on. It was just a bit too predictable for me. 2/14/01
Rating:
Summary: Not bad ... but when you think what it COULD have been ...
Review: A Place Called Freedom could have been a triumph for Ken Follett. Instead, it's an OK book ... a light, breezy read,
but nothing special. It reads like a Cliff's Notes version
of a great novel ... relationships and histories between characters are hinted at, alluded to, even stated ... but not explored. Characters come and go with little reason and
less effect on the plot. Just as an example, the main character's twin sister ... his rock, his best friend, his motivation for escaping servitude, is killed. Her death and
its impact is covered off in a few lines. The two protagonists knew each other as children (we're told) ... she the blueblood, he the son of the servant ... and yet this early relationship is unexplored, despite its obvious resonance through the later meetings. It's like Follett phoned this one in, doubly disappointing when you read - as
in Pillars of the Earth - what this author is capable of doing when he sets his mind to it.
Rating:
Summary: the best book I ever read
Review: After one chapter, I knew how the story would end, but that didn't change my enjoyment of A Place Called Freedom. Follett explores the life of lowly coal miner Mac who longs to be free and free-spirited Lizzie who has a disdain for the social classes of her time. Still she marries Jay Jamison and she truly loves him. Jay Jamison is an interesting Follett character. This book compares with a Dangerous Fortune in plot and scope, but that book had clearly defined good and evil characters. Jay and Lizzie were in love, and through actions of their family, their love was destroyed. Still, to the end Jay always cared for Lizzie. Still, his devotion to power and greed and to please his family mattered more. Follett is great at developing characters and educating the reader on the certain time period. Follett details the day to day life and the character's interaction with social norms very well. I haven't read too many of Follet's WWII novels or spy novels and look forward to moving on to those. I've read six Follett books, and only the Third Twin was bad.
Rating: 
Summary: Typical Follett, Great Characters and Story
Review: After one chapter, I knew how the story would end, but that didn't change my enjoyment of A Place Called Freedom. Follett explores the life of lowly coal miner Mac who longs to be free and free-spirited Lizzie who has a disdain for the social classes of her time. Still she marries Jay Jamison and she truly loves him. Jay Jamison is an interesting Follett character. This book compares with a Dangerous Fortune in plot and scope, but that book had clearly defined good and evil characters. Jay and Lizzie were in love, and through actions of their family, their love was destroyed. Still, to the end Jay always cared for Lizzie. Still, his devotion to power and greed and to please his family mattered more. Follett is great at developing characters and educating the reader on the certain time period. Follett details the day to day life and the character's interaction with social norms very well. I haven't read too many of Follet's WWII novels or spy novels and look forward to moving on to those. I've read six Follett books, and only the Third Twin was bad.
Rating:
Summary: a classic book you cant miss-- especially you scots!
Review: Ahh..I look back on this book with such nostalgia, one of the first books I read in high school that I truly enjoyed, that was for pure and complete pleasure. The story is exciting and fast-paced, the scottish atmostsphere is delightful...ah I can just smell the highland air and see the lochs, bogs, and thistles as I read this book. (however not the whole book takes place in bonny scotland..sorry lass!)
I read this book for the first time before I had ever been to scotland, now it is twice as pleasant an experience. a truly fun read of historical british isles fiction...
Rating:
Summary: Forced Freedom
Review: All of Follett's books are good (I haven't read Hammer:)) It seemed like Follett tried to match the recipe from Pillars but it didn't work. Aa little romance is good but this was too much for me. The story lacked punch.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Story
Review: As with many of Ken Follett's other novels A Place Called Freedom does an excellent job of creating a realistic setting where the interests of family, business, and government collide in a moment of history. With this backdrop and a very rapid pace, the constant struggle for freedom, family and justice by the main character reveals many aspects of the human character both good and evil that make for a wonderful story worthy of attention.
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