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Summary: Could Ken Follett really have written this book?
Review: I generally LOVE Ken Follett books for their content, history and thorough descriptions of inviting stories. Thought I had picked up a Danielle Steele novel. Very predictable!! The only thing that was left out was the color of Mack's eyes. The plot was there, but it was not one of Ken's better books. Lizzie came across as a headstrong, too independent, spoiled, rich kid and Mack as her ever-faithful, always there (even in the strangest places), ridiculous hero. Makes for a quick read, but unfortunately not one that is memorable.
Rating: 
Summary: Intoxicating
Review: I have also read The Third Twin and A Dangerous Fortune by Follett, but neither can hold a candle to this masterpiece. Follett is one of the best at developing characters and bringing the reader into the setting. His ability to weave a captivating story together with a time in history makes for a powerful and educational experience, and having a villain to hate always helps. It is definitely in my top five all-time reads.
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Summary: Middle of the Road Follett
Review: I have read several of Follett's works and generally cannot get enough of them. This one is historical in nature yet the story is not as compelling as some of Follett's other works (Pillars of the Earth, A Dangerous Fortune). Some of the plot is predictible. However, it does have some likable characters and the book seems to be well paced. All in all it is better than most books but not quite up to Follett's usual high standard.
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Summary: Great, Couldn't put it down
Review: I picked up this book 2 years ago and never got around to reading it, now I can't wait to order some of his other books. I would recommended it highly.
Rating:
Summary: A moving and touching story
Review: I picked up this book on a whim and was glad I did. The story and description of the time period were wonderful. Ken Follet continues to amaze me with his writing style. I could relate to the main characters (Mack & Lizzie) and enjoyed reading about their separate lives and the life they started together. Great book for a long weekend as you won't want to put it down.
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Summary: Instant Fan
Review: I read this book when i was 17 a little while ago.I had never read his masterpieces, but i had a friend who raved about him, so i went to the book store, and found this one. It was the only book by Ken Follet that the store carried at the time. That one book instantly turned me into a Major fan of Ken Follets. At that point in my life, i hadn't much read, and i wasn't much into reading, but i picked that book up and read through it in very little time (for me at that age) and it was amazing! If you want to get somebody into reading, who doesn't much like to read, then this book will jump start them!
(i agree that it should be somewhere around the PG-13 though).
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Summary: Average Follett
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Dangerous Forutnue and hoped this book would have the same effect. It doesn't quite reach that level, but still is a captivating story. The picture of lower class life in Eighteenth Century England is a compelling backdrop for a good story. The ending seemed a little too fantastic (reminded me of a Robert Ludlum finish) in that all the loose ends were brought to a successful conclusion for the star crossed lovers. But on the whole, I would recommend this to any who have enjoyed Follett's previous work.
Rating:
Summary: Different
Review: I would have liked to give this book three and a half stars, but that option was not available. A Place Calles Freedom follows the converging lives of Mack McAsh, a Scottish coal worker who seems to always irritate the wrong people, and Lizze Hallim, a igh born lady who would prefer to act like a man. It is a tried and true fomula, and I enjoyed this book immensely, despite its predicatable plot. I particularly liked the introduction to the book, and the way that the story was introduced. I mainly gave this book three stars because it is very different from the other Ken Follett books that I have read. I've read Pillars of the Earth, a sweeping intricate novel, and Night Over Water, which I thought had an interesting an enjoyable plot. I knew how this book was going to end before it even started. The characters are fairly stereotypical. There are scenes that are reminiscent of a steamy romance novel. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it's nothing to write home about.
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Summary: Powerful historical fiction in the vein of Hardy or Dickens
Review: I'll tell you upfront that this is one of my favorite books. You can tell from the reviews that A Place Called Freedom results in either love or hate, so let me tell you why I love it.
First, the story is like something from a Thomas Hardy or Charles Dickens novel. Some reviewers have called it formulaic, corny, or contrived. Sure, like a "Tess of the D'urbervilles" or "A Tale of Two Cities" it jerks the characters through quite a life of suffering and disappointments, but you will care about these characters and cheer them on in their epic journey to find freedom and each other. There is a romantic element to the story, for sure, but it's not Harlequin in nature and it's not as sappy as much of the historical fiction out there.
Second, the writing is easy and enjoyable to read, even though it uses dialect for the Scottish characters. Unlike Hardy and Dickens, Follett is neither laborious in his detail nor overly wordy. This book is a quick read and full of memorable imagery.
Third, and I'm sure somebody will ding me for saying this, you really get a feeling for the American experience-for why people came to this country, for how unprepared they were for the reality of being here back when people were trying to impose the old-world class system on an untamed country full of possibilities, for how determination, hard work, and devotion were the true mark of class.
A Place Called Freedom is more period like A Dangerous Fortune, although not quite as dark as that book. If your first Ken Follett books were about the war and espionage, then you might not like A Place Called Freedom because it is a different type of book for Follett. For those people, I'd recommend Jackdaws or The Key to Rebecca. But, if you like historical fiction, the stories of Hardy and Dickens, or the romantic feeling of adventure in Follett's Hornet Flight, you should give A Place Called Freedom a try.
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Summary: magician tells storie
Review: I'm a dutch reader who likes to read english sometimes. It's usually quite difficult to keep in touch with a book of that size, especially when you're reading a foreign language. "A place called freedom" keeps me reading and gives me the opportunity to see the whole story as if it was a movie. I think only a magician can do this. Follet puts a spell on me and brings me to historical Scotland and the States. Wonderful, thanks !!
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