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If I could, I would give this one 3 1/2 stars. Follett is really excellent as story development and crafting stories that are engrossing and intense. However, at times his writing can feel pedantic at best. This is the story of one man that struggles for freedom on his own terms -- outside of the class structure he comes from. A common theme for the time period that this story covers, the scope ranges from Scotland/England to the Pre-Revolutionary United States. Follett does explore the ramifications of the class struggle, as well as other aspects of the English society that would eventually evolve into the American Revolution -- but he does so from the English perspective.
What didn't quite live up to expectations was Follett's development of his characters. A couple of reviews I have read said that his characters tend to be extremes of the spectrum. I also found this to be very much true. Follett doesn't do well as developing the gray areas of the human character. I found myself frequently wishing that something redeeming in some, and that Mack would be a little less "righteous" in his contrast to other characters. However, it seems that once Follett starts a character in one vein, that is where he will stay. This detracts from the character's ability to grow and evolve over the course of the story. Since I love to see characters evolve throughout a book, and experience their growth and development (in either direction, good or bad), I have come to appreciate that shades of gray that make up any human character. But this is sorely lacking in Follet's characters.
His story development can drag at times as well. Sometimes it feels like he is deliberately slowing the whole thing down -- giving the book an overall pedantic feel of telling the reader the story -- rather than allowing the reader to step into the story and experience it for themselves. But I did love the story subject, and the time period in which it is set. I also love Follett's grasp of the time frame and his presentation of the settings.
What didn't quite live up to expectations was Follett's development of his characters. A couple of reviews I have read said that his characters tend to be extremes of the spectrum. I also found this to be very much true. Follett doesn't do well as developing the gray areas of the human character. I found myself frequently wishing that something redeeming in some, and that Mack would be a little less "righteous" in his contrast to other characters. However, it seems that once Follett starts a character in one vein, that is where he will stay. This detracts from the character's ability to grow and evolve over the course of the story. Since I love to see characters evolve throughout a book, and experience their growth and development (in either direction, good or bad), I have come to appreciate that shades of gray that make up any human character. But this is sorely lacking in Follet's characters.
His story development can drag at times as well. Sometimes it feels like he is deliberately slowing the whole thing down -- giving the book an overall pedantic feel of telling the reader the story -- rather than allowing the reader to step into the story and experience it for themselves. But I did love the story subject, and the time period in which it is set. I also love Follett's grasp of the time frame and his presentation of the settings.
