lyoness913's Full Review: Diana Gabaldon and Davina Porter - Outlander
A friend gave me Outlander by Diana Gabaldon for my birthday. She has talked about a fantastic series by Gabaldon for a long time and I had never heard of the books, nor the author. I just finished reading all 850 pages of Outlander and I cannot wait to delve into the next book in the series, Dragonfly in Amber. I've become quite smitten with the main characters in the book and I want more of them!
Claire Randall and her husband Frank are vacationing in The Highlands in Scotland. They are celebrating their honeymoon because they've been separated by the war. The year is 1945, and Frank is obsessed with his family tree and his relatives from Scotland. Claire enjoys walks in the meadows and collecting plants and spices. One morning she decides to venture off and she sees some stones that look quite like Stonehenge. She is mesmerized by the site and she tells Frank about it. They go to the stones at sunrise to see a group of women perform a ceremony which was simply fascinating. When Claire approaches the area later, she touches a stone and hears a loud buzzing. The stones cause her to time travel to the mid 1700's, and she lands in a world where Kings and Clans ruled Scotland.
Immediately Claire finds herself in grave danger as she is suspected of being a spy for the English or for the French. She has no family, and she runs into Frank's distant relative, a brutish and cruel English Captain Randall. When he tries to rape her some Scots rescue her and bring her home to their Castle. There Claire becomes involved in the daily life of Castle-living and since she was a nurse in 1945, she becomes a healer at the Castle. We get to know the Leoch's (name of Castle) inhabitants and their secrets. Eventually Claire has no choice but to marry a young James Fraser for several political reasons. He is 23, a virgin, and tough as nails. The two of them are friends and like one another but Claire is absolutely shocked that she must marry when she's trapped in another world and already technically married to Frank!
As the story goes on, Claire and Jamie have sex, become aquainted and fall in love (in that order). There are so many twists and turns and so much romance, mystery, magic and excitement. Claire and Jamie go through so much because there is a price on Jamie's head due to his accidentally killing an Englishman. He's wanted, and they must travel and spend their time in various places to try to avoid getting caught.
Gabaldon's writing makes the reader feel as if they are in Scotland. I could smell the heather and green grass and I could plainly see the rolling hills. I could taste the stuffed pheasant and the ale, and I could see the candles flicker throughout the Castle corridors. Gabaldon does is not like a typical romance writer, and this book is far from 'just' a romance. She touches on some subjects that are unmentionable, and I was uncomfortable with some of the violence in the book. I haven't read such detailed violence in my life. Also, although Jamie is a brave Highlander, she doesn't make him invincible or ridiculous, like in some historical romances where the man is like an amazing robot who does and says all things perfectly. Jamie has definite flaws and it makes the story a bit unusual really.
Other than the harsh cruelty throughout the book, I was irritated a little because Frank's character was shelved for the rest of the book. Claire made her decision to stay with Jamie, but she rarely thought of Frank and we don't get to know Frank at all. We don't know if he is missing Claire or if time is carrying on as usual in 1945 or if we'll ever hear from Frank again. However, I am told that I will be surprised in the next books in the series so I will just wait and see.
Other than the violence and Frank's character, I thought that Outlander was superb. I couldn't wait to read more and I found myself reading way too late at night and between calls at work. I wanted to find out what happened next and I was never disappointed by the constant action in the book. Gabaldon shocks and surprises, and she has become one of my favourite authors in just one week.
Her seventh book in the series is called An Echo in the Bone and it will be available September 22nd, 2009. I am hoping to get the next five books in the series read before this, although it will be a big task because her books are all over 850-900 pages. However, I am willing to try!
Highly recommended to fiction readers everywhere.
First Book: Outlander Second: Dragonfly in Amber Third: Voyager Fourth: Drums of Autumn Fifth: The Fiery Cross Sixth: A Breath of Snow and Ashes Seventh: An Echo In The Bone (Not Yet Released)
Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another...In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is...More at HotBookSale
CLAIRE RANDALL IS LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE. SHE HAS A HUSBAND IN ONE CENTURY, AND A LOVER IN ANOTHER....In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, i...More at Buy.com
CLAIRE RANDALL IS LEADING A DOUBLE LIFE. SHE HAS A HUSBAND IN ONE CENTURY, AND A LOVER IN ANOTHER....In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, i...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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