What a compelling and riveting book. I found Outlander a hard book to put down. Of course, I had to since it is 642 pages. Even though I read very fast, I obviously could not read this one in one setting. This is not the first time I have read this book, but I am certainly that glad I made the decision to read it a second time. Ms. Gabaldon's writing is so fluid and smooth, and it brings the highlands to life with her vivid description of the landscape. Talk about using all five senses in one's writing--this author is a master at this.
For anyone who has not read this incredible book, here is a short synopsis. Claire Randall, a nurse just returned from the battlefields of World War II, is on holiday with her husband Frank, when she stumbles across Craigh na Dun and travels back to 1745.
Claire barely escapes from Black Jack Randall, her husband's many time distant grandfather. A group of highlanders rescue her from his clutches. She meets Jamie Fraser and her odyssey to discovering a love that will span distance and time, begins.
Claire is feisty, stubborn and very resilient in the face of overwhelming and shocking happenings in her life. I wondered what I would do if faces with the realization that I had traveled back to 1745? I am not sure I could have handled it with Claire's aplomb. I was astonished at the ease in which she adapts to her new surroundings.
When happenchance forces to wed Jamie to avoid being taken by Captain Randall, I was a bit taken aback by her easy acceptance of her plight. That is the only criticism I have for the story. She obviously loved Frank; that is clear in the start of the book. I feel that she should have been plagued with more regret and grief over his loss. I know it was critical for her to adapt, but internally, I would like to have seen a bit more struggle.
Jamie, on the other hand, is the ultimate alpha hero, strong and fierce, brave and determined, yet with a touch of innocence as well. He is over four years younger than Claire and has managed to remain a virgin at the age of three and twenty. Ms. Gabaldon handles his de-flowering with delicacy on Claire's part when she learns of his innocence.
There are a great many tender, yet highly emotionally-charged love scenes throughout the book. While very heavy on the passion that the two feel for each other, the author is able to do this with very little explicit detail. It takes a masterful hand to pull this off, still getting the reader, at least me, fully enmeshed with the characters to the point it as if I were living in their heads. I love it when an author can do this. It allows me to form my own romantic conclusions.
To say the least, I absolutely loved this amazing book from start to finish and am now ready to move on to the next one, Dragonfly in Amber. Now I originally read this book in 2004 and voraciously read the first four. I grew quite angry when I read Echo in the Bone because it ended on such a cliff-hanger, then I had to wait for several years for Written in My Own Heart's Blood, but it was worth the wait. That one brought back all the reasons why I loved this series.
I do want to mention that I also listened to the audio book as I read and that truly enriched my reading pleasure. Davinia Porter does an incredible job of bringing all the myriad of characters in the saga to life. Each character's voice is so unique and easy to identify. It takes a true master to do that. I highly recommend listening as you read this book.
If you love Scottish historical romance/adventure stories with intensely passionate and well-developed characters, and a book full of wonderful and fascinating tidbits of history, then you will want to read Outlander. Perhaps, if you have already read these books, you will decide to re-read this amazing series as I am doing. Happy reading!
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Popular Highlights in this book
For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.Highlighted by 9,444 Kindle readers- Then let amorous kisses dwell On our lips, begin and tell A Thousand and a Hundred score A Hundred, and a Thousand more.Highlighted by 5,154 Kindle readers
- “As though, knowing that everything is possible, suddenly nothing is necessary.”Highlighted by 2,619 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
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| Outlander (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition) | OUTLANDER BOX SET | SEVEN STONES TO STAND OR FALL | OUTLANDER COMPANION | THE OFFICIAL OUTLANDER COLORING BOOK | THE EXILE | |
| Customer Reviews |
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| Price | $21.78 | $21.78 | $12.99 | $14.95 | $12.81 | $16.89 |
| The first book in the Outlander saga, and the basis for the Starz original series. This special twentieth-anniversary edition features an original essay, a new map, and more. | Blending rich historical fiction with riveting adventure and a truly epic love story, here are the first four books of the epic Outlander series: OUTLANDER DRAGONFLY IN AMBER VOYAGER DRUMS OF AUTUMN | A magnificent collection of Outlander short fiction—including two never-before-published novellas—featuring Jamie Fraser, Lord John Grey, Master Raymond, and many more, from Diana Gabaldon | Perfect for readers of the bestselling Outlander novels—and don’t miss The Outlandish Companion Volume Two! | This spectacular adult coloring book features forty-five all-new illustrations! | This Outlander graphic novel gives readers a fresh look at the events from Jamie Fraser’s point of view, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen. |
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Outlander Series--Fabulous book series!!
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Reviews with images
Cover came bent.
The pages are very soft and floppy, not stiff at all. The font is easy to read and doesn’t cut off any text. The spine seems sturdy and bound well. The covers are a nice smooth card stock. And there’s lot of margin room for annotions! Everything is great except the front cover and a small chunk of pages came folded in packaging.
Top reviews from other countries
Varghese Vayalamannil Devasia
A great and enchanting novel.
Reviewed in India on April 18, 2024
Carlota GM
Una novela que te cautivará con su apasionante historia
Reviewed in Spain on May 29, 2023Brit Luijckx
Boek heeft een andere omslag/kaft
Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 27, 2021
Brit Luijckx
Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 27, 2021
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