Outlander: A Novel (Outlander, Book 1)

REVIEW EDITED - A FEW SPOILERS AHEAD: I hate to give a book a 1 star rating and a long DNF review. I think it disrespects the writer who had gone through so much trouble to publish his/her work. I'm stubborn and I set my mind on finishing it or withdrawing my first review. Let me assure you: it does not please me to give one star long reviews. I'd rather give 5 star passionate reviews. Please, before deciding you won't like the book, read this review until the end. It's just MY opinion. I found out this is a book - IMHO - for YA who are starting to look for historical, biased romances with a bit of action and a lot of beatings and rapes; not for a full-grown woman looking for a bit of steamy historical fictional romance. As I say in the first review (below), I started Outlander with high, very high expectations. Not only due to a recommendation from a friend older than myself (not my daughter) but the enormous quantities of 5 star reviews it has here on GRs [Goodreads]. And this was not the best way to approach a book. I'm used to read teenage & YA trilogies (or series) - from Harry Potter to Hunger Games; from Percy Jackson to Twilight ("Ugh!" to the last one) and many others - because I normally read what my daughters are reading, so we can discuss the books' themes. I will leave my first review below, because although I finished the book, I did not change my mind about the rating. Unfortunately, if it could, my dislike got worse. But... Let's face it: This book was hard work, mixed with a few laughs at the absurdity of it all (and many times a retch feeling), but mostly I was bored and finding myself asking 'Really?!'. FOR ME, Outlander started with a few problems: First, I mistook it for an adult romance because of the fierce recommendation as a good HOT romance for me (I'm 44 y-o, so I'm far away from the age of blushing or giggling!) Then, English is not my mother language, so the use of ancient words made me stop to seek their meanings. I'm not one to jump over words I don't know. Even when I'm reading as leisure, I have education in mind, in whatever way it comes. TO TOP: For some romance readers, rape, S&M scenes, adultery, violence are "deal-breakers". I, FOR ONE, TOTALLY ABHOR RAPE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. I've read books with violent scenes, my problem is when the author romanticizes its perpetrators and their actions. CONTINUING: Typos do haunt me. Or rather, they hunt me. I don't know why but I have sharp eyes for them when I'm reading a story. I stumble upon them and I lose my concentration. Normally, I can overlook them easily if the plot is good enough and depending I can even laugh "with" them. I knew this book was not a classic, nor a non-fiction book. So, the pretentious use of the language took me away from it a bit. Then the story is slow-paced. (I'm okay with this, depending on the plot. It can build, grow itself inside me in its slow pace if it's good, which it's not the case). The repeated and repeated use of Scottish accent, Scottish old words and other different languages, such as Scottish Gaelic (with which I am not that much acquainted) and French (which I speak fluently) seemed unnecessary, again pretentious and with typos - yes! both of them had typos. And it left me closely analyzing words and plot devices, which I just hate and it's inconceivable in a good book. The story picked up its pace a bit around 50%, a bit too far from the beginning for me, but that is okay. I understand this is a series - 10 books!! - but I need at least a bit of passion in the descriptions, the characters' interactions, or even in the sex scenes (but not in rape scenes). Something to make me wish to turn the page and not to throw the book against the wall! I guess others could find something of interest in other points (such as the 'pumpkin bum' of the maid and the 'pumpkin face' of one of James's friends), I did not. The characters: Claire Beauchamp is our narrator. She is almost 28 years old, but behaves as a 12 year-old spoiled girl. Mercurial, selfish, rude, naïve, unexperienced but in sex, gathering herbs and nursing wounds, Claire is a leading female character bordering on the absurd. She is absolutely infuriating, annoying and, imho, the greatest editing mistake in this book, apart of course from the lack of research. The only two good things, assets, I can highlight about her is that she is not spineless and knows how to treat wounds. She tells us she had just wed an older, intelligent scholar, Frank Randall, when the WWII burst and she was a nurse for 8 years apart from him before reuniting again. She has no patience at all for his research and likes to collect herbs in the hills of the Highlands. When she touches a magical hedge is she thrown back to 1743. And so my struggle errrrr... the story begins... James Fraser is who, supposedly, saves the day - or the story for the thousands of 5 star reviews - not for me. In 1743, Jamie is 23 years old, over six feet tall, broad shouldered, charming, witty and an extremely handsome Highlander, with all the predicates that make a real hero: he has problems in his past, is hard-working, intelligent, "a virgin, not a monk", a perfect gentleman who rapes and gets a sexual high from beating his wife, and he makes the readers laugh with the absurdity of the story. He is the one my divorced friend probably fell head-over-heels in love with. (I didn't. Sorry, girls. Too inexperienced and young for my tastes at the beginning... and in the end, I might have jumped his "bookish" bones if I were in dire needs of a rape and a beating... which is not my case.) I'd probably be calling the police - or killing him as soon as I could, as there was no justice for women in that time! I would rather hang than live with an abuser. AND there is so much my suspension of disbelief can endure. It was demolished - again - when only four or five days after a 24-hour exhausting natural labor of a breeched baby, Jamie's sister mounts on a horse and follows, for more than 48 hours, the Watch that had arrested his brother - without stopping but for a night rest! [Uh?! Really?!] How old is the author? Has she ever mounted a horse for 2 hours, much less for 48 hours? Did she ever have that kind of labor? Did she do any research for her book? [Ah, no. She likes pain. I forgot, sorry!!] So, in the end, I filed it under my classification: Books to read and forget and biased YA. But even with hot rapist James, even with those classifications, I have my stars to give. Or take. In short (?): - the marital rape and the homosexual rape, both portrayed as enjoyable (and the homosexual sex is seemed to be only done by perverts!!); - the beatings - Claire's and others' described, if they were deserved or not by the Scottish thinking of the time, shouldn't have alluded to sexual enjoyment of the beater, especially because one is a husband and the other is a father!! Please don't make me quote - it's there written with all the words time and time again!!); - misguided opinions about historical facts, especially the occurrence of the Holocaust; - the slow-pace; - too long explanations; - typos, American and British English mixed, wrongly written words in English (American or British), French and Scottish Gaelic; - total lack of research; - and last, my throughly disgust at Claire's moods, I took 4 stars from Outlander; Because teenagers (and everyone) have to learn: - foreign words as they should be written; - have to understand that politeness - not rudeness - is an asset, - historical lessons, if ever passed on a book, should be told properly and not in chopped, damaging ideas; and, most important, - that a rape is not enjoyable for the raped. Suggestion to the author or to the publishing house: Just stop by your ebook, proofread it either in American English or in British English (if you use "grey", use "traveller"). Proofread the foreign words. Do a bit of research and correct all the typos, commas out of place and missing inverted commas. AND INFORM THE READER ABOUT GRAPHIC "ROMANTICIZED" RAPE AND VIOLENCE! Or unpublished it... No one deserves to pay a high price such as reading typos and mistakes. And I'm not talking about money. -------------------------------------------------- First review: I bought this book with high expectations due to the many 5 star reviews. It's 4.40 am in Rio de Janeiro and I have been enduring my way through the evening, watching "rather bleakly" the thin Welch bard take out three flutes of different sizes from his coat, but never use them, as his songs scratched my ears and his stories made as much sense as the repeated and much used words written in a verra accented Scottish English; I have wandered to the paddock to see the fillies and a mare be broken while naught but scraps of uneventful happenings took place and the sun struck the zenith; I have been treating the most boring wounds and watching justice being distributed with Gaelic words and historical words of the 16th century, no more in use, and yon, making me fetch my old, yellowish dictionary, the size of a "pumpkin bum", again and again, as the story "sailed like a galleon", but still and yet nothing that mattered really happened but Claire been thrown two hundred years back in the past (202, in fact) and not going crazy with it, but being very sensible and witty (Uh?!) and turning out to be the trusted healer of the Mackenzie Clan she had arrived on the day before (Really?!). I have walked through the orchard and to the herbal garden, planting garlic gloves and picking up commas out of place and also the most weird herbs, as I learned what Claire would do with them to cure ailments as there was no antibiotics at hand in the 18th century (Oh... There weren't any?! I didn't know that.); I have drunk tea bellow in the parlor of the procurator fiscal's house after an eventful (?) afternoon of drying marigolds or whatever herbs that filled Gillie's stillroom, as the white-faced miscreant tanner's lad was pinioned to the pillory by a nail through his ear and it started to rain. I have accompanied the acts of Mistress Duncan as she fetched a paper and wrote something and "hastily sanded it, folded and sealed it with a blob of wax from the candle, and pressed it" to Claire's hand to deliver only into Dougal's because if she did otherwise Mistress Duncan would not receive the payment due to her "chest - "a sizable wooden box with brass bands" - of dried marsh cabbage and other simples" (yes, simples) she had promised to Ms. FitzGibbons. Ah... That was a bill for herbs. And the "clock, a magnificent contrivance of walnut panels, brass pendulums, and a face decorated with quiring (sic) cherubim, and this instrument pointed to half-past six."; The haunted woods, full of Highland guards and the English Watch patrols, became darker and scared me away, when at 20% I read what is supposed to be an important motto of a clan, written as: " Je suis prest" (sic). [Please, read P.S. 2 - I've made a mistake] Ah... Another typo, I imagined, as many others my poor toes had stumbled upon, sharp as the rocks that where scattered on the yet not-touched, savage Highland grounds of this over-the-top stuffed with annoying descriptions of unimportant faces and buttocks and herbs and ailments; very much prejudiced opinions of important historical facts, such as why people didn't stop the Holocaust before it was too late (The number of highlights on this passage really impresses! Wow! How much people are credible and lacking on information!); descriptions of the Toulouse-Lautrec syndrome and how the Scottish Justice was distributed in 1743. Where was I? Ah, yes, the typo. Sorry. It was just that the night had fallen and I had gonna take a wee nap, do ye ken? But no. It was not a typo. This small, wee sentence that was supposed to be said in a "surprisingly good French" is written twice in a very bad French, and translated!! Ah! Thank God it was translated. It saved me the time to get out of my favorite, big armchair in the living room, wander through my dark dining room and entered my filled of books home-office to pick up my French dictionary to see if I had lost my touch with the language of lovers. COME ON! Isn't this book stuffed with enough accented Scottish, Gaelic and historical words; Isn't it void enough of any action, or interaction, that could have moved the story forward or leaded it somewhere, anywhere?! To top, there is no research or editing or proofread done too?! This is no ARC, for God's sake and this book has been around for some time, selling tons. Someone must have shouted to the unblushing, unashamed publishing house to correct it and update the ebook. I throw in the towel. I lost my trust and faith in the author and I don't know if what I'm reading is worth of my time, anymore. So, as Jamie tells Claire to leave the room because "It's no place for women." and stubbornly she stays and tells us what happens, nothing interesting at all, as modesty is preserved, I bow to his wisdom and I say my goodbyes, Sassenach. I have best books to read. In the face of so many problems and mistakes, I should return the book, shouldn't I? But I will not. First, because I don't believe in returning goods I have bought and also because this review deserves its seal of a "verified purchase". P.S. - I didn't even bother to correct any typos. If this review has any, they are well deserved. RJ, May 18th, 2014 ----- P.S. 2 - Seems I was lead into making a mistake: "Je suis prest" is the motto of the Scottish clan Jamie belongs to (Uh?! The author is modifying history now? Imho, it's a huge liberty to take without informing previously the reader.). The Frasier clan (an existent clan) translates "Je suis prest" for "I'm ready". It's not modern French, because "prest" in modern French means "hurry", not "ready" (I'm ready is "Je suis prêt"). Maybe it is in the 18th old century French... Or even older. I have no such knowledge to say otherwise as I am not an expert in old French. Anyway, I apologize for this mistake (and I won't delete the passage and pretend I didn't do it, I did). Wouldn't it have been much more interesting if the author had said: 'Je suis prest', he said in a surprisingly good 18th century old French. Or 'I'm ready,' thinks Claire, translating the 18th century old French Je suis prest into modern English. Or something around the lines... The motto is repeated and repeated along the book more than 4 times. Just once, it could have been better explained. IMHO, this is how knowledge should be passed through: good explanations and clear informations. For me, the problem remains because: a- Claire had never heard the Frasier motto before. In fact, she didn't even know Jamie's surname (view spoiler) or to which clan he belonged to; b- Claire, who couldn't withstand the "ramblings" of her studious first husband, and speaks herself a passible 20th century modern French, (I'm not inventing, it's all there on the book) would not be capable of doing such translations (but if better explained, perhaps I would have overlooked this problem...); c- When I am reading a romantic novel based in "magic" (moving back and forward in time by touching a hedge is... what? Almost sic-fi, not pure non-fiction historical romance), I don't like to read distorted historical facts about real characters or clans or whatever, so my annoyance becomes worse when I realize I should had been researching what I am reading for leisure, leisure meaning "no working", "no computers", "nothing but a enjoyable book and a glass of wine". d- I hate romanticized rape! Period. RJ, August 10th, 2014.

Before purchasing Clanlands, I went through the 1–3-star Amazon reviews. Forewarned, I was still morbidly curious and wanted to judge for myself. I regretted my stupidity/curiosity very quickly. First of all, Clanlands lean heavily on Outlander TV series. If I haven’t watched it, half the time I’d be clueless about most topics. My sympathies go to unsuspecting readers who’d never heard of Outlander series in any medium, let alone watched it. Book is structured as alternating Sam’s and Graham’s sections where each recounts events from their own point of view and/or offers reader curious bits of Scottish history and culture (with wildly varying success). Sam’s sections are dreadful for the most part. Nearly half the book reads like tall tales from frat parties interspersed with blatant self-promotion and product placement. He comes across as fairly insecure and desperate, pushing Outlander series to everyone’s faces every few paragraphs or so just in case we forgot. We should be so lucky. I like Outlander but after a while, I was ready to never watch another episode, just so I would never have to be reminded of its existence. It’s not until page 130 that Sam starts to come across as normal human being. Up until than point it’s like he’s deeply committed to sounding like dumb blonde. In the midst of an absolute drag of a “story”, he would veer off into something actually interesting only so he could snap out of it two sentences down the road and return to his dumb blond, juvenile identity. That trend is so pronounced it felt like watching – on repeat - recorded scene where he would snap out of his reverie and return to idiotic character. I wonder who told him that was great writing and fantastic idea but perhaps he should consider another editor for his future endeavours. “Banter” and nicknames for Graham get old really fast. Past that saturation point it’s just annoyance fest. I don’t even mind advertising bits so much but don’t get me started on drinking tales. Truly tall tales from frat party. However you look at it, it’s basically committed attempt to turn borderline drinking problem into something glamourous. Graham, on the other hand, is a delight. Witty, sharp, funny, eloquent, deliciously sarcastic. Way better writer who led more interesting life and actually has something to say. That writing proficiency shows from the start, namely, dedication. Graham’s is simple, pointed, meaningful, powerful. Sam’s reads like awards acceptance speech – same lack of depth or meaning. I enjoyed Graham’s anecdotes tremendously. He made me laugh often, out loud, sometimes even in the middle of the night, in the darkened room. On few instances I laughed so hard tears were streaming down my cheeks. After initial disappointment with Sam’s sections, I considered skipping Sam’s and only read Graham’s, but my stupid OCD kicked in, so I had to go the usual, cover-to-cover, route. Also, his bits on history and culture were genuinely interesting and informative. Even after Sam improved, I’d find myself looking forward to the next Graham section. In all fairness, Sam indeed improved past these unfortunate 130 pages. However, by that time I was so enraged and disgusted by him that my good graces never returned. Partly because it makes me wonder – if he can write reasonably interestingly and coherently, what exactly was he doing wasting my time and trying my patience for so long? Someone told him that’s how great books should be written? He decided – heeding no advice – that’s the way to go and good writing? I’ll never know but as a result of my little venture into Clanlands, I’d very much like to meet and befriend Graham. Sam, on the other hand, I find off-putting. Silliness, juvenile behaviour, stinginess (constantly keeping score of the content of other people’s plates and glasses). I mean, if you don’t want to pay, say so. Don’t count each bite of your castmates and crew. That’s a dick move. Also, naming every single person you ever worked with – crew included – while rather noble, doesn’t exactly make for gripping read. We don’t know these people, never will and harbour zero level investment in their character traits. Besides, Sam, thought process that led you to deeming these people worthy often sounds idiotic. Not sure you should brag about it. Chapter on Culloden is very good but so late in the book feels like too little, too late. Some twisted reward for brave readers who persevered. I almost relented and upped my rating. Almost. Again, in all fairness, I learned a thing or two about Scottish culture, some of it weird, some of it weirdly familiar. Nevertheless, I’m not remotely tempted to subject myself to the torture of reading Clanlands ever again or – God forbid – (potential) sequel. Morbidly enough, I thought Clanlands as a book reads boring and tried a bit of TV series. Boy, that elevated my definition of “mind-numbingly tedious” to a whole new level. I shudder at the mere thought of it. In conclusion, Graham, four stars. Sam, two for the first half; second half saved you and pushed the rating to three. Overall, still three stars. Sorry, Graham. Not a reference to your skill and wits. Btw and unrelated – uniquely memorable entrance, Dijkstra. 😉

Many reviewers here sings the book's praises while some are bored, and a good many are distressed and even disgusted by it. Let me sum it up for you in a few points to help you see if this book is up your ally or not: (This review CONTAINS SPOILERS.) KILTS: This is the one really good reason to read this book . You have to hand it down to Gabaldon, she knows what women want, and women want a man in a kilt. It's the simple truth. If you are not interested in kilts wearing dudes, this is not the book for you. move on. If you are on board with man wearing kilts, imagine such a man. He will be tall and broad shouldered, with ginger hair and slightly slanted eyes. He will be strong and brave, but also kind and gentle. He'll have a sense of humour and a sexy Scottish accent. He'll be good with horses. He'll believe in marriage. Feeling a little short breathed? Are you ready to start obsessing over a fictional man that will ruin dating with mere mortal men permanently for you? meet Jamie Fraser. A Historical Novel? Not really: This is a ROMANTIC NOVEL. It tells the story of two people falling in love with each other. The fact that one of them is a woman that goes back through a magical stone circle in time 200 years does not make it science fiction novel, fantasy novel or even a historical novel. The reasons to why and how this time travel happened are not really explored. Nor does it paint a detailed picture of life in 1747 Scottish highlands. What it does explore, very vividly, is the attractiveness of the 2 main characters, Jamie and Claire, and their hot sex, and you get some Lochs, castles and fighting men in kilts as a background. On the bright side - this is a very engaging love story, and I found it fun to read up until the middle of the book. The author does get points for originality when she reverses the traditional roles and cliches of the romantic genre and when the hero is introduced to us, he is the one doing the fainting while she is doing the saving. Do you expect a believable account of how a 20th century woman adjusts to the shock of transitioning to 18th century Scotland? prepare for disappointment. It Seems that our heroine adjusts very swiftly to life of perpetual violence, feudal laws and No toilets. Not a thought about a hot cup of coffee in the morning or a much needed tooth brush. she is perfectly happy wearing corsets and long skirts and though she sometimes mentions missing hot showers, it doesn't go much beyond that. Really? I would have KILLED for a bath. Claire's training as a nurse and her medical knowledge does come in handy and she is placed as the "healer" at castle Leoch, but it seems incredulous that she can treat all the various injuries and illnesses that come her way with nothing more than the medicinal herbs in the castle's garden. You'd expect some frustration with the lack of proper medication, equipment, and hygiene, but astonishingly that is not the case. Who needs antibiotics Or anesthetics? a good dose of Milk Thistle seed or Dandelion tea does the trick every time. How comfortable are you with detailed and graphic sexual violence scenes? If you intent to read the book, brace yourself. There is so much sexual violence in this book, it seems like rape was the favorite pass time in the highlands, and apparently no one bothered to read a book to or take up a hobby if they could just go out and rape someone. What bothered me most is how casually the author uses rape in her story: every time the plot needed some excitement and perils, Gabaldon chose rape. and then some more rape and then some child rape and male rape to top it all. The most horrible thing about her attitude toward sexual violence is that every time it's directed at a woman the woman thoughts are that she must be strong , shrug off the trauma, and carry on with her life with a "nothing to be done here so why dwell on it" attitude. But when a MAN sexually attacked, then it suddenly an issue. I lost count of just how many people attempted to rape Claire, and after each painful episode, Claire didn't even pause to feel traumatized. After one cruel and violent attempt Jaimy rescues her, but he is mostly pissed with the fact that his wife was in an intimate position with a man he hates, so he has very little room to consider HER feelings. I guess it doesn't really matter what she feels. He proceeds then to punish her, for running away ( running away is what caused the villain to be able to attack her ) without thinking that, perhaps, she has suffered enough. However, when MALE RAPE is introduced ( spoilers ) and the same villain who tried to hurt Claire hurts Jaimy in many disturbing and way too graphic scenes, then rape suddenly becomes a major thing. When it's a MAN who's being raped then it's not just chin up and carry on anymore, but is presented as deeply scarring and traumatizing event that will forever haunt the survivor. The author allows the male victim to hurt and to process very slowly, what happened and how he will be forever changed after that, everyone around him are supportive and sensitive to his experience, whereas the female victim just has to accept that that's her lot in life and that the world is full of man who simply find her irresistible. Maybe in Gabaldon's eyes rape is some kind of compliment. Some people might argue that those were violent times and women were considered to be the spoils of war, but Gabaldon's overuse of sexual violence and the fact that's it the only driving force behind all of her character's actions is a sign that she is a very mediocre writer. I could probably live with mediocre writing, but found it unbearable to read how casually she treats violence and how she puts words in the mouth of her characters that makes it sound like they accept what was done to them almost gladly. For example - on a casual dinner at the castle, the people are talking about the upcoming visit of the Duke of Sardingham. They gossip that he is known for his taste in young boys. Jemie entertains everyone with a most "amusing" anecdote about the duke's last visit to the castle, a few years before, when Jamie was a young boy. The Duke tried to sexually abuse him several times, and he only very narrowly escaped each time... But no harm done, so no hard feelings, LOL, every one is laughing, what a lovely story by the fire. To read how the author portrays such an experiences as nothing more than a casual anecdote is nothing short of revolting, in my eyes. What is worst, that this HORRIFIC incident plays ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE IN THE STORY!!!! Did Gabaldon just put it there for our enjoyment? I did not enjoy it, and was tempted to stop right there. Sadly I did not stop reading, and the book just becomes worse and worse from that point on. What started out as a an adventurous and endearing love story, suddenly changed Genre from romance for kilt lovers into a novel for torture aficionados. Do You think that after the many cruel sexual violence descriptions, you will not be shocked with descriptions of "regular" violence? You would be WRONG. Because, again, what's shocking isn't the violence in itself, but the fact the victims have come to justify it and welcome it! For example - I'm sure a father disciplining his son by beating him was considered back then a reasonable educational approach, but what I found unreasonable and shocking is how many pages are dedicated to Jamie's account of how his father educated him in that manner, and how Jamie, dreamy eyed and absorbed in those "fond" memories, claims that beating him was the best way his father could have shown his love and care for him. And Claire, our modern and outspoken heroine, is not even slightly concerned. Instead of planning her escape from this man, she falls more deeply in love with him. And why is he reminiscing about it, do you ask? well, it is to explain to her why he chose to educate her in the same way! after she run away, and was captured by the evil English captain Randall ( and was beaten and almost raped by him ) Jamie feels that her running away was a reckless behaviour, which put him her and everyone else at risk. To make sure she never entertains such notions ever again, he tells her it is his DUTY as her husband to reform her with his BELT. Claire is unhappy about being beaten with a belt but after a a couple of days sees the logic of his actions and doesn't resent him for it. WTF?!? This is Gabaldon's notion of what women secretly fantasize about - A CONTROLLING AND ABUSIVE MAN who think it's his "duty" as your husband to hit you if he thinks you've made a mistake. In seeing how well this book is doing despite all this ugly violence and controlling behaviour disguised as Romance, I guess she is right... It's just sad. To conclude - I'm having a very hard time understanding what the die hard fans see in this book. It could have been an OK book if the violence had been toned down or if the impact of such violence would have been portrayed realistically. I guess if you like that sort of romantic novels where the guy is super hot yet controlling underneath his facade as loving and caring ( like in 50 shades of grey) Maybe it's your type of book. Otherwise I recommend you leave it on the shelf.

I’ve been meaning to read Outlander for years. Part time travel, part historical fiction, big best seller… it’s also fundamentally a Romance (cough). This last gave me pause, but finally, after checking out the show (to be reviewed later) I bit the bullet. It’s funny how bestselling series drive against the current of writing “shoulds.” This book is long. It’s detailed. The protagonist is often adrift without clear “motivation” or “agency.” The prose can be highly redundant. There are countless scenes that don’t serve the spine of the plot. But these “problems” also help make for a good read, and a good read it is. Fundamentally this is a novel about interesting, and well developed (if sometimes problematic) characters, caught in an unusual and fascinating blend of setting and situation. Setup: It’s 1945 and Claire Randall is a happily married nurse. On holiday in Scotland with her husband, a circle of ancient stones mysteriously teleports her to 1743. Stuck there, she meets and falls in love with sexy highlander Jaime Fraser against the backdrop of the coming Jacobite rising. This sounds fairly trite, and it is, but the historical detailing of 18th century Scotland is very well done. The author clearly did her research, and she builds a cast of interesting characters and a rather fascinating world on the edge of war. There is an intrinsic tension between Claire’s two lives. Her modern husband isn’t a bad guy at all, even if he lacks Jaime’s manly-man energy. But she finds herself in this new place and in love — so what does she do? This dilemma provides for most of the conflict during the first two thirds of the novel. Let’s back up and discuss prose and voice. Gabaldon is a good writer. Her prose is energetic and descriptive, often erudite. The voice is completely first person from Claire’s POV. She has an engaging, if a bit overly clinical viewpoint. I had small problems with repetition. Gabaldon often repeats words a sentence later without reason of parallelism and has a tendency to elaborate on a point more than necessary. This is a book where a great deal of the subtext is in the text. Claire spells it out. Sometimes twice. Sometimes thrice. This, by the way, is another of those writing “shoulds.” You’re not supposed to “tell,” but “show” (imply). That’s “better writing.” But as far as I can tell, bestsellers don’t tend to be subtle. There is a lot of Scottish accented dialog in this book, and it’s very well handled. Claire’s POV is generally excellent, but it does result in a few issues. Occasionally (particularly in the later part of the novel) some events occur “off screen” (when she isn’t there). Gabaldon then results to gratuitous retellings where other characters relate the event to her in unlikely detail. Occasionally, a briefer recounting leads to some reader confusion. Claire is also hyper aware and overly clinical. As the author likes to handhold us through her thought process, it sometimes feels like exactly this, author handholding rather than genuine cognition. This leads to one of my bigger “motivational gripes” with this generally excellent novel, that Claire often feels fairly selfish and overly analytic. Particularly in the middle of the novel, Claire is nominally still plotting to head back to the future, but this tell feels incongruous with the emotions the author has her “show” toward Jaime. As I mentioned, the historical details are good. The attitudes of the 18th century men and women are well handled and relatively free of anachronism. Things are properly grungy, sexist, and occasionally brutish. It is occasionally a little odd that Claire herself is not terribly discomforted by this. She points out plenty of good stuff, particularly having to do with justice, medicine, and punishment, but she doesn’t really seem to miss toilets, showers, medical care, comfortable clothes, or well preserved food. Perhaps her life as a nurse during WWII was grungy enough to prepare her. She occasionally mentions discomforts flipply, but less than I’d imagine. She never really complains (or seems to suffer) with regard to food, sleeping in haystacks, or walking barefoot across the chilly Scottish moors. The time travel element is very light SciFi/Fantasy in this first novel at least, but is used to good effect. There is no mumbo-jumbo explanation to gum things up. Being a romance, and a fairly erotic one, this is also a novel full of sex. Jaime and Claire go at it like rabbits — and things are often fairly explicit, at least in a literary way. I have no problem with most of this, as it’s actually pretty hot, and I imagine that for many women it’s insanely hot (see, word repeated deliberately for effect!). But there are aspects to the sexuality in this novel that are weird. Two huge ones (spoiler alert): 1) In the middle, after Claire disobeys him, Jaime “punishes” her by strapping her bare ass (to put it bluntly). To tell the truth, his reasoning is perfectly typical by 18th century standards, but comes off as a bit twisted by ours. And some readers will be bothered by the otherwise very spunky Claire’s fairly rapid absolution of her wife-beating lover. In fact, it’s clear that Gabaldon has a bit of a “thing” for corporal punishment as it’s a constant theme in the book. Jaime goes way overboard to emphasize how much hiding her turned him on. 2) More disturbingly, Gabaldon probably isn’t the biggest fan of Homosexuality. The novel’s villain (Black Jack) is not only gay, but she goes to great lengths to integrate his evil tendencies and his sexual proclivities. Otherwise, he’s actually a rather excellent villain, but she goes big time overboard in Jaime’s recounting of the intensely odd and twisted “final hours” between Jaime and the menacing Black Jack. It’s pretty darn nasty and twisted. This, along with a retelling of an older encounter between Jaime and a gay Duke feels like an overzealous attempt to demonize… to quote the novel: “poofters.” Overall, this is an excellent novel. None are perfect, and it’s engaging throughout. The place/time is vividly depicted, and the characters are boldly executed. Both stay with you — which is no small feat for any author. Andy Gavin, author of Untimed and The Darkening Dream

Diana Gabaldon has gifted the world (literally) with the story of Jamie and Claire Fraser, set in magical Scotland. Be warned that there is rape, and Gabaldon doesn't gloss it over. Her attention to detail, from botany to clothing to sex, is incredible. Also be warned, if you're looking for gratuitous sex scenes, you won't find them. This is a story of a couple who are wed through an arranged marriage and find the love of the ages! It is the first of 9 books, with the 10th currently in progress. It has been adapted for TV with the 7th season currently in production. You'lll fall in love with all of the characters (except one or two) and you will absolutely despise them!. I recommend this to everyone over 18!

I love this book series so much, that I’ve been dying for an opportunity to read it again. However, since I’ve been so busy reading all the other books on my TBR Pile, my curiosity wasn’t piqued enough to pick up the novel again until the premiere of STARZ’s cable series, adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling novel, this fall. As I watched the cable network’s adaptation, I began to question certain small things in the episodes as to whether they happened in the book. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to read Outlander again for the first time in two years. The Good…: The world Diana Gabaldon creates in her Outlander series is so rich, that I want to savor every little detail. From the characters’ clothing to Claire’s medical applications, it’s hard not to get sucked into 1743 Scotland along with Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser. Aside from the way of life during this time period, Gabaldon has created an interesting array of characters that keep you on your toes. At the heart of the story is Claire. She’s a former trauma nurse who served during World War II, and is on a second honeymoon with her husband Frank Randall in the Scottish Highlands, when Claire unexpectedly finds herself traveling back through time 200 years into the past. While there she meets the other man in her life, James Fraser. It’s hard to see which man Claire should end up with initially since they’re both kind and loving, but as the story progresses you begin to wonder how she can ever leave Jamie. “You’re mine, mo duinne. Mine alone, now and forever. Mine, whether ye will it or no. Aye, I mean to use ye hard, my Sassenach,” he whispered. “I want to own you, to possess you, body and soul. I mean to make ye call me ‘Master,’ Sassenach. I mean to make you mine.” – Jamie Jamie’s family, friends, and foes also add color to this magical story. His uncles Colum and Dougal are incredibly mysterious. Sometimes they seem like uncles anyone might have in their family, yet other times they seem like they may be enemies parading as friends. Trying to figure out their motivations add an element of mystery as Jamie and Claire begin to navigate the complicated politics of this time. That in Scotland itself, and within the clan system in the Scottish Highlands. As for enemies, Jamie and Claire seem to find them around every corner. The main villain in this story is “Black Jack” Randall, Claire’s husband Frank’s six-times great-grandfather. This British officer is a horrible, horrible person, and the fact he’s the spitting image of Frank carries complications of its own. For Claire, it means she miscalculates the horrors “Black Jack” is willing to inflict on others. For me as a reader, it means I find myself for hating Frank by association. I keep having to remind myself that they aren’t the same person. The Bad…: Since Outlander is set in the 18th century, many things that happen to the women in this story are fitting within the time period. When reading this novel, you must remember this fact, and that what the women go through was pretty common and accepted. However, it’s not only the women that run into a bit of violence in the book. Jamie, in particular, is a victim of violence that is quite graphic. So if you are a bit squeamish, you may want to skim those scenes. Then again, those events have lasting repercussions throughout the series, so… maybe not. “I gave you justice, it said, as I was taught it. And I gave you mercy , too, so far as I could. While I could not spare you pain and humiliation, I make you a gift of my own pains and humiliations, that yours might be easier to bear. ” – Jamie Another aspect of the story that may give readers pause is how homosexuality is viewed in the book by the characters. This viewpoint was also common for that time, so if you are a bit sensitive to LGBTQ issues, you may want to fortify yourself. One of the characters in the book is homosexual, and happens to be in the precarious situation of being in the British military. In the 18th century, not only would he lose his position and be ruined if his sexuality came to light, but he would also be imprisoned. This aspect to the character gives a certain light to his actions in the story which I won’t divulge due to spoilers. Sorry! Do I Recommend? YES! YES! YES! Outlander isn’t a world-wide best-selling novel for no reason. It’s a fantastical tale of romance that withstands time and space. It’s a mystery about a woman far from home who doesn’t know how she got where she is, or how to get back. It’s a paranormal romance of a woman in love with two different men separated by 200 years. It’s a historical fiction story set in 18th century Scotland during the Jacobite movement in the time of the clans, and witch trials. It’s and adventure story about a young man who acted rashly and nearly lost his life in lieu of his freedom. A wanted man who years to return home to his family, and be the man he was meant to be. This story has something for everyone, and will not disappoint. To date there are eight books (and counting) in the series, so now is the time to jump in and see what all the buzz is about. Since this novel is amazing, hard to put down, and somehow managed to be even more wonderful the second time around, I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

My favorite love story of all time. The author brings Claire and Jamie to life. 5 stars because I couldn't put the book down.

I just finished listening to the audible version of this book! It was over 30+ hours of magical listening with a brilliant narrator. The authors words were so detailed you feel you are part of the book. I got this book from the library and had to renew it to finish it. I have started to watch season one, and will definitely continue with the audible of book two and then watch it. Great book!!!

I had not watched the series on TV so I knew nothing. My friend was reading the books and watching the shows. She kept telling me she thought I would enjoy the books. After a year or so I downloaded the first book on my Kindle. Gave it a go. I completed all the books and have started reading them again. I told my friend thanks a lot. I can barely put it down. Could read for hours, and I have. I’ve read so many good books but Outlander for me is unique. In other books I am outside looking in. With these Outlander books I feel as if I am in the midst of the characters. They are believable and I can identify with them. I’ll read something and laugh out loud. Or I will grimace and fuss. My husband just gives me a look. And then I have to share it with him. They remind me of people I’ve known throughout my life experiences. They are very real.

On her website, Diana Gabaldon says: "The OUTLANDER series started by accident, when I decided to write a novel for practice, in order to: 1. Learn what it took to write a novel, and 2. To decide whether I really wanted to do that for real." I don't know if I've ever read a sentence that made me burn quite so hot with jealousy. I've been "writing novels for practice" for some twenty years, and yet... well, I'm not Diana Gabaldon, obviously. This book blew me away. I'm an Outlander Noob, and I admit I approached this first book with skeptical trepidation, for three reasons: 1) People love this series, and too many times I have been lured in by hype only to be underwhelmed by my reading experience; 2) I knew these books involve time travel, and prior to this I'd never met a time travel book I actually enjoyed; and 3) these books are huge, and there are so many of them, and so I knew that even if I like the series, I'd be making an enormous reading time commitment (to say nothing of the expense!). Needless to say, I approached with caution. Well, now I'm throwing caution to the wind. Outlander is awesome... but phew, how exhausting! (And not just because I've stayed up way too late reading for five nights running, either.) At the end of the book, Claire mentions that Job is Jamie's favorite book of the Bible. No wonder! In the course of their travels in less than a year, Claire and Jamie endure calamities and tribulations that rival even Job's epic suffering, and as a reader, I was often white-knuckled and tense with vicarious trauma. Now I'm in a terrible bind: I really, really want to know what happens next, but there are seven more books, all equally enormous, to say nothing of the spinoffs, and I'm just not sure that helping myself to such a giant helping of vicarious reading trauma would be wise. Those lucky readers who came earlier to the Outlander party have had twenty-three years to spread out the emotional torment, Outlander having first been published in 1991 (about the time I first sat down to try to "write a novel for practice" -- Curse you, Diana Gabaldon!), and so you had to take it in small doses. Here's me, with the whole massive, sleep-depriving, ulcer-inducing, blood-pressure-elevating series at my finger tips with a few clicks of my mouse, and like an addict, I'm not sure I have the will power to resist a lethal hit. UPDATE: I do have a couple of quibbles, though. I didn't include them earlier, because I don't think they impact my overall rating of the book, but now that I've stewed on things a bit I feel like I have to mention these points, because they really did bother me. A lot. First: Shortly after their marriage, Jamie takes a strap to Claire because she disobeyed an order. He explains that he has to beat her in order to restore her standing in the Clan (because her disobedience was so public), and while it's true that the other men stop shunning her after her punishment has been served, and while I understand that it's probably a very historically accurate scene (wives having roughly the same legal standing as children in that era, and thus in need of their husband's discipline), I was troubled by the plot's implications that the beating brought Jamie and Claire closer. The resolution of conflict in a relationship brings people closer; not violence. Historically accurate or not, Diana Gabaldon is writing for a modern audience, and I can't help but filter what I read through my own (strongly anti-domestic-violence) lens. I also know that 1991 (when Outlander was first published) was very much on the cusp of the rapetastic bodice-ripper "Old Skool" of the romance genre just beginning to give way to the trend of kinder, gentler heroes and smarter, more independent and self-actualized heroines. In 1991, alph-hole heroes who beat on and raped their lovers were a venerable tradition in romance, and I wonder if Outlander were written today, instead of twenty years ago, if Gabaldon and her editors might not have had second thoughts about the necessity of that scene. Next: There is another scene, not too long after, where Jamie tells Claire he wants sex and it doesn't matter whether or not she consents; he wants her, and he will have her, and her opinion on the matter is neither invited nor welcome. (Luckily, she's on board, but it's clear that it wouldn't have mattered if she hadn't been.) That is one of the most fully described sex scenes in the book (usually the sexy times, though numerous, are recounted in glancing detail), and I didn't find it appealing at all. Third: Why must the bad guys always be gay?! Actually, I think this is another hold-over from the conventions of Old Skool romance. From the 1970s through the early 1990s, almost without exception, if a character in romantic fiction was revealed to be gay or bisexual, you could take it to the bank that they'd turn out to be a villain in the end. As a bisexual woman in a committed lesbian relationship, I'm so, so glad that this trope is far less common now. All three of these "quibbles" -- physical abuse, sexual non consent, and homophobia -- are the sort of major pet peeves that usually make me rage quit a book, and the fact that I was willing to tolerate them here (though they made my eyelids twitch) and still enjoy the book as much as I did says a lot.

REVIEW EDITED - A FEW SPOILERS AHEAD: I hate to give a book a 1 star rating and a long DNF review. I think it disrespects the writer who had gone through so much trouble to publish his/her work. I'm stubborn and I set my mind on finishing it or withdrawing my first review. Let me assure you: it does not please me to give one star long reviews. I'd rather give 5 star passionate reviews. Please, before deciding you won't like the book, read this review until the end. It's just MY opinion. I found out this is a book - IMHO - for YA who are starting to look for historical, biased romances with a bit of action and a lot of beatings and rapes; not for a full-grown woman looking for a bit of steamy historical fictional romance. As I say in the first review (below), I started Outlander with high, very high expectations. Not only due to a recommendation from a friend older than myself (not my daughter) but the enormous quantities of 5 star reviews it has here on GRs [Goodreads]. And this was not the best way to approach a book. I'm used to read teenage & YA trilogies (or series) - from Harry Potter to Hunger Games; from Percy Jackson to Twilight ("Ugh!" to the last one) and many others - because I normally read what my daughters are reading, so we can discuss the books' themes. I will leave my first review below, because although I finished the book, I did not change my mind about the rating. Unfortunately, if it could, my dislike got worse. But... Let's face it: This book was hard work, mixed with a few laughs at the absurdity of it all (and many times a retch feeling), but mostly I was bored and finding myself asking 'Really?!'. FOR ME, Outlander started with a few problems: First, I mistook it for an adult romance because of the fierce recommendation as a good HOT romance for me (I'm 44 y-o, so I'm far away from the age of blushing or giggling!) Then, English is not my mother language, so the use of ancient words made me stop to seek their meanings. I'm not one to jump over words I don't know. Even when I'm reading as leisure, I have education in mind, in whatever way it comes. TO TOP: For some romance readers, rape, S&M scenes, adultery, violence are "deal-breakers". I, FOR ONE, TOTALLY ABHOR RAPE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. I've read books with violent scenes, my problem is when the author romanticizes its perpetrators and their actions. CONTINUING: Typos do haunt me. Or rather, they hunt me. I don't know why but I have sharp eyes for them when I'm reading a story. I stumble upon them and I lose my concentration. Normally, I can overlook them easily if the plot is good enough and depending I can even laugh "with" them. I knew this book was not a classic, nor a non-fiction book. So, the pretentious use of the language took me away from it a bit. Then the story is slow-paced. (I'm okay with this, depending on the plot. It can build, grow itself inside me in its slow pace if it's good, which it's not the case). The repeated and repeated use of Scottish accent, Scottish old words and other different languages, such as Scottish Gaelic (with which I am not that much acquainted) and French (which I speak fluently) seemed unnecessary, again pretentious and with typos - yes! both of them had typos. And it left me closely analyzing words and plot devices, which I just hate and it's inconceivable in a good book. The story picked up its pace a bit around 50%, a bit too far from the beginning for me, but that is okay. I understand this is a series - 10 books!! - but I need at least a bit of passion in the descriptions, the characters' interactions, or even in the sex scenes (but not in rape scenes). Something to make me wish to turn the page and not to throw the book against the wall! I guess others could find something of interest in other points (such as the 'pumpkin bum' of the maid and the 'pumpkin face' of one of James's friends), I did not. The characters: Claire Beauchamp is our narrator. She is almost 28 years old, but behaves as a 12 year-old spoiled girl. Mercurial, selfish, rude, naïve, unexperienced but in sex, gathering herbs and nursing wounds, Claire is a leading female character bordering on the absurd. She is absolutely infuriating, annoying and, imho, the greatest editing mistake in this book, apart of course from the lack of research. The only two good things, assets, I can highlight about her is that she is not spineless and knows how to treat wounds. She tells us she had just wed an older, intelligent scholar, Frank Randall, when the WWII burst and she was a nurse for 8 years apart from him before reuniting again. She has no patience at all for his research and likes to collect herbs in the hills of the Highlands. When she touches a magical hedge is she thrown back to 1743. And so my struggle errrrr... the story begins... James Fraser is who, supposedly, saves the day - or the story for the thousands of 5 star reviews - not for me. In 1743, Jamie is 23 years old, over six feet tall, broad shouldered, charming, witty and an extremely handsome Highlander, with all the predicates that make a real hero: he has problems in his past, is hard-working, intelligent, "a virgin, not a monk", a perfect gentleman who rapes and gets a sexual high from beating his wife, and he makes the readers laugh with the absurdity of the story. He is the one my divorced friend probably fell head-over-heels in love with. (I didn't. Sorry, girls. Too inexperienced and young for my tastes at the beginning... and in the end, I might have jumped his "bookish" bones if I were in dire needs of a rape and a beating... which is not my case.) I'd probably be calling the police - or killing him as soon as I could, as there was no justice for women in that time! I would rather hang than live with an abuser. AND there is so much my suspension of disbelief can endure. It was demolished - again - when only four or five days after a 24-hour exhausting natural labor of a breeched baby, Jamie's sister mounts on a horse and follows, for more than 48 hours, the Watch that had arrested his brother - without stopping but for a night rest! [Uh?! Really?!] How old is the author? Has she ever mounted a horse for 2 hours, much less for 48 hours? Did she ever have that kind of labor? Did she do any research for her book? [Ah, no. She likes pain. I forgot, sorry!!] So, in the end, I filed it under my classification: Books to read and forget and biased YA. But even with hot rapist James, even with those classifications, I have my stars to give. Or take. In short (?): - the marital rape and the homosexual rape, both portrayed as enjoyable (and the homosexual sex is seemed to be only done by perverts!!); - the beatings - Claire's and others' described, if they were deserved or not by the Scottish thinking of the time, shouldn't have alluded to sexual enjoyment of the beater, especially because one is a husband and the other is a father!! Please don't make me quote - it's there written with all the words time and time again!!); - misguided opinions about historical facts, especially the occurrence of the Holocaust; - the slow-pace; - too long explanations; - typos, American and British English mixed, wrongly written words in English (American or British), French and Scottish Gaelic; - total lack of research; - and last, my throughly disgust at Claire's moods, I took 4 stars from Outlander; Because teenagers (and everyone) have to learn: - foreign words as they should be written; - have to understand that politeness - not rudeness - is an asset, - historical lessons, if ever passed on a book, should be told properly and not in chopped, damaging ideas; and, most important, - that a rape is not enjoyable for the raped. Suggestion to the author or to the publishing house: Just stop by your ebook, proofread it either in American English or in British English (if you use "grey", use "traveller"). Proofread the foreign words. Do a bit of research and correct all the typos, commas out of place and missing inverted commas. AND INFORM THE READER ABOUT GRAPHIC "ROMANTICIZED" RAPE AND VIOLENCE! Or unpublished it... No one deserves to pay a high price such as reading typos and mistakes. And I'm not talking about money. -------------------------------------------------- First review: I bought this book with high expectations due to the many 5 star reviews. It's 4.40 am in Rio de Janeiro and I have been enduring my way through the evening, watching "rather bleakly" the thin Welch bard take out three flutes of different sizes from his coat, but never use them, as his songs scratched my ears and his stories made as much sense as the repeated and much used words written in a verra accented Scottish English; I have wandered to the paddock to see the fillies and a mare be broken while naught but scraps of uneventful happenings took place and the sun struck the zenith; I have been treating the most boring wounds and watching justice being distributed with Gaelic words and historical words of the 16th century, no more in use, and yon, making me fetch my old, yellowish dictionary, the size of a "pumpkin bum", again and again, as the story "sailed like a galleon", but still and yet nothing that mattered really happened but Claire been thrown two hundred years back in the past (202, in fact) and not going crazy with it, but being very sensible and witty (Uh?!) and turning out to be the trusted healer of the Mackenzie Clan she had arrived on the day before (Really?!). I have walked through the orchard and to the herbal garden, planting garlic gloves and picking up commas out of place and also the most weird herbs, as I learned what Claire would do with them to cure ailments as there was no antibiotics at hand in the 18th century (Oh... There weren't any?! I didn't know that.); I have drunk tea bellow in the parlor of the procurator fiscal's house after an eventful (?) afternoon of drying marigolds or whatever herbs that filled Gillie's stillroom, as the white-faced miscreant tanner's lad was pinioned to the pillory by a nail through his ear and it started to rain. I have accompanied the acts of Mistress Duncan as she fetched a paper and wrote something and "hastily sanded it, folded and sealed it with a blob of wax from the candle, and pressed it" to Claire's hand to deliver only into Dougal's because if she did otherwise Mistress Duncan would not receive the payment due to her "chest - "a sizable wooden box with brass bands" - of dried marsh cabbage and other simples" (yes, simples) she had promised to Ms. FitzGibbons. Ah... That was a bill for herbs. And the "clock, a magnificent contrivance of walnut panels, brass pendulums, and a face decorated with quiring (sic) cherubim, and this instrument pointed to half-past six."; The haunted woods, full of Highland guards and the English Watch patrols, became darker and scared me away, when at 20% I read what is supposed to be an important motto of a clan, written as: " Je suis prest" (sic). [Please, read P.S. 2 - I've made a mistake] Ah... Another typo, I imagined, as many others my poor toes had stumbled upon, sharp as the rocks that where scattered on the yet not-touched, savage Highland grounds of this over-the-top stuffed with annoying descriptions of unimportant faces and buttocks and herbs and ailments; very much prejudiced opinions of important historical facts, such as why people didn't stop the Holocaust before it was too late (The number of highlights on this passage really impresses! Wow! How much people are credible and lacking on information!); descriptions of the Toulouse-Lautrec syndrome and how the Scottish Justice was distributed in 1743. Where was I? Ah, yes, the typo. Sorry. It was just that the night had fallen and I had gonna take a wee nap, do ye ken? But no. It was not a typo. This small, wee sentence that was supposed to be said in a "surprisingly good French" is written twice in a very bad French, and translated!! Ah! Thank God it was translated. It saved me the time to get out of my favorite, big armchair in the living room, wander through my dark dining room and entered my filled of books home-office to pick up my French dictionary to see if I had lost my touch with the language of lovers. COME ON! Isn't this book stuffed with enough accented Scottish, Gaelic and historical words; Isn't it void enough of any action, or interaction, that could have moved the story forward or leaded it somewhere, anywhere?! To top, there is no research or editing or proofread done too?! This is no ARC, for God's sake and this book has been around for some time, selling tons. Someone must have shouted to the unblushing, unashamed publishing house to correct it and update the ebook. I throw in the towel. I lost my trust and faith in the author and I don't know if what I'm reading is worth of my time, anymore. So, as Jamie tells Claire to leave the room because "It's no place for women." and stubbornly she stays and tells us what happens, nothing interesting at all, as modesty is preserved, I bow to his wisdom and I say my goodbyes, Sassenach. I have best books to read. In the face of so many problems and mistakes, I should return the book, shouldn't I? But I will not. First, because I don't believe in returning goods I have bought and also because this review deserves its seal of a "verified purchase". P.S. - I didn't even bother to correct any typos. If this review has any, they are well deserved. RJ, May 18th, 2014 ----- P.S. 2 - Seems I was lead into making a mistake: "Je suis prest" is the motto of the Scottish clan Jamie belongs to (Uh?! The author is modifying history now? Imho, it's a huge liberty to take without informing previously the reader.). The Frasier clan (an existent clan) translates "Je suis prest" for "I'm ready". It's not modern French, because "prest" in modern French means "hurry", not "ready" (I'm ready is "Je suis prêt"). Maybe it is in the 18th old century French... Or even older. I have no such knowledge to say otherwise as I am not an expert in old French. Anyway, I apologize for this mistake (and I won't delete the passage and pretend I didn't do it, I did). Wouldn't it have been much more interesting if the author had said: 'Je suis prest', he said in a surprisingly good 18th century old French. Or 'I'm ready,' thinks Claire, translating the 18th century old French Je suis prest into modern English. Or something around the lines... The motto is repeated and repeated along the book more than 4 times. Just once, it could have been better explained. IMHO, this is how knowledge should be passed through: good explanations and clear informations. For me, the problem remains because: a- Claire had never heard the Frasier motto before. In fact, she didn't even know Jamie's surname (view spoiler) or to which clan he belonged to; b- Claire, who couldn't withstand the "ramblings" of her studious first husband, and speaks herself a passible 20th century modern French, (I'm not inventing, it's all there on the book) would not be capable of doing such translations (but if better explained, perhaps I would have overlooked this problem...); c- When I am reading a romantic novel based in "magic" (moving back and forward in time by touching a hedge is... what? Almost sic-fi, not pure non-fiction historical romance), I don't like to read distorted historical facts about real characters or clans or whatever, so my annoyance becomes worse when I realize I should had been researching what I am reading for leisure, leisure meaning "no working", "no computers", "nothing but a enjoyable book and a glass of wine". d- I hate romanticized rape! Period. RJ, August 10th, 2014.

Before purchasing Clanlands, I went through the 1–3-star Amazon reviews. Forewarned, I was still morbidly curious and wanted to judge for myself. I regretted my stupidity/curiosity very quickly. First of all, Clanlands lean heavily on Outlander TV series. If I haven’t watched it, half the time I’d be clueless about most topics. My sympathies go to unsuspecting readers who’d never heard of Outlander series in any medium, let alone watched it. Book is structured as alternating Sam’s and Graham’s sections where each recounts events from their own point of view and/or offers reader curious bits of Scottish history and culture (with wildly varying success). Sam’s sections are dreadful for the most part. Nearly half the book reads like tall tales from frat parties interspersed with blatant self-promotion and product placement. He comes across as fairly insecure and desperate, pushing Outlander series to everyone’s faces every few paragraphs or so just in case we forgot. We should be so lucky. I like Outlander but after a while, I was ready to never watch another episode, just so I would never have to be reminded of its existence. It’s not until page 130 that Sam starts to come across as normal human being. Up until than point it’s like he’s deeply committed to sounding like dumb blonde. In the midst of an absolute drag of a “story”, he would veer off into something actually interesting only so he could snap out of it two sentences down the road and return to his dumb blond, juvenile identity. That trend is so pronounced it felt like watching – on repeat - recorded scene where he would snap out of his reverie and return to idiotic character. I wonder who told him that was great writing and fantastic idea but perhaps he should consider another editor for his future endeavours. “Banter” and nicknames for Graham get old really fast. Past that saturation point it’s just annoyance fest. I don’t even mind advertising bits so much but don’t get me started on drinking tales. Truly tall tales from frat party. However you look at it, it’s basically committed attempt to turn borderline drinking problem into something glamourous. Graham, on the other hand, is a delight. Witty, sharp, funny, eloquent, deliciously sarcastic. Way better writer who led more interesting life and actually has something to say. That writing proficiency shows from the start, namely, dedication. Graham’s is simple, pointed, meaningful, powerful. Sam’s reads like awards acceptance speech – same lack of depth or meaning. I enjoyed Graham’s anecdotes tremendously. He made me laugh often, out loud, sometimes even in the middle of the night, in the darkened room. On few instances I laughed so hard tears were streaming down my cheeks. After initial disappointment with Sam’s sections, I considered skipping Sam’s and only read Graham’s, but my stupid OCD kicked in, so I had to go the usual, cover-to-cover, route. Also, his bits on history and culture were genuinely interesting and informative. Even after Sam improved, I’d find myself looking forward to the next Graham section. In all fairness, Sam indeed improved past these unfortunate 130 pages. However, by that time I was so enraged and disgusted by him that my good graces never returned. Partly because it makes me wonder – if he can write reasonably interestingly and coherently, what exactly was he doing wasting my time and trying my patience for so long? Someone told him that’s how great books should be written? He decided – heeding no advice – that’s the way to go and good writing? I’ll never know but as a result of my little venture into Clanlands, I’d very much like to meet and befriend Graham. Sam, on the other hand, I find off-putting. Silliness, juvenile behaviour, stinginess (constantly keeping score of the content of other people’s plates and glasses). I mean, if you don’t want to pay, say so. Don’t count each bite of your castmates and crew. That’s a dick move. Also, naming every single person you ever worked with – crew included – while rather noble, doesn’t exactly make for gripping read. We don’t know these people, never will and harbour zero level investment in their character traits. Besides, Sam, thought process that led you to deeming these people worthy often sounds idiotic. Not sure you should brag about it. Chapter on Culloden is very good but so late in the book feels like too little, too late. Some twisted reward for brave readers who persevered. I almost relented and upped my rating. Almost. Again, in all fairness, I learned a thing or two about Scottish culture, some of it weird, some of it weirdly familiar. Nevertheless, I’m not remotely tempted to subject myself to the torture of reading Clanlands ever again or – God forbid – (potential) sequel. Morbidly enough, I thought Clanlands as a book reads boring and tried a bit of TV series. Boy, that elevated my definition of “mind-numbingly tedious” to a whole new level. I shudder at the mere thought of it. In conclusion, Graham, four stars. Sam, two for the first half; second half saved you and pushed the rating to three. Overall, still three stars. Sorry, Graham. Not a reference to your skill and wits. Btw and unrelated – uniquely memorable entrance, Dijkstra. 😉

Many reviewers here sings the book's praises while some are bored, and a good many are distressed and even disgusted by it. Let me sum it up for you in a few points to help you see if this book is up your ally or not: (This review CONTAINS SPOILERS.) KILTS: This is the one really good reason to read this book . You have to hand it down to Gabaldon, she knows what women want, and women want a man in a kilt. It's the simple truth. If you are not interested in kilts wearing dudes, this is not the book for you. move on. If you are on board with man wearing kilts, imagine such a man. He will be tall and broad shouldered, with ginger hair and slightly slanted eyes. He will be strong and brave, but also kind and gentle. He'll have a sense of humour and a sexy Scottish accent. He'll be good with horses. He'll believe in marriage. Feeling a little short breathed? Are you ready to start obsessing over a fictional man that will ruin dating with mere mortal men permanently for you? meet Jamie Fraser. A Historical Novel? Not really: This is a ROMANTIC NOVEL. It tells the story of two people falling in love with each other. The fact that one of them is a woman that goes back through a magical stone circle in time 200 years does not make it science fiction novel, fantasy novel or even a historical novel. The reasons to why and how this time travel happened are not really explored. Nor does it paint a detailed picture of life in 1747 Scottish highlands. What it does explore, very vividly, is the attractiveness of the 2 main characters, Jamie and Claire, and their hot sex, and you get some Lochs, castles and fighting men in kilts as a background. On the bright side - this is a very engaging love story, and I found it fun to read up until the middle of the book. The author does get points for originality when she reverses the traditional roles and cliches of the romantic genre and when the hero is introduced to us, he is the one doing the fainting while she is doing the saving. Do you expect a believable account of how a 20th century woman adjusts to the shock of transitioning to 18th century Scotland? prepare for disappointment. It Seems that our heroine adjusts very swiftly to life of perpetual violence, feudal laws and No toilets. Not a thought about a hot cup of coffee in the morning or a much needed tooth brush. she is perfectly happy wearing corsets and long skirts and though she sometimes mentions missing hot showers, it doesn't go much beyond that. Really? I would have KILLED for a bath. Claire's training as a nurse and her medical knowledge does come in handy and she is placed as the "healer" at castle Leoch, but it seems incredulous that she can treat all the various injuries and illnesses that come her way with nothing more than the medicinal herbs in the castle's garden. You'd expect some frustration with the lack of proper medication, equipment, and hygiene, but astonishingly that is not the case. Who needs antibiotics Or anesthetics? a good dose of Milk Thistle seed or Dandelion tea does the trick every time. How comfortable are you with detailed and graphic sexual violence scenes? If you intent to read the book, brace yourself. There is so much sexual violence in this book, it seems like rape was the favorite pass time in the highlands, and apparently no one bothered to read a book to or take up a hobby if they could just go out and rape someone. What bothered me most is how casually the author uses rape in her story: every time the plot needed some excitement and perils, Gabaldon chose rape. and then some more rape and then some child rape and male rape to top it all. The most horrible thing about her attitude toward sexual violence is that every time it's directed at a woman the woman thoughts are that she must be strong , shrug off the trauma, and carry on with her life with a "nothing to be done here so why dwell on it" attitude. But when a MAN sexually attacked, then it suddenly an issue. I lost count of just how many people attempted to rape Claire, and after each painful episode, Claire didn't even pause to feel traumatized. After one cruel and violent attempt Jaimy rescues her, but he is mostly pissed with the fact that his wife was in an intimate position with a man he hates, so he has very little room to consider HER feelings. I guess it doesn't really matter what she feels. He proceeds then to punish her, for running away ( running away is what caused the villain to be able to attack her ) without thinking that, perhaps, she has suffered enough. However, when MALE RAPE is introduced ( spoilers ) and the same villain who tried to hurt Claire hurts Jaimy in many disturbing and way too graphic scenes, then rape suddenly becomes a major thing. When it's a MAN who's being raped then it's not just chin up and carry on anymore, but is presented as deeply scarring and traumatizing event that will forever haunt the survivor. The author allows the male victim to hurt and to process very slowly, what happened and how he will be forever changed after that, everyone around him are supportive and sensitive to his experience, whereas the female victim just has to accept that that's her lot in life and that the world is full of man who simply find her irresistible. Maybe in Gabaldon's eyes rape is some kind of compliment. Some people might argue that those were violent times and women were considered to be the spoils of war, but Gabaldon's overuse of sexual violence and the fact that's it the only driving force behind all of her character's actions is a sign that she is a very mediocre writer. I could probably live with mediocre writing, but found it unbearable to read how casually she treats violence and how she puts words in the mouth of her characters that makes it sound like they accept what was done to them almost gladly. For example - on a casual dinner at the castle, the people are talking about the upcoming visit of the Duke of Sardingham. They gossip that he is known for his taste in young boys. Jemie entertains everyone with a most "amusing" anecdote about the duke's last visit to the castle, a few years before, when Jamie was a young boy. The Duke tried to sexually abuse him several times, and he only very narrowly escaped each time... But no harm done, so no hard feelings, LOL, every one is laughing, what a lovely story by the fire. To read how the author portrays such an experiences as nothing more than a casual anecdote is nothing short of revolting, in my eyes. What is worst, that this HORRIFIC incident plays ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE IN THE STORY!!!! Did Gabaldon just put it there for our enjoyment? I did not enjoy it, and was tempted to stop right there. Sadly I did not stop reading, and the book just becomes worse and worse from that point on. What started out as a an adventurous and endearing love story, suddenly changed Genre from romance for kilt lovers into a novel for torture aficionados. Do You think that after the many cruel sexual violence descriptions, you will not be shocked with descriptions of "regular" violence? You would be WRONG. Because, again, what's shocking isn't the violence in itself, but the fact the victims have come to justify it and welcome it! For example - I'm sure a father disciplining his son by beating him was considered back then a reasonable educational approach, but what I found unreasonable and shocking is how many pages are dedicated to Jamie's account of how his father educated him in that manner, and how Jamie, dreamy eyed and absorbed in those "fond" memories, claims that beating him was the best way his father could have shown his love and care for him. And Claire, our modern and outspoken heroine, is not even slightly concerned. Instead of planning her escape from this man, she falls more deeply in love with him. And why is he reminiscing about it, do you ask? well, it is to explain to her why he chose to educate her in the same way! after she run away, and was captured by the evil English captain Randall ( and was beaten and almost raped by him ) Jamie feels that her running away was a reckless behaviour, which put him her and everyone else at risk. To make sure she never entertains such notions ever again, he tells her it is his DUTY as her husband to reform her with his BELT. Claire is unhappy about being beaten with a belt but after a a couple of days sees the logic of his actions and doesn't resent him for it. WTF?!? This is Gabaldon's notion of what women secretly fantasize about - A CONTROLLING AND ABUSIVE MAN who think it's his "duty" as your husband to hit you if he thinks you've made a mistake. In seeing how well this book is doing despite all this ugly violence and controlling behaviour disguised as Romance, I guess she is right... It's just sad. To conclude - I'm having a very hard time understanding what the die hard fans see in this book. It could have been an OK book if the violence had been toned down or if the impact of such violence would have been portrayed realistically. I guess if you like that sort of romantic novels where the guy is super hot yet controlling underneath his facade as loving and caring ( like in 50 shades of grey) Maybe it's your type of book. Otherwise I recommend you leave it on the shelf.

I’ve been meaning to read Outlander for years. Part time travel, part historical fiction, big best seller… it’s also fundamentally a Romance (cough). This last gave me pause, but finally, after checking out the show (to be reviewed later) I bit the bullet. It’s funny how bestselling series drive against the current of writing “shoulds.” This book is long. It’s detailed. The protagonist is often adrift without clear “motivation” or “agency.” The prose can be highly redundant. There are countless scenes that don’t serve the spine of the plot. But these “problems” also help make for a good read, and a good read it is. Fundamentally this is a novel about interesting, and well developed (if sometimes problematic) characters, caught in an unusual and fascinating blend of setting and situation. Setup: It’s 1945 and Claire Randall is a happily married nurse. On holiday in Scotland with her husband, a circle of ancient stones mysteriously teleports her to 1743. Stuck there, she meets and falls in love with sexy highlander Jaime Fraser against the backdrop of the coming Jacobite rising. This sounds fairly trite, and it is, but the historical detailing of 18th century Scotland is very well done. The author clearly did her research, and she builds a cast of interesting characters and a rather fascinating world on the edge of war. There is an intrinsic tension between Claire’s two lives. Her modern husband isn’t a bad guy at all, even if he lacks Jaime’s manly-man energy. But she finds herself in this new place and in love — so what does she do? This dilemma provides for most of the conflict during the first two thirds of the novel. Let’s back up and discuss prose and voice. Gabaldon is a good writer. Her prose is energetic and descriptive, often erudite. The voice is completely first person from Claire’s POV. She has an engaging, if a bit overly clinical viewpoint. I had small problems with repetition. Gabaldon often repeats words a sentence later without reason of parallelism and has a tendency to elaborate on a point more than necessary. This is a book where a great deal of the subtext is in the text. Claire spells it out. Sometimes twice. Sometimes thrice. This, by the way, is another of those writing “shoulds.” You’re not supposed to “tell,” but “show” (imply). That’s “better writing.” But as far as I can tell, bestsellers don’t tend to be subtle. There is a lot of Scottish accented dialog in this book, and it’s very well handled. Claire’s POV is generally excellent, but it does result in a few issues. Occasionally (particularly in the later part of the novel) some events occur “off screen” (when she isn’t there). Gabaldon then results to gratuitous retellings where other characters relate the event to her in unlikely detail. Occasionally, a briefer recounting leads to some reader confusion. Claire is also hyper aware and overly clinical. As the author likes to handhold us through her thought process, it sometimes feels like exactly this, author handholding rather than genuine cognition. This leads to one of my bigger “motivational gripes” with this generally excellent novel, that Claire often feels fairly selfish and overly analytic. Particularly in the middle of the novel, Claire is nominally still plotting to head back to the future, but this tell feels incongruous with the emotions the author has her “show” toward Jaime. As I mentioned, the historical details are good. The attitudes of the 18th century men and women are well handled and relatively free of anachronism. Things are properly grungy, sexist, and occasionally brutish. It is occasionally a little odd that Claire herself is not terribly discomforted by this. She points out plenty of good stuff, particularly having to do with justice, medicine, and punishment, but she doesn’t really seem to miss toilets, showers, medical care, comfortable clothes, or well preserved food. Perhaps her life as a nurse during WWII was grungy enough to prepare her. She occasionally mentions discomforts flipply, but less than I’d imagine. She never really complains (or seems to suffer) with regard to food, sleeping in haystacks, or walking barefoot across the chilly Scottish moors. The time travel element is very light SciFi/Fantasy in this first novel at least, but is used to good effect. There is no mumbo-jumbo explanation to gum things up. Being a romance, and a fairly erotic one, this is also a novel full of sex. Jaime and Claire go at it like rabbits — and things are often fairly explicit, at least in a literary way. I have no problem with most of this, as it’s actually pretty hot, and I imagine that for many women it’s insanely hot (see, word repeated deliberately for effect!). But there are aspects to the sexuality in this novel that are weird. Two huge ones (spoiler alert): 1) In the middle, after Claire disobeys him, Jaime “punishes” her by strapping her bare ass (to put it bluntly). To tell the truth, his reasoning is perfectly typical by 18th century standards, but comes off as a bit twisted by ours. And some readers will be bothered by the otherwise very spunky Claire’s fairly rapid absolution of her wife-beating lover. In fact, it’s clear that Gabaldon has a bit of a “thing” for corporal punishment as it’s a constant theme in the book. Jaime goes way overboard to emphasize how much hiding her turned him on. 2) More disturbingly, Gabaldon probably isn’t the biggest fan of Homosexuality. The novel’s villain (Black Jack) is not only gay, but she goes to great lengths to integrate his evil tendencies and his sexual proclivities. Otherwise, he’s actually a rather excellent villain, but she goes big time overboard in Jaime’s recounting of the intensely odd and twisted “final hours” between Jaime and the menacing Black Jack. It’s pretty darn nasty and twisted. This, along with a retelling of an older encounter between Jaime and a gay Duke feels like an overzealous attempt to demonize… to quote the novel: “poofters.” Overall, this is an excellent novel. None are perfect, and it’s engaging throughout. The place/time is vividly depicted, and the characters are boldly executed. Both stay with you — which is no small feat for any author. Andy Gavin, author of Untimed and The Darkening Dream

Diana Gabaldon has gifted the world (literally) with the story of Jamie and Claire Fraser, set in magical Scotland. Be warned that there is rape, and Gabaldon doesn't gloss it over. Her attention to detail, from botany to clothing to sex, is incredible. Also be warned, if you're looking for gratuitous sex scenes, you won't find them. This is a story of a couple who are wed through an arranged marriage and find the love of the ages! It is the first of 9 books, with the 10th currently in progress. It has been adapted for TV with the 7th season currently in production. You'lll fall in love with all of the characters (except one or two) and you will absolutely despise them!. I recommend this to everyone over 18!

I love this book series so much, that I’ve been dying for an opportunity to read it again. However, since I’ve been so busy reading all the other books on my TBR Pile, my curiosity wasn’t piqued enough to pick up the novel again until the premiere of STARZ’s cable series, adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling novel, this fall. As I watched the cable network’s adaptation, I began to question certain small things in the episodes as to whether they happened in the book. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to read Outlander again for the first time in two years. The Good…: The world Diana Gabaldon creates in her Outlander series is so rich, that I want to savor every little detail. From the characters’ clothing to Claire’s medical applications, it’s hard not to get sucked into 1743 Scotland along with Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser. Aside from the way of life during this time period, Gabaldon has created an interesting array of characters that keep you on your toes. At the heart of the story is Claire. She’s a former trauma nurse who served during World War II, and is on a second honeymoon with her husband Frank Randall in the Scottish Highlands, when Claire unexpectedly finds herself traveling back through time 200 years into the past. While there she meets the other man in her life, James Fraser. It’s hard to see which man Claire should end up with initially since they’re both kind and loving, but as the story progresses you begin to wonder how she can ever leave Jamie. “You’re mine, mo duinne. Mine alone, now and forever. Mine, whether ye will it or no. Aye, I mean to use ye hard, my Sassenach,” he whispered. “I want to own you, to possess you, body and soul. I mean to make ye call me ‘Master,’ Sassenach. I mean to make you mine.” – Jamie Jamie’s family, friends, and foes also add color to this magical story. His uncles Colum and Dougal are incredibly mysterious. Sometimes they seem like uncles anyone might have in their family, yet other times they seem like they may be enemies parading as friends. Trying to figure out their motivations add an element of mystery as Jamie and Claire begin to navigate the complicated politics of this time. That in Scotland itself, and within the clan system in the Scottish Highlands. As for enemies, Jamie and Claire seem to find them around every corner. The main villain in this story is “Black Jack” Randall, Claire’s husband Frank’s six-times great-grandfather. This British officer is a horrible, horrible person, and the fact he’s the spitting image of Frank carries complications of its own. For Claire, it means she miscalculates the horrors “Black Jack” is willing to inflict on others. For me as a reader, it means I find myself for hating Frank by association. I keep having to remind myself that they aren’t the same person. The Bad…: Since Outlander is set in the 18th century, many things that happen to the women in this story are fitting within the time period. When reading this novel, you must remember this fact, and that what the women go through was pretty common and accepted. However, it’s not only the women that run into a bit of violence in the book. Jamie, in particular, is a victim of violence that is quite graphic. So if you are a bit squeamish, you may want to skim those scenes. Then again, those events have lasting repercussions throughout the series, so… maybe not. “I gave you justice, it said, as I was taught it. And I gave you mercy , too, so far as I could. While I could not spare you pain and humiliation, I make you a gift of my own pains and humiliations, that yours might be easier to bear. ” – Jamie Another aspect of the story that may give readers pause is how homosexuality is viewed in the book by the characters. This viewpoint was also common for that time, so if you are a bit sensitive to LGBTQ issues, you may want to fortify yourself. One of the characters in the book is homosexual, and happens to be in the precarious situation of being in the British military. In the 18th century, not only would he lose his position and be ruined if his sexuality came to light, but he would also be imprisoned. This aspect to the character gives a certain light to his actions in the story which I won’t divulge due to spoilers. Sorry! Do I Recommend? YES! YES! YES! Outlander isn’t a world-wide best-selling novel for no reason. It’s a fantastical tale of romance that withstands time and space. It’s a mystery about a woman far from home who doesn’t know how she got where she is, or how to get back. It’s a paranormal romance of a woman in love with two different men separated by 200 years. It’s a historical fiction story set in 18th century Scotland during the Jacobite movement in the time of the clans, and witch trials. It’s and adventure story about a young man who acted rashly and nearly lost his life in lieu of his freedom. A wanted man who years to return home to his family, and be the man he was meant to be. This story has something for everyone, and will not disappoint. To date there are eight books (and counting) in the series, so now is the time to jump in and see what all the buzz is about. Since this novel is amazing, hard to put down, and somehow managed to be even more wonderful the second time around, I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

My favorite love story of all time. The author brings Claire and Jamie to life. 5 stars because I couldn't put the book down.

I just finished listening to the audible version of this book! It was over 30+ hours of magical listening with a brilliant narrator. The authors words were so detailed you feel you are part of the book. I got this book from the library and had to renew it to finish it. I have started to watch season one, and will definitely continue with the audible of book two and then watch it. Great book!!!

I had not watched the series on TV so I knew nothing. My friend was reading the books and watching the shows. She kept telling me she thought I would enjoy the books. After a year or so I downloaded the first book on my Kindle. Gave it a go. I completed all the books and have started reading them again. I told my friend thanks a lot. I can barely put it down. Could read for hours, and I have. I’ve read so many good books but Outlander for me is unique. In other books I am outside looking in. With these Outlander books I feel as if I am in the midst of the characters. They are believable and I can identify with them. I’ll read something and laugh out loud. Or I will grimace and fuss. My husband just gives me a look. And then I have to share it with him. They remind me of people I’ve known throughout my life experiences. They are very real.

On her website, Diana Gabaldon says: "The OUTLANDER series started by accident, when I decided to write a novel for practice, in order to: 1. Learn what it took to write a novel, and 2. To decide whether I really wanted to do that for real." I don't know if I've ever read a sentence that made me burn quite so hot with jealousy. I've been "writing novels for practice" for some twenty years, and yet... well, I'm not Diana Gabaldon, obviously. This book blew me away. I'm an Outlander Noob, and I admit I approached this first book with skeptical trepidation, for three reasons: 1) People love this series, and too many times I have been lured in by hype only to be underwhelmed by my reading experience; 2) I knew these books involve time travel, and prior to this I'd never met a time travel book I actually enjoyed; and 3) these books are huge, and there are so many of them, and so I knew that even if I like the series, I'd be making an enormous reading time commitment (to say nothing of the expense!). Needless to say, I approached with caution. Well, now I'm throwing caution to the wind. Outlander is awesome... but phew, how exhausting! (And not just because I've stayed up way too late reading for five nights running, either.) At the end of the book, Claire mentions that Job is Jamie's favorite book of the Bible. No wonder! In the course of their travels in less than a year, Claire and Jamie endure calamities and tribulations that rival even Job's epic suffering, and as a reader, I was often white-knuckled and tense with vicarious trauma. Now I'm in a terrible bind: I really, really want to know what happens next, but there are seven more books, all equally enormous, to say nothing of the spinoffs, and I'm just not sure that helping myself to such a giant helping of vicarious reading trauma would be wise. Those lucky readers who came earlier to the Outlander party have had twenty-three years to spread out the emotional torment, Outlander having first been published in 1991 (about the time I first sat down to try to "write a novel for practice" -- Curse you, Diana Gabaldon!), and so you had to take it in small doses. Here's me, with the whole massive, sleep-depriving, ulcer-inducing, blood-pressure-elevating series at my finger tips with a few clicks of my mouse, and like an addict, I'm not sure I have the will power to resist a lethal hit. UPDATE: I do have a couple of quibbles, though. I didn't include them earlier, because I don't think they impact my overall rating of the book, but now that I've stewed on things a bit I feel like I have to mention these points, because they really did bother me. A lot. First: Shortly after their marriage, Jamie takes a strap to Claire because she disobeyed an order. He explains that he has to beat her in order to restore her standing in the Clan (because her disobedience was so public), and while it's true that the other men stop shunning her after her punishment has been served, and while I understand that it's probably a very historically accurate scene (wives having roughly the same legal standing as children in that era, and thus in need of their husband's discipline), I was troubled by the plot's implications that the beating brought Jamie and Claire closer. The resolution of conflict in a relationship brings people closer; not violence. Historically accurate or not, Diana Gabaldon is writing for a modern audience, and I can't help but filter what I read through my own (strongly anti-domestic-violence) lens. I also know that 1991 (when Outlander was first published) was very much on the cusp of the rapetastic bodice-ripper "Old Skool" of the romance genre just beginning to give way to the trend of kinder, gentler heroes and smarter, more independent and self-actualized heroines. In 1991, alph-hole heroes who beat on and raped their lovers were a venerable tradition in romance, and I wonder if Outlander were written today, instead of twenty years ago, if Gabaldon and her editors might not have had second thoughts about the necessity of that scene. Next: There is another scene, not too long after, where Jamie tells Claire he wants sex and it doesn't matter whether or not she consents; he wants her, and he will have her, and her opinion on the matter is neither invited nor welcome. (Luckily, she's on board, but it's clear that it wouldn't have mattered if she hadn't been.) That is one of the most fully described sex scenes in the book (usually the sexy times, though numerous, are recounted in glancing detail), and I didn't find it appealing at all. Third: Why must the bad guys always be gay?! Actually, I think this is another hold-over from the conventions of Old Skool romance. From the 1970s through the early 1990s, almost without exception, if a character in romantic fiction was revealed to be gay or bisexual, you could take it to the bank that they'd turn out to be a villain in the end. As a bisexual woman in a committed lesbian relationship, I'm so, so glad that this trope is far less common now. All three of these "quibbles" -- physical abuse, sexual non consent, and homophobia -- are the sort of major pet peeves that usually make me rage quit a book, and the fact that I was willing to tolerate them here (though they made my eyelids twitch) and still enjoy the book as much as I did says a lot.

Best book I've read

This was an impressive, thoroughly thought out novel although it was unusual and a little unsettling. It showed the effects of meticulous historical research but also broke new ground -- but every one of the author's decisions seemed correct as I got further into it. I'd already been exposed to the first two episodes of the TV version, so I wasn't surprised it had time travel. I also had some idea of the plot: a WW II British nurse accidentally triggers a time portal in a Stonehenge-like monument in Scotland while she's on vacation with her husband shortly after the war ended. She passes through to the 18th century and soon encounters people from that time period -- including her husband's ancestor, "Black Jack" Randall, a British Army Captain, who immediately shows he's the villain of the piece, captures her, and pulls her away from the monument so she can't go back -- even assuming she knows how to make it work in reverse. Through most of the book, he's chasing her and the other main character. We gradually learn a lot about 18th century Scotland on the eve of the Second Rising, when "Bonnie Prince Charlie" tries to unseat King George II of England and rule the UK. (He was eventually crushed in the Battle of Culloden in 1745). Lots of that would be so well known to contemporary people that if the book had been a "straight" historical novel, the author wouldn't have had the excuse to teach us so much. We learn about medical practices, beliefs in witchcraft and fairies, sex roles and the easy attitude towards violence. Most readers will be less surprised by the "old fashioned" attitudes towards marriage and sexuality. The book is a complex book, although it's an easy read (although not short!) Its complexity only unfolds gradually along with the tale. Of course it has to face the science fiction dilemma of to what extent history can be changed by a time traveler without causing herself to wink out of existence because she accidentally stopped one of her ancestors from being married to the right person (or whatever). It doesn't truly answer this unanswerable question but it's much more sophisticated in its approach to it than the videos. More prosaically, if you're already in love (and married) in your own time and you find yourself feeling attracted to someone in the time to which you've travelled, is this adultery? Infidelity? In this book, Claire Beauchamp, the main character, comes to have a passionate relationship with Jamie Fraser, a minor nobleman who is pursued by Capt. Randall and obliged to marry her for non-romantic reasons consistent with the period. She feels guilty, having left a husband behind, and I wondered what she'd do if and when she got back to the 20th century. But their "unsettling" relationship plays all too believably, maybe a little too earthy with explicit sex compared to courtly romances like those of Miss Austen. Claire is forced to recognize that the rights women had (even) in 1945, much less today, were practically all nonexistent in 1743. One of the "unsettling" passages has Jamie beat her for disobedience (she deserved it, exposing them to pursuit as a result of ignoring his instructions), and next day, the other clansmen make ribald jokes about it. Another unsettling passage has Jamie tell her how Capt. Randall tortured him when he was captured for a second time. I realized that there was some heavy duty psychological drama going on, maybe even "post-traumatic stress disorder". The book is written in American English; I think the author is American, although she seems to have a grasp of Scottish brogue and a smattering of Gaelic as well so the local color is good enough to pass muster, at least for someone whose only prior exposure to Scotland was through "Bob Son of Battle" in childhood. In a helpful author's afterword she admits to not having visited Scotland until after writing this first volume, so it's all library research. But the research is thorough! Some of the events are a little hard to swallow in a complex plot with many narrow escapes, but the time travel isn't one of those. The book is good entertainment and also teaches you a lot about olde time Scotland.

Jamie is *chefs kiss.* I very much like Diana Gabaldon’s writing style for the Outlander series in that it is descriptive to the point where I feel like I have travelled back in time myself. I absolutely love these books and can not get enough.

What can I say to anyone who's read a Diana Gabaldon book? This woman has 'the gift,' (and I am also a 'paid' writer/part-time editor, so don't write many customer reviews on books unless they're REALLY, Really good OR, REALLY, Really bad)! I have to admit that although I'd heard of Diana from my sister who's read her books, it wasn't until we watched the (Starz) televised version of her first novel, Outlander, that I sought out her novels. All of Gabaldon's novels are a unique mixture of genres; Romance (but do NOT let this turn you off guys as there is plenty of 'manly action,' and testosterone in the male characters via clan conflicts, revolutions, and plenty of broadsword and dirk, hand-to-hand fighting), History - including U.K. in post world II, and later, US and U.K. in 1960s and 70s, AND, even Scotland, France, & more in the 1740s and, 1760s, because it's also somewhat Sci-Fi due to time travel! I am not typically a big Science Fiction or time travel fan, but Diana has found a most uncommon and pretty fascinating way to weave all of these topics together in such a way that it is quite believable and very entertaining. Her stories are also an inspiration because she had never been to the U.K., Scotland, or France, before writing her first few novels (and to think I was worrying about my current writing project because it covers several time periods and mostly takes place in another major city in the U.S. that I've not really seen firsthand - D.G. has definitely helped to alleviate my fear with this). As a college Professor, Gabaldon, certainly zeros in on research and it shows in the intricate and factual details about pretty much everything she writes about - I love that while being completely entertained, I'm also always learning something new while reading her books! I think that since I saw the TV series (Season One last Fall), I was totally ready to submerge myself into these books and, while I'm on novel number four now, Outlander may always be my favorite - it being my first. This first book begins with the main female character, Claire, and her fairly new husband, Frank, taking a much needed get-a-way to a quaint town in Scotland right after World War II. Claire, who worked through the war as a nurse, and Frank, an officer, hardly saw each other during that time between 1939 and 1945. Anyway, their little second honeymoon doesn't end up being the catalyst for bringing them closer together but instead, on a trip to an ancient circle of stones, Claire is transported back in time through one of the stones smack dab in the middle of a skirmish between the Scots and British soldiers. It takes her a while to realize she's not in the middle of some filming crew doing a historical movie or documentary, but REALLY, 'in' the 1740s! The story just gets better and better as Claire is rescued by a band of Scots from a villainous Red Coat who is about to have his way with her, and, just happens to look just like her husband, Frank, BECAUSE, he is Frank's Great, Great, (however many 'greats') Grandfather. The Scottish clan who swoops her out of harm's way doesn't quite know whether they can trust her since she's English or, as they say, an "Outlander," or a Sassenach. As the story progresses and Claire constantly tries to think of ways to get back to the circle of stones and, her own time frame (and husband), she inadvertently finds herself falling for one of the young Scots, Jamie Fraser and well, by this point, you won't be able to put the book down (or, stop watching the series). Does Claire fall for the handsome young Scottish warrior with a heart and soul as big as he is, or does she find her way back to the stones and her own time and, Frank? You'll want to know so I'll not include any spoilers from this point. I will say, that my husband, is not much for "period romances," but after he watched the first two episodes, he was hooked - like I said, plenty of 'action,' all around if Diana Gabaldon is behind the story. Season 2 of Outlander starts April 4th here in the U.S. and we've already set it to record. In the meantime, you can go to Starz web site and find out how to catch up with Season 1 - which is playing now I believe as a precursor to the upcoming season. I'll also be reading on through novel number four ( Drums of Autumn). There are four more novel waiting after this as Diana has written a total of eight novels in this series - and to think this incredibly gifted author started writing Outlander, "Just to see if I could write an entire book." Uhm, Ms. Gabaldon, I'm pretty sure we can say a resounding "YES" to that!

A tiny bit warn but I bought the used copy. Overall pretty well taken care of. I am pretty satisfied with it!

I loved EVERYTHING about this book - and I'm crazy for Claire and Jamie so I'm glad there are (at least) seven more books! I was surprised at how psychologically dark it got towards the end, with Jamie's horrible ordeal, but feel the experience was important and valuable to understanding who the characters are. I often say there are few who tell great stories AND are true wordsmiths (Belinda Bauer being my perennial favorite in that regard) - and that it's so rare it's not fair for readers and critics to demand it. And I'd had myself mostly convinced Gabaldon was more a storyteller than poet. And then those words started falling from the mouth of Jamie and the "oh-my-gods" and the have-to-write-that-quote-downs started. It was especially gratifying to watch Jamie develop from an inexperienced boy into such a remarkable man - one worthy of such a woman as Claire. I didn't have high hopes for that when he was first introduced. I was often sobbing like a child towards the end and, just as often, filled with dread so Gabaldon really did her job. But... I do have A problem: I have to say I find it interesting the Gabaldon recently made a snarky remark about 50 Shades of Grey during a press conference for the Starz premium cable adaptation. It was a swipe in which she admitted to "luckily" having not read James trilogy. She also had something rude to say about her tale not being a romance story. Nobody who's not an Outlander fan would agree with Gabaldon's self-assessment of her massive work. Nearly anyone who's not a rabid devotee would put Outlander in the exact same category with James' trilogy so I think Gabaldon may need to get down off her high horse about That Other Series. Having read (and, more often than not, ENDURED!) 50S three times and having dipped my toe in Gabaldon's story (which I plan to finish all of), I find a rather crucial similarity in that both are stories of people redeemed and transformed by love. And what's wrong with that? You can stick them in a Seattle penthouse or in an 18th century Scottish castle but the longing for love is everlasting and universal. The 50 Shades discussion is so exasperating for those of us who fell in love with the Ana and Christian of the books. We KNOW the books are a hot mess:The up/down quality of the writing that had/has many of us wondering if James suffers from multiple personality disorder or if, in fact, the books were cobbled together by three different writers (one who can tell a breathtaking love story and two who should NEVER be allowed to touch a keyboard EVER, Oh yea, we know). But we also know that buried under a lot of God-awful silliness is a stirring tale of an innocent girl bringing a lost man into the light. Honestly, for those of us who made it through the crazy writing (and crazy-BAD editing) the reward was rich. I love Jamie and Claire and am grateful that, this time, a beloved couple showed up in a literary series that IS well written and not too badly edited. I wish Ana and Christian had had such luck. And yet, even so, I know there will never be a love story for me like Ana and Christian. So Galaldon (and a whole host of critics and public citizens) can look down their noses at James but if they look down their noses at Ana and Christian... they're kidding themselves. It's just unfortunate for Ana and Christian fans that their creator if so dumb. First, for not whittling her story down to a tighter, more focused tale (or hiring a much-needed tough-love editor) and second, for totally selling out in the adaptation process (tiny little Ana is now a leggy, 5'8" child of movie stars... J*sus Chr*st), All those on the fence, willing to give James the benefit of the doubt just piled on (and are CONTINUING to pile on). So God bless Diana Gabaldon for hanging onto her baby until someone came up with a faithful script geared toward the only venue (premium cable) in which stories so complex and graphic should ever be told without being forced into a box in which they cannot fit. I wish like h*ll the producers of 50S had listened to those of us warning them about the proper forum for their story. 50S the movie will do nothing to convince the unconvinced that there's something very worthwhile underneath it all. On the other hand, Starz Outlander will only help this series. I am (once again) sad for 50 Shades but very happy for Outlander.

A real edge of your seat page turner! I couldn't put it down! Always egar to find out what happens with Claire and Jamie next!

I’ll admit, I hadn’t heard of these books until I heard everyone talking about the new show. When the wedding episode aired, my entire Facebook feed was filled with excited posts about it. Curiosity got me and after discovering I had Starz on my cable I went and watched the first episode. I was hooked and promptly watched all of the episodes, each one better than the last! I fell in love with these characters and figured if the show was that good then the book was probably even better so I knew I had to read it! When I learned that the midseason hiatus would last until April I thought what better way to pass the time than to read the books? Well I finally just finished Outlander and I have to say, it was everything I hoped it would be and I fell even more in love with these characters and this epic story and epic love throughout the course of the book! I’m an avid reader of romance novels, but historical romance was not a genre I’d ever considered, and if I had never seen the show I probably never would have given it a try. Which would have truly been a shame because I would have missed out on this great adventure! Normally I prefer reading the book before I watch a movie or TV adaptation, but in this case I’m glad I did because it gave me a frame of reference and I could clearly picture the locales and the characters as I read. And I can just imagine the brilliant performances we’re going to get to see as the 2nd half of the series unfolds. But back to the book. I loved the concept of time travel and I love how resourceful and strong Claire is when faced with the prospect of having to live in the 1700s. She could definitely hold her own and I loved that she continually stood up for herself and for what she thought was right, often risking her neck in the process, but she didn’t let these foreign times get the best of her. I loved the development of her relationship with Jamie, first as friends, then as reluctant lovers after they are forced together in marriage and finally as soul mates who are clearly meant to be together. Of course the both of them are incredibly stubborn and strong willed so their relationship is not without its fair share of arguments and disagreements but I like how they learn to navigate each other and work together as a partnership. Jamie was a wonderfully written alpha male who like I said was very stubborn and strong willed, but he was also playful and caring and loving. There were many different sides to him and it didn’t take much to fall in love with him! Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from Jamie to Claire that show his alpha and softer sides: “Ye need not be scairt of me,” he said softly. “Nor of anyone here, so long as I am with ye.” “Aye, I mean to use ye hard, my Sassenach,” he whispered. “I want to own you, to possess you, body and soul.” “Oh, aye, Sassenach,” he answered a bit ruefully. “I am your master… and you’re mine. Seems I canna possess your soul without losing my own.” “I wanted ye from the first I saw ye – but I loved ye when you wept in my arms and let me comfort you, that first time at Leoch.” All the while that this beautiful love story unfolds, there is also an epic story going on as the Scots are at war with the British and danger awaits at every turn. Claire is dealing with trying to conceal her true story while trying to fit into this foreign time (with witch hunts a common occurrence and just by virtue of her being an Englishwoman mysteriously appearing in the Scottish Highlands, this often proves to be difficult) and Jamie is trying to keep a low profile due to being a wanted man. And with a sadistic man after them both, the action never lets up. There are many humorous moments and equally as many heart breaking and difficult moments. This book really had it all and I am so glad that I read it. I look forward to watching the second half of the season when it returns and in the meantime I look forward to continuing their journey in the other books in the series!

SPOILERS: So I’ve read this book before on my kindle and listened to the audio book, since I don’t always have time to sit and read. I decided I would like to have the the hard cover to add to my library, when I came across several negative reviews. I was surprised that some felt this story was all about rape, abuse and sex. Well that is part of the story but only part. I’ve read/listened to five of the books in this series and went back to reread the questionable aspects of this book more so Claire being belted by Jamie. I always hated that he beat her, being born in the 20th century, I would never find this behavior acceptable. Restraining order and divorce would be done, but since this story takes place in the 18th century I have to change my perspective to understand why the author decided this was needed in the story and why Claire would forgive this abuse. Based on Claire and Jamie’s conversation in chapter 21 Jamie tells her how he was beaten for his wrong doings by father, uncles, and schoolmaster. Well if such forms of discipline are accepted and seen as a positive way to enforce good behavior then Jamie doing the same to Claire is acceptable, but it doesn’t make it right. Claire forgives his behavior not because she finds it acceptable but because she understands why, but moving forward she has Jamie vow never to raise I hand to her again. Because of his vow and later him knowing that she is from the future they understand each other. These aspects of the book are controversial and should be praised nor seen as positive but I do find it to be representation of what life was like and I see Claire as strong to keep her enlightened 20th century views intact and not be meek or obedient to any man. This story is not for some but it is an enticing romance with adventure that captures the history of the time. I give this story 4 stars for its story, writing and uniqueness. I subtract a star because of the controversial aspects of the story.

The relationship was a perfect evolution. The story was a pleasurable mixture of adventure, culture, lore, romance, and humor. While I found the sexual descriptions detailed and erotic at times, and representative of their joint expression of intimacy and commitment to each other, I do not think the depth of description added to the context of the story.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews There are some books & some series that readers mentally plan out and make time for re-reads. For me, that is the Outlander series. I've re-read Outlander a few times and once again I got that Scottish itch that it was time to have another go'round. It all started with the new release of The Scottish Prisoner and then I just had to continue on from there. I naturally went straight to Voyager after The Scottish Prisoner because I just had to read about Jamie and Claire's reunion. My heart was feeling heavy regarding their 20 year separation and Voyager healed that gap. Well then of course, I had to read about Brianna and then so on and so on. Once I completed Echo in the Bone, I wanted to go back to the beginning and thus, that brought me back to Outlander where it all started. I was fortunate to win a copy of Outlander in an audiobook format during a fun blog hop. I have only listened to an audiobook twice before so this chance was a treat. I loved it and I loved the opportunity to listen to the Scottish Gaelic words being pronounced. I am sure I'm not the only faithful Outlander reader who was mispronouncing Loaghaire's name incorrectly. It appears as though that wasn't the only Gaelic word or name I was mispronouncing. The Outlander story itself was spell-blindingly beautiful as always. Even though I had read the book a few time previously it amazes me on the little things that I had missed before. I found myself smiling at certain points as I was experiencing them for the first time. I did not remember the scene where Claire sprinkles a line of sand grit into Capt. Jack Randall's wig and closes the cabinet to leave for him to find later. I loved encountering scenes like that. Listening to an audiobook was an interesting experience. It was a new sensation to have been read to. Sometimes I felt so soothed by by the sound of Davina Porter's heavenly voice that I drowsed off and woke later from a nap that I was not expecting. Other times I was pleased to have an exciting scene paced out for me and read so clearly that I didn't miss any of the minor details that usually rush up in the excitement. I find that sometimes when I'm reading a most anticipating scene, I read so fast with my heart beating like a drum that I can end up missing parts. With the expertly paced and toned voice of Davina Porter, I was forced to endure these scenes like an action movie and I was so grateful for it. That rush is probably the reason that I had missed the "sand in wig" scene before with Claire in Randall's office. One of the things that I was worried about regarding listening to an audio book was how could I keep track of all the voices and accents. Particularly how would I feel about Jamie's voice being portrayed by a woman? Rest assured, this confusion was never an issue. Davina Porter is clearly a gifted narrator. She eased through numerous conversations held between men & women and of varying United Kingdom accents. She seamlessly voiced through Scots and cultured English and even voiced through the less cultured English used by the lower level garrison soldiers. It blew me away listening to all the conversations and how she effortlessly she switched. Incredibly impressive to be sure. The one thing that was different from my previous impression vs the audiobook was at times with Claire. I found listening to the voice of Claire, Davina Porter seems to portrays her as being so incredulous. When I hear Claire in my mind saying, "What for?" I hear just here a slight English accent talking. But when I hear the version of Davina Porter speak Claire's voice, "What for?" comes out as an exasperating or incredulous or the most ridiculous thing Claire has ever heard. Mostly it is probably my own minor experience with hearing an English accent but it seems like Claire was in a constant state of unbelieving or annoyance. Regardless, it was pleasurable to hear her to come to life. I highly recommend if you get the opportunity to listen to Outlander on audiobook, you give it a try. I was extremely pleased that I had won a copy and I will be glad to listen to it again in the future.

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!

I signed up for free week on Starz to binge watch the White Princess, following the White Queen on Amazon Prime. I had a few days left on the week and my little sister suggested I look for another Starz show worthy of a good binge watch. I Googled top Starz shows, looked at their original series and thought Outlander sounded familiar. I looked ratings on IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Google and saw the top marks from all 3. Sure that I was onto something great, I began watching the show. I finished all 3 seasons in about 10 days and was shocked to find myself feeling such a profound sadness that I could not fill with anything else. I loved GOT and binge watched it as well, but I didn’t bother with the books. Nothing I have seen (and I have downloaded the entire Outlander book series) has compelled me to follow up with the book (and I read a lot!). I have read books and sought out movies, but never in reverse. For example, I enjoyed Hulu’s Handmaid’s Tale season 1 and downloaded the book but have yet to read as it holds no mystery over me. Outlander provokes a totally different feeling from other shows and other books. It draws you into their world and holds you tight into their clasp. You want to stay there, you cannot let go. Crazy, I know. I have rarely found a show to mirror a book, but as I read the first book in this series, I came across my favorite lines (Jamie: “I said I was a virgin, not a monk”) and laughed and cried in all the same places as the show. Rarely does anything on TV or in a book bring me to tears, yet I used about ten Kleenex on the last couple chapters of this book (and perhaps more on the show!!). Less than 2 weeks after finishing season 1, I was enjoying reading the same scenes because it brought me back to Jamie and Claire. I was amazed to see that the Outlander TV show has very few differences from Diana’s book. A true nod to the author’s writing talent as well as the skill of the cast of actors. I cannot imagine how one writes their first book about a place they never visited. I quickly learned as much about this author as I could as I was fascinated by her knowledge and ability to write about something and someplace that is so complicated and yet brought to life as if you were there alongside the characters. I signed up to follow Diane Gabaldon on Instagram and Amazon as well as the series and the actors. I truly cannot read or learn enough about this show, these books and the author. I would likely have not searched out a historical romance as I typically read suspense (sans romance!) as I usually find romance to be over detailed and stilted (sometimes even uncomfortable to read!) rather than natural and flowing. Being able to picture Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan as I quickly read through the pages gave me immense pleasure as the pages and prose truly came alive. I am excited to continue my journey through all of the Outlander books…and since I have to wait until November for season 4, I will at last get to read before I watch to see what life in the Colonies brings to the group. I live in North Carolina and wish they had settled here with us!!! Well done, Diana Gabaldon….a true talent for sure!!!

I really enjoyed this book and the premise. The romance scenes were steamy and intimate without crossing the line of Harlequin romance novels. My reason for docking a star is that there are several scenes that are horribly brutal and graphic, which go on for a very long time unnecessarily. Cannot wait to read Dragonfly in Amber!

I received the book promptly and it was in good shape. Was very satisfied with the service I received.

Claire Randall and her husband, Frank, are on their second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands in 1945. Frank is an amateur genealogist and is studying his family tree while in Scotland. It seems on of his relations, a Captain Jonathan "Jack" Randall, was stationed in the Highlands during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Claire was a combat nurse during World War II. She has an interest in botany and the healing art of plants. It is during one of her pursuits of a plant that she finds herself back at Craigh na Dun, a standing circle of stones. When she places a hand on the cleaved stone, she hears the stone scream. Soon all the stones are screaming. Claire passed out only to wake up to witness a struggle between the British soldiers and Scottish outlaws. She believes it to be a reinactment (spelling) until she meets a British officer who looks like her husband, Frank. The officer introduces himself as "Jonathan Randall, Esquire, Captain of His Majesty's Eighth Dragoons." He is Frank's four-times great-grandfather. Claire is saved from Captain Jonathan Randall by one of the Scotsman, Murtagh, and she is taken back to the outlaws' hideout. They think she is an English spy. When she helps one of their number with resetting a dislocated shoulder, they decide to keep her with them to take back to Clan MacKenzie. Jamie Fraser, the reset shoulder patient, has Claire riding in front of him on the horse. Her nursing skills are called upon again when the outlaws ride into British soldiers. This time Jamie is shot and suffering from blood loss. They all eventually make it back to the Keep of Leoch, Clan MacKenzie's castle. Claire soon begins to comprehend she has time traveled to eighteenth century Scotland. A fact further iterated by a letter she sees posted on the Laird's desk dating 20 April 1743. Claire tries to settle into castle life while, at the same time, trying to figure out how to get back to Craigh na Dun and Frank. She meets Gellis Duncan while outside berry picking with the other women of Leoch Castle. Geilie and Claire share a knowledge of plants. They become acquaintances. One day one of the castle maids tells Claire Geilie is sick and needs her help. Claire goes to help Geilie only to discover that she is not sick. A mob is forming outside of the Duncan's house. They drag both women off to the thieves hole, where they stay until they are tried for witchcraft. Jamie, who had been out on a hunting trip, shows up in the nick of time to save Claire from further scourging and certain death. When they are a safe distance from the town and mob, Jamie asks Claire if she is a witch? Claire finally tells Jamie her time travel story. Jamie loads them back up on the horse and ride back to Craigh na Dun. After he witnesses that the stones really do work, he gives Claire the choice of returning to her own time and Frank. Which will Claire choose? To say I found this novel terrific would be an understatement. It was awesome! I feel in love with the characters of Claire and Jamie. The secondary characters were great too, especially Old Alec and Murtagh. The plot and subplots are so intricate that the pace flows perfectly throughout the book. This is my second time reading Outlander and it still receives five stars from me. I'm looking forward to re-reading the rest of the series.

Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series of books has been recently transformed into the beautifully made Starz’s original television show. Outlander happens to be the name of the first novel that encompass the series of books on which the television series is based. In the first installment, readers are introduced to the character of Claire Beauchamp Randall, an English WWII nurse who following the war travels to Scotland for a second honeymoon with her historian husband, Frank. Scotland becomes the focal point of the story, looming as large in scope and importance as the characters themselves. Gabaldon’s majestic imagery is appealing and beautifully displayed on the page through her vivid language while the mysterious circumstances that lead to Claire’s adventures are equally as captivating. The story is so sweeping in its magnitude that the reader will find herself bounding through the pages seamlessly (the books are long, but are hardly noticeably as such). While in Scotland with Frank, Claire finds herself in front of the infamous, pagan rocks of Craigh na Dun. The mystic powers that pull Claire from everything she knows to a time and land that is foreign to all her senses are as equally evocative to the reader as the characters Gabaldon has so prolifically created. Claire is propelled back two hundred years in time. In less capable hands, the story would appear campy or an average, run of the mill sci-fi adventure. In fact, the story is neither. What Gabaldon has created is a thoughtful exploration of a world of infinite possibilities and wonder. Not being able to acknowledge the reason or the truth of her circumstances to those in the eighteenth century with whom she now finds herself among, she tries her best to survive in a country pulled apart by civil war. Her story is fraught with dangers and perils that, while no less than those from which she experienced during WWII, are still frightfully immediate and real. It’s a testament to Diana Gabaldon’s talent that the reader is able to so readily abandon any form of disbelief about Claire being thrown back into a history that her husband was researching while on their trip to Scotland. Claire is the kind of smart, compassionate character who is instantly likeable, allowing the reader to follow her struggles to get back to the mystical rocks of Craigh na Dun and Frank with such interest that it becomes impossible to put the book down. The Starz television series of the same name is one of the most magnificent pieces of small screen wonder that, within watching it for the first fifteen minutes, there is no surprise why the show has become such a critically acclaimed, international success. Anyone who has read the books will agree that the television adaptation is a faithful interpretation of the books, equally as beautiful in its depth and scope. It is perhaps one of the best casted and acted shows on television today, and indeed, the best casted of any novel I've ever read that's been adapted to the screen (big or small). As Claire tries to make her way back to the rocks that propelled her deep into the past, her story leads her to a complicated questioning of her rightful place; she struggles between loyalty to her husband and passion for the kind-hearted Scotsman & warrior, James Frasier. Perhaps the biggest risk in reviewing the Outlander story is to foolishly choose to place this book into any one specific genre. Yes, Outlander is one part historical fiction, and one part romance, sprinkled with a bit of science fiction, but, to truly gain a sense of what the book offers to readers is to settle upon a word more likely to fit the description worthy of Gabaldon’s creation -- compelling. We are compelled to read because Outlander is a work of masterful storytelling, page-turning suspense; one of magnificence and beauty. It certainly helps that Gabaldon has created such a character as Claire, one of the most interesting and intelligent characters that has been committed to the page in recent memory. There is little wonder why the series was chosen to be transported to the screen. Great storytelling to the degree in which Gabaldon has succeeded in creating should be in class by itself. Outlander is one such example of this.

Let's face it--over 22 THOUSAND people already reviewed this amazing book. It's been a bestseller for years--deservedly so. Why write ANOTHER review? First, to give author Diana Gabaldon her due. Not only did she write this long novel (plus seven more, plus some related novellas and such), and keep it endlessly entertaining with vivid characters and fresh plot twists galore. No, that was not enough. She had to write some of the most vivid sweet prose around. Over and over I found gems--dozens of them. They are the kind of verbal jewels that make any author gasp and say "I wish I wrote that." What a feast! Second, to comment on my fellow readers. While reading OUTLANDER it seemed Gabaldon was everywhere. I recently transitioned six times through airports. EVERY airport had someone reading a Gabaldon paperback. Most readers had no idea what was going on around them because they were clearly a couple centuries back, in Scotland. I wonder how many missed their flights? Third, to comment on copy editing (as I usually do). This is a long book. I did spot some errors in my Kindle version but, compared to many ebooks, not many errors. Room for improvement but overall pretty good--better than most, for sure. The odds are slim that anyone will encounter this five-star review in the vast ocean of existing appreciation for this delightful book and its author. If, perchance, a live person actually reads this review, please let me know with a "helpful" vote. I'll know it's a good day to buy a lottery ticket. Next up:

Arrived on time and in very good condition.

Many have reviewed this series, so I'll get right to the point: I read on Kindle. Usually, there are page numbers (or options for that). In the Outlander series, that option is missing. Just percentage read, no pages. When you're reading a long book, like this one, that really affects my enjoyment of the reading process. If you're like that, too, be forewarned.

I watched the series on Netflix, loved it! Then I bought this first in the series of Outlander books. Gripping, addicting page turner I couldn't put down! I finished it not wanting it to end. Next I ordered book two, Dragonfly in Amber. Another great read almost done and I'm expecting delivery of Voyager any day now! I'm another Outlander addict who's in love with Jamie Fraser, wowza!

Reading this book so far is thrilling since I love the show and I look forward to read the whole series.

With over 13,000 reviews on Amazon, it hardly seems likely that Ms. Galbadon needs my 2 cents. But, Outlander heralds one of the largest turning events in the history of book publishing. Consider this: not only was the book so incredibly popular and loved that it launched its own subgenre (kilt pron), it was also a harbinger of the move towards more intelligent writing in the romance genre and the concept of cross-genre marketing. Yes, it's a bit of a bodice-ripper at heart, but thank goodness the original publisher gave it a little more respect and gave it more mysterious cover. I first read Outlander right after it came out, when someone who claimed to know and love me gave it to me. They knew I liked books, and they had heard it was very popular, so somehow I ended up with a copy. What on earth do you get for someone who loves Isaac Asimov, Chaucer, and John Steinbeck? Apparently, "Outlander." (heavy sigh) At some point, I ran out of reading material and picked it up and gave it chance. It had time travel in it, which I guess might have been confusing. I have read a few Gothic romances and bodice rippers in the past, after I'd finished the backs of all the cereal boxes and was at a complete loss, so it's not like I was losing my mass market cherry. It wasn't bad. It was even enjoyable. It was even pretty well written. I couldn't complain. I enjoyed it, admitted to it, and left it there. I not only didn't read the sequels, I didn't even know they existed. Twenty years passes. I decided to give it another read just recently to see if my memory served right that it was an unusually good example of the romance genre. With the TV show coming out and many of my book loving friends enjoying the resurgence in popularity, and having the $1.99 it cost me on Kindle, I thought I'd see if it stood up after all this time. You don't need me for a recap, so I'll skip that part. It's a fun, laid-back kind of read. It's not life-changing. The history angle is rather engaging and I wish there had been more of it. I love time travel stories, and I wish there had been more focus on that. The sexy bits were okay if you like that sort of thing. The violent scenes were a bit too violent and creepy for me, but I guess the author had to make a point. The cultural comparisons were kind of interesting. The plot and subplots were sort of developed, and I wished I'd gotten more out of them. But I've got to admit, and I hate to say it, but I really got sick of Jamie Fraser. Every little detail about his childhood and the pages spent on them wore me down. Just TMI. I suppose we had to fully understand how wonderful Jamie was in order to give the protagonist a pass for being an adulteress. But, you know, if that means I have to skim over pages and page and pages of Jamie's stories, and stories about Jamie, and accolades of Jamie and his wonderful deeds in order to accept the protagonists situation, then I'd rather not be bothered. It's a well-written, relatively engaging book, purely entertainment. But the author spends so much time apolobizing and justifying her characters that it really kills the flow. Yes, Claire is sleeping with a man who is not her (original) husband. We get it. She's stuck 200 years in the past, and quite frankly it looks like the best option. So, we have to spend way too many pages in order to justify why this is okay by making Jamie just a little too good to be true. It's like having a drunk girlfriend hanging off of you , slobbering about how great the guy who won't leave his wife is. Along with that, she spends a lot of time justifying that the bad guy just happens to be gay. That's not the point, subtext tells us. The problem isn't that he's gay, the problem is that he's an unrepentant sadist (and an incestuous one, at that). In fact, she introduces a perfectly nice gay fellow just to show she doesn't mean to seem homophobic. Of course, she has to qualify that via the opinions of these barbaric primitives of the past. I can't see myself reading the sequels. I've had enough Jamie Fraser for one lifetime.

First Line It wasn't a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance. I can't review Outlander. Honestly? I don't need to. It was originally published in 1991, and book doesn't need my endorsement. It's a much-beloved, discussed and debated book, now a wildly successful -and in my opinion, brilliant series with the perfect cast and, so far, a wonderful adaptation. I feel as if everything that could be said about Outlander, has been said, many times and far better than I can express. I've found there are books you read and you need to purge out all the feelings and thoughts, in an effort to process. Then there are books that are so special to your heart, the experience of reading becomes a piece of you and you just want to hold your feelings close, keep them private and wallow - revel - in every word and emotion. And so I didn't really intend to "review" Outlander, and wasn't even sure I would let this post publish. I do feel weird letting it stand, because I know I sound like a melodramatic dork. But if I convince one person to read this book, then I'll be happy. I have two friends who've been encouraging me to read Outlander for quite a while, who both walked me through the questions, theories, and the lust and tears. Yes, there is an abundance of both! Jenny and Cindy should probably be on a con panel or have their own feature somewhere because they have analyzed and theorized this series from top to bottom, truly blowing me away. And forget the Saturday night conversations as we prepare for the weekly watch, rewatch, and play-by-play. That conversation tends to last a couple days. ESPECIALLY after "The Wedding". I feel really lucky that they've brought me into their fold. They have emails and working docs with discussions that have my mind spinning from their insights and the passion they have for this wonderful world. Some may call that "obsessive", but I call it awesome. So as I read and listened to Outlander, I've talked and worked my way through this book with them, and will continue to do so as we go on. That's where there heart of my "review" is. So here's my advice: Outlander could be one of the most difficult, brutal, emotional, funniest, richest reading experiences you will ever have. Or not. It's true to the time. There will be moments that addle the 21st-century brain. There are moments of sheer anguish that made me sob. There will be moments that make you fly because Jamie and Claire share the most beautiful, challenging, timeless love I've had the pleasure of reading. They are not perfect. I had a time of convincing my husband that I don't love JAMMF because he's the perfect man, but because he's a good man. And Claire? I'm just as attached to her. The love story is not about the flowers and eloquence. It's about two characters thrown into a situation that turns into a remarkably powerful love. They fight hard, and love even harder. It's a big story, more than I imagined when I began. There were many challenging moments, moments in which I had to give the book a time out, put it in the freezer. But it always called me back. There were moments I begged to know if all the pain would be worth it. The answer is a loud Yes. My intention is not to scare anyone away from Outlander, but to promise you that no matter how hard it gets, Jamie and Claire's story is one that will never, ever be forgotten. As my friend Cindy said of the Outlander Fog we live in: "It's a good place. I'm happy here." 5 stars - don't do the story justice.

4 STARS For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough. Here's to hoping this review won't be as long as this book which, after reading for four days, has given me a mental Scottish brogue. I have to admit, I got swept up in the excitement over this getting picked up as a TV series. Forgetting for a second why I've put off reading this for so long. Then I read the first few pages and got reminded why. General feeling after reading this I'd say it was more of a 3.5 but after going back to my highlights, I wanted to give it an outright 5. Just like its characters, Outlander is deceptively simple in its premise but the implications and emotional layers it comes with, once you take the time to pause and examine everything in their proper context in retrospect, impacts you with a sizable hurt. Armed with an impossibly sluggish start, this was set in 1945 when fresh out of serving as a nurse in WWII, Claire Randall travels baack in time through some ancient rock formations, to Scotland in 1743. That's too much historical for an occasional historical reader with obsessive-compulsive tendencies like me. Such that any statement Claire makes (I think she made one commentary about Mars) I have to second-guess at the back of my mind if such would be a historically accurate knowledge for an English woman in 1945. And since I'm already on board THAT crazy train, I also can't help but google and wiki the locations and unfamiliar terminologies because I have to know what syrup of figs does and I'm sorry if I know what Potassium Nitrate is but not saltpeter. Which was fun for a while until you also get to learn ☸ how to birth a horse ☸ how to birth a woman ☸ how to catch trout with bare hands ☸ how to treat carbuncles with iron nails ☸ how to make beeswax candles ☸ how to have awkward, sexually-tense, after-dinner conversations Not to mention the herbology lessons that will make Madame Pomfrey proud. Hence the four days. True the research was impressive, but the integration into the plot was only successful in some areas and just plain tedious in others. The details just got a little too Pinterest-y for certain stretches. You know what I didn't mind the Pinterestiness on? Jamie Fraser. I think half of my highlights were his lines. He's easily one of the best fleshed (rawr) heroes I've read of, his endlessly amusing and intriguing personality and charm carried this story well enough though possibly at the expense of Claire's likability. Because as this was told solely from Claire's POV, I felt like she was mostly a passive spectator in the majority of the book and until the last 20%, my sympathy for her character felt like a neglected plot line that got picked up again as if an afterthought. Maybe in a too little too late fashion. I don't know, I'm still on the fence if I'm continuing with this series. I don't even understand her conflict with the infidelity issue because in the beginning, it was made to sound as though they'd be on their way to divorce court 3 years down the line anyway. Can I just mention the sheer ridiculousness of that scene with the wolf? It was shades of Kim Bauer and the cougar in 24. Maybe I'm not getting it or the message got lost in all that Scottish-ing but was the point of it to annoy me to no end by making my mind drift back to what was going on inside the prison while all of that was happening? Because if it is, then job well-effing-done. I do feel a little bit cheated out of the last 20% of this book because I think my immediate feelings would have been a little bit sharper, a little more focused if I've read this sooner. Because it felt like the blows that this one delivered, I've been dealt before and not from poor imitations either. "I can bear pain, myself," he said softly, "but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have." So whatever emotions Outlander was supposed to elicit from me took some time to catch on because it digs its claws into something in me that's supposed to be raw but has now been a little worn. And yes, that frightens me a little.

Simply wonderful!

"Outlander" is a novel that fits into many different genre's. It has adventure, intrigue, suspense, witchcraft, time travel, and history to name a few. But first and foremost it is an epic love story. It tells of a love so great that it transcends time and makes one woman give up all that she has ever known to be with that special man despite the dangers present two hundred years in the past. Claire Randall was a nurse for the English Army in World War II. As the war had just ended and she had been gone several years, she goes to Scotland with her husband Frank for a second honeymoon and the chance to become re-acquainted. Frank, a history professor, was working on a family tree and was gathering information on some of his ancestors who had spent time in Scotland. Claire, on the other hand, was content collecting herbs and wildflowers. It was on one of these excursions that she came upon Craigh na Dun and the miniature stone henge located there. She and Frank returned the next morning and witnessed a Druid ceremony, leaving cautiously so as not to be seen. Claire returned alone later to retrieve a lovely wildflower she had seen earlier, but when she walked between a cleft in the rock, the world became fuzzy and began to spin. As her senses recovered, she saw a band of Scots and British redcoats battling in the field below. Thinking it was a movie being made, she headed for the forest so as not to interfere with the filming. There she came face to face with the spitting image of her husband Frank. He introduced himself as Captain Jonathan Randall of the British Dragoons, the very ancestor Frank had been investigating. Thinking quickly, she used her maiden name and introduced herself as Claire Beauchamp. Claire quickly learned that any resemblance to Frank did not extend to personality traits as the honorable Captain Randall attempted to rape her. Rescued by a band of Scots, who she later learned was the McKenzie clan, Claire was taken along with them. It soon became apparent that she was in another time, 1743 to be exact, and the McKenzie's were taking her away from the henge and her only chance to get back to her own time. Claire could not explain how she came to be where she was and the Scots thought she may be a British spy, while Captain Randall thought she was either a spy for the Scots or the French. As the Mckenzie's were discussing what was to be done with her, she saw a young man who had been shot in the shoulder and the joint dislocated. The young man, it was learned later, was named Jamie Fraser, and he and Claire became bound together at that time, though neither knew it then. After treating his wound with a great degree of skill, they decided to take her back to their castle if nothing else than to be a healer. And so began the adventures of Claire Beauchamp and Jamie Fraser. Circumstances threw them together, and as they faced more and more dangers, they became ever closer. I will not spoil the book by going into further details, but the book navigates through a series of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. The descriptions of the Scottish highlands and the customs of the time brought the setting to life before my eyes. I don't think I would have enjoyed the book so much if it was strictly romance, but the other action and adventure involved brought a high degree of excitement along and I did not want to put it down. It seemed to have just the right mix of elements to make this a highly enjoyable read.

OH GOD I loved this book. It’s such an amazing epic romance at its heart that I hate myself for waiting this long to read it. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a predisposition against both historical novels and time travel novels – but this book breaks the mold. It’s something different…it’s timeless. Which is really no surprise since it was first published in 1991 and is still relevant. Outlander easily broke through my preconceived notions, drug me through the dirty underbelly of the eighteenth century highlands and lifted me with hope that I never thought I’d have for characters I never knew I’d love. Diana writes with such ease that I’m shocked she didn’t have to transport back in time in order to convey this story so eloquently. While the overarching romance story held me fast to the pages, the story has something for everyone: danger, suspense, betrayal, and war. People have argued over what genre to place this book in, but that argument is wasted. I place this in the genre of ‘Good Sh_t’. period. Claire is strong and sassy, witty and beguiling. She’s found herself in a terrible position. While she knows that she should probably get back to her husband in her time, once she’s wed to Jamie and begins to build her life in this time, her heart and desires are divided. The question becomes, how much of her heart belongs to Jamie and how much to Frank – which future does she want to pursue? Of course, there’s also the issues of her maybe being an English spy and BlackJack Randall (who is her first husband’s ancestor) being a massive jerk, to the point that I’m not sure she could even see Frank’s face again without fearing he was BlackJack. Jamie. Oh Jamie Fraser. Reading about Jamie had me close to buying my husband a kilt and begging him to learn gaelic. I’m going to share a few of my favorite lines – if this doesn’t entice you to buy the book, you clearly don’t love romance, I’m not sure why you’re reading this and you have no soul: “If I were a horse, I’d let him ride me anywhere” [Oh YES, PLEASE] “I am your master…and you’re mine. Seems I canna possess your soul without losing my own.” “I didna mean to hurt ye. But I do want to be in you, to stay in you, so deep. I want to leave the feel of me deep inside ye with my seed. I want to hold ye so and stay wi’ you ’til dawn, and leave you sleeping and go, with the shapes of you warm in my hands.” “My heart has been yours since first I saw ye, and you’ve held my soul and body between your two hands here, and kept them safe.” “I mean to hear ye groan like that again. And to moan and sob, even though you dinna wish to, for ye canna help it. I mean to make you sigh as though your heart would break, and scream with the wanting, and at last to cry out in my arms, and I shall know that I’ve served ye well.” *SWOON* Go fan yourself. Get your temperature back under control. Or wait – don’t. Go buy the book. This book is a commitment. but one well worth taking. Especially for all seven inches of Jamie that swings with such easy access under that delicious kilt. *winks* (it’s also only $2 for like 1000 pages. COME ON. That’s practically free). I’m suffering from a ridiculous book hangover & I’m now planning my life around reading the rest of this series. This book gets a million stars. #MustRead

I am joining the Outlander craze very late in the game. I had never heard of the series until Amazon recommended it to me as a similar title to Audrey Niffenegger 'The Time Travelers wife', which I loved! Both have time-travel in common (and a main character named Claire), but other than that, the two are nothing alike. 'Outlander', Diana Gabaldon's first in a series of seven (the latest book will be released this year) is in the historical romance genre. For that reason, I was very skeptical before reading. Mills & Boon comparisons flashed in my mind as I browsed the various book covers. But I was wrong to have been so cynical, because after reading the first book, I am officially hooked. The novel starts out in 1946. Twenty-seven year old Claire was a British nurse during WWII, now enjoying a second honey-moon in Scotland with her husband and history-enthusiast, Frank Randall. The couple are trying for a baby, as well as attempting to rekindle what the war interrupted. While out exploring a stone henge called Craig Na Dun, Claire finds herself mysteriously transported 200 years into the past - thrown into the middle of a battle between Scottish highlanders and the British army, led by Jonathan Randall, sixth grandparent to Claire's own Frank. The highlanders, intrigued by Claire's healing abilities, kidnap her and take her back with them to Castle Leoch (Loch Ness) where she is captive to the Mackenzie clan, specifically brothers Dougal and Column. In attempts to adapt to her new surroundings Claire finds herself forced into a marriage of convenience (and safety) with 23 year old Mackenzie nephew, Jamie Fraser. Together Claire and Jamie try to evade capture by Jonathan Randall, while dealing with clan politics that are suspicious of Claire and wary of Jamie's claim on the clan throne. Much has been made of the romance in this historical romance. Many reviewers slanderously call the Jamie/Claire relationship an outlet for bored housewives to get their kicks. Fair enough, the romantic bits are pretty heavy and clearly aimed to please the ladies (a virginal male hero who enjoys... *ahem*, 'serving' his wife). But any other reviewers who delegate 'Outlander' to the Mills & Boon style of trashy romantic writing (as I originally did - for shame!) are much mistaken. Gabaldon has written a book with three dimensional characters, with a hero and heroine whose roles are often seamlessly reversed and traded back and forth. Jamie and Claire they spend the book rescuing each other from various deadly situations. Granted, the damsel in distress plot devices and numerous sticky situations get a little much, but are never dull. Gabaldon's writing is fluid and some of the dialogue refreshingly witty and rhythmic. A long book, 600 and a bit pages, it is never dull. Likewise, the action is not relentless and therefore monotonous. Gabaldon strikes the perfect balance - thanks in large part to the Jamie/Claire relationship evolution which allows the plot to slide into an easy calm in some places. Many reviewers also complain a lot about Claire's lack of exploration into the time travel business. Fair criticism. She pretty much shrugs her shoulders at the whole 200 years in the past thing and gets on with Highland business. But in all honesty, she has the lovely Jamie Fraser to occupy herself with... no wonder the time travel takes back seat to the romance. This is not your typical trashy historical romance. Outlander is smart, funny and enthralling from beginning to end. And addictive! Once you start you will be chomping at the bits to read the next in the series, and the one after that, and the one after that and.... well, let's just be grateful Gabaldon knows a good thing when she writes it.

The book is in excellent condition and makes a nice addition to my library.

Diana Gabaldon's books are a comprehensive series set around 1740 which include Time Travel, the war between Scotland and England and the birth of America. The research is extensive on many levels. Throughout these events is woven the relationship between a World War II nurse and a Scottish Highlander. The story is a sweeping saga replete with surprising turns and deeply satisfying relationships. It is a rich tapestry of Scottish clan life in which there is astounding beauty, brutality, tragedy and injustice. One learns a great deal about a wide scope of everyday life in this period. The author creates, in my opinion, the best character development I have read in recent memory. The range of emotions experienced by the different characters is nuanced, poignant and feels very Real. These characters jump off the page as living, breathing beings. The love exemplified between Jamie and Claire and other characters is deeply moving. It is, in my opinion, one of the best historical fictional romances ever depicted. The reader becomes very "attached" to the characters. They very much feel like part of the family. At times I found myself laughing out loud and at other times crying. Even the more violent aspects of war as depicted, are engrossing. You simply cannot put these books down. I have read reviews by readers who are concerned about sexual content Most of the sex occurs between this infamous couple, Jamie and Claire. It is one of the most sensitive aspects in the development of their relationship. The emotional core of the relationship is so strong, it defies the less rational issues, like time travel. The author has you almost believing. There are other sexual incidents which occur in context, some of which are very disturbing. As in any society, there are normal and deviant behaviors. Life was very difficult during this time period and I perceived these as excellent studies in human nature. On the spiritual side, there is the age-old battle between good and evil. This battle is represented not in black and white but in shades of gray revealing the true complexity of life in different cultures with different personalities. Other instances have to do with the mores of the period (i.e. Claire's punishment on one occasion). The aforementioned incidents are situational and are not carried throughout the book. They are repeated in the form of psychologically coping with the difficult memories. Finally, the author has an amazing writing style. She is extremely intelligent, talented and quite prolific. The mix of humor and sadness is balanced. Her knowledge and insight into the "human condition" is remarkable. "Outlander" is now a film series on Starz. It is my understanding that they have also contracted for the second book "Dragonfly in Amber". The series is one of the best "period pieces" I have seen and for the most part, holds true to the book. There is nothing in the series that seems inauthentic. The casting is marvelous. Initially, there were some viewers who were concerned as the actors were not exactly as described in the book, however, one quickly adapts, and finds ultimately, that they are quite perfect in their roles. The Scottish Highlands are one of the main stars as well., They are rugged, unspoiled and astoundingly beautiful . While the book has an extremely large female following, men can find it absorbing as well. My husband has a strong dislike of period pieces and romance and yet finds himself interested. Congrats on winning the People's Choice Award!!! Ronald Moore and Diana Gabaldon are a Dream-Team as well as Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan.

I LOVED this book! I read a lot! Fiction, Non-fiction, and everything in between. It's very obvious to me that almost every bad review this book got were by people who are uneducated idiots. Many reviewers complained about Jamie and the spanking scene. First of all it's a historical fiction and Jamie is a Scotsman. It's his job as head of his household to ensure that his family is protected. It is completely realistic that he would have spanked Claire for the reason he did. She put the group in danger and he is a man of his word as most Scotsmen are. (I would know best as I'm married to one.) People who saw this as brutal abuse obviously have no idea historically what people were like 200 years ago. As for him admitting to getting aroused I took this to be from Claire's fiery protest more than him actually spanking her. Hence the most amazing sex scene in the book which follows thereafter. People who criticized this have obviously never had raw unbridled makeup sex. One person wrote a bad review about the wolf attack scene and found it completely unrealistic. Again very uneducated. Human beings have been known to have adrenaline rushes when in danger. It's called fight or flight. The wolf being alone could have easily indicated that it had been separated from the pack because it was weak and too sick to keep up with its pack. So when I read that someone gave the book 3 stars because of this I found it to be so ludicrous. It made me pretty mad. Yet another individual said this book was not a real romance. I suppose those people are EL James fans of "romance" because I disagree completely with these criticisms. Jamie and Claire start with a physical attraction. Circumstances out of their control force them to marry. The relationship starts out as raw animalistic sex but then as they spend more time together they develop a deep emotional relationship which makes their bond that much stronger. How is that not romance? He risks everything to save her and she risks everything to save him in the end. Again how is this not love and romance? Some people say that this book was disturbing. Yes of course Randall is disturbing! He's the villain for crying out loud and Gabaldon writes a disturbing villain so you will really hate him. I thought it was brilliant. Yet another critic complained that Claire would have had a hard time adjusting to the lack of 1940's modern conveniences. I disagree. I swear it's like these people didn't even read the same book. Claire has just arrived from being on battle fields for many years. Living in a war zone is no picnic, so while it may have been an inconvenience for her to live in the 18th century. It's not like it would have been completely unfamiliar. Hence I believe its one of the reasons Gabaldon sets her story right after Frank and Claire are returning from the war. One last word. Most romance books are ridiculous and shallow. Gabaldons ability to write each sex scene so poetically is amazing. Writing sex is incredibly difficult to pull off without making it sound like bad literoica, which is how most romance books read. So if you like that other sort of crap called romance you won't like this book. This story has dynamic characters, emotional and intense scenes, and a well paced plot. All of which I can attest as a writer, are very hard to do from first person POV. Can't wait to read the next book.

Received my book 2 days after being it and it's new with no bend in it despising a soft covered book.

Loved everything about the book.... so much more in depth than the show. I cannot wait to finish the series.

I’ve had a good friend talk about this book for years. Romance isn’t really a genre that I read. She had mentioned it had to do with time travel (briefly) and there was a lot of action and adventure in the Scottish Highlands. I still stayed away since romance isn’t a genre that I’m all that interested in. I don’t mind if romance is part of a bigger story, but I have never been into those bodice-ripping books that I used to see my mom read growing up. I used to go for the Edgar Allan Poe books that were on the bookshelf instead. What got me to finally read a romance? It was a genre that my Twitter book club (#1book140) decided to read. I'm glad I read it though since it changed my mind. Not so much about romances, but at least about this series. The novel starts out in 1945 where a former combat nurse, Claire, is slowly getting to know her husband on their second honeymoon since they were separated for many years due to the war right after they were married. While wandering in Scotland on their vacation, she touches a rock that sends her back in time by 200 years to the Scottish Highlands. Since it is unclear for some time what has happened to her, when she does realize it, she is far away from that rock and has no way to get back to her own time, if that is even the way to get back to where she belongs. She pretty much stuck living in a much different time. What I enjoyed about the book was that Claire was already very independent woman in 1945 and does not care if she is not acting the way people think women should act in the past. She is very stubborn though and at times, selfish. It’s those stubborn, selfish acts that end up hurting some people, but she does eventually realize what she’s done. The action scenes were really well written. For a long book, I read it fairly quickly since there was always some crazy mess Claire got herself into. I had to know what was happening next. For a good portion of the book, I wouldn’t have even classified it as a romance except that there is tons of sex in this book. It takes place all the time. These parts of the book were my least favorite, mostly because they could have been better written. I rolled my eyes at some of the descriptions, but then I’ve read better sex scenes in Clive Barker novels. Some scenes were quite sweet and I thought those were better. There was one scene between Claire and Jamie that I had issues with when I read it. Jamie was very violent towards Claire and it almost had a misogynistic tone, but not quite. I could see the reasons why it happened (and to get into them would give too much away for those that haven’t read it), but did love that she fought back and was pissed about it for a long time. Then in one scene, she proclaimed she loved him and seemed to forget all about what had just happened to her. That’s when I had a big issue with it since it seemed like she played into the battered wife role who forgives the abusive husband because he really loves her. Later on, I was pleasantly surprised when she brought it up again since she obviously still had issues with it. They verbally fought and then talked it out before finally moving on with both sides understanding each other more. That’s when I could finally move on too. The book is a violent one, especially what happens with Jamie towards the end of it. It is pretty gruesome for a romance book. I would almost forget it was supposed to be a romance first and foremost until one of those sex scenes popped up again. Even though I still am not really interested in the romance genre as a whole, I am interested enough in this book series to want to continue reading more of it.

Outlander...what to say? Huh. I waited years to watch the first episode on Netflix and I didn't even finish it, I tired like 4 times, on the 5th I did. Then I watched the second and next I knew I watched the whole season and found out it was based off this book... this one right here! I've read this book 3 times I love it so much! Not too? Mention the following ones. Claire, Jamie, Young Ian, Ian, Jenny, wee Jamie, Clan MacKenzie... they are apart of my family, apart of me, deep in my soul. This isn't just a romance novel, historical romance, or even a time travel novel; no this is a journey you travel together as a simple observer with the characters and wish, hope that one day you will find a love one tenth as great as Jamie and Claire's.

Just as good if not better than the first time I read it many years ago. It is the kind of book that defies classification. To say it is a romance novel is by far too simplistic. Her turn of phrase and creativity are entrancing. And to think, it is her first novel. This book like all great novels becomes part of you. I laughed and I cried. The joy and angst of this novel has never left me.

Tv and book go hand in hand not often seen. Most the time tv shows or movies tend to go away from the books they are made after. I loved that season one seemed to cover all the big points in book one.

And I read ALOT. Diana Gabaldon weaves an unforgettable tale that is utterly addictive. The story of Claire and Jamie is mesmerizing. (Best lovers ever!!) Read this book and you will be want to read the whole series. My paltry review could never explain why this book is unputdownable. You will LOVE it.

It’s the sweeping tale of the love between Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser and Jamie Fraser, a love that bends the boundaries of time itself. This may contain spoilers for some Claire is a WWII nurse who travelled to Scotland with her husband, Frank in post WWII era, they are trying to reconnect after being separated for many long years of the war and the many horrible experiences that occurred. Claire stumbles back into time after viewing a pagan ceremony at a circle of standing stones, she touches a stone and is immediately catapulted to 1740’s Scotland, just a few years before the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. Here she meets the true love of her life, the one and only, James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser, man above men. Yes, I digress, they share many adventures before they eventually fall in love and I don’t want to give away too much more of the story. I will say this, there is some hubbub about the violence and a beating that Jamie administers to Claire’s backside after she attempts to return back to her “real” time. I don’t normally handle violence against women, but I found myself so absorbed in the story; Jamie is truly a 18th century male and was trained to take care of his woman and, if needed, discipline her. To his mind she’d disobeyed a direct order; endangered the lives of his men, his life, and her own; to make it worse he had no idea as to why she ran away. If he’d known she was a time traveler and that she was attempting to go back to Frank and her real time he would have taken her himself, as illustrated later in the book. He thinks she is being pig headed and willful; sees no other way to get her to “obey” his orders, other than to lay his belt to her bottom and spank her. Had one of his men disobeyed him in such a fashion they would have been beaten, if not killed outright, because that person would’ve endangered the lives of everyone else. I think that Claire’s mindset was that the inhabitants of that time were already dead, all she needed to do was escape to her time and nothing she did would matter. No, this doesn’t wipe the slate completely clean but it’s true that those were the norm for that time. Jamie never lays a finger on her ever again; Claire rages at him for what happened and he swears that he will never harm her again and this holds true throughout the entire series. I do not count Jamie as a spousal abuser, I know there are many out there that will argue with me but I can’t give him that title. I was much more concerned with some of the other physical violence, sexual violence, and emotional abuse that happens to Jamie, at the hands of Black Jack Randall; a man who just happens to look nearly identical to Claire’s 20th century husband, Frank, being a relative. I’d also like to point out that what happens to Jaime at the hands of Black Jack is a direct result of Jamie rescuing Claire and fort William that day. If she hadn’t escaped then it is possible the entire Wentworth prison episode might not have happened. But what Jamie suffers in Wentworth is an integral part of the story, as disturbing as it is.

Don't like historical fiction - READ IT. Don't read romance? Read. It. Think time travel is lame? Just. Read. It. Don't like long books - trust me, you won't be able to read it fast enough. I have received emails, texts, and phone calls from friends THANKING me for cajoling them into reading this book/series (cause you can't just read the first book my friend, oh no...) after hearing these same arguments. I picked this book up as a free read for my kindle after reading how amazing it was on both amazon and audible. When I finally read it (it's a bit slow before she travels back in time - don't stop, don't let it dissuade you) I flew through the series - back to back books baby - I couldn't get enough! Look, there are almost 2,000 reviews and it's 4.5 stars - I'm not going to give you a synopsis of the book bc that's what the blurb is for and many other reviews give it. I'm just going to give accalades to an incredible author for a phenominally well written and researched series whose characters come to life and bring you into their world - a world that will capture your mind and heart even after you have forced yourself to put the book down (however briefly). If you love finding a new author/book/series that makes you feel like THAT - this is it. Look no further. Just. Read. It. Oh, after you read it and finish the series (and possibly Gabaldon's "Lord John" series too), you will be desperately looking for something remotely similar that will make you feel the same, and the closest I've come is the "Wilderness saga/series" by Sara Donati - "Into the Wilderness" is book 1. Historical fiction/romance without time travel, but amazing nonetheless! Apparantly the two authors know each other and the characters of Claire, James, and Ian are mentioned in Sara's book(s) and I believe I recall Sara's character of Rabbie being in one of Gabaldon's book. Something like that - little "cameos" - it's kinda cool! If anyone else has suggestions for similar series to love, please comment, I'm always looking for more! Outlander series: - Outlander (also there is a graphic novel of this story called "The Exile" which is shorter and slightly different in detail from the original story) - Dragonfly in Amber is the second book in the Outlander series, continuing the story of Claire and Jamie. - Voyager (1994) - Drums of Autumn (1997) - {The Outlandish Companion} - A guide to the Outlander series containing synopses, a character guide/notes/info. - The Fiery Cross (2001) - A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005) - An Echo in the Bone (2009) - "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows," a short story in Songs of Love and Death, an anthology edited by George R.R. Martin - Book Eight of the Outlander Series. (Final title to be announced.) Dr. Gabaldon has announced that there will be at least one more book in the story of Jamie and Claire. Publication date will be in 2012 or 2013 - it takes Diana approximately 2.5 years to write an Outlander book. Wilderness series (completed) by sara donati: - Into the Wilderness - Dawn on a Distant Shore - Lake in the Clouds - Fire Along the Sky - Queen of Swords - The Endless Forest - last book in series - the epilogue made me cry like a baby - for fictional characters! Unbelieveable!

The series on Starz follows the books mostly but the sections left out are so much better. Beautifully and wonderfully written.

I have been devouring novels since I was 6. I spent my childhood imagining that the stories I read in books were my own world. The last time I was so invested in characters in a novel was when I read "The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley, when I was in high school. Since then I have read a number of fabulous books that I have been touched by, but none that sparked my imagination beyond the book itself. More recently, I sometimes find a non-fiction book more intriguing than a fiction book with trite characters and plot (which I used to adore anyway). I figured I had just outgrown fiction and imaginary worlds, and it has been very pleasant to discover that I'm not too old to be swept away by a book. I simply can't get Claire and Jamie out of my head. From the time I picked up the book, I could not put it down, and spent all Saturday reading until the last page came across. In some ways, the book is not much more than a trashy romance novel (not that there is anything wrong with that genre). Claire is an unambitious wife in a satisfying, but not very exciting marriage to a man who is still a stranger since they've spent so little time together due to World War II, just ended. When she is transported back in time, her latent skills and fieriness work to her advantage, and she finds herself more fulfilled. Jamie is basically the ultimate man's man--strong, fierce, capable, decent, and tender, and of course tireless in bed and completely loyal to Claire. In the end, Claire has to save Jamie's life, and their love is unshakable. At the same time, the author's skill as a storyteller moves the story beyond a typical trashy romance novel (though really, this story is all about the romance and the love story). Once Claire becomes Jamie's sidekick, it is Jamie's story, not Claire's, which moves the plot forward. And the plot goes beyond factors that keep Claire and Jamie apart; they are part of a complex historical web of which their story is only a small part. The author weaves a story that keeps up its momentum and leaves no dull moment, even when she is describing normal everyday life instead of dramatic fights. I think the inclusion of these small things really helps build the characters and my investment in them--we are taken to see their life outside the plot, outside the drama. This book may not be for the literary critic. There are certainly places where the details are unbelievable. Would Claire, as a former World War II nurse, really be unfamiliar with amputation because modern medicine doesn't advocate amputation in the face of an infection? I'm pretty sure gangrene would have been a huge problem during World War II and that amputations not uncommon. Also, sometimes the reactions of the supporting characters are not realistic and the dialogue can be forced; the transcription of the Highland accent is inconsistent and incomplete. I didn't find these shortcomings to be very distracting, and ultimately I found the story to be easy to immerse myself in and forget myself for awhile, which is the mark of a great storyteller. I'm looking forward to reading the next four books in the series.

I'm doing a re-read of this book because it's been a while since I read it and I'm wanting to continue the series. I really love this book so much more than the show!! While the show starts out close to the book, it takes a sharp veer and goes off track. I absolutely love Jamie. He's been through so much in his life, but he just keeps a good air about him. Claire gets on my nerve a little. She's constantly doing the opposite of what Jamie is asking her not to do and then causing more issues. But she does get better throughout the book. There is so much more in the book as to what happened with Jamie at the end and how he healed from that. If you've watched the show and like it and haven't read the books, I really think you should. The book is really so much better than the show.

Started to watch the DVDs on this series which got me interested in reading the first book and I can see why this series is so popular. It has been said that film does not equal the detail of a book, but since each book is covered by an entire season, the DVDs do a pretty good job despite making some changes from the book. This is really an epic adventure/romance and the book goes in more detail than the DVDs. Claire accidentally goes thru the standing stones and ends up 200 years in the past and marries the love of her life, Jamie. They start out as almost casual acquaintances and to protect her from the British, she marries Jamie who secretly fell in love with her before they were married when he woke up and found her on his chest cussing him out for fainting from blood loss. Claire did not know much about him, not even his last name. She knows enough of history to know what the future holds for the Jacobite Highlanders. At first I was rolling my eyes when Jamie arrives just in time to save Claire, but as I finished the book, Claire does her turn saving Jamie back and their love for each other just triumphs all to fairy tale heights. Jamie is so loving and considerate that he’s too good to be true. He is the quintessential fictional hero. Claire does pretty well as a woman from the 1940s being smart and standing up for herself in an era where women are considered their husband's property. It does have a lot of sex scenes and rape seems pretty common. Jamie beats Claire for disobeying him, but the way they both handle it to come to an understanding without Claire being submissive or a doormat after Jamie realizes how it affected Claire just impressed me with the norm during those times and how Jamie was willing to change for Claire. He also vows never to do it again. I can say that historical fiction usually does not interest me, but this one is an exception.

I have to admit that the first time I saw this book in the library, I avoided it. As much as I love the time travel genre, the length put me off. That changed when the Outlander series started in August of 2014. I discovered that this book is more than just a time travel romance, but a journey into an era that covers so many aspects of human existence. Reading this book led me to the other books in the series and I find myself immersed in the lives and times of people who struggled to survive a terrible crisis in Scottish history. Diana Gabaldon wrote a series that begins with three people that will become entangled in events they have no control over. Claire Randall, on her second honeymoon in Scotland with Frank, witnesses a ceremony that will change her life. At Craigh Na Dun, she is pulled into what I think of as a time vortex and ends up in 1743. The first person she meets up with is a man who is a descendant of Frank, Captain Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall. At first, she thinks he is Frank, but soon finds out that he is nothing like her husband when he attacks and tries to rape her. Fortunately, she is saved by Murtagh, a Jacobite sympathizer, who takes her to where the rest of his raiding party is hiding. There, she meets Jamie, who has a dislocated shoulder and the rest of the "gang" who are very suspicious of a English lass wearing nothing but her "undergarments." She fixes Jamie's shoulder and is taken along to Castle Leoch until it is discovered whether Claire is a spy. This is just the start of a very long and intricate story, full of intrigue and characters that can never be taken at face value. It is no wonder that Ron Moore is making a television series out of it. I have never been so impressed with a story that makes me laugh so much or cry so much in one book. The relationship between Claire and Jamie is different from most "romance" since they are friends, long before the next step is taken. This may be due to the fact that Claire doesn't want to cheat on Frank, even though, technically, he doesn't exist yet. Also, though Jamie is not perfect, he respects Claire enough to keep his distance, though you know that he is falling for her. You will find many uncomfortable situations coming up in this book, which will test your patience with the morals and beliefs of people in the 1740's, but Diana is very honest about these moments and does not sugar coat them. You will have to make up your own mind about them as you read. I personally felt sick to my stomach at many of the events, especially with what happened to Jamie in prison because of Randall. I try to use it at an object lesson to remember to care about others and be careful about becoming prejudiced of any group of people. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and watching Ron Moore's adaptation on Starz. Hopefully, they will approve the release of the series on DVD for those who do not have cable. Everyone deserves to see this book on film. As Jamie would say, "Je Suis Prest-I am ready."

I absolutely loved this book! I couldn't put it down and read it into the night far longer than I should have on a couple of occasions. The story goes that Claire Randall is a battlefield nurse in the 1940s and is married to Frank Randall. When they decide to go on a second honeymoon to Scotland after seven years of marriage, the plot gets really interesting. Claire decides to take a walk to pick some wildflowers (she enjoys studying plant life) and ends up walking through a mini-stonehenge and is thrown back in time to the 1700s in Scotland. What proceeds is 500 or so pages of her trying to get back to her "own time". She is captured on a number of occasions first by the Scots and then by the rading English soldiers. She has a quick wit and a foul mouth, something people in the 1700s are certainly not used to hearing from a woman. And which I enjoyed the most, I think. I was told that if I could get through the first hundred pages or so, then the book flows more smoothly (it's really more like the first 75 or 80 pages). If you can get through the genealogical research her husband conducts and the Scottish village interactions to the part where she goes back in time, it gets really good. One part of the book I struggled with was the Scottish Highland brogue, and their way of speaking. It took me most of the book to get a rhythm when I read their language. I was conflicted over two parts of the book- one, after Claire is stuck and cannot get back to the 1940s and realizes the English soldiers are on her tail and are planning on accusing her of being a spy, she relents to being married to a Scotsman, Jamie Fraser. Now, he's hot, strong, and a really good fighter. But, he largely sees women as property, basically because that's his culture and how he was raised. You can't necessarily blame him for that, he lives nearly 200 years in the past. However, when Claire attempts to return to the stonehenge and to her home, she is captured by the English and though Jamie and his men bravely risk their necks to save hers, he still punishes her, by beating her with his belt on her back. She fights him off and still he essentially whips her. He says she was rebellious and didn't listen to what he told her to do and risked all their lives in the process. So, I guess if you take it in the context of the time period and where they are and how they lived then, it was an acceptable practice. It was just hard to swallow for my feminist mindset. The second part I struggled with was the ending- one of the characters is brutally and repeatedly raped by an English soldier. It was like a train wreck; I wanted to look away but just had to keep reading to find out the ending. Everything turns out okay, the person survives and the bad guy gets killed, but its a gruesome scene. Not for the faint of heart, I guess. Still a great read! If you love historical novels with romance added in, this one is definitely for you! It's chock full of great characters and great action as well. It's a must read!

Be prepared to be whisked away to another place and time that feels so real and so right that you can't stop turning the pages, all 900 of them! When you turn that last page you don't close it, sigh and say, "Ah, I'm done." No, you immediately reach for book two. You will! You've never experienced anything like this brilliantly written unforgettable tale. Looking for a quick, light read? This is NOT that. This is quality time with a well written story that you won't want to end. Ironically, it hasn't. So unique and different that you won't be able to put this story into one genre. Is it a romance, fantasy, historical fiction, science fiction or mystery? No one really knows and no one can agree, including bookstores, because you'll get all of that and more. There's humor, sorrow, mystery, and lots of steamy scenes throughout. Ugly cry-serious ugly cry, moments that will tear your heart out. Diana Gabaldon is a master at the art of writing - show don't tell. Details abound that make you feel, hear, visualize and smell exactly where you are throughout the Outlander and subsequent books in the series. All seven novels, yes, seven are excellent. Clear your mind and imagine it is 1945 post WWII. At the onset, the story centers on Claire Randall a feisty, resourceful British nurse and her husband, Frank, a history professor with a passion for genealogy, who also worked briefly for the British intelligence agency during the war. The place is Inverness, Scotland. The couple is on a second honeymoon getting reacquainted after being separated for years due to the war. And reacquainted they do indeed become **wink**. There is no denying that the first thirty pages or so will have you debating if this book is for you. Frankly, it starts out slow, however, the details in those pages are relevant. Stop yawning and pay attention. The pace and intrigue begins to pick up when secret Scottish ritualistic activities take place and you're introduced to the stone circle, also known as the standing stones. BOOM! Clear your mind again and imagine you're Claire Randall in the very same place yet something is very different. Like 200 years different. Holy crap you're hooked on the Outlander! The pages start to turn more rapidly and your bedtime turns into extended reading time. Because...200 years ago there was a man named James Alexander Malcom MacKenzie Fraser. Jamie Fraser is a young twenty-something, brawny, fine young man. A very fine virgin man to be exact. The likes of no other man you've met and a man you'll never ever forget. Are you ready to be entertained with British banter, Scottish slang and Gaelic phrases by the fascinating cast of characters? Puzzling at first but once you get the hang of it you'll be speaking it like a pro. You'll be begging your significant other to endearingly call you Sassenach and you'll be putting a visit to Scotland on your bucket list! Take the plunge into the stone circle you won't be sorry and maybe, just maybe, you'll make it to the other side.

I struggled at first with verisimilitude. I also had no interest in Scottish history. But the story and characters gradually turned me over to this epic love story. I don’t usually read romance novels. This had some nice juicy scenes that were effective because the plot and characters were developed. I will read the series and eventually watch the television show now that I am invested.

Long ago, I was a 17 year old girl just wandering around her most favorite place in the world, the library. I came across Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and was changed forever. Overly dramatic? Nope. The God's honest truth. I have compared all my book heroines to Clare Randall and no one comes close. She's incredibly smart, compassionate, stubborn. She loves fiercely and completely and stands up for herself and for those she loves. She knows when to be quiet and hold her tongue not only because it may mean her survival but because she's an intelligent woman that knows how to bide her time before she gives voice to her beliefs and convictions. She also knows when to shout and stand up and fight for they both know it. She is wholly herself and she makes no apologies about it. She's everything a strong woman is and no book heroine compares. This book kicks off a series but Outlander can and does stand alone just fine. Claire does indeed fall through time and finds herself in war-torn Scotland, far from everything she knows including her husband Frank. This is not your typical time travel book although she is two hundred years into the past and it's not your typical historical fiction although Gabaldon's details of this time period is incredibly accurate and the details are fascinating to read about and it's not your typical romance either although Claire does fall in love with Jaime Fraser who loves her with a ferocity that is breathtaking and exciting and leaves you begging for more. What separates this romance from all the rest is that Claire doesn't see Jaime and immediately drool over him or daydream about him or any of those other silly plot devices other authors use. Her realization that she's 200 years in the past is her most pressing thought and she does all she can to survive and hide herself within the clan so as not to be seen as a witch or crazy person who talks about cars and telephones. She tries to get back to her own time, to her own husband but she can't so being the smart and intelligent woman she is, she buckles down and survives by offering her knowledge about doctoring to the clan and just does her best to keep her head down. Circumstances beyond her control force Claire into a marriage with Jaime Fraser, a young man who is outlawed and wanted by the Crown and who has his own problems to deal with. Suddenly, the story turns from Claire and her dire straits to Claire and Jaime and how they will go on together. Some have complained about the sex scenes in this novel but I found them to be beautifully written and not nearly as graphic as some books are today. In fact, I found them to be wonderfully intimate because it's not just about sex between a man and a woman but about the intimacy between two people within the bonds of marriage. Although their marriage is forced, Claire and Jaime grow to love each other and depend and rely on one another. Their relationship is constantly challenged and because of it, their love for one another gets that much stronger. Read this book! You won't be disappointed.

LET THE KILT DROP Last week when I realized OUTLANDER was ending mid-season I decided to read the book. I knew I would want to know what was coming next. Having purchased the book earlier this year made that possible. When I mentioned to my mom about starting the book she offered her kindle so that I could listen to the audio version. I basically spent the next 4 days wearing headphones. The moment Jamie appeared in the book the headphones were never taken off except to sleep and shower. I'm pretty sure if I had of tried to read this prior to watching the tv show I would have given up because the beginning of the book is pretty boring. The tv show enhanced the beginning of the book by making it come alive and cutting out all the extra stuff in the book that drug on (like the talk about herbs, etc). I'm aware the tv show is not an exact replicate of the book and I'm thankful it's not. The book is told in Claire's pov, while I enjoy her pov, I do feel the addition the tv show offers makes the overall experience even better. For example: A couple weeks ago I called my mom to tell her about an amusing part in the tv show and she mentioned she didn't remember reading that in the book. So while I read the book I looked for that scene and I found it wasn't included in the book. Even though it wasn't there I thought that scene added a much needed amount of humor. I happy sighed through this whole book every time Jamie spoke. ♥I love that man! ♥ Jamie was a scene stealer. I've never hated any book character as much as I hate Captain Jack Randall. Just thinking about him right now is getting me all worked up. Maybe it is the name - Randall because in Monsters, Inc. the Randall character was evil. Something to ponder. Okay, "Randall" isn't taking anymore space on my review. . While I wait for the return of the show in April I will continue on my reading journey. When the show returns I might have to watch some scene with my eyes shut so I can survive what is to come to Claire and Jamie. WATCH and READ this series! SERIES: Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) by Diana Gabaldon Voyager (Outlander #3) by Diana Gabaldon Drums of Autumn (Outlander, #4) by Diana Gabaldon The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5) by Diana Gabaldon A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander, #6) by Diana Gabaldon An Echo in the Bone (Outlander, #7) by Diana Gabaldon Written in My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander, #8) by Diana Gabaldon This series is comprised of one epic story. Each book is like a chapter in that larger story. It is recommended that you read the books in the order they were published. To find out when book 9 will be released click here. Novellas: The Space Between (Outlander, #7.5) by Diana Gabaldon A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows (Outlander, #8.5) by Diana Gabaldon (#7.5)(#8.5)

I want to begin by saying that I enjoyed everything except the sex scenes, which are too many, too graphic and frankly pornographic. While that might be for some, it’s not for this Christian. The author herself is quite gifted! From the premise of time travel, to the scenery, to the history, to the characters themselves and details in describing plant and flora and the details in clothing, virtually all else is wonderfully researched and written. The characters have great depth, the plot draws on it, the speech is very rich and the book itself what I at least perceived as having true historical accuracy. It made me want to visit Scotland! This is the first time in a long time that I have pushed the boundaries of my personal limits because I am a woman of faith, but I leave this book unfinished same as I did the movie series and with much disappointment. I had hoped that the books would not be explicit like the film series, and that it was liberties taken by the producers as is so often the case. It’s a shame as everything else is truly exceptionally well written. I wanted to read and finish this series, but I made the decision long ago God is first in my life and that includes how I live in principle, the example I set and what I consume both mentally and spiritually. There is a real void in the area of entertainment in both literature and film, but I suppose that’s simply the world, age and era which is likewise disappointing. Sex is beautiful, wonderful, amazing and a gift, but it is sacred- I don’t need or want to spend time observing a couple and their acts of intimacy which is what this felt like.

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!!!! I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS STORY!!!!!!!!!!. You may have heard of it, the TV show just came out (it is very well done so far) and people are noticing of how good, how amazing it is!!! But I don't think every human would have the nerve to really appreciate. I watched the first episode of the TV show before reading the book, which was great because it helped me understand better and gave me an idea of how beautiful the setting is, because my mind would have not made up something that beautiful (I may say the same about Jamie). I made myself really…really…REALLY patient with the book as it is very slow and there is not a lot of action the first 75% of the book. But I was completely in love with the routine Claire had during the slow parts, even though the situation was not pleasant, I wanted to be there, living each part. I had so many emotions. This book made feel happy, sad, angry, humiliated, scared, tired, relaxed, intrigued and excited. There is a lot of character, world and history building. I was bewitched by the book. I loved Claire. She is an amazing protagonist so brave, strong and smart. There was only one time in which I thought she was being stupid and for a book that long and for the protagonists I am used to, that is nothing. I love Jamie, like… he is one of my favorite guys in the whole wide universe. And both of them: Jamie and Claire are my favorite couple ever, they complement each other perfectly, the chemistry between them is the best I have ever read and no, I am not talking only about the sexy moments, just… the way they talk to each other. I am not a big fan of marriage, but if I ever get to talk with a guy the same way they do, I will marry him. The secondary characters were very well developed as well. That Jack Randall… , man…I HATE him!!!! He is on top of my black list, even on top of Dolores Umbridge, Voldemort, Sebastian Morgenstern , Cercei Lannister and my ex-boyfriend. The setting, I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!! It was so well described and so different from what I know. I read my first contemporary like a year and two months ago, before that I only read fantasy and some science fiction, but these settings of castles, wars, mystical tales and magic, swords, mountains, zero technology: that was my thing and OMG!! I had forgotten how much I love it. The writing style was really good, it was different… I felt it. The language was a bit of a problem the first chapters. English is not my native language and there were many strange and ancient words (I am sure some of them weren't even English) so I made a good use of the kindle dictionary but my vocabulary knowledge grew and I got used to it. I will read the next book, I am super intrigued, I have many theories but not enough to understand how there are still seven books more, all huge. So if it felt complex… holy crap! This is just the beginning.

I feel unworthy to even review this book, since it has been reviewed by 34,000+ people already – Written by #1 New York Times bestseller Author, Diana Gabaldon and it’s a Starz original TV Series as well. Just wow! When I first started to read this book, I hadn’t seen the TV series yet and I decided not to read the blurb. I just jumped right into the book to discover what it was about. I’ve seen countless references to Outlander on the pages that I follow on instagram and Facebook and just had to find out more. After WWII, former war nurse Claire and her husband, Frank go to Scotland on their 2nd honeymoon. In Scotland, Frank is learning about his genealogy and traced one of his ancestors as Captain Jack Randall of the English Red Dragoons, from the 18th Century. As they continue their trip, they decide to visit the Stonehenge and witness a beautiful pagan ritual. Claire goes back to the same location to take a look at flowers she found in the vicinity, but when something about these standing stones captures her attention, she touches it and ends up getting transported into the 18th Century. Once she arrives, she meets her husbands ancestor and he’s nothing like the man she knows her husband to be. After being rescued from his clutches by a Scottish clan, she is held as a guest of the Clan Mackenzie, where they try to discover what this “Sassenach’s” purpose truly is. Claire desperately tries to keep suspicions off of her back until she can devise a plan to get back to the Stonehenge, back to Frank and more importantly back to the 20th Century. Throughout her journey, she uses her nursing background and botany knowledge to heal and help the people of the clan. Enter, Jamie Fraser, the nephew to the laird of Clan Mackenzie, he is currently an outlaw and has been seeking refuge from the English. Claire and James share many adventures together and there is a clear attraction. Claire is conflicted because she does not belong to this time period no matter how she seems to be acclimating; is there anyone that she can trust to believe that she is a time traveler from the future? Will she ever make it back to the 20th Century? I decided to read each book and then the respective season of the tv show. I feel like I’ve entered the 18th Century right along with Claire and I absolutely love it! “As though, knowing that everything is possible, suddenly nothing is necessary.” Diana Gabaldon takes you on an adventure with each turn of the page; it’s beautiful, heart-breaking, you’re able to connect with the characters and you feel their pain. I’ll admit the writing was a bit difficult to get adjusted to and I used the dictionary more times than I care to admit, but once I got the hang of it, I just couldn’t put it down this 600+ page book! I look forward to reading the 2nd book! For now, I’m going to binge watch season 1!! Happy reading! 🙂 check out my review at loveatfirstreadcom.wordpress.com

I'm way behind on this series, having only heard of it a few months ago. The book seems to be divided into sections that have a different tone and feeling. the initial few chapters were quaint and cute. Claire is honeymooning with her husband in Scotland and picking up on local customs and curiosities. Any sex is implied and not explicit. The book has a feel of an interesting historical travelogue. When Claire is first transported by in time, the only danger she encounters is Jack Randall. Still, it was light hearted teasing of her as a prostitute. She is "rescued" by a group of barbarian Scots, and quickly establishes her skills as a healer. Again, people treat her with respect and dignity, and she is quickly accepted into the society there. SPOILER ALERT The middle of the book starts deviating from reader expectation based on the light-hearted beginning. There is fairly explicit sex, and some of it none too gentle. Jamie alternates between lover-boy and brute. Then there is the beating, but worst of all, he enjoys it. And Claire is so sore she cannot ride a horse. So this was not a mere spanking. Gabaldon spends several pages detailing the befores, during, and after of the beating, including all the reasons why she should have been beaten, the gruesome detail, and finally the aftermath, such as her inability to sit. She tosses the reader a bone where Jamie vows never to do it again. The violence escalates to marital rape. Incredibly enough, she devotes 1200 words to what Claire describes as rape, after he gives her a wedding ring and she accepts it! Incredible. "No!" I gasped. "Stop, please, you're hurting me!" Beads of sweat ran down his face and dropped on the pillow and on my breasts. Our flesh met now with the smack of a blow that was fast crossing the edge into pain. My thighs were bruising with the repeated impact, and my wrists felt as though they would break, but his grip was inexorable. Gabaldon, Diana (2004). Outlander: with Bonus Content (Kindle Locations 7637-7640). Dell. Kindle Edition. --- Okay so we get past that and then we get some nice domestic scenes with Jamie's sister and her family. But unfortunately, Jamie is sent to prison and meets up with Jack Randall. The last section of the book becomes absolutely lurid, to the point of gruesome. Detailed and explicit homosexual rape and torture. Not saying these things couldn't have happened. But to go into such detail, and the weirdness of describing their mutual sexual feelings. Okay, this author either has a great imagination or she's interviewed men raped in prison. --- That said, I'll still give it three stars, for the descriptive detail, the history and the culture. Jamie and Claire's friendship before the beating and the marital rape during their travels is worth reading. Oh, and there's the obligatory witch trial. Of course. All said, the author packed in every adventure, every event, everything that could possibly happen to two people in 896 pages. I feel like she never had to delete a scene, or remove a storyline. And she goes for maximum blood, gore, sexual agony, whenever possible.

Claire Randall is on a second honeymoon with her husband Frank after serving as a combat nurse in World War II. While on a trip to Scotland they visit an ancient stone circle known as Craigh na Dun. Claire touches one of the standing stones and is suddenly sucked back in time to war-torn Scotland in 1743. After almost being captured and raped by hostile British soldiers, she is rescued and taken by a band of Scottish outlaws. An "out of the fire into the frying pan" situation if there ever was one. The Scots are deeply suspicious of Claire's dress, speech and manner. Thinking her to be a British spy they decide to take her with them to their stronghold. She does win the men over, to some extent, when she uses her nursing skills to save the life of one of their comrades, James Fraser, a recent escapee from a British prison. And so begins one of the most remarkable sagas in modern fiction. To label "Outlander" a romantic historical novel is to do it a terrible injustice. This is an epic romance, yes. And the relationship between Claire and Jamie is one of the most caring and intimate I have ever encountered - in fiction or in real life. Claire, having lived in England during the bombings of WWII, and served as a nurse at the front, is a resourceful, strong woman. And Jamie is an educated, philosophic man with a sense of humor...who is also a warrior in a "Braveheart" kind of way! This is a couple who are truly committed to a life together for better or worse. And Since Claire's first husband Frank will not be born for another 200 years, she is not committing bigamy. And, yes, "Outlander" is a historical novel, covering a tumultuous period in Scotland, England and France when Prince Charles Edward Stuart is attempting to regain the throne. I have also read time travel novels before, and this is like no other. The sheer magnitude of material that Diana Gabaldon covers, from the intrigues of the Scottish clans and the politics of the Jacobites to the everyday life of survival in 18th century Scotland, is extraordinary. Her research is impeccable and she tells a tale like no other. This is the kind of book you will want to read slowly and to savor. Ms. Gabaldon knows how to draw the reader into the story with her deft prose, wonderful humor, unusual characters and awesome adventures. One of the main reasons that I love this book is because Ms. Gabaldon develops her characters, major and minor, so that they become almost real. It is difficult not to form strong attachments to them and to care what happens to them all. I had read "Outlander" when it first came out in the 1991, was entranced by it then and stored it away with my box of "keepers." I recently had the flu and was looking for a wonderful book to take my mind off of my aches and pains and decided to reread this novel. Once started I had to keep going and am now on the third book in the series. I highly recommend "Outlander." Oh, and don't be intimidated by the number of pages...once you begin to read, you'll soon wish there were more. JANA

Outlander Author: Diana Gabaldon Narrated: Davina Porter File Size: 2562 KB, Print Length: 896 pages, Audio: 32hrs & 37min Publisher: Dell, Recorded Books June 1, 1991 & October 26, 2004 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 back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire's destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life ...and shatter her heart. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. A book comes to life to me, becoming a living fantasy ...movie in my mind and some even become a part of me, this is one of those stories. There is no way you can put this book down or stop the audio without fighting with conscious and making it submit to reality. Diana takes you there; you will find yourself in Claire's place living life with Jamie. She truly captures the human state. The past will flash forward grabbing you and thrust you head long into Scotland and the Highlands. The concept of time travel may seem too farfetched for some, but it's the perfect launching point for this story. The synopsis does a grand job letting you know what the story is about, I can only emphasize to run not walk to your local book store, or E-book hub and download this story. You will not be disappointed. If you enjoy audio, the audio version is fantastic. I feel like taking a bullhorn shouting about the necessity to include this book and series in your library but to purchase the audio as well. Davina Porter is brilliant, simply brilliant. Her voice and performance knocked me to my bum. I've not said this about many narrators. Basically, if the publisher is wise they will choose the voice to fit the story or main character, which they did with Davina. But rarely does the narrator become the main character or the cast of characters with such believability. She is a true spectacular find and will not disappoint. This series is expected to be picked up by Starz and produced as a series, expecting cable release in 2014. If you purchase this story and the following series, you will be adding a true treasure to your library. The Oracle (Maria Mercedes) All synopsis are supplied by the publisher via Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble The Oracle Reviews: [...] The Oracle Reviews purchases some titles others are received via Netgalley or the authors themselves. All opinions and reviews are her own.

The seller gave me excellent customer service over the refund. They even tried looking for the replacement. Way easy to deal with. Diana Galbadon Herself is an excellent writer who weaves great stories and very memorable characters that will stand the rest of time. Davinia Porter makes it come alive. Way h the Starz network show; you won't regret it. I promise.

Ok, so I read this book a few years ago along with all the other volumes that are published. The fantasy bit is not my genre at all but the historical part is so incredibly fantastic that I’m able to suspend my reality grip and cling possesively to every word that Gabaldon writes. I’m completely obsessed. I’ve been so smitten that not only do I own hardcover copies of each book but now I’m collecting Kindle versions (I’ve lent my physical copies) just in case something bad befalls my physical books. Additionally, I’m going to read some of the Lord John books, even with the less than stellar reviews because I’m jonesing! I’m not sure what I can say that thousands of others haven’t already said. The writing is spectacular; a one in a generation kind of thing that folks will read and talk about for years to come. When it comes to the characters, I wish it were possible to pass thru some stones, meet up with J & C, have a pint and hear about their amazing experiences first hand. This book is full of all the things I usually avoid in my reading - foul language, many harsh and violent sexual encounters and lots of descriptive violence. Why did I read it and not put this book aside? All the instances were non-gratuitous, imho; they fit the characters or the situations at the time. It was possible to easily skim sections without loosing the continuity of the plot and as I’ve said before, the writing is just extraordinary. The prose is magnificent and aside from possibly wanting to skim a rough sexual or violent scene, you will not want to miss a single word. When you finish your reading for the day you’ll swear you’ve done battle in Culloden or been in prison with Jamie or in the castle with Claire, on the moors, thru the stones... Ms. Gabaldon, please hurry? It’s been almost 4 years since the last “big book”, we NEED more!

I know what your thinking me an Outlander fan. But it is the truth I really do adore this series and have been reading it for quite some time. I think the last time i read through this series was in 2014 before I joined Goodreads at the start of the TV series as well. So I decided it was time to refresh my memories of this series with the coming of book nine, Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone. It was such a great decision. I probably won't go into too much detail in my reviews. I will touch on aspects of every book though in some regards. For Outlander I just want to touch on the fact that this story is rich with so much history and some wonderful characters. Claire and Jamie are each excellent in their own ways that make you want to root for them in every way. You also have a slew of side characters that each bring something to the story and are not just there to be there. They have purpose, they have their own grueling backstories that make them characters you feel for. Now onto the history, Diana Gabaldon must truly take utter pride in the research she does. It shows on every page, through the words, the landscape, characters. It is truly something to behold. I felt like I was there in Scotland in 1744. It is a true testament to Diana's love for this story and these characters. I for one cannot wait to continue my journey through this series once more.

If someone asked me what genre Outlander belonged to, I’d have trouble answering. Historical fiction, of course, with a strong romantic relationship at its heart, yet also fits into the fantasy and supernatural genre with a touch of science-fiction. Whatever the genre, all I can tell you is I found Outlander to be an epic tale that swept me along for the ride. The year is 1945. The war is over and Claire Randall has been reunited with her husband, Frank. She spent the past number of years as a combat nurse in France while Frank worked for M16. They go on a second honeymoon to Scotland, a chance to get to know each other all over again. There, Claire wanders up to the circle of standing stones and presses her hand to one of them. Her world tilts and she awakens in the same spot, some two hundred years in the past. How will she get back to her husband? How will she convince the Scots she isn’t an English spy? How will she manage in the year 1743? Wow. I’ve fallen fast and hard in love with this book and I can’t wait to dive into the next one. I’m not sure how I would have survived reaching the last page if I hadn’t known there were a further seven books in the series! I don’t often give a book five stars, but with Outlander, I wish I could give more. It swept me up and tore my emotions apart. I loved Claire and Jamie and their relationship. Jamie is my new book boyfriend. :) He’s courageous, handsome, more forward thinking than most men of his time, and he loves Claire completely. And of course he’s also got that swoon-worthy Scottish accent! And he wears a kilt!!! Claire herself is a formidable heroine. She copes a hell of a lot better in the eighteenth century than I could ever imagine I would. She’s resilient, brave and strong, a force to be reckoned with. I am still shaking my head wondering how this book escaped my attention. It was published in 1991 and I cannot understand why I hadn’t heard of it previously. This story contains romance, but it’s not a traditional romance. Romance books for me are the journey of a man and woman falling in love and getting together, and the book usually ends with “and they lived happily ever after”. Yes, Jamie and Claire are forced to get married and be together, but this story spans beyond that. For readers who aren’t too much into romance, note Outlander is a historical fiction piece. Want to know what life was like in the Highlands of Scotland in mid eighteenth century? Look no further. Given the time period, there is much brutality in this novel and the threat of violence and rape permeates through many of the pages, a word of warning… I read the book on my Kindle and it was long. A quick Google search and it’s apparently 850 pages, and even at that length, I wanted more. Outlander now goes in my top ten favourite books of all time.

A perfect escape with multi-dimensional characters, brilliant plot, and incredible historical detail that will pull you in and stay with you forever. A beautifully written book that's impossible to put down. Outlander will forever hold a very special place in my heart. A true labor of love.

::::POSSIBLE SPOILERS:::: It's 1945 and WWll is over. English born Claire Randall (27) is in Scotland with her husband, Frank on a second honeymoon. They haven't seen each other for almost seven years after being married for 6 months before War broke. Now they're trying to get reacquainted and reestablish their marriage. And then Claire is accidentally transported 200 years back in time when she walks through the standing stones at Craigh na Dun, to the year 1743.... and her adventure begins. She is kidnapped by the Clan MacKenzie of Castle Leoch, meets and becomes linked to Jamie Fraser (23)...first due to circumstance, then by friendship, and finally by a startingly deep bodily passion. When the one precious opportunity arrives for Claire to go back to the Twentieth century and to her first husband, Frank.....she simply cannot leave Jamie, who has become her heart, her love and her life, and decides to stay in eighteenth century Scotland. Claire is a nurse by profession and volunteered her service to the WWll effort, with the Royal Army, England. She's acquainted with, and no stranger to, field work and slaughter. She's level headed, completely dedicated and deeply committed to her nursing profession. She's warm, very intelligent and also stubborn and strong willed. She can curse with the best of 'em...she's feisty and full of spunk, pluck and sass. She's also tender hearted and devoted to helping the ill and infirmed...and of course, Jamie Fraser, her beloved. Jamie Fraser is a gallant Scottish warrior. He's brilliant and well educated for his time...courageous and bold, and as far as he's concerned, CLAIRE IS HIS! He's completely devoted to her. This is the third time I've read this Epic 7 book Outlander Saga through the many years and the first time I've taken time to give a review. Like all the other 5★ rave reviews, I can never put this story down once I begin...housework goes to pot and laundry piles up. It holds me completely captive with crippling intensity with all of its emotional structure and profound dimension. The story is so captivating and consuming that I find that I begin to slow my reading down as I see the end looming in sight, hating to let Jamie and Claire go. It never fails. THESE CHARACTERS ARE REAL.. DANG IT! When I read this story, I'm IN Scotland! I mean...I'M THERE! The descriptive detail and narration are so strong, exact and perfect that one cannot help be emotionally invested in little time. You're transported into another world and time...and you're reluctant to return. Diana Gabaldon is brilliant. The absolute best. If you will allow the time, and give the effort to patiently absorb the detailed narration, you will be blessed with the most emotional Saga ever to hold in your hands.

I only decided to read this novel (which I had never heard of prior to the past several months) when STARZ TV network sent me several e-mails concerning the release of this story as a TV serial and with these e-mails came 1.) news that it was one of the exhibitions at the San Diego Comic.com, which my daughter and son-in-law were attending and 2.) a report from my S-I-L that "everyone" was reading the book there. Then STARZ sent me a free viewing of the first episode. I bought the book, knowing from reading the book description, and the sample that this was a time travel and that there were two men in the heroine's life. I must say, first: I am a grandmother, and second: I have worked in social work so I am not surprised at man's inhumanity to man nor the depths of degradation some behavior may stoop to. Does that make me less of a lady? And does reading about such lead me to "sin"? NO! But I would never recommend this book to a young person and I would make sure that even if I were recommending it to an "adult" I would make sure that I used the term "bawdy". And one must add terms such as sadistic, brutal, passionate, with events from both religious and satanic realms. There is a lot of history, of which I have had just about NO knowledge as it is of the British Isles. Thrown in is Claire's interest in herbs and flowers for healing, which added some interest for me, but might be less so for others. The love story here drew me in, made me sigh, and left me wanting more. For Jamie to give Claire the opportunity to time travel back to her first husband, Frank, and then his reaction when she comes running down the hill and finds him just tore at my heart. I have to admit that it was a long read and I had to then go and look at the book descriptions for the other SEVEN books to know where this is headed. I will buy all those and read them but I have to take some time off as I could NOT put this book down without a struggle...need to eat, need to sleep, etc. I had not looked at how many reviews there were when I first looked at buying this book - and they do run the gamut from 1 star to 5 stars. The author does not need any feedback at this point nor do I expect any reader to get to my review as there are over 4800 such but I have a goal of posting reviews for the books I now read. Loved this story and look forward to reading the entire series.

I watched the first five seasons of the show before I purchased Outlander. I figured, that since I am in love with the show, that I would love the books as well. I was not wrong. I actually loved the book more than the corresponding season of the show. Diana Gabaldon is such a talented writer. Now if only I could travel back in time and find my own Jamie. 😍😍

Time line 1946 - 1743 I recommend you read all 7 books, and wait for number 8. The book Outlander is book 1 in what will become an 8 book series in spring of 2014 it has been changed 3 times, it is now summer of 2014 ( when book 8 comes out). Gabaldon is a great and a prolific writer. This is a book that Gabaldon wrote, just to see if she could write a book, and she found that she could, and very well. She knows her characters and how to write them to make you love them. It starts out in 1945. Claire is a battlefield nurse in England during WWII. Her husband Frank is an immanent historian. By page 50 she accidentally steps into a circle of stones and is thrown back in time to 1743 Scotland. When she discovers what happened to her she tries to get back to the stones, but cannot because she is found and taken by some Highlanders, to keep her safe from the English. Jamie Fraser is one of the Highlanders. She has some knowledge, from her life in 1945, to help her to survive 200 years in the past. The story is very interesting and fast moving. Your interest is held through out the whole book, which makes it very hard to put down. Her following books all take up where the previous book ends. The only book that does not start right off where book 1 ends is book 2, It picks up a little later in the book, so when you read the next book is as though you are still reading the same book. I like that, because when you enjoy a book so much that you do not want it to end, it is very enjoyable to find that it has not ended. You can read her books in any order, but I recommend that you read them in order, the flow of the books are then easier to follow. I recommend this and all her books to anyone. who loves great books. I have read Diana Gabaldon's book twice, and am on the third reading. I discovered her in 1993, so there is a bit of time between readings. This book is so good that I bought the Audio book of it. It is fantastic. Davina Porter is amazing. she does it as if you were listening to a play. She uses other voices, different accents for different people and remembers who each voice belongs to. I've read book 3 times, and the Audio Book is a bonus to listen to. I highly recommend it. I bought all the books on Amazon, and the Audio book there also. I had them put into my Kindle Fire. It is a wonderful device. I love listening to the Audio, but I need the books also. Germaine Rosenquist

I watched the first season and thought it would be a good idea to read the books. The story is immensely appealing. An added twist is using knowledge of one era to guide one in another..... an idea often forbidden by many purists. But, at some point, one realizes that the writing style is somewhat dry to occasionally just boring. There are times, certainly, when the novel speeds up, and one is captivated. Having said that, I believe that the television series probably saved the author, in that the screenplay synthesizes the high-points ( which, as others have pointed out, do focus on sex and quite graphic violence). I heard that Balfe read the entire novel over a weekend when auditioning for the part...now **that** alone deserves an Emmy!! ***SPOILER*** Clearly, the author has an obsession with sex, but also with violent sex. The main protagonist is clearly brutally raped by his English captor. I have to believe that this is not too unlikely have happened, as it does to this day in wars. {Another good reason to avoid them, as we are currently experiencing }. But, Gabaldon cannot seem to let this episode go, and dwells on it with an almost unnatural obsession. Moreover, one has to wonder how this contributes to the storyline, other than its morbid nature. It's actually quite disturbing, and does make me less likely to read the rest of the series.

This book is amazing! I watched the series which was great, but the book hold far more detail! Definitely recommend.

I'm gonna start by saying that I love romance novels. I have read sooo many of them. I have also watched all 4 seasons of the tv series Outlander. Because I had enjoyed the show and loving to read romance novels I thought I would give this book a try. And I am disappointed 😔. It does follow the show decently well (more then I thought it would). Not exactly the same but that is always expected. I usually pick books over the shows or movie they turn it into but in this case I'm not so sure. To start with.. the book is descriptive but I feel like the love story / emotion side of it isnt as much. That was the part I was so excited to dig deeper into. I wanted more of the inside thoughts of the love side of the story. Second. I did not enjoy Jamie as much as I did in the show. I was beyond disappointed in his character in the book. In the tv series he is my favorite I love everything about him in it. But the book I had to dig real deep to enjoy and find the reasons why Claire loved him. It's not that he wasnt still a good guy but my heart didnt get the flutters. I found myself lacking the romantic pull of him. Third some things seemed to drag out way to long for my liking. In some areas I felt they would say/talk about the same thing so many times it was like beating a dead horse. The areas I wish were slowed down seemed to go fast. And the things I wish went faster seemed to linger. I wanted to love this book. I wanted to feel more of that connection that Claire and Jamie seem to bring into the show but seemed to lack in the book. I struggled to find why they loved each other and where the real deep connections came into play. I found myself missing the show and the connection/intimacy that came through better in some areas of the show. There was some things that happened in the book that wasnt in the tv series and some things that went more into detail that seemed to help me understand parts that happen in the tv series better. Broke down more of the culture and more insecurities that Claire had with a new relationship that I did enjoy that wasnt in the tv series. I read one review that complained about the intimacy parts being to descriptive and happen to much. But I have read books with wayy more details and way more times so i would not worry about this if thats a concern for you with reading it. With that my biggest reason for the 3 starts is I have read books with lesser pages that gave me a stronger love between the two characters and more insight in the characters heart and mind (when it comes to the love, connection, and passion). Haveing only read book 1 the story between Jamie and Claire could give more insight as you go from book to book but as of just book one. I was disappointed with this part of it and Jamie's character.

So I am a avid reader, as such I decided to start this series because I really enjoyed the television series. With that being said I prefer the television series; it’s very rare the television series outperforms the book but here we are. The story is good just not as good. The story is for 18+ there are triggers and there is a HEA.

When was the last time you couldn't put a book down? The last time you actually had to hide it from yourself to get other things done? The last time you found yourself reading with one hand over your mouth, leaning so close to the book you felt (hoped) you might fall in? If it's been awhile, then Diana Gabaldon's Outlander is for you! I got absolutely hooked on this series through this free download from the Kindle. I would never classify myself as a romance reader; I normally find them boring and ridiculously formulaic, each cookie-cutter bodice-ripper no different from the last. Imagine my surprise when, halfway through this riveting novel, I discovered it WAS a romance! I can't begin to summarize the novel without making it sound less than it is, but I can tell you some of the things I loved about it. The characters are extraordinary, so well-developed you can almost see and hear them in your mind as you read. The protagonist, Claire, is a particular favorite of mine. She is feisty, smart, imperfect and incredibly real. Jamie, her counterpart, is the best male lead character in a romance I think I've ever read! He's neither absurd nor unbelievable; he just is. The interactions between different characters in the novel are so authentic, you'll find yourself wanting to hug them, weep for them, and celebrate with them (or, in one case, kill them painfully and slowly). The setting is almost a character in itself. Gabaldon takes the typical image of Scotland and turns it on its ear, replacing it with a wonderfully real depiction of a harsh and beautiful world of the past. Her work seems to have been very well-researched. While I am no scholar of history myself, I do know a little bit about it and found that she never twisted the truth or took artistic license to make the time work for her story. Gabaldon does not shy away from anything, mind you. This is part of what makes her novel so addictive. Every romantic, violent, or embarassingly human scene is boldly written without censure. I believe this is what sets her apart from other authors; she WILL go there. It's never a shock tactic, and sometimes she evens takes you places you really don't want to go. This is what takes her story from great to incredible. She is unafraid of what anyone might think of her work, and lets the story basically unroll itself, no matter how uncomfortable it might get. That is why, to me, it feels more real than any other novel I've ever read. It is not a mere imitation of human life with the icky parts omitted. I warn you, if you pick this one up, be prepared to buy the next and the next after that...and so forth. You will not be able to resist! I highly recommend this one to adults looking for an entirely new, absorbing read to really blow them away.

This novel had me hooked from the beginning. The writing was exemplary, the characters fully fleshed-out (even the secondary ones). I immediately fell in love with Claire. A nurse who had served in WWII? Yes, please. (I love me a strong, complex leading lady.) I was especially impressed that Gabaldon really took her time establishing the relationship between Claire and Frank and, to an extent, Claire and Jaime. That's a rare thing to find in romance novels, and for me, it's usually a sign of a great read. However, it didn't take long before I was disappointed. Spoilers ahead. The first thing that really irked me was the development of Claire and Jaime's relationship. I was excited by the fact that it looked like Gabaldon was going for more of a "slow burn" with these two (a style which I always enjoy). The two seemed to be more friends than anything, with a few hints here and there that there could be a deeper attraction between them. I read the first 100 or so pages with voracious intent, celebrating and latching onto every lingering glance or touch between the protagonists. I thought to myself, "At last, an author who knows how to build up romantic tension." That is, until Dougal decided that Claire and Jaime should get married. This is where I started getting nervous. Because, despite Claire's protests, it was obvious that she and Jaime were getting married whether she liked it or not. "Maybe Claire will resent Jaime from being forced to marry him," I thought hopefully. "Or maybe he'll resent her, and that'll be something the two of them will eventually work out." Basically, I just desperately didn't want what I knew was about to happen to happen. Which was nothing. Claire and Jaime get married, despite her (weak) protests. The two consummate the act, and proceed to enjoy a perfectly happy marriage. [Sigh] At this point, I felt there was no more reason to keep reading. After all, the whole point of a romance novel is, well, the romance. And the romance between Claire and Jaime had already come to its natural conclusion 1/3 of the way into the book. I'm a firm believer in that Oscar Wilde quote, "The very essence of romance is uncertainty." Well, there was no longer any uncertainty in THIS romance. Claire and Jaime got along well with each other, both in and out of bed- what more was there to look forward to? However, I decided to bravely soldier on. "I guess I'll read it for the STORY," I told myself, sure that it must be quite a good one, considering all the rave reviews I'd read about the book. So, I kept reading. A bit bored now, but wanting to at least try and get my money's worth. And then I got about 200 pages in. Yes, this is about THAT scene. Without going into too much detail: Claire is presented with the perfect opportunity to "escape" from her husband and his friends to try and find the mysterious stones that transported her back through time. However, she doesn't get far before she's captured by English soldiers and taken back to Jack Randall, where he proceeds to molest her and comes very close to raping her in front of Jaime, who arrived a little late to the rescue. This scene, in itself, was disturbing enough, but the real doozy is what happens after Claire and Jaime escape back to their party. And this is why I cannot bring myself to continue reading this book. That night, when they get back to camp, the couple goes up to their cabin, and Jaime now insists that he must beat her to teach her a lesson. Claire is, understandably, shocked. Wasn't this the man who was traumatized after being beaten, himself, years ago? The man who had voluntarily taken yet another beating, to protect a young girl he had been dallying with at the time? Neither of these things occurred to Claire in the book, but they sure as heck occurred to me, and I was left very confused and incredibly unsettled by the scene that followed. That was a lot of character development Gabaldon threw out the window. And that's not even the worst part! The next day, Claire is still upset- and quite rightly. But a few stories from Jaime (though never once an apology) about how his father beat him as a child, and Claire is laughing and saying that she loves him. T_T I am at a loss for words. I cannot read anymore of this book, because with every word that passes, I'm trying to figure out why the hell Claire would forgive Jaime as happily and as easily as she did. Even telling herself that he was right, and that she pretty much got what she deserved. I'm sorry but I just can't handle it. If the book hadn't started off so strongly, it wouldn't be getting this high a score. All I can say is that I hope Gabaldon learned from what I can only refer to as this "mistake." Perhaps someday I'll take a look at one of her other novels, but for now, I'm done.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon was a book that I've avoided for years. Years ago, when I didn't own a kindle and hovered daily through the Romance Book selection of Barnes and Nobles looking for my next golden find, I read the back cover of Outlander and was in love. Then I opened it up and read the first sentence. It was in First Person--UGH!!!!! The Black Death!!! I've never been able to read first person. It's horrible. I get lost and I don't want to hear every freaking small movement the main character makes. It gets boring. I don't need to be told over every step the character makes. Even as a little girl none of my books were in first person. I prefer the third person point of view. I like hearing other characters thoughts and emotions and most importantly is seeing things through others eyes. So, years ago, I sighed, returned the book back onto the shelve. I really did want to read it and that it was over 500 pages had me excited. Over the years, I would wonder by it at the store and debate weather I should try it or not and the dreaded first person would always win. Later, once the awesome kindle came out, Outlander would be in my recommended selection from Amazon. Finally, it was free offer on Amazon and I thought "what the hell?"--- I couldn't get pass the first chapter without rolling my eyes. 4 years later, scanning Facebook while at work (is there any other time to be on facebook????) I saw that the were making a tv series of the book on Starz. YES!!!!!!! Now I can watch the TV Series even if I can't read the book. So I started scanning internet, researching as much as I could on the show/book. Wikipedia as always is a wonderful source of information. The more I learned,the more I began to want to read the book. So, on a whim (ok I debated about it for a week) I opened up the book, gritted my teeth and was prepared to BUCKLE DOWN AND PUSH through it. I was pleasantly surprised. It was first person soooooo I didn't love it. But I didn't have my usual hard time of reading or comprehending. I enjoy the story and plot line. I would have loved to read Jamie's thoughts during it. That's why I hate first person sooooo much. I can't tell if the hero is in love or attracted too heroine. Frustrating. Claire was good over all character. At the end of the book is when she starts questioning of her presence in the pass with change the future -- I thought that was a question she should of thought about at least by the middle of the book. I give allowance for the first part --after all she was adjusting to falling back in time. Her relation with Frank was one that I didn't understand. Form the beginning, I saw the relation as convenient then real passion. I didn't feel connection and I couldn't sympathize when she missed Frank. Other then that --- I can't wait for the series.

Okay, I am still about 100 pages from the end of this book, but I forgot it at home today. I "miss" it, though, so I have been browsing these reviews about it. I am in complete suspense about whether Claire is going to go back to 1945, or if she is going to stay in what seems to be the place in history that she is truly meant to be. However, to give the book a worthy review - here it goes: The book starts out with Claire and her husband Frank on their second honeymoon in 1945. Claire and Frank have been married for a few years now, but they spent much of that time apart, both performing their duties in the war. Claire is a nurse, and she seems very witty with a good sense of humor and happy frame of mind. She likes pressed flowers, herbs, etc. so on her husband's suggestion, she goes back to a strange circular "stone henge" type structure, and she's propelled back in time 200 years. Can you imagine how scary this would be for a woman? She's thrust into the middle of a much more barbaric and primitive time. Lucky for her, though, she quickly comes upon James, who has lived a very interesting and dangerous life to that point. They go through many, many trials and adventures together. At one point, Claire makes a mistake, and he whips her with his belt. It's a quite serious spanking, which if you read these reviews, apparently some readers are completely disgusted about this, but I feel that it is really kind of comical, and Claire does fortive him for it. No harm done, and in truth, she probably did deserve it, and the group on men they are with respect her and Jamie even more for it, I think. It's really quite appropriate given the details surrounding it, I think. There are plenty of hearty romantic scenes in the story so far, and it feels fery accurate for a couple who are so obviously in complete and total love with each other. At one point, Claire is being accused of being a witch, and her hero rescues her just in the nick of time. It's quite exciting. There seems to be a question at this point about Claire's ability to have children. I am hopeful for them, though. However, in my opinion, this book is awesome. The author is not afraid to get a little dirty with the romance scenes, which I find to be very real and exciting. I have fallen in love with Claire and Jamie myself. It's one of those books that you can't wait to finish, but at the same time, you hate to see it come to an end. Good thing there's more than 1 book to this series!

No small commitment this is! It appears to be book, and no little volume at that, however it is not a book-it is books. Roughly 7000 pages so far; might there be another? I'm still waiting for the last volume to arrive. I don't know what happens yet. I loved it. I love the style, language and yes the length!! I am quite ill and so alas!, must often rely on excellent authors such as Diana Gabaldon for some adventures. This certainly has not always been the case and many years of teaching literature and working with a wide variety of people allows me to confidently reccomend this book, both for it's depth of characters, continuity of plot and often intriguing twists and turns. Keep a dictionary close you will need it and I appreciate that. If I wanted to finish a book and know nothing more than when I started I would stick to magazines. I've a perfectly handy dictionary on an Ipod that I keep close when reading. If you enjoy this I highly recommend Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael novels. The criticisms you will find here appear to be a direct result of being unable, or unwilling, to hang in there until plots are developed and characters stretched and balanced to the fullest. The most ridiculous criticism being reviewers who insist the main character could not and would not! have behaved the way she did while traveling through the books adventures. I despair of the current state of literature education in the American public schools! Creativity and imagination are sorely lacking in our sound byte culture. So I suppose most of you 1-2 star reviewers in the same situation would, of course, run higgledy piggledy through the 18th century castigating anyone you encounter about their dreadful lack of modern amenities! Or perhaps you assume you would cross your legs and refuse to pee while demanding someone produce a proper flush toilet and some Charmin?! If so stick with the series because Ms. Gabaldon produces some interesting characters who do exactly that and it is not the least bit surprising how they fare. As for the tired cliches regarding the first homosexual encountered, please people do you seriously believe that being gay ensures that you will be the nicest, sweetest and most well adjusted person in the room? I rather think that is a stereotyping insult. It seems that it's okay for a heterosexual to be depraved. Again, keep reading and you will discover how nicely the author balances her "good and evil" characters, irregardless of their predilections, though certainly that would require reading more pages. Considering the approximately 7000 pages Ms. Gabaldon has devoted to her story I find many of these low reviews are as silly as glimpsing and apple tree in the distance and making profound judgements as to the quality of the fruit-not too mention deplorable comments regarding the unknown orchard keeper.

Several people in my life have recommended the Outlander series to me for years, so despite my not ever feeling a strong pull toward the premise, I finally caved and tried to give it a shot, with the first book. Long story short: I quit at 49%. I'm not really sure what I was expecting of this book except to find it to be a very good read, according to so very many. I was definitely *not* expecting a glorified bodice ripper. I mean, I knew there was going to be "romance" due to the main thrust of the plot being how Claire navigates two great loves in two different times, but I thought there was going to be more to it. (And maybe there is, later on? But I doubt it.) Took me awhile to admit that the "story" is really just various pretexts for putting Claire and her Scottish husband Jamie into a variety of steamy sex scenes. Now, don't get me wrong: I like a good steamy romance novel, now and again. It's just that I was expecting more substance from this particular series. I love sci-fi, and time travel qualifies, but turns out that's just a cute backdrop for the romance, at least in the first half of the first book. No way am I remotely inclined to slog through 8 books to see if it breaks free of the Harlequin vibe! The writing is not bad, so I'm giving it three stars. I'm not quite as outraged by the what others are calling misogyny and domestic abuse; I believe Jaime loves Claire and is trying to be a proper, loving husband, but the corrective spanking/beating he doles out is infantilizing, at best. Claire is a fighter and puts some hurt back on him, but the whole situation is designed to do what I mentioned at the beginning: to set up a steamy sex scene. In this case, a sex scene with strong B&D overtones that I don't find appealing at all. So yeah, that was about halfway through and is the point at which I remembered that life is too short to waste good reading time on anything I'm not thoroughly into. Especially with the prospect of seven more books to go. Ugh. No. Time to find something else.

After some thought, I've given Outlander 3 1/2 stars. Normally I would've rounded that up to four stars for the sake of leaving some room for aspects of the novel which were only a hindrance to my enjoyment, personally. However, I am reluctant to do so in the case of Outlander because I'm sure that what bothered me will also bother many other readers. There's nothing outrightly wrong with Outlander in the way it is written, save for a little cheesiness now and again which is easy to overlook when taken over by its fast-paced, action-filled plot. And it has definitely got one of those! After the first few chapters, which are deceivingly slow, the story line is filled with action sequences, escapes, fight scenes, mortal danger, etc. There is no doubt that Gabaldon is a master storyteller, and that her main character Claire is a lively narrator. But Outlander is, at heart, a love story. It never pretends to be anything else, and a good love story coupled with a good plot and plenty of excitement in the form of life-threatening situations is usually a good recipe for a wonderful read. And sometimes it worked in Outlander, but at other times, it failed miserably, repulsing the reader instead of compelling them. The main problem lies in the character of Jamie Fraser, the romantic hero of Outlander, if you will. He is one of the biggest reasons why I think that this book was only meant for certain readers. If you fall in love with Jamie like Claire did, then you will undoubtedly love the rest of the novel, and from what I've heard, most Outlander fans would give their right leg for James Fraser to be real. But I was not one of them, and as a result struggled through the novel without much hope of redeeming him in my eyes. That's where I believe the real dividing line is. Depending on who you are-- and consequently how much you like Jamie's character-- you will either love this book or hate it. And to give you an idea of which category you will fall into before buying the book: [MINOR SPOILER WARNING] there is a scene where the "romantic hero" Jamie beats the heroine viciously with a leather strap, and the heroine forgives him about two pages later. I know that in those times, it was not uncommon for a man to beat his wife, but her forgiveness of him just made me lose all respect for her. And more to the point, Jamie says that he enjoyed beating her, which I'm sure is not the mark of a sane human being, either now or then. The main antagonist, Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall is also a sadist, maybe in a more extreme sense, but I kept feeling that at least he was always portrayed as such, whereas Jamie was touted as this warm, kind individual who just occasionally enjoys beating helpless women. Ugh. [END SPOILER] Again, if you have no problem with that, and are just as willing to forgive Jamie for what Gabaldon seems to think is a small indiscretion, then you will probably emerge an Outlander fan, but if you are like me, you will end up not caring what happens to the main characters. And that's never good. There are a number of other characters that most will like, of course. Claire's first husband Frank, though only appearing briefly, was possibly my favorite (kind, handsome and a historian?) and there is a witch named Geilie Duncan who is an altogether fascinating character, not to mention a kindly Franciscan who is everything a proper priest should be. In opposition, the villains of Outlander are amazingly villainous, particularly the aforementioned Jack Randall (although the descriptions of his villainous "actions" are not for the fainthearted or the weak-stomached, another group of people who would do well to stay away from this book). His resounding evil makes the plot enjoyably tense and fraught with danger, as it should with an antagonist that knows no bounds to his cruelty. The main character Claire (who experiences most of this tenseness and fear) is sometimes vivacious, human, and her situation is rightfully intriguing. Somtimes. Mostly she has a very, very irritating way of arguing with almost everyone and being amazingly pigheaded and childish. She hardly gives Frank a second thought, which also makes her shallow in my opinion. Out of sight, out of mind, huh, Claire? Again, just my point of view. So perhaps I shouldn't say that I hated Outlander. I will say that I would have loved it, in fact, had it not been for the one glaring exception of Jamie Fraser. However, as it is, I could not truly enjoy Outlander when its idolized male lead was someone I could not respect or even like.

Love the book. This has the cover for the tv show and you can compare your mental image to who they cast.

I've read all of the Outlander books and am waiting for the new one that will be delivered to my kindle in March 2014. These books are not for the faint hearted. It's true I couldn't put these books down but at times I wished I'd never started the series - I guess that's really what makes a book great? No other book(s) made me feel so emotional. I'd even think about these character's as if they were real and had to remind myself that it was just a book and I was being silly. Sounds crazy I know. The books are very long which for some readers might be hard. I can be impatient sometimes wanting to know how something ends without having to spend more than a few days reading but these stories don't end anyway! So if you like to pick up a book and have a happy ending when it's over these aren't the books for you. Now if you love your books to really tell a story with lots of detail (sometimes too much) and you don't expect happy endings then you should definitely try these books. You can read them out of sequence but you shouldn't - they do build upon each other. This first book I really liked but almost put it down to never picked it up again before finishing (something I never do) because I felt like the writer just brutalized Jamie (the best character I've ever come across in the hundreds and hundreds of books I've read). I felt like it was just too much but she did back off a bit on the rest of the books and poor Jamie did get some mercy. You'll fall in love with Jamie. You'll want to keep reading these books because you'll want to see that Jamie has a happy ending. Terrible things happen to the character's in the books so if you're used to books where the character's narrowly escape disaster and nothing really bad happens to them - again these aren't the books for you. My favorite of the books was the Voyager and I really liked An Echo in the Bone. The Echo in the Bone book probably got the worst of the reviews although there are usually good reviews for these books but I don't know why - I really did like that one. Maybe because of the ending. Gabaldon waited until the end to really amp up the excitement and pull in more interesting plots. I am worried though that this story still won't end with the next book. Please end them soon Diana Gabaldon! I want Jamie to have a happy ending - he certainly deserves it! I've never been a crazy fan that gets overly involved but you will find yourself doing that with these books!

Captivating. The characters are intricate (I mean that in a very positive way; I prefer characters with depth to flat ones with overused behaviors), relate to one another with a beliveable array of emotions, and express traits that often made me smile, enjoying the descriptions of them and their doings. The book keeps a good pace: it doesn't drone, nor is it so packed with scampering from here to there that it neglects to build character detail or set backdrops and appropriate emotions (it succeeds well at all of the above). The only compliants I have on this book are opinions that other readers might or might share with me, so feel free to take them with a grain of salt if your personal likes and dislikes differ from mine: Firstly, there was--to me--a borderline uncomfortable amount of sex. Some of it worked into the plot appropriatly, and a lot just seemed thrown in to excite the reader. If you enjoy books with a lot of descriptive sex, this is right up your alley. If you're like me, and there a line that crosses into "Okay, There IS Such a Thing As Too Much rogering In Books," realize that this book just might cross that line, but don't count it out yet: sexcapades aside, I did really enjoy this book, and believe it has plenty of good plot to keep it moving and exciting (even if you chose through skim throught the dozenth or so round of descriptive intercourse or cunnilingus). Secondly, I appreciate a moving, unpredictable plot. I do. However, there were points in the adventure where the near-misses got a bit far-fetched and peppered in. Certianly, there were some important climactic points that well-spelled-out some of the brutal events of that time period (quite fine), and I believed them to be well done. Others just seemed to abuse limits of plausible rescue. Addmittedly though, I'm not sure how the book would have taken the directions from one scene to another without them, so I oughtn't complain much if I'm not sure the book would have taken the overall shape and movement it did (which I liked) without the very thing I'm picking about. Despit my complaints, I must point out above all that I had a hard time putting the book down, stayed up waaay to late a few nights for that very reason, and hurried to Amazon to get the next installment minutes after I was struck with the shock that I'd turned the page...and that was it. Cliffhanger! So in short, I loved the build of the characters, enjoyed the pace, and am eagerly ready to delve into the next book in its line. Overmuch hanky-panky and a few too many over-convienient rescues aside, I thouroughly, thouroughly enjoyed this novel.

Well thought-out story, lots of detailed descriptions, complex characters, really feel like you're part of the richly created life that Claire and Jamie share

I am so dang happy right now. I’ve this huge smile on my face anytime I think of Diana Gabaldon's The Outlander. Wow! What a great start to this beloved series. I get it now, I totally understand why there are so many Outlander fanatics all over the world. With its breathtaking setting, copious sets of interesting characters, addictive dialogue, pulse inducing scenes, and an epic romance to boot—how can it go wrong? I’ll admit that the start of this book was slow pickings for me. I’m a speedy reader and it took me days on end to get me through the slower parts of this book but I kept at it—I dug and I dug and what awaited me at the bottom was this beautiful treasure that is Jamie and Claire’s love story. It made all the Scottish expressions that I had to look up and various words I’d had to highlight for its definition all SO WORTH IT! Enamored and really, quite obsessed. That’s what I am at this moment. Claire- what a vision she is! A heroine that drew me in from the get go. I love her wit, her brains, and her sense of independence. A woman who gathered so much strength through faith and love. I was just really drawn to her and I’m so glad that she remained true to her character throughout the book. I wouldn’t have her any other way. And Jamie… Dear Jamie. I’d travel through time, time and time again for just a moment with him. He is EVERYTHING! A lion with a heart of gold- OMG! I am so crazy in love with this Scot!!! I love how strong he is and how brave he was through all of the crosses he’d already bore and even braver knowing what is to come ahead. As strong and roguish as he was, there was such a vulnerability to him and c’mon ladies, you know this just drives us wild. A man that could take out a number of other men on his own but still manage to hold on to his sensitive side. Panty melting material. I swooned over how gentle he was with Claire and went nuts for how deep and powerful his need for Claire was. These two were explosive together and I was putty over them. I cannot wait to see where Diana takes us next. I know that both Jamie and Claire have hard times ahead of them and I’m OK with that, even excited about what adventures lay ahead of them with the condition that they continue to slay bad guys together and remain the Jamie and Claire that I’ve just so madly fallen in love with.

I read this book because I watched the tv show first. I like how closely they follow each other and how I could picture everything big event in the book in my head. The only reason I give it three stars is the author uses not great language when talking about larger characters and the rape through out. I thought I was prepared since I saw it in the show but seeing it written in words was worse. Still liked the book and look forward to the rest of the series.

Looking forward to the entire series. Glad to find a really good novel again. Recommend both audio and reading and next will be TV series

To understand my point of view, a brief overview of my reading preferences. I prefer a series over a stand alone. And I would rather have the main heroine/hero featured in each book instead of swapping in different couples. I don't mind sexual content unless it seems that's all the book is about. I read mostly from the fantasy/paranormal/romance genres. I'm an avid reader and read around 100 books a year. My favorite authors are: Karen Marie Moning - both Highlander and Fever series Nalini Singh - Guild Hunter series Karen Chance - Cassie Palmer series Ann Charles - Deadwood series Darynda Jones - Charlie Davidson series Ilona Andrews - Magic series Faith Hunter - Jane Yellowrock series Laurell K. Hamilton - Anita Blake - 1st 10 books in the series, before it turned into an excuse to write orgies ----------------------------------- * NO SPOILERS * After many people telling me "read it! read it!" and 2 failed attempts on my part, I finally was able to finish Outlander. First go around I read up to shortly after Claire went through the stones. Second attempt got me a few chapters farther. Six months later, I picked it back up, restarted it and finished it in 3 days. Plot – 3.5 Romance - 5 Characters - 5 Story/character development - 5 Book as a whole - 5 I think there were 2 reasons it was hard for me to initially get into this book. First, I found the story slow to start. It took me awhile to care about Jamie and Claire. Another reason is that, in general, I’m not a fan of historical novels. And at 600 pages, it is a long story with a lot of historical information (hence the 3.5 for plot). I found myself skimming through stuff a lot. But, having said that, I WILL be reading the 2nd book in the series. The best part of this book form me is the relationship between Jamie and Claire. I came away from the book really caring about them and wanting to know what happens next. I think calling this book a romance, is underselling it. Their relationship is so much more compelling than that. And despite myself, I did find some of the historical aspects interesting. Having it set in Scotland certainly helped. I love Scotsman. Lol. As a warning for some that might need it – this book does deal with situations of rape and brutality. It is not done in a gratuitous way. It fits with the story and is the meat for some dramatic moments and repercussions plus the evolving relationship between the characters. I hope I enjoy the second book as much.

It has been several days since I finished book one. I still feel caught in the afterglow of it.. While I was reading it I binge-watched the show. First with my son and brother. Then with my friend. Then with my husband. So this review includes the book, the audible version and the show. I borrowed the book from the local e-library. I noticed it came with text-to-speech. But the show was full of Garlic so I didn't want to hear the TTS mispronouncing those words. So I used my credit to pick up the Audible version to whisper synch. Narrated by: Davina Porter, made the story come alive. Her voice isn't like the actor of the show which was a bit of a surprise but Davina did a great job acting the different characters of the book. I have to admit that I will more often suggest the book over the show. The explicit rape scenes may trigger those who watch the show. The book leaves more to the imagination. It spent more time on the story itself than details of the acts. My only complaint of the book was that it was so long I didn't finish before it was due back. Who knew that the email that says a book is due on Monday that you don't have most of Monday to finish? They took the book back Sunday night at midnight. I was forced to buy the book with only 10% left to read. Oh, well, now I can share it with my husband and read it again someday. With the trigger warning for the show, I highly recommend the book, audio, and show for everyone. Those days spent back in history, especially in Scotland were dreamy! Wish I could actually go and experience the whole UK.

I read these books because my son-in-law had read them and said I would love them. He had also turned me on to the Game of Thrones books first both long before they came to TV. I have read all of them and of course watched the TV series as well. First of all, I must say the books are not for the faint of heart because they are more detailed then the visual TV version, just like GOT are as well. These stories are vivid and harsh just like the country (which I have been to Scotland and visited a lot of the places in the book). Scotland, my mother's homeland, she was born in Dundee, is cold, windy and blustery. I was there in August and it snowed in the Highlands. So when you see the actors shivering it is real, believe me. It is also gorgeous and breathtaking and it very much a living, breathing character in the story. This is a beautiful love story that outlasts time and circumstances. It seems no two people should have to endure all the horrors that they do but they do and they come out stronger for it. This is a saga about hope, endurance and the never-ending journey of love and redemption. The books are long and sometimes hard to read for the content but do not give up, as all of them are necessary to the get to the end. Enjoy!

I've known about the Outlander series by Gabaldon since I started reading Scottish historical romances (including some fine ones by Marsha Canham and Kathleen Givens, to name a few), but I avoided this series because of the reviews that indicated the heroine was a married woman having a relationship with another man. But I quickly learned that is not what this story is about. Claire Randall, a British Army nurse in WWII, was married for a week to her professor husband before the war. Upon being reunited at the war's end, they go on a second honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands where they were married. One afternoon she inadvertently falls through a crack in time at the standing stones and finds herself in 1743. There she meets Highlander Jamie Fraser and is required to marry him--and thus become a Scot--to save her life. And so she begins a new life, torn between two lives and two men. We see 18th century Scotland through the eyes of a woman from the 20th century and that alone is worth the read. Often Gabaldon uses great humor in showing Claire's frustration with the 18th century way of life and the men of that time. Unique among romances, even Scottish historicals, it is told from the first person (that is, Claire is telling her own story). The novel travels at a leisurely pace (850 pages allows the author to do that). I could have surmised the author is an ecologist (I also have a degree in ecology) since we are frequently watching the birds and the plants along the way (literally). But it is not slow so as to be boring. No, it is quite absorbing...a sweeping saga with a rich tapestry of characters woven carefully together with introspection and examination of people's hearts, minds and choices. It is told with great detail in most respects (except that I did wish she'd given better and repeated descriptions of some of the characters). In a carefully crafted view of the world and God, told from the perspective of a Franciscan monk in a French abbey, we finally have the author's perspective on why Claire might have been sent back in time to live another life, and that, too, was worth the reading. I highly recommend this romance. Here's the series in order: Outlander (1991) Dragonfly in Amber (1992) Voyager' (1993) Drums of Autumn (1996) The Fiery Cross (2001) A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005) An Echo in the Bone (2009) Written in my Own Heart's Blood (2014)

Exceptional writing, this Outlander novel not only begins the most engrossing series I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, but also introduces the most compelling, naturally appealing hero/heroine duo to touch down on a page. Jamie and Claire will live on in your heart forever…I promise!

Okay, I was absolutely thrilled after reading this first book, however that quickly changed. What could have easily been told in less than this conglomerate of books is a beautiful love story. SPOILER......... I guess if I had waited twenty years to see the one person who could ignite my soul and was given that opportunity, I believe he would be the priority, and not some stranger who just attempted to take me, would it ever dawn on me to try save his life, knowing that it could possibly endanger the one I loved supposedly beyond understanding. Claire's dramatic need to want to save people even at the possible cost of never seeing Jamie again really got on my nerves. Most people don't ever experience what they had much less, risk losing it all on a stranger who just assaulted you. I think overall it is a definitely a wonderful love story, but one that could have been less dramatic with Claire's obvious need to show her skills at the risk of losing the man she had put her life on hold and waited 20 years was a tad bit over the top for me. He should have been her only concern, and generally was but those moments in the series definitely took away from the story for me. I wanted to shake her and say, you didn't wait 20 years for a man who just assaulted you and could have killed you. Stop with the drama and focus on what you claim you wondered your entire life on what might have been and was the love of your life and realize how truly lucky you are . But great love story of only true.....

Enough people have told you the story about this book, so I will tell you my experience. Standing in line at my local library one of the library clerks was talking to me about books. I had a huge stack of audio books that I listened to at work. She went and pulled from the stacks "Outlander" By Diana Gabaldon. The audio version unabridged of this book was huge! It was like 20 tapes or more. I love a good book, but that seemed like too much of a commitment to one audio version of a book to me. Politely I took the suggestion and figured I'd just return it later. It turned out that the batch of books I was picking up all had one problem or another (Broke tape, defective, whatever). So I carried Outlander in my bag to work. After listening to talk radio, cd's, etc. I finally put in tape one. Still I wasn't convinced I could sit through this for the length of the book. After side one I was hooked! Why on earth had I not heard of this book? This story is so well written and puts you right in the shoes of Claire. The story is so involved with so much rich history and such a dramatic storyline I was carrying my radio with me to lunch and breaks to keep hearing what was happening next. On the way home I put the cassette in and even when I got home instead of watching the TV I continued listening. This book was addictive! Claire and Jamie's love story is just part of it the adventure is grand and carries over so much time. It's not just a love story, but Jamie's experiences alone tore at my heart. This book was an amazing tale. It's beautifully written and you'd think it was an actual event you were reading about. I cared about these characters and didn't want the story to end. Once I finished I was eagerly searching the internet for information on Diana Gabaldon and happily found out that she'd continued the series. I bought these books in paperback because you have to read them first hand too, but I also love the unabridged version [...] did of the book! If you skip over this book you are missing out. Scared of spending money on something you aren't sure you'll like get it from the library, ask a friend, go to a discount book store and get one. You won't regret it! If you take the time and actually read far enough into the story you'll find a story that will keep you hanging on for what comes next. Then like me you'll be looking for the others in the series. So if you take the time you'll also want Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn and The Fiery Cross.

First off let me say, Diana Gabaldon...WOW!! What a writer! The way she weaves these characters into a beautiful love story on the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century makes me almost believe that they had to be real. I started watching Outlander on Netflix a little bit ago and got hooked quickly so I decided to check out the books to see how close the series was to the books. I was not disappointed. The book does have a few more scenes that are omitted from the series (like how Claire delivers a foal), but mostly the story stays true. I enjoyed all the characters and saw them really come to life in these pages. I could now get a glimpse inside Claire's head as she is going through the trials of being in a different time and trying to get along in this new world. There is some questions about time travel that I am having trouble wrapping my head around, like doesn't here just being there change history? But the story is fabulous and the writing is beautiful. I can't wait to see what happens next in Dragonfly in Amber, which I'll be starting shortly. This is the best book I've read in a long time and I'm so happy there's 7 more of them!

In 1945, Claire Randall and her husband Frank take a second honeymoon to the highlands of Scotland in order to get reacquainted after several long years apart due to WWII. However, shortly after the start of their journey, Claire "falls through" some cairn stones, and finds herself in 1743 Scotland... right around the time the Bonny Prince Charlie was making his name infamous. She is abducted by a group of Scots almost immediately, and taken to a castle far from the stones she came through. She, being a nurse, finds a way to ingratiate herself in that she is able to help heal a young man, Jamie MacTavish (Fraser). Claire finds herself in a world of turmoil trying to blend with the time while making her way back to the stones. SPOILER ALERT! In a twist of fate, Claire is wedded to James Fraser, and finds her new husband a bit of a bear as she tries to get away from him, while still trying to help him. But will Claire be able to help herself from falling in love with Jamie? Will she be able to make it back to the stones and her "Real" husband Frank? Or will she be stuck in 1743, with a man whom she doesn't know that she can really trust, facing a war that will have dire consequences on the country that she presently calls home. END SPOILER Outlander is a wonderful tale that allows a person living in the present to escape. Their is wonderful romance, but the whole store isn't really focused on that, and I wouldn't call it as a whole a romance novel. The history in the novel is amazing, and from someone who's family came from Scotland in the early 1900's, it's amazing to be able to read about early Scottish history, and it really allows me to feel closer to my heritage. Ms. Gabaldon has a way of weaving a background that really makes you feel like you're there, and I promise, from the first sentence, you will really care what happens to these people. Every person who has read these books that I've talked to cannot help but fall in love with them. They may seem imposing at first, since they're all over a thousand pages, but they're very much worth the read. Allow yourself to fall through time and voyage with Claire, and before long, who knows, maybe you too will fall in love with the highlands, and a young Scottish Highlander.

I enjoyed this genre of reading. I thought the author helped me learn about the characters & thought the storyline developed well. I can tell you that Claire irks me to no end. There is being spirited & then there's being an obnoxious jerk and Claire lands in the latter for me. I'm glad there other characters that helped to distract my utter distaste of one of the main characters in Claire. However, all in all, I would absolutely recommend the read.

I am a fan of good writing. I mean the kind that pulls at your heart and explains eloquently why things happen the way they do. They leave no doubt as to what is happening and why, and they do it in fine artistic form. Diana Gabaldon has the ability to transport us back in time 200 years and wish we were there in spite of the difficulties it entails. I read this book many years ago when it was first published and fell in love with it. I always remembered it as one of my favorite all time books. With the making of it into a miniseries on the Starz network I decided to reacquaint myself with it and reread it. I am again in love with the story of Claire Randall and her soon-to-be husband, Jamie Fraser. Gabaldon's description of the countryside, the men of the King's military, and the Highland Scots she is forced to accompany to their home at Castle Leoch are magical. Suspected of being an English spy, the Laird of Castle Leoch, Colum McKenzie, decides to have Claire close in order to keep an eye on her. She is stopped each time she tries to escape so she can return to her own time. In the meantime, she becomes the resident healer for the castle, using her experience as a field nurse during WWII. Events pick up apace as circumstances seem to come together to keep her in the 1740's. Another event that conspires to make things more difficult for her is the fact that one of the King's guard is the descendant of her husband in 1946, who remarkably resembles him but is diametrically opposite of her 1946 husband's personality. Black Jack Randall is a cruel and ruthless man, determined to find out Claire's secret. So, we have both Highlanders and King's men believing that Claire is a spy for either side. I won't ruin the story by giving all the details of the events surrounding her and the predicament she is in. The book will keep you turning pages, anxious to see what happens next. You will triumph in her victories and cry for her defeats. You will fall in love with the Scottish Highlands and the men that become involved in her life. This isn't what I like to call 'snack reading'. It is a well written historical romance and you will fall in love with this book if you are enamored of that sort of writing. You won't be disappointed!

I don't normally read historic romances but this one I could not put down and read it in a day and a half. It's convincing, adventurous and terrifying in equal measures. The romance is toe-tingling. Some scenes were so horrifyingly real I could hardly bear to look. The main characters are beautifully written, each having to adjust to situations outside their experience as well as adapting what is familiar to them. The supporting characters are equally well drawn, which may be due to story being historically accurate within reason. I would give five stars for how much I enjoyed reading the novel, but have only given four for the number of fortunate events e.g every host was hospitable and managed to find a spare bed and quilts, there was always a lovely dress available when the heroine's was torn to shreds, boats and horses were always handy when needed. Admittedly, without this the story would not have rolled along as well as it did but when you consider how difficult it would have been and how long it would have taken to grow one turnip in the time period, it jars a little. This is a personal pet peeve, just dont let it stop you reading the book.

For a novel of this kind, it was indeed better than good. Not my usual kind of read, but like others have already said, it was recommended and I decided to try it; and in 2014 Starz created a series based on this book (and it's saga) it was difficult to turn down, not that I've watched it on Starz, but on Netflix. Having said that, I noted the publication date is actually from 1991, so hmmm, wonder if its sudden popularity had anything to do with series such as Game of Thrones? Not that the two have anything in common, other than the romantic aspect. At least it was historically accurate ... The Battle of Culloden (which actually was fought in 1746) and not that the battles in G.O.T. had any historical battles, since it's entirely fiction. I only compare the two due to the seeming popularity of the romances portrayed. Now, as far as Outlander, the novel, it went from being a not very well known novel in 1991 to a hit TV series, so why did that happen? Like I said, where one show becomes huge, another will surely follow. One aspect of Outlander I do like is the time travel angle. I love historic novels based on time travel. Death Comes as Epiphany, The Doomsday Book, etc. too many to list here. In any event, I'm not sure I'll continue this series simply because I have a feeling it will be the same throughout. I did enjoy it and I'm done for now.

Ok, before any review... I am asking myself, How on earth did I manage to miss this entire series in the first place! I just came across this series recently when reading so many other people's references and comments about it on other blogs and fb pages that I keep track of. Those comments sparked my curiosity and I naturally had to check it out. I am so happy I did! So far, I have only completed the first book, but was impressed enough to continue on with the rest of it. Word of warning- the book is quite long and at times, a bit lagging to get through. It also does not fit into any one specific category as far as genres go. That is a plus for it! There was more than enough historical detail and fact to satisfy those interested in history. While it could probably be labeled under the category of historical romance, it involves so much more than just a romance that I feel the Romance label does not do it justice! The one thing that I felt could have been detailed a bit more was the premise and the basis for the actual story. Claire Randall, the main character, is visiting Scotland with her husband and ends up being swept through time in some sort of time displacement caused by ancient standing stones. There is some limited mention of them and of their history along with some references to Druids. Diana Gabaldon seemed to use these stones as a launching point for the story but did not delve into them much more other than Claire's few attempts to get back to them. I can only assume that they will be explained more in future books. I certainly hope so because the stones, as I mentioned, set the whole story up and play such an important part in the time travel aspect. I would have liked a bit more detail on history or myths surrounding the Standing Stones. The story also touches on some witchcraft and references to Fairy circles and such, but it is more about the actual history of Scotland and Claire's adjustment to that time. There is some ongoing mystery which will most likely play out in the future books of the series. Overall, it was an excellent read that covered a variety of interests so I was well satisfied with it. I'm looking forward to the many more books included in the series and the upcoming mini-series from Starz based on the books! It will play starting in August!

Outlander (1991) by Diana Gabaldon is a great read. The story is told first person past tense from protagonist Claire Randall’s point of view. Of interest to history buffs is the used of Black Jack on page 534 of the paperback. Black Jack was the nickname of a famous American general in the Twentieth Century, Black Jack Pershing, and is also the nickname of the protagonist in The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell. Gabaldon is a gifted writer but some of the messages she sends in this story contrast with the way men are told to behave in the modern world. On page 319 she gives the green light to the concept of no means yes. I made a list of quibbles I had with the story, but it’s a long book, and I always nitpick, even with stories I like. When the Outlander TV series ends I’ll binge watch it. I split my time between reading and watching sci-fi and fantasy series. I haven’t seen any of the movies from the following series, but I did read the first books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Twilight, Outlander, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Long Earth, Divergent, etc. I sample a lot of first books, but I don’t read many complete series. (Who has that much time?) The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, and The Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) series by George Martin are a couple of exceptions. I’ve read both of those series more than once. Starship Troopers (1959) (not like the movie) by Robert A. Heinlein is the book that got me started in sci-fi adventures, and has remained one of my top five favorite military science fiction adventure stories for decades. Armor (1984) by John Steakley, The Forever War (1974) by Joe Haldeman, and Ender’s Game (1985) by Orson Scott Card, round out my top five military sci-fi adventure stories. If you like any of the above you might also like Jack Campbell’s The Lost Fleet series, Taylor Anderson’s Destroyermen series, Andre Norton’s Star Soldiers, Andy Weir’s The Martian, or Frank Herbert’s Dune. Other sci-fi and fantasy authors I like include Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, Paolo Bacigalupi, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Earnest Cline, Abe Evergreen, Terry Goodkind, Hugh Howey, Robert Jordan, Larry Niven, George Orwell, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.

I just binge watched all five seasons of Outlander and decided to read the first book to see if it would catch my interest like the television series. While I enjoyed the book very much, I felt that the intensity of the passion and love between Claire and Jamie is done better in the show. That’s not going to stop me from reading the entire series though. I grew to love all the characters while watching the series; even characters we love to hate like Black Jack Randall. It was nice to read about them in their original form as the author intended but nothing can compare to Tobias Menzies as Black Jack. This character was meant to be seen, not just read. You get an amazing sense of the depravity, the utter despicableness of this horrible man when you watch him in the series and Menzies does an absolutely amazing job making us hate him. It’s true that you’ll despise him in the book as well, so read the book but also watch the series. You get more characters in the tv series than are actually in the book. Lots of the clansman that are part of Dugal’s men in the series are not mentioned in the book. Anyhow, very good book; read it, you won’t regret it.

Wow! This book really grabbed me and kept my interest throughout and it is a long book. It was well written and very exciting and I looked forward to reading it at every opportunity. I love historical fiction and history of Scotland so this book had a lot of appeal to me. I am not a big fan of time travel stories, but I thought this story handled it pretty well, and did not make it the primary focus of the book. While I found this book very enjoyable and will probably read more of the series, I do have some criticisms of it. First, Claire adjusted far too easily to being thrust 200 years in to the past. She quickly devised her cover story as to who she was and immediately adapted to 18th century life with little complaint about the drastic change in lifestyle. Since this story was written in the first person, one might expect some commentary on the difficulties she encountered with the lack of creature comforts and hygiene, but she pretty much glossed over those issues, except for a brief mention midway through the book about how her upbringing with exposure to nature and the great outdoors made her new life easier. Second, I like a good love story, but I do not like romance novels...there is a difference. Initially, I thought the developing relationship and love between Claire and Jamie was handled nicely, however, as the book progressed, the constant focus on their never ending sexual encounters seemed more like a trashy romance novel. I think much of that could have been omitted without the book losing a thing, and would have preferred that. There was a lot in the story that was unbelievable, like rescuing our hero from a prison, but let's face it, those are the things that make stories exciting! Also, Jamie was probably the most perfect hero who ever graced the pages of a book except for the time he beat his wife. On the other hand, I very much enjoyed the religious considerations of time travel issues when Claire asked for guidance from the priest at the sanctuary. Overall, there is so much that went on in this long book that there is a lot to like but also a lot to criticize. In the end, I enjoyed reading this book very much, even though there were aspects I did not care for.

I have quickly fallen in love with this series. I watched the first season of the show before I finished reading the first book, so it took me about a month to get through the first book as the pace was much slower than the show. But about halfway in the pace picks up dramatically and that's when I got HOOKED. I finished the 2nd book in about 2 weeks and I'm now working my way through the 3rd one. I love ALL the characters, I love the setting, and I love that the author wasn't afraid to leave out the ugly side of living in that time period. Her depictions of Scottish personalities are so entertaining that Scotland is now on my bucket-list. BE ADVISED: if you have experienced domestic abuse, especially physical or sexual abuse, there are 2 or 3 scenes in the book that you might be sensitive to. I personally have no qualms about the scenes because it IS set in a time period when rape and abuse were commonplace, and it's not limited to just the women and children getting beaten. The men get beatings as well, so I wouldn't classify the scenes as being "insensitive" to abuse victims/survivors, they're just accurate to that time period. The author doesn't go overboard with the violent descriptors and her sex scenes are very tastefully written (unlike the show, where they take every opportunity to show nudity) so I'd say overall the author did a perfect job of balancing the subject. The show focuses more on Claire and Jamie's relationship, but the books are so much more than that. They go deep into the politics, loyalty, and conflicts brought on by the threat of war while slowly building their relationship into something much more complex than what is portrayed in the show. **To those who have a hard time grasping the Scottish accent, I highly recommend watching a couple episodes of the show first. It puts a good image in your head of all the characters (I think they did an excellent job casting them, especially Jamie and his sister) and it really helped me with my mental Scottish accent while reading some of the characters' dialogue. And don't worry too much about spoilers from the show. There is a lot in the book that isn't included in the show, or is subtly changed, so they're two different (but very similar) experiences.

I loved this book. I didn’t think I would like it…I was bored silly with the first part then I couldn’t put it down. A lot happened in one book. Literally laugh out loud moments. I loved how they argued with each other. I know some people are going to put Jamie down for beating his wife. As an advocate against domestic violence, I don’t normally condone beating a woman (or hitting her): but I tried to tell myself that it was acceptable for the time. I love what Claire told him after that something about ‘if you ever lay a hand on me again…’ Overall, it was a great book.

After first reading GoT, then watching the show and annoying my husband with every sign of frustration, I decided to reverse the order for this series. I've watched the show twice through now (because it's that good). However, it saddens me when the book is EVEN BETTER than the show and Hollywood takes liberties for the sake of time or simplicity. Jamie's character is even more complex and intriguing (and more believable of an 18th century man) than the show makes him out to be. I mean Claire fought wolf (albeit a sick one) with her bare hands!!! No body wanted to put that in the show??? And worst of all, rearranging the final timeline so the season finale can end on a ship does a disservice to their escape and Jamie's recovery. I imagine riding a horse for 3 hours after being raped, beaten, and tortured less than 24 hours ago was a very painful experience. Instead, the show makes him off to be asleep the entire time! The unspoken male bond (sharing some alcohol and a strap to bite down on) between MacRannoch and Jamie is an important one that I think could be easily missed. Anyways, Holy smokes did I love this book!!!

How much did I love this book? I just turned the last page, and I want to start over. This book was such a gift. Thank you, Diana Gabaldon. For those who say "there was too much sex", here's what I will say. I, too, dislike when a book has a lot of sex...of the gratuitous kind. The type where its sole purpose is to titillate the reader. Hate it. However, while the sex scenes in Outlander are intense and frequent, they are only so for particular points in the book--most specifically after Claire and Jamie were married! In this day in age when choosing to remain a virgin until marriage is met with scorn and ridicule, and "hooking up" is seen as casual sport, it might be easy to forget that saving oneself used to be the norm. One of my absolute favorite lines in this book was where Jamie says he now "sees why the Church calls [the sexual union] a sacrament." I noted a particular spiritual aspect to these parts of the book that I found to be beautiful probably because sex in that context is exceedingly rare anymore. Take note, young men and women who can't wait to rush to bed and think marriage is irrelevant: you're cheating yourself whether you know it or not. The intense sex scenes make total sense in light of the following facts. Jamie, usually the initiator, is a 23 year old guy, and he's a virgin on his wedding night. In a real world situation, how might that play itself out? For those of us who are old enough to remember, those first experiences ARE thrilling, and you CAN'T get enough of each other. Read the Song of Solomon in the Bible. That's what the whole book is about. The desire a man and woman have for one another, and the mystery of the physical union. After the intensity of the wedding night scene, there are a few more scenes where, shocking, they act like newlyweds(!), but those scenes drop off more as the story goes along. My point is that those relatively few scenes are necessary and expected aspects of a healthy and whole marriage relationship. For those who cannot understand or appreciate the beauty and holiness of that, I will say, and not in a mocking way, that I feel sorry you.

Jamie and Claire's story sticks with me. I can say with all honesty, that I miss them! That it breaks my heart to think they aren't real people in some place and time. Claire Randall thinks life is finally falling into place. World War II is over. She was a field nurse and her husband Frank was a British officer. They have been separated for a long time, and now they are reunited and on holiday. They spend several wonderful days exploring Inverness, Scotland and reacquainting themselves with one another. One morning, Claire goes off on her own. She returns to a stone circle at Craigh na Dun that she and Frank had discovered the day before. This time, Claire hears a loud buzzing sound and she touches one of the stones. She is sent through a world wind. When she comes out of it, she is in the same field but something is different. There's a gun shot. British soldiers are in the trees. She imagines she must have stumbled onto the set of a battle reenactment. But this is not the case. Claire has traveled through the stones to the year 1743. Claire encounters Black Jack Randall, a descendant of her husband Frank. Their physical resemblance is startling. But other than, they couldn't be more different. Black Jack tries to assault Claire, but she is recused/kidnapped by a band of Scottish Highlander soldiers. One of this soldiers is James Fraser. Claire and Jamie's story is one that captures your heart from the first moment. There is excitement that comes with being at love in a time of war. The dangers around every turn. There is betrayal and jealousy. Tragedy that nearly destroys them both. But at the center of their story, there is such a deep-rooted love. That's what gets me. Their love for one another is so unwavering and true. And page by page, I fell more in love with them. Jamie is strong and witty and sexy. Claire is fiery and passionate and torn. Trust me when I say, you will be swept away. When you finish this book, you would be so grateful that there are 7 more. You will order Starz and binge the Outlander series in a weekend. You will love these characters and know these characters. I have cried with them. I've been angry with them. I loved and lost with them.

I really wanted to read this book, seeing as it has a huge following and it was made into a tv series. Since there are so many books in this series, I thought it would be best to wait for the price of this book to drop until it finally did, so if I really liked it I could move on to the others too, at a more reasonable price, even though I was throughly convinced there should be no question about it, since this is exactly my genre. Now that I'm done, there are so many good and bad stuff about it that I think it's best to just make a list, so here goes: The Good: -it is extremely well written. The descriptions are vivid and colorful. Makes you want to visit all the places Claire had been. -I have no idea if the historical background is true, but it sounded absolutely credible to me. -the basic premise is time travel, a topic I just love reading about. -the characters are well developed, even though some seemed a bit contradictory to me, especially Claire. The Bad: -I bought the book because it was supposedly about time travel. As such, I assumed the reader would be told how Claire managed to adapt to her situation, seeing as she traveled 200 years back in time to a place with no indoor plumbing, readily available drinking water, or anything she was used to while she lived in 1945. Seriously, I wanted to know how she managed with the bathroom, not being able to wash up decently with some frequency, if she missed being able to brush her teeth, how she handled her period, her impression about the food...I mean, to me, this sort of thing was the substance of it. Even the medical part, which Claire was plently familiar with, didn't seem to really bother her. Not having vaccines or the use of the tools she had once used didn't seem to unsettle her at all - she just took it all in stride as if it were just another day at work.I get that she was supposedly used to "roughing it up" when she traveled with her uncle, but it's one thing to adapt to what you know is a temporary situation, and another to just perfectly fit in without really knowing what she was getting into. -Claire's choice...without saying much more, I don't believe it. Claire was described as a liberal woman, even for the 1940s, so it makes no sense to me that she would prefer the lifestyle she chose over the other. I can't believe that a women like her would rather stay at home and take care of "her man". -Claire and Jaime's relationship. Seriously, this was the stuff of a romance novel. -Even though I liked the others characters well enough, by the end I just couldn't stand Claire. She seemed contradictory to me, as I never would have imagined that someone supposedly as strong as her would have made many of the choices she made. -Too lengthy. A good 10% could've been cut out and would not have mattered at all. -And finally, the violence. Yes, I get it, these were violent times, but jeez: Jaime beating Claire, their need to do it just after battle, the awful stuff about the Duke of Sandringham and of course, the dark Jack Randall...definitely not for the faint of heart. That last part, where Jamie is telling Claire what happened to him in prison was just sickening. I consider myself tough when it comes to abuse and violence, as I'll take it as part of the book and as another part of the plot that helps you understand the characters and/or the story. Well, not this time. The abuse and neverending violence did nothing for any of the characters or the story. I really thought I'd be diving into Dragonfly in Amber right now, but I'm stopping right here. Well, at least I only purchased this book and not the entire set of 8.

I bought this after watching the first few episodes of the STARZ series, "Outlander" based on this book series which, while originally planned as a trilogy, is now 8 novels long plus a bunch of novellas. Yes, OUTLANDER is a kinda sorta "chick-lit" historical fiction romance with the relationship between Claire Randall, a 1945 English Army nurse and Jamie Fraser, who in 1743 is a 23 year old Scottish Highlander outlaw (according to the English). Claire is on holiday in Scotland after reuniting with her husband Frank after the war when she accidentally "falls" through a time gate in an ancient standing stone circle and ends up in 1743 where she narrowly escapes being ravaged by the English by a rescue by a bunch of Highlanders, Jamie among them. I read a fair amount of historical fiction but my tastes run more towards science fiction, horror and adventure. However, I found the STARZ show so interesting I thought I would take a chance on OUTLANDER. When I went to order it for my iPad, I was astounded to find out that there were over 8,000 reviews and all these other books in the series, many of them 1,000 pages long. I started reading and was immediately hooked. As I said, I am not a romance novel reader and there's no way that this could not be considered a romance novel, with plenty of sex (that starts off rather PG-rated but by the end of the book and the sequels is firmly in the R category). But the writing is excellent and the history (of the 1745 "Rising", a failed attempt to restore the Catholic Stuarts to the throne of England) fascinating and well-researched. All the characters are sharply drawn and I loved the scots accent of Jaimie and his Highland brethren's dialogue. Claire is a bit of a superwoman and Jamie a bona fide superman, but still I liked them very much. I became addicted to the story and am now firmly in the middle of book 4, some 3,000 pages after I started. I expect I'll read all the rest of the novels and novellas as well. Highly Recommended (even for old crusty guys who read mostly Stephen King, F. Paul Wilson and the occasional Ken Follett.) J.M. Tepper

This is an excellent story. Full of anger,battles,evil and love. Held my attention through this whole book. I am looking forward to reading all of the books. I live out of an area we don’t have cable and too many trees for a dish, so I’m lucky enough to have books. I loved it

Outlander is possessed of strong writing and a deeply engrossing plot. The author imbues, Claire, the main character with a strong will and a stronger sense of gallows humor that at times, had me laughing out loud. Both Claire and Jamie were so clearly developed and such engaging characters that I laughed and cried, was elated and fearful, and as wary and trusting as they were throughout the story. I truly cared about their story and what would happen to them. That said, I do have a few criticisms. First, Claire's too willing acceptance of her time jump back to mid-18th century Scotland and what felt like a rapid acclimatization to the much more primitive lifestyle felt unnatural, and required, at least for me, a too large suspension of disbelief. Clearly I got past it, but it was initially off putting. I did appreciate the author's attempt to offer an explanation for it about 50% of the way into the story. Second, this criticism is meant to do double duty as a warning. This book contains strong elements if graphic violence. While I understand the harsh brutality of both the period and the conflict between the Scots and the English in the 18th century, I felt that some if what was portrayed here was more gratuitous than necessary to move the story along. I am not faint of heart, but there were times when I had to put the book down and walk away from it a bit. Those criticisms aside, this is one of the best books I've read in a while. I noticed in the end notes that Ms. Gabaldon wanted Jamie to be a strong male character because she felt that men had lost some their identity...that it had been "shredded" by feminism. While there may be some male "casting about" for their redefined roles in a more equal society, I was pleased to see that Claire was every bit as "kick-ass" in her way as Jamie was in his. It's a good book and I hope a strong series as I am certainly looking forward to Dragonfly in Amber which is the next on my reading list.

For those of us, still waiting on something as sensational as Jamie Fraser, this book has satisfied many needs. It contains: a bit of danger and lots of comedy and adventure. There's also love and longing, interspersed with moments of betrayal and redemption. And don't forget SEX - there's loads of highly, descriptive coupling... And those were "the best" parts. Truthfully though, more copulatory moments could've been included, but I guess I'll just have to look for that in the next book..... As I certainly plan to do!! 😉 Thank you for this, Diana Gabaldon!

I have to admit, I decided to read this after I started watching the TV series. My first thought was, how could you possibly have a historic romance that also involved time travel? Using Craigh na Dun as some sort of mystical transportation device brought to mind the various theories about Stonehendge and other stone circles was an inspired choice. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon seems to be answering the age old question - How far would you go for love? In this case, Claire goes through time to find her soul mate. (SPOILERS) When we first see Claire, we know she loves her husband, Frank, but we don't feel passion. Both seem to be very practical people. But Claire is then transported back to 1743 and immediately runs into Jack, who looks exactly like Frank and turns out to be the very ancestor Frank had been researching in Inverness and not the hero he is thought to be. Claire eventually is rescued by Highlanders and Claire shows her use by treating an injured Jamie Fraser. While she is trying to figure out how or if she can get back to Frank, Claire is forced to marry Jamie for her own protection. They each come to realize that they have fallen in love, but Claire still feels the guilt of betraying her vows to Frank and wears both wedding rings. All the characters are drawn so vividly, that even without having seen the STARZ series, I believe I still would have pictured them the same way. The reader can feel the passion between Claire and Jamie, even before their wedding, and also dread every possible meeting with Black Jack Randall. Claire's knowledge of the future aids them, but you can also feel her despair when she realizes what the future holds for her true love and all the friends she has made. I would definitely recommend this series for anyone who loves romance of any kind. I also think that the time travel aspect and the question of can you change the future will also interest fans of science fiction. I can hardly wait to read the remaining books in this series.

For many years I turned away from romance novels. I considered them to be foolish, sentimental and a waste of my time. Then one day I decided I wanted to read a really good romance so I went online and googled "Best Romance Novels" and Voyager (Outlander Series) came up as #1. So, I thought - why not? After reading all the books in this series by Diana Gabaldon (not once but twice) I am now eagerly awaiting what is purported to be the final book, "Written in My Own Heart's Blood." Other reviewers have written about the premise for this book which involves time travel for a young married woman named Clare Beauchamp Randall from the 20th century who accidentally goes back in time to the 18th century. Not knowing if she will ever return to her life in the 20th century and in order to spare her life, she must get married in the 18th century. So she marries a young man named Jamie Fraser. What can I say that would be enough? In my opinion, Jamie Fraser is close to everything a woman would want in her mate. He is loyal, willing to give his wife freedom to be herself, selflessly sacrifices himself for those he loves, has a heart large enough to take in those who are not his blood and make them family and may God have mercy on you if you try to harm them. The adventures Jamie and Clare go through together are absolutely amazing. The set of books in this series can be truly identified as historical. You will never again view the Scottish people in quite the same way after you go through the Battle of Culloden with them. From the court of Louis XV where the Bonny Prince Charlie was a guest to the American colonies and the American Revolution, you will be transported through time to see how the Scottish emigrants worked to make a life. Although Jamie's and Clare's relationship began as a marriage of convenience, theirs became a life-long love affair. My favorite set of books in this genre. Because of this book, I began reading romance novels again but I have never found anything to compare with this series.

Waaaayyyyy back in the very early 1990s, I was in an airport book nook looking for a "big" book to keep me busy on a 15 hour overseas flght thus enter a lil' ole saga called Outlander by an author I had never heard of before. The book was over 800 pages and the synopsis sounded like it wouldnt bore me to tears so me, Outlander and Diana Gabaldon got on that plane to Hong Kong and the rest is history. Of course, at that time I had no idea that there would be so many sequels (I dont think Diana did either!!LOL) Imagine my surprise a few years later while shopping in a local bookstore (no internet shopping then) and saw that not only was there a sequel to Outlander but a 3rd installment had just been released! Needless to say, purchased them both and became one of the legion hanging on Ms. Gabaldon's every written word, constantly looking for info on the next release and re-reading my books during the interims. If I had found the Ladies of Lallybroch earlier, I am sure I would have been party to the Great Toilet Paper Rescue. All humor aside, these are wonderful, wonderful books that tell a fascinating story without the typical torn bodice, pulsing members, turgid nips that make me eschew most of the "romance" genre. Yes there is sex but there is so much more ....there is an actual story to this series! For over 20 years now, I have been a fan of these books and their author. I have read every book at least 20 times each and now I get to watch the TV series as well (and scream at the TV when the show doesnt follow the book). That is how you know, or at least how I judge a book to be really, really good, is that you have read the book numerous times and STILL want to read it again and feel the story wrap around you like your favorite fluffy robe. Thank you Ms. Gabaldon for sharing your incredible talent with us but please hurry with the next installment because I am just dying to see what happens now that Brianna, Roger and the kids are back on Fraser's Ridge!!!!

This is the book that started the popular Starz Outlander TV series (now on its 6th season, once the pandemic ends and filming can begin). I watched the Starz series first and then decided to read the books; I'm currently mid-way through the second novel in the series. I loved this book - of course, there is more detail than could be fitted into the TV series. Diana Gabaldon is a phenomenal storyteller and writer, and this is a beautiful love story that is told eloquently. Lots of period detail about the mid-18th century in Scotland. Anyone who enjoys historical romance dramas should love this book. I would warn, as others have noted, that the individual (and set of 8) paperbacks are absolutely horrible. I made the mistake of ordering this first novel in the series, Outlander, in paperback - the type is tiny, which combined with the fact that the text is far too close to the binding (so that you practically have to break the binding to spread the pages far enough apart to read the close-in margins) made it impossible to read. I ended up throwing the paperback away and ordering the hardback, and I spent the extra money to order the second, third and fourth novels in the series in hardback as well. What a rotten printing job by the printer of the paperbacks!!

After hearing my friends talk about this for months and after seeing previews of the series to be released on Starz this summer, I finally gave in and read OUTLANDER. I liked it at times, but didn't love it and would rate it a 3 1/2 star read (although I am rounding up to 4). There was just too much emphasis on less than savory elements of the era, which in some scenes felt over-the top and unnecessary. I can see how it will make a wonderful television series, though. It is truly epic and full of colorful characters. And Jamie, when he's not being a sadistic creep, is quite dreamy. There are several scenes though, that I will probably fast-foward through when the time comes. I'm still trying to decide whether to go on to book 2 or not. This first in the series was very, very (I should say "verra verra") long and drawn out. I think I will go read half a dozen more pleasant stories--you know, maybe about the Black Plague or the large-scale slaughter at Culloden--to help me recover first and THEN I'll decide. There are so many more Scottish romances out there that manage to capture the feel of the times as well as still present a pleasant story. I much prefer those. This book was well-written and packed full of history, but it had scenes I just didn't care for. Some of them seemed just like unnecessary violence that didn't really further the story. I won't detail some of them because I don't like to include spoilers in my reviews, but the one in particular where the heroine is punished by being "beat within an inch of her life" by Jamie was just more than I cared to read. She could've been punished, but it didn't change the plot by having her beat senseless vs receiving 10 or so lashes. To me, it seemed more for shock value than anything else. If you can look past sadism, rape, and unnecessary violence, then yes, this is a good book. I know many, many people have enjoyed it. For me it was just a little unpleasant to read.

I don't understand those one star ratings. I would say that until recently. I say the last 30 years or so give or take a decade. That no one really did anything about abuse whatsoever. It was all hush hush or brushed under the rug. Something that was acceptable. It is never acceptable. I accept this book as it. It was written based on that time. Women were beaten and were supposed to be submissive. Claire coming from the 20th century was not submissive and gave Jamie a hard time about the spanking though the character well deserved to be punished. Not necessarily spanking like a little child. Claire responded well to being tossed back into the 18th century. She was used to unsanitary conditions. After all she was raised by her uncle who was an archeologist. Conditions at an archeological dig in the early 20th century were not that sanitary. She dug latrines. Imagine what a nurse would have gone through in World War I. Some definitely unsanitary conditions. I would say that Diana did a great job with the historical aspects of this book. Now given the choice of being turned over to Black Jack Randall and taken to Ft. William and marrying Jamie Fraser. Hands down Jamie Fraser wins. I did not like the fact of her betraying her marriage vows. But she finds herself now married to someone in this time period. She does not know whether she would be able to go back through the Stones at this point or even if she would ever get back to them at all. She is married to Jamie a few days when she finds herself close enough to the Stones that she tries to escape and find her way to them. She gets captured by the English and is again put in jeopardy when is brought before Black Jack. Rescued later by Jamie. I would find it very hard not to become close to my rescuer. Add in loneliness and missing sex. You never know what would happen. Please read to find more about Claire, Jamie, Dougal, Frank, Black Jack and the rest of the Highlanders. The story continues on......

Saw the first 6 episodes of the starz series on Hulu Plus and became hooked! I had to know more of Jamie Fraser and Claire Beacham. While I was inclined to read the book straight through I made myself slow down and read it in bits. I love all the research the author has done with the late 17th century Scottish language and culture while keeping Claire in the 20th century WWII era mindset. It was a great mix of history, drama, romance, botany, a dash of theology, and much more. I wished I could have given it 5 stars however, the healing of Jamie's emotional, phycological, and spiritual condition from the horrific rape and sadistic meanderings of the villain in the story fell flat for me. I would have liked the addition of perhaps Claire recalling the schooling she had in post-traumatic-stress syndrome and apply the training and experiences with soldiers recovering from battle, with Frank or possibly herself? To help Jamie retrain the "emotional" brain instead of using the scents and pain to create an anger to keep him fighting mad to live. That scene had potential to shed light on the emotional, phycological, and spiritual healing from a deeply traumatic situation. I mean if you are going to bring rape from a male perspective and show the hero broken to the spotlight, let's show Claire helping him retrain that "Fight, flight or freeze" part of his brain. Perhaps the next book in the series touches on that? I am sure the "smooth belly" and "news" Claire has to share with Jamie is a foreshadowing to the "raspberry leaves cure" for barrenness so the rape will fade into the background and nearly forgotten. I would rather not read about it, but if you are going to put it in detail, and make us read about his emotional breakdown let's read about a positive healing were they aren't beating each other in another violent scene to promote healing... Just sayin' is all I do look forward to reading book 2 and am glad I can move onto it next, I can't wait to see how Claire will cope with bearing knowledge of the future, if the villainous Randall is indeed dead (I am inclined to believe he is alive miraculously!) how "Alex" fits into the story, how Frank is holding up and more!

I read Outlander first in Bahasa Indonesia years before. Before i even realise its a phenomenal tv show. Before i learn how big is the world of Outlander. And even in that time, reading in translate than english, that sometime didn't capture what the author really write, i was already speechless. Now, finally reading the original version, in the author words, i have no idea how to describe the power the author wielded in the Outlander world. İts simply epic! The vivid details of the world. Charachters that just grab your intention. Story line that just won't let go even after you finish the book. We all fall in love with Claire and Jaime. Slowly but sure, this two make sure you give your heart willingly. The rollercoaster almost kill me. The steamy scenes are vary and never repetitive. Their love story makes my heart stutter in so many place. So many i wanna say yet so little word i can express. Simply epic, Outlander is the love story that would last forever with you

"For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough." THE STORY: Claire Randall and her husband Frank have been separated by war for years. They are having a second honeymoon when Claire finds herself transported back in time two hundred years. There, she meets Jamie Fraser, a young Scotsman. Although Claire wants to return to her time and her husband, she keeps finding herself in dangerous situations. To save her life, she ends up having to marry Jamie. As Claire begins to know and have feelings for Jamie, she is torn between the two men she loves. OPINION: OUTLANDER is an epic romance. It is larger than real life and has a grand and sweeping landscape. Jamie is adorable and I really liked the story of how Claire eventually decides to stay with Jamie. I thought that her confusion in being torn between two men as well written. My one complaint was that after Jamie and Claire get married, I found that the plot of the story got more and more complicated and I got bored in places. I really just wanted to get to the parts with Claire and Jamie. I thought the character of Jamie was especially well written and although the book is told from Claire's point of view, at times I felt that I understood Jamie better than Claire. WORTH MENTIONING: There is a graphic novel called THE EXILE which tells the story from Jamie's point of view. It was an interesting companion after reading this book. FINAL DECISION: I liked this book although I did get tired of it somewhere after the wedding. I persevered and ultimately really did like the book. This is a book where I liked the main characters more than I was interested in the plot. CONNECTED BOOKS: OUTLANDER is the first book of the Outlander series. STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.

I first got book several years ago and just rebought it for my Kindle because I've gotten so spoiled to holding something lightweight to read instead of a huge book. I plan to read Outlander again. There was some confusion when the book first came out that it was syfy because there was time travel. Then people were saying it's a historical novel because of the detailed imagery of events and clothing descriptions and speech patterns. Others said, "No, it's a romance novel." Actually, it could be all three. There is time travel, and an enthralling, meticulously researched historical yarn, and a mesmerizing, beautiful love story...but nothing in the genre of Harlequin bodice rippers. More compelling. The synopsis has already been done so I won't be repetitive. But I will say that this is one of the best books I've ever read. It has the most engrossing story line and is full of the most interesting characters. I would imagine that 90% off the women who have read this book and the several sequels just flat out fell in love with Jamie and liked Claire so much that they were rooting hard for them as a couple. But the love story doesn't make this just a book for the ladies. Believe me, the action and battles are completely riveting. The setting, for the most part, is in the Scottish Highlands after the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 and leading up to the misery of Culloden in 1745 when the British brutally broke the Highlanders. Imagine yourself as a recently discharged army nurse who is suddenly plummeted back 200 years in the past. You may be more educated than anyone you'll meet but you're unbelieveably ill equipped to just slide into the ordinary life of the period. If fact, the things you do know are so far ahead of everyone else, there is danger of being accused of being a witch. As a reader, you have to get through the first part to lay the background and find out who Claire is, but once that's done and you get into meat of the story, it is exciting all the way through the book. I highly recommend it.

I have a lot of friends--mostly female--who adore these books, so I read the first one and I must say I agree with them. Ms. Gabaldon is an excellent writer and she has created a wonderful story with great characters. Yes, there were a few missteps (in my opinion), but overall the story is extremely well researched and executed. SPOILER ALERT!!! Skip the next part if you haven't read the book yet. My only complaints had to do with Jamie's rescue from prison and Claire bringing him back from death's door at the monastery. Ms. Gabaldon did such a good job of making Jamie look like he was about to die when he was at the monastery, that I found it unbelievable that Claire could save him by using anger to revive his will to live. It made for good drama, but wasn't believable. Same thing with the prison escape. Ms. Gabaldon kept her description of the action vague because (again in my opinion) there was no possible way they could have rescued Jamie from deep within the dungeon in the way described. Oh and I should also mention the books are highly sexual, so if that bothers you, you should skip them. Apart from these instances, I found the story enthralling, the characters fascinating, and the plot enticing. So much so that I am reading the next book in the series, and would recommend them to anyone, male or female, who enjoys a well-written yarn.

Truthfully, it took a while for me to get into Outlander. I picked it up on sale a year ago when I first heard of it (the best love story of all time, I heard, and knew I wanted a copy) but it was so hard to get into for me. I tried three or four times but just didn't care for the beginning story and ended up selling it back to a used book store. Flash forward to me seeing the trailer for the new show out for Outlander and I saw some scenes I really wanted to know more about. I read up on the book again, watched a few more videos online about the show and bought the Kindle version. I never planned to watch the show (and still haven't) but the trailer did show me parts of the story that looked really interesting--enough that I gave it another try. It was still hard to get through that first section. Yes, I'm glad to know more about Claire's present-day life in hindsight, but I just did not care for it at all when I was trying to get into the book. It seemed to drag on forever. Luckily, eventually Claire goes back in time and it gets interesting. Her larger-than-life characteristics that makes her such a great character immediately begin to show (something I did not see in "present" day). It does have the "quicker" moments that you fly through, but I enjoyed learning about Claire and Jamie and savoring their moments together. Once Jamie comes into the picture the book is amazing. The back and forth between Claire and Jamie is perfectly written and beautiful. I fell in love with them as a couple and was glad the book was so big--it meant I could spend more time with the characters. On an end note, I don't really recommend continuing the series beyond book two. While this one is five stars for me, the second goes down to four and the third, where I stopped reading, got just three stars. The stories are still great, but it seemed to me as the series continued, the book length was too much and a lot could have been cut.

Show is great, books are better.

Well. I don't normally write book reviews so I am no expert here. It is only my experience that I relate. I sort of accidentally came upon this subject due to the Starz program. It was a matter of I simply chose to watch the show while channel surfing. I guess I caught it about mid-showing, just before the wedding. So....I liked it right away because I am a history buff (and yes, I enjoy cross checking historical references from books or movies). For whatever weird reason, I felt a kinship with the story and setting. I think what really hooked me tho, was the sheer attraction between Jamie (what can I say?) and Claire. Damn, these two actors really make that passion, the tension of it, so real on screen. Also...I don't want to forget Dougal, who, in my opinion brings a really strong and passionate character to not only the clan, but to the Claire and Jamie relationship, as well. I know he gets a bit sleazy further on, but even in the beginning, you can see his passion for Claire. It just adds to the suspense. Watching just 5 recorded episodes (I guess i missed recording a few of the first...gotta catch up!) compelled me to buy the kindle edition of the books. I've finished the first (which had me going back and watching those episodes I'd recorded) and am now on the second (Dragonfly in Amber). I am still enthralled by the story. Even though I get a little exasperated at the assumptions and behavior and thought that Claire and Jamie put each other through, I find myself just waiting until they figure out what is really important. Their love scenes are well....,you just have to read it and make up your own mind as to whether that appeals to you or not. For me...it was a home run!! Love it. I plan on reading the whole series :) I fell like Starz, so far, has done a darn good jon of staying true to the books. This is a really enjoyable story, both for history buffs and romantics ;)

I must confess I was not aware of this book until my sister won a copy and I saw the advertisement for the series on STARZ. I went to Diana Gabaldon's site and read about the book, to see if I could discover what all the fuss was about. To my surprise there is a whole series.....I promptly downloaded Outlander to my Kindle. I began reading it as soon as it completed downloading ....oh my I was so disappointed with Claire and Frank Randall, such a non-romantic couple; I was in trouble this was a very tough, slow read. YAWN, Claire is in front of a store deciding whether or not to purchase a vase, this was her dilemma? The height of her day was gathering and cataloging flowers. Hmmmmmm could I stay with this, nope I quickly put it aside. Enter my dilemma, STARZ began to advertise the series Outlander, argh what to do! I do not like to watch a series made from a book if I have not first read the book, just my thing. So I forced myself to pick it up and keep reading, and SHAZAMM....I was transported to Scotland in the 1700's and entered into a knuckle biting beautiful love story. I was now enthralled and unable to put the book down for two straight days! I found myself reading late into the night and picking it up upon waking first thing in the morning. Diana pulled me in, I am hooked, she is an amazing writer who made me, the reader, really see and feel things through the eyes of the characters. I so love Jamie as a HERO!!! After finishing Outlander I downloaded the second in the series, it's a good thing, as I just learned STARZ will be airing it in season 2. If you are watching the series, and you have not read the book, I highly recommend you do so before you watch any more episodes. But be aware it is a commitment; it's a gargantuan novel, but this reader thinks you will love being transported into the lives of Jamie and Claire! I gave OUTLANDERS 5 stars as that is all that is available!!!

I had never read historical fiction that wasn’t required reading for school before Outlander. A friend of mine recommended it and even then, I was hesitant. It didn’t sound like my thing. But with all of the rave reviews, I decided to give it a try. This was no bodice ripping romance, after all. Outlander is a stunningly beautiful novel. Diana Gabaldon paints a beautiful backdrop for her complex, fully-developed characters to perform against. And she’s done her homework. The research that went into the novel is evident. The fact that she fully admits that she didn’t tell anyone she was writing a novel for fear of the pressure and ridicule that often goes with that, makes the depth of her research that much more impressive. Plot The plot was solid, although I felt it started off a little slow, especially the chicken sacrifices and detailed descriptions of plants and herbs. But once Claire visited the mini Stonehenge and was transported back in time, the story took off and never really let up. I was riveted by the harshness of life in 1740s Scotland, especially the views on women. We’ve come a long way in the past 250 years, thankfully! The book is long and there seems to be two solid arcs. In fact, at 896 pages, the book could quite easily have been two books, but the length doesn’t detract from the story at all. I would have happily paid twice as much to have read two books, so I’m not complaining. Characters While the plot is definitely the part that makes this book work for me, it’s just as much character-driven as plot-driven. The characters are all strong, well-developed and so completely differentiated from one another, it’s hard to remember they’re fictional creations of the author’s imagination. I can only imagine how detailed her character bios must be. Bottom Line Outlander is by far one of the best-researched historical novels around. The time-traveling aspect only makes me love it more, because I’m addicted to time-traveling fiction. The romance is well-done and intense. This is easily the best book in the series primarily because the plot moves without ever dragging.

I wanted to like Outlander, having a weakness for men in kilts and Scottish accents and history. However, I'm just not impressed. For one thing, historical accuracy and basic fact-checking are important to me--not the only measures I use to evaluate a book, but they are impediments to my engagement with the story. The most glaring example is the context of World War II. Outlander begins in 1945. Frank and Claire have presumably been released from their wartime service and are having a second honeymoon before Frank takes up his post at Oxford University. The year 1945 is identified on page 1, while on page 12, Frank says, "It's getting on for Beltane." Beltane is celebrated 30 April-1 May, so the story begins towards the end of April 1945. By late April 1945, World War II wasn't even over. In March 1945, Allied troops entered Germany and were moving on Berlin. The Battle of Berlin began in late April and Hitler committed suicide on 30 April. The official German surrender took place 7 May 1945, and Britain marks 8 May as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. Only in June 1945 did Britain begin demobilization of wartime personnel in earnest. It is unlikely that Frank and Claire would have been released from service prior to June 1945. Furthermore, Britain was in grim economic straits during the war and for several years after the war. It is unlikely that in April 1945, a shop in Inverness would have "newly replenished shelves . . . [with] lots of things for sale again" (7). It is also unlikely that a B&B owner like Mrs. Baird would own a car let alone be able to obtain still-rationed petrol for it. Use of a car was for doctors and other professionals deemed crucial to the community. I know that Diana Gabaldon has a Ph.D. in behavioral ecology not history, but you don't earn a Ph.D. without being a skilled researcher. However, even a cursory library search would have told her, or any reasonably competent editor, that her chronology and facts here are wrong. So I'm surprised and disappointed that all of this passed muster and made it to publication. There are other historical inaccuracies not as egregious. When Claire is given clothing to wear at Castle Leoch, there is no mention of stays (the eighteenth-century term for corset). Women in the eighteenth century wore stays, and not just upper-class women. Clothing was designed to fit over stays. When she offers Jamie a kerchief from her "pocket" on page 113, I hope that this does not refer to a pocket sewn into the skirt itself. Eighteenth-century skirts didn't have pockets as we know them. At that time, a pocket was more like a flat purse tied around the waist underneath the skirt and accessed through a gap below the waistband, where a modern zipper would be. There seems to be a bit of geographical confusion as well. When Claire is questioned by Colum MacKenzie, it's true she is under pressure to come up with a story for herself. However, let's consider the one she provides. She says she was traveling from Oxfordshire (in the south of England) to France. Instead of heading east to Dover (the traditional point of departure for France), she somehow ends up 420 or so miles to the north, well out of the way of any path to France. Yet, no one catches this inconsistency and calls her on it. Then there are instances where the author's inattention to detail is glaringly apparent, such as the following: "I could barely see Geilie's slender form flitting through the gloom, until she lit the candle. The wavering flame lit her face as she carried it back to the quilt, throwing wedge-shaped shadows under the bold nose and chiseled jaw . . . 'Don't bump into it, or you'll get soaked,' she advised, frowning in concentration as she lit the candle" (504-505). Now, nowhere in the part I left out is there (1) any mention of the candle going out or (2) any mention of a second candle. Basically, it appears she lit the same candle twice. At the end of the book is mention of a "hunter's moon" at Christmas time, however, the hunter's moon usually occurs in October. Seriously, did no one fact check this book before it went to press? Other reviews have praised this novel as rich in historical detail, but I would offer the above examples as evidence of where the author fails in that area. A few dates and names and a bit of information about Jacobitism (which you could learn anywhere, really) do not, in my opinion, constitute "rich historical detail." The frequent references to people making "Scottish noises" or "soothing Scottish sounds" (224 is one example) bother me. First, it's vague--what does that even mean? How do they sound? Show me, don't tell me. Second, am I the only person who sees it as essentialist? It's as if to say they are quaint, cute sounds that are somehow ethnically Scottish. By way of comparison, let me ask this: wouldn't people be upset with a character making "African noises," (or, worse yet, "Negro noises"), or "Asian noises," or "Indian noises"? I think so. How, then, is "Scottish sounds" any different? Now that I have finished this book, I can definitely say that I will not read any of the other Outlander books. I found this book sloppy, vague, full of inaccuracies, poorly researched, unenlightening, and, frankly, dull. I've read reviews praising Claire as a strong woman, but all I got from her is someone who is defensive, unappreciative, bitchy (how many times is her speech tagged with "I snapped"), quick to judge, and lacking in warmth. I've read panting reviews of the numerous sex scenes, but I found them frankly repetitive and unimaginative. Maybe reading some Anais Nin would have helped here ;-) If I had to sum up my thoughts about Outlander in one word, it would be ridiculous.

At one point, I so really wanted to hail this book as a great novel, but after finishing it, I am disappointed to say that it's just ok. I tried to forgive the literary mistakes but towards the end, it was just too much. The novel starts out strong, but, like another reviewer said, the ending is weak and messy. The good stuff: The author has a knack for descriptions and expertly paints a historical portrait of 17th century Scotland that really makes you feel like you are there. The two main characters of the book are well developed. You really fall in love with the protagonist's flame. Gabaldon gives him qualities any woman would desire in a man, and his faults just make him feel all the more real. The author builds up the love story, and some of the sex scenes are quite erotic. At times the story is really enjoyable, adventurous and suspenseful. The bad stuff: The book is too long. The story just goes on and on seemingly forever, with so much violence and so many conflicts that, after a while, it tends to lose credibility. Some of the situations the protagonist Claire finds herself in are unlikely. After the millionth time she is rescued, it just gets to be silly. Eventually, the sex gets to be too much and some of it is just plain absurd. Rabbit-like sex following near death, sex on the point of death; it's just too much. Furthermore, the author makes two major mistakes in her writing which completely deter from the enjoyment of the story. One involves witchcraft and presents a situation in which the reader, knowing the same things as the protagonist, can see the situation coming a mile away whereas the protagonist does not. It just makes Claire seem stupid, which is contradictory to the way her character is originally presented. The second situation has to be the biggest cliche of all time. Two men fighting, the woman helplessly watching, and finally the villain sneaks up behind the woman, grabs her and threatens to kill her unless her lover stops fighting. I think I've seen this happen already in about a dozen movies. As a matter of fact, there are two instances in the book where the heroes have a clear shot of killing the villain but they fail to do so. From there on, the story goes downhill and climaxes in a hot mess involving wolves, cows and bear-men. Overall, I suspect the book got a lot of high ratings because most of the readers are women in desperate need of some steamy excitement in their lives. However, I cannot give a book 5 stars with so many blatant shortcomings, adding to the fact that it most likely appeals to a select range in the population and not to a wide audience. I mean, come on people. This is not Tolstoy or Richard Adams or Tolkien. It's more like Twilight-series-quality work. So, weighing in all the good and bad, I would have to say this novel deserves 3 stars.

Outlander is what I would describe as an epic adventure. It's not just a simple story. It is a whirlwind tale, traveling across time, land, and sea. The sheer size of the book intimidated me, but after hearing so much about it, I had to give it a shot. I felt like I was in the midst of a television series, as there is so much going on throughout the novel. And I loved that about this tome. I could get engrossed in it one moment, and then set it aside until I was ready for the next great adventure to come. There is so very much happening. I personally enjoyed reading it bit by bit over an extended period of time, while I imagine others have blown through the nearly 900 pages in a day or two. I chose the audiobook route, and I cannot be more pleased by that choice. The audio narrator, Davina Porter, is brilliant perfection. I don't normally like female narrators, but Porter managed to encapsulate all that I had imagined Outlander would be with her amazing voice, her inflections, her management of both male and female roles, her pacing, her animation, and her consistency. As I eventually travel through the rest of the series, I plan on listening to them all on audio as I have fallen in love with Porter's narration and rendition of Claire and Jamie. If you are on the fence, like I was, about diving into this massive book, I highly recommend the audiobook. It can be listened to at your leisure, while driving, cleaning, cooking, exercising, whatever. Porter's narration is well worth the time and imaginings. This isn't a light read, and it is historical fiction. There is some very heavy stuff going on amongst these pages, with all the ugliness of the time period. But there is also gorgeous imagery and amazing characters that will capture your heart (and villains you'll hate). But if you are up for an epic love story between one incredibly swoon-worthy Scotsman to surpass all others, and a heroine who encapsulates femininity yet fierceness, passion and compassion, then look no further than Outlander.

I loved Claire & Jamie. Initially, I worried about Frank, who was probably sick with loss when Claire didn’t return from her walk, but then, the beautiful love story between Claire & Jamie spiraled forward. Loved watching Claire administer to her patients as if she were an actual doctor. She had learned enough from her previous life to help heal many injuries. Plus, in awe, courage & amazement, she accomplished necessary tasks because of her grit & creativity! She’s an amazing woman! I look forward to more daring escapades in the next volume.

I don't normally read these types of books. These time travel novels. It always seems to me that the books would be just as good, (or bad), if they were simply written as historical novels, without the silly notion of time travel included. So, I kept that in mind as I started this first book, one in a very long line of novels, which I don't think is even concluded yet. But, I kept hearing how wonderful the series was. So, I bought this one. Yes, it is wonderful. The writing is first class. The story is completely absorbing, and the historical aspects are as true to history as can be accomplished, while adding the fictional characters. I actually found myself looking up the lead characters on Wikipedia, because I just couldn't believe they didn't really live. The history of the Highland Wars is very well told, all from the viewpoint of the protagonists in this alternative, fictional history. The romance between Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser, is unforgettable. I usually read an entire series before I go back and review the first book, so this time I'm breaking that rule of mine. (Possibly because these books are long, and there are 8 or 9 of them by now.) I've been reading 5 or 6 books in between them, because these books are, emotionally, a banquet meal, and need something else in between to allow them to settle in your mind. I recommend the series. It's strong on plot and character development. There is romance, and plenty of it, because the love affair between Jamie and Claire is a magnificent thing to behold. But the beauty of these books doesn't rest on the romance aspect. After a book is finished, that isn't what I continue to dwell on. It's the intricacies of the plot, and the desire to know how the author is going to develop it that keeps me coming back for another immersion in her world. These books are more than worth the money and time you will invest in them.

This is an interesting story; a nurse traveling back in time some 200 years and running into the middle of a fray with clansmen and redcoat dragoons. The adventure that follows is of a WW2 British nurse transported back in time to Scotland just before the Rising of 1745. This is a new twist on the time travel theme where a woman who is a nurse is the main character of the story & how she incorporates herself into this life with her skills as a healer. At first I would put this book in science fiction but after reading it I'd say it is more or less a love story. I generally don't like love stories and I don't read them but there is enough in this story that one could say with conviction that it is not just a love story. I started reading this book before the series started on cable so watching the series and being slightly a head of it reading the book made the story easier to follow and more interesting. The cable series follows fairly closely to the book so far. I have to say that it is a long book and a complicated story. Diana Gabaldon is a good writer and has the ability to develop engaging characters. Although many of her characters are interesting and for the most part fully developed I would say that Jamie Frasier is the most interesting and of course he is the love interest for Claire Randall. I gave the book 4 stars for several reasons. The first is in my opinion the over the top description of love making, not just once but many times! Once is enough for me she could leave a little to imagination. The other is the violence inflicted on Jamie, it's a big part of the story but again, it is way over the top in my opinion especially toward the end. Others may feel differently about that but those are the reasons I didn't give it 5 stars. I am intrigued with the story enough that I have started the second book; I guess I can skim over the love scenes! Rob Drummond

I read an Advance Reader's Copy of this before it was published...nearly a quarter of a century ago. Since then, I've reread it many times, and although I'm no longer surprised by the plot twists, I still enjoy the characters, the story, and the quality of the writing. Nowadays, time travel is nearly overused, but back in 1991 this book was iconoclastic and original. There is a lot of sex and graphic violence; the first time I read it, I was a bit taken aback by it. But the world has changed a lot, and you can see (and hear) much more explicitness on TV, let alone read it in a book. Here are just a few of the many things I love about "Outlander": - the characters are not only well developed to begin with, but they continue to develop and grow as the novel progresses - the author takes the time to bring the reader fully into the settings - the story is not too linear; there are any number of sub plots and explorations of history, botany, medicine - the sentences are crafted well; it's a pleasure to read them - there is plenty of humor to leaven the darker aspects of the tale I first read it in one sitting, staying up until dawn to finish (and ruining my weekend!). It was worth every minute. I wasn't sure I'd want a follow up novel because this one seemed so perfect, but the following seven have kept up the pace and quality (plus an offshoot series based on a minor character) In short, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good writing, history (the Jacobite uprising of 1745), careful plotting, complex characters, plenty of humor, and a touch of the paranormal. The love story of Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp Randall is very powerful, but this isn't a typical romance by any means. I consider it historical fiction from an extraordinarily talented writer.

There is no need to rehash this story as its storyline should be well known to anybody at all interested in this book. There are certain moments in one's life that you will always remember. I know exactly where I was when President Kennedy was assassinated. I know exactly were I was when the space shuttle Challenger exploded and I know exactly where I was when this book ran full speed into a brick wall. I was reading page 760. This is when Diana Gabaldon took her wonderfully crafted strong-willed, intelligent, brave, warrior hero and turned him into a whimpering, sobbing, pathetic shell of a man. I'd give a *SPOILER ALERT* here except so much of this book has already been dissected and discussed I can hardly believe that I could give anything away. Throughout the book Gabaldon has taken great pains to show how strong and stoic Jamie is. He has been through more pain and suffering than anyone should ever have to endure and come out the stronger for it. He is brave and fearless beyond words and yet at the end of the book Gabaldon turns him into a whimpering little baby. After Jamie is rescued from Wentworth Prison and is safely with Claire, recovering by the fire... "He suddenly raised his head, face strained as though it would break apart along the seams of the bones. " I've been close death a few times, Claire, but I've never really wanted to die. This time I did. I...." His voice cracked and he stopped speaking, clutching my knee hard. When he spoke again, his voice was high and oddly breathless, as though he had been running a long way. "Claire, will you - I just - Claire, hold on to me. If I start to shake again now, I canna stop it, Claire, hold me!" Waaaa! I've been buggered by a bad guy. Waaaa! I need my mommy to suckle me. Waaa! I'm not strong and brave anymore. Waaaa! I need your strength to help me get through this horrible, unbelievably homoerotic, sadistic ordeal this author has, for some sick twisted reason, seen fit to put me through. Waaaa! Waaaa! Waaaa! Somebody please change this baby, he's stinking up the room. Give me a break. Like I said before, loved the beginning, loved the middle, hated the ending. I won't even mention Claire's completely cliché, formulaic failed rescue attempt. I'll also not complain about the part where she kills a wolf with her bare hands. Her bare hands! But what the hell happened to the actual rescue? Here is a writer that has no problem writing pages upon pages describing the various medicinal herbs and their uses and writes endlessly about the countryside and the flowers and the birds and the bees and the sky up above and love...oh my, can she write about love. But when it comes to the big rescue she writes something about some cattle running through the prison hallway. Wow, that was sure exciting. In addition this author creates a detailed, well defined strong, manly character, places him in a horrific situation and then has him behave in a manner completely opposite to what you would expect out of him. This is big strong manly Scotsman who has endured incredible suffering in his life. He is as strong and stoic as they come and he allows himself to become some sadist's boy toy. I don't think so. Please don't try to tell me that Jamie allowed himself to be used because of some promise he made in order to save the love of his life and his strong sense of honor. Forget it. All promises go right out the window once you know your woman is safe and the bad guy starts storming the south gate. This is where the thoroughly enjoyable Outlander train ride jumps the tracks and careens right over the cliff. After that I had lost all respect for Gabaldon and the characters she had created. I had the rest of her books in my wish list ready to be sent, but no more. I just can't get back on a crashed train. Waaa!

Simply amazing book that takes you on a journey you may never want to end. There are eight books in the series and, like most fans, I am eagerly awaiting the 9th book. (It should be out in by early 2017.) These books are rich in history and the author puts great value on accuracy. Not only does she do exhaustive research for the scenes and costumes of the time, but also how the characters would act or react to situations. There is much research that must go into each book and the fact that "Miss D", as some call her, tries so hard to be accurate is laudable. You will not regret reading these books. They do have elements of romance, and some of the love scenes are detailed, but not a a gratuitous way. However, it may inspire you and your partner. Some devotees do get a little too wrapped up in the story. I have actually read posts on FB and other fan sites by women who have romanticized the lead male character, Jamie, to the extent that they have delayed or ended relationships because they didn't live up to the fictional character. Key word being, FICTIONAL. Now with the new STARZ show, women are fixating on the wonderful actor that portrays Jamie, Sam Heughn. He really is great in the role, but again, it a FICTIONAL CHARACTER. The poor guy shows one bit of skin and it's all over the web now. Sure hope he finds a way to have a normal life. He is great and loves his fans, but I hate how some treat him like an object. Okay, sorry for that little rant. Again, you will not regret reading this book. The vocabulary can be a bit challenging, but if you read on a kindle or other reader, you can easily get the definitions. I am an avid reader and word fan, but there were a few words that stumped me. Mostly due to their use ending about 100-200 years ago Happy reading.

This was a completely different book then what I expected heading into it. I hadn't dug to far into the reviews, just knowing that a few other trusted Booktube bloggers had said they loved it was enough to want to read it. Started off expecting a YA paranormal romance story that I could read and share with my nieces. They would have some romance, and I could enjoy some kilts and bagpipe battle scenes. By the end of the first 5 chapters or so, I knew that I wouldn't be sharing this one with the teenage readers in my family, but I did find myself hooked enough, even with the lack of bag-piping, to keep reading for myself. The author managed to tell a time travelling love story where the time travel didn't override everything else that was happening. There were very few moments where the plot hinged on whether or not the events that Claire is part of now are changing events into the future. It was very refreshing to have the Yankee in King Arthur's Court experience without being mired into all of the Back to the Future paranoia over changing world events. The plot moves along briskly, with no large history lesson info dumps, and only the frequent sidetracks for marital duties slowing the story arc down. These are not the PG-13, kissing in the rain cause daddy forbids me to see him type of love interest plot points that I expected, but I managed to read through them without blushing to many times. The characters were amazing. Gabaldon had a very descriptive prose, and I found myself silently reading with a Scottish accent as she described clan life in 1743. You are never quite sure which characters you can trust throughout the book, and everyone has their own foibles creating extra conflict to drive the story along. Overall, a solid 4 star rating for the amazing setting and characters. Not the romance that I expected, but the romance that it needed to be. Would have been 5 stars with but a wee bit more bagpipes, or a bit less under the kilt action.

Don't be mislead by the blurb on the back of the book as "time-travelling romance" doesn't do this book justice at all. It's not a fluffy romance novel. It's not a dry historical adaptation. This book (and the entire series) will suck you in, enthrall you, keep you up at night, and be the best thing you could have well purchased in a long time. I need a book that is well-written - that has believable characters, complex and surprising twists, a ring of authenticity, and most of all is all-encompassing and deeply satisfying. I have found it in Diana Gabaldon's cheeky and witty Claire (Randall) Fraser. Claire has a strong personality - no dewy-eyed "damsel in distress" heroine, but a self-reliant and intelligent nurse from 1946 who happens to fall through a crack in time and land in 1743 in the Scottish Highlands. The dialogue often catches me unawares - so much so that I am loudly guffawing at the dialogue between Claire and the gruff 18th Century Scotsmen, only to look up from my book and see people on the train staring at me. And then there's James Fraser. Suffice to say that if you don't develop a strong attraction to redheaded tall men with Scottish accents after reading this book, then you must be clinically dead. Again, Diana Gabaldon has weaved a powerful literary spell to bring Jamie Fraser to life - his mannerisms, his personality, his presence - so much so that you can almost see him and hear his voice. He is not a cardboard hero, but a complex (often mentally scarred) man dealing with the Jacobite rebellion over the horizon. In meeting Claire, he discovers where she came from and is told about the Culloden slaughter - so their romance is always tinged with danger and the pending battle of the Highlands. I have now read and re-read this book at least eight times, and I would not hesitate to say that this is the best book I have ever had the pleasure to be immersed within. Now waiting impatiently for the final book in this Outlander series ... even though I never want this journer to end.

The book

The entire series is a treasure to me. So much so that I have started from book 1 to reread and experience each moment again!

Gripping, addictive and disruptive - I could not put it down. I love all the characters - I see them all so vividly. Claire is awesome and I totally relate. While our dashing hero Jamie is delightfully perfect, most other characters have interesting layers. This is a thrilling adventure, epic love story, exciting bodice ripper, a taste of history, an educational experience and just a lot of fun to read. Getting the next book right away!

The book is very well written, and is a gripping story though yes, wordy. If you like a fast pace, this book will not give it to you. However if you like an experience to immerse yourself in, this is the one. Rich in sensory details, with interesting, real characters and an interesting, real setting. There's a great story arc as the characters develop (not repeated in later books in the series, which may disappoint you as they did me). There are interesting variations from the norm of romance novels such as (spoilers) Jamie the hero is a virgin, and yes, the infamous spanking scene, which occurs after the hero and heroine have married (hence according to the law of the land in the 1700s he's now her lord and master), and she runs off to try and escape back to her own time, gets grabbed by her husband's nemesis and puts Jamie and all the other men in their band into serious danger. He risks his life to save her from the consequences of her actions (actions that are inexplicable to him because she's been withholding info), then is aware if he doesn't punish her she will be hated by every man in the band, and probably their wives once the tale is spread. Hence total rejection from the community. Reluctantly he administers a spanking, to which she vehemently objects, making him swear never to do again. He never does. The story shows the forgiveness of the rest of the men now she's been properly chastised. As a feminist I hate that scene myself, but reading in the context of the time, it's true to the situation. I admit it took awhile to get over my grudge against Jamie. Other than that he's very likeable. I would definitely recommend this story, but not the ones that follow, as they dilute the power of the initial experience. The first functions as a standalone. Outlander is on my 'Keeper' shelf, the rest went off to the secondhand bookshop as lacking in character development and plot, and too many points of view - new characters to whom I was not really attached.

The buzz surrounding the impending television adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander forced me to acknowledge that I seemed to be the only one of my inner circle to have skipped the title. Well, until now. For the record, I'm not big on trending titles. As a reviewer I find it is harder to remain objective when you are staring down thousands of die-hard fans which probably explains my sidestepping Gabaldon's epic for so long. Still, one can't legitimately bitch about the liberties taken in a mini-series less one has read the original and because the book is always better I figured I'd best make room in my schedule and hope the title lived up to its reputation. It took me two weeks to finish the book between other responsibilities and obligations and all I can really say is that I'm a bit miffed. My eighteen year old self would have loved this piece, but the twenty-eight year old incarnation writing this review isn't exactly spellbound. First and foremost, Gabaldon’s pacing leaves something to be desired. I honestly fell asleep reading this book and not because it was two in the morning and I couldn't function any longer. I'd get through two pages and wake up with an imprint of the binding down the side of my face, cursing my failure to get through a single chapter before succumbing to boredom. The material is interesting in its way, but the sheer amount of exposition and detail made it difficult for me to engage in the narrative and I often found my mind wandering and/or shutting down completely. To add insult to injury, I didn't much appreciate Gabaldon’s leading lady. What kind of woman falls through time and simply accepts it? Claire fails to react to her situation until the final third of the book when she finally admits it to Jamie at which point it seems too little too late. I'm sorry, but I don't buy four months of absolute nonchalance, not for a minute. Her tendency to act as an observer was equally hard to swallow. Protagonist though she is, Claire rarely takes control or initiative, a fact which makes her a rather tedious and uninspiring narrator. Claire's relationship with Jamie also failed to impress. Personally, I didn't feel an ounce of chemistry between these characters and I am seriously disturbed by Claire ability to tumble her wild Scotsman with barely an ounce of compunction over her betrayal of Frank which leads me to my next point. I'm not a prude, but I have a problem when authors ask me to read scenes of gratuitous intimacy. Don't get me wrong, some of my favorite writers pen historical romance, but there is a line and I think Gabaldon crossed it. Like anything else I want love scenes to have a purpose within a narrative and unfortunately, I feel her efforts lacked substance and that the frequency with which she depicts Claire and Jamie’s coupling quickly makes their unions a trivial act of meaningless copulation. Jamie has his moments, instances in which his inexperience and perspective prove a breath of fresh air, but his character, like Claire, didn't affect me as much as the supporting cast. I have no problem admitting I formed a certain attachment to both Geillis Duncan and Janet Murray, admiring the complexity and strength in their individual characters. Jonathan Randall also caught my eye. A particularly memorable villain, I'm comfortable ranking him alongside Carver Doone which is no small praise in my book. Will I continue the series? Most likely. I like Gabaldon’s unconventional plot points and time travel fantasies hold certain appeal for me, but that said I’m in no rush.

I started watching the series before I read the first book. I was thinking the book would flow along pretty closely with the show and that it might be too predictable to read since I had already seen the show, but there were quite a few differences that actually filled in several holes that the series left. Definitely glad I read it. Enjoyed every bit!

I am a lover of quality historical fiction and a hater of bad romantic fiction, be it "historical" or not. Diana Gabaldon is first rate - she does her research, and she makes it interesting. I can't think of anyone else who combines historical information and rich characters as well as she does. It took me a few pages to get into Outlander, but once I was in, I was hooked, and now I'm waiting for the release of the eighth book! I originally started the first book because I was interested in traveling to Scotland. Imagine my surprise, when by the third book, the characters were living in my home state, less than three hours drive from me. Besides the history, the medical details of Clare's work are particularly fascinating to me. Gabaldon likes to include mysteries to solve along the way, which helps provide additional interest to the plot. And of course there's the romance, with which Gabaldon is particularly generous. Lots of racy action and light s&m, but the real appeal of these scenes are the interactions between bright and interesting main characters. Probably the most shocking thing about this series is the amount of drinking the characters engage in, although this is probably pretty accurate historically, given the locations and times. As the series progresses (slight spoilers, if you are sensitive), I love that: 1. one of the main characters of the series is gay (you will hear more from him in later books and the spin off Lord John series), and I think it adds a dimension to the series that you don't often experience. 2. the bulk of the romance and lives lived by the two main characters is when they are in their 40s and 50s. 3. every character in the series has his/her flaws. There are certainly some hard to believe close calls and good fortune that the main characters experience, but there are no paragons here. 4. there are no vampires. Making the main character a modern woman experiencing the past was a smart move, but writing this convincingly is great art!

I read Outlander, book one a little over 20 years ago. I remember the underlining storyline and the two main protagonists. Details not at all, and that may be an age related condition --- getting old(er). Seeing that it has been made into a TV series for STARZ and watching the preview, I subscribed to STARZ for six months at their intro price, and downloaded the first book onto my Kindle Fire (which by the way I highly recommend as I have gotten rid of a bunch of dusty book clutter). Girls, this is like a whole new read for me. Each passage I shout mentally, "What? I don't remember that! What? What?" Even the introduction of Jamie (who was the swooning talk of the office where I worked before retirement and who is now the subject in the senior center) I remembered differently. LOL Life is strange and wonderful. Now I have a "new" book to read. And the hunk on television playing Jamie Fraser "will do". At least the producers of the show seem to have read the book by choosing actors most resembling the characters in the readers' minds. I am just a "reader" and not a literary critic, whose critiques have turned into tomes --- yup, I know that word and when someone is trying to impress themselves! I play bridge with friends who are Oprah book club fans, and when I told them about this book, they pooh, pooh this as science fiction. They don't read syfi. I tried to tell them this was not scifi but their noses were already in the air catching dust motes and flies. Couldn't persuade them. Buy the book, subscribe to STARZ and have a good time. Watch it weekly with your friends and send the hubby out for a beer with the guys. But then he just might like romance, adventure novel and show.

Outlander by Dr. Diana Galbadon is an excellent book in the genre of historical romantic fiction. The book is the first of a series of eight long novels dealing with the events surrounding the Scottish Highlanders effort to make Bonnie Prince Charlie of the House of Stuart King of Great Britain. The first person narrator is Claire Beauchamp Randall the wife an Oxford professor. The novel begins in 1945 shortly after World War II, as Claire and her husband Frank are on a belated honeymoon in the Scottish highlands. Claire served as a combat nurse during the war. One day on a walk Claire walks through a huge stone and is transported back to Scotland in the early 1740s. This is the time of the Scottish rebellion against British Hanoverian rule which culminated in the defeat of the clans at the battle of Culloden Moor in 1745. Whilst in Scotland Clair meets and marries Jamie a young highlander. The two engage in countless adventures as they duel with Black Jack Randall a cruel British officer who has raped Jamie s sister and flogged the young redheaded Scottish lad. There are many tasteful sex scenes and the language is often salty. Dr. Gabaldon has done her homework presenting an informed picture of the primitive and clannish culture of Scotland in the eighteenth century. Gabaldon is a great storyteller as the reader quickly flips the pages on this long novel which reads quickly! The novel was originally published in 1991 but has received renewed readership since it has been transformed into an excellent series on the STARZ cable channel. Literary pundits may sniff their noses but if you want a riveting tale of adventure and romance then this fine novel will fulfill your needs. The love story of Claire and Jamie is unforgettable!

“What’s the recipe for commercial fiction success?" Start with solid history along with plenty of action, sex, brutal violence, then add a little magic and you have it. Gabaldon is a masterful storyteller, carefully blending intrigue, action, and suspense on a solid foundation of history...Add modern day, highlanders, and large-scale disasters, and the result is a graphic magnificent epic, and exciting tale of ancient conflict and intrigue. Hundreds of millions have fallen in love with the magic of Dianna Gabaldon. In "Outlander", she is at the peak of her powers, transporting readers to an extraordinary time and place. This is a novel of supreme adventure, blazing action, heart-racing romance and a sense of history so real that you will feel the highland hills moving beneath you and lapping at your feet as Clair is transported back in time. The story starts in the Scottish Highlands, 1945. Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743. Claire learns her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. What begins in compulsion becomes urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives. Gabaldon knows her history, but more importantly, she knows just how to capture the struggles and questions of the human heart--yesterday and today. This book is meticulously-researched, spell-bindingly written with luscious prose, compelling and complex characters. Each chapter is a treasure, the kind of story world one is reluctant to leave. And, although I was born in the Lowlands, I yearn to go back to my Grandfather's heritage in the Highlands, so, I am on to "Dragonfly In Amber (Outlander, Book 2)".

The problem with most of the one star reviews for this book is that the readers are not considering that this is an "historical fiction". Meaning a fictional story set in an historical time. People are crying feminist crap about the domestic abuse, violence, and rape in the book.. Consider that marital rape did not become illegal in all 50 states until 1993. 20 years ago. We are even now seeing cases of spankings being debated as domestic violence versus appropriate punishment (Adrian Peterson). How then are we to gauge the beating of a wife who endangered the lives of many men because she did not obey her husband? I'll admit that the passage made me cringe, but when you read it from the historical perspective, it is accurate. Whether or not she is a modern woman, as some have argued, does not matter, she is not in a modern time. As to the complaints regarding Jamie's fond reminiscence of his father's beatings: I don't think you read the passage. He was not happily remembering the beatings, but his father and the things that he said that impacted the man Jamie became. The life lessons he learned from his father were often given when he had done wrong and had to be whipped. Just as a parent may punish with time out and then sit down and explain why a behavior was wrong today.. I fondly remember my mother's favorite punishment: hugging my sister until we talked out whatever we had been fighting about. I'm not remembering the punishment fondly as I was often bristling with rage, but rather the result - which made me a better woman. Yes, they have sex a lot, but they also talk about deep topics and meaningful life events. Both contribute to the development of their relationship throughout the book (and come on- sex sells). If you read a historical fiction and expect tidy streets, modern law, and pretty events tied neatly into a bow.. You obviously are not meant for true historical fiction.

Diana Gabaldon starts her saga with a time period of the harsh realities of a finished war, a reuniting of a couple like any other, with differences, but the desire to start again. These are people that are real and like some we have known or imagined from our own families or experiences. There is no overly flowery language to describe the actions, but carefully crafted images to let the reader inside the thoughts and actions of the characters. When the story shifts and takes us through the stones, she skillfully takes us along, and although the reality of action is inconceivable in the mind, we are willing to take this fantasy journey because of that little part of us that wants to believe. Claire is like every woman in her feelings and thoughts, fears and desires. When she is taken by Dougal and the band of men, her mind slowly begins to comprehend her situation, and with her 20th century mind, understands that she must conform. She is swept along, always thinking of getting back to the stones, but carves a place for herself as a healer. The characters she meets along the way are poignant and believable. Claire is strong, logical and in her own way, funny in her realistic reactions to her situation. The reader cannot get enough of Jamie. He is the alpha male that is true and tender at the same time. He is big and brawny, with a sense of honor that is typical of the time period and culture he is from, but goes an extra distance. It is one that is hard for todays world to fathom. His best quality is that although he is handsome, well built, loyal, a commanding figure and natural leader, he is confidently aware and yet unaware of these qualities and is willing to laugh at himself. He knows what he wants, but understands he cannot always have his desires, except when it comes to Claire.

Gorgeous start to a wild series. Excellent history and palpable characters. This doesn't feel like a "historical romance" or "time travel" book, which is saying something, considering the content includes all three of these components. Rather, it just reads like a story of something that should be unimaginable, but isn't. Who are we to judge what is or isn't possible in this great universe we inhabit? (That's really also me, paraphrasing a conversation between Claire and one of my favorite characters, Gelleis Duncan.) I'm only into book two, so give me some time. Diana Gabaldon is verbose, and while her writing is, on the whole, just beautiful - making the reader feel as breathless and in awe of her surroundings as Claire, the narrator and protagonist (arguably) is - Gabaldon also has a way of going on and on about details that just don't matter. This can get exhausting. I have gotten the audible version of the book so that I can go back-and-forth and I find that to be a useful solution to the cognitive burnout that reading for a couple of hours at a time can do (esp with this author, lol). The narrator of the series, Davina Porter, does a remarkable job! She not only moves between accents with a fluidity I've rarely heard in some of the finest actors alive, she manages to pull off voicing male and female genders pretty well! It takes some getting used to, though. You need to give the voices some time - we always imagine the characters' voices differently in our heads, don't we? (At least, I do!) I'd give Davina Porter big kudos, putting her in the same tier as the acclaimed voice-over artist Jim Dale, who so brilliantly executes the many voices of the Harry Potter series that I often forgot I was listening to a narrator at all! It's no wonder he won Emmys for that work... Good stuff. What happens next will be interesting.

I first heard about Outlander last summer amidst a newfound obsession with Game of Thrones, both the television series and the A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R.R. Martin. Outlander was being billed as “the feminist’s answer to Game of Thrones.” Well, as someone who wrote a dissertation on women’s literature, and who already thoroughly enjoyed Martin’s book series, it sounded like Gabaldon’s Outlander series would be perfect for me. I was also intrigued by the premise – that Claire, an Englishwoman honeymooning in post-World War II Scotland, is mysteriously and inexplicably transported to 18th-century Scotland. The premise immediately reminded me of one of my favorite books, Kindred by Octavia Butler, also of the sci-fi/fantasy genre; in that novel, the protagonist is an African American woman living in 1970s California who is mysteriously and inexplicably transported to a plantation in slave-holding Maryland in the early 19th century. Like Claire, Dana has to learn to survive in a hostile environment. Dana ultimately finds out that she is on the plantation of one of her ancestors, while in Outlander, Claire quickly comes into contact with one of her husband’s ancestors, Black Jack Randall (who looks disturbingly like her husband, Frank).While Kindred is able to deal with its subject matter in a serious and thought-provoking way, Outlander ultimately devolves into little more than a clichéd romance novel. I will admit that I enjoyed the book at first, and then again at a certain point in the middle (when Claire discovers something interesting about her friend Geillis and is soon after faced with a crucial dilemma at Craigh na Dun). However, what follows is disappointing. The plot is extremely repetitive (how many times can two people be imprisoned and abused by the same one evil English military officer who also just so happens to be the ancestor of Claire’s 1940s husband?). The writing of the sex scenes between Claire and Jamie is just cringeworthy (this is also sometimes a problem in Martin’s books, admittedly). Ultimately, when I finished the novel, I could appreciate some things about it as one work of fantasy fiction, but I could not fathom how a reader would want to continue to read seven (!) more books about these characters. Now, back to the labeling of Outlander as a “feminist Game of Thrones.” It’s not. First of all, I think there is plenty of feminist critique in Martin’s novels (on the tv show, as well, but not to the extent seen in the books), so I have never quite understood charges that GoT/ASoIaF is misogynistic or anti-feminist. In Martin’s world, there are many, many complex, ambiguous, and intriguing female characters. Second, there’s not much in Outlander that strikes me as particularly feminist, beyond the superficial. Claire’s character has a strong personality and is a medical professional. Yes, there are a few moments that could be considered examples of feminist critique on Gabaldon’s part in the sense that Claire is sometimes in danger of being assaulted by male characters, and she must endure being (often) the only woman in a super-macho and often sexist culture. Again, it all feels very superficial and secondary to what is seemingly the main concern of the novel: the sexual relationship between Claire and Jamie. Am I supposed to find it empowering that Claire, who we know has already been married in the 20th century, is not a virgin, while hunky Scot Jamie is pure and innocent (to the point that he thinks the only way to have sex is from behind because that’s what he’s seen the animals do in the stables)? Is it “feminist” that Claire “educates” her husband in the ways of pleasing a woman? Maybe. But if that’s all Outlander is doing, I think it’s falling short of its potential.

I love this series. It is well written and the characters are interesting, well defined, and informative. I loved learning how penicillin was made as well as ether. The medical references were spot on to the point that I was thinking the author must have gone to medical school at some point or married a physician. The information was just not run of the mill and it really held my attention due to the way it was written. If you are as busy as I am, you will enjoy the audio version in concert with the digital one. The reader on the audio version is nothing short of amazing. She brings the characters to life in such a skillful way that one finds it hard to believe they were the same person reading all the parts. I've never heard a reader with such a feminine, expressive voice sound like a male to such a degree and the dialects were thrown in to be the icing and cherries on top of the cake. You simply won't believe this internationally acclaimed and award winning artist read this series. Trust me. You'll be listening to it while you drive, jog, and vacuum. The history and historical references are spot on and the author does not cheat you by writing a book with a cliff hanger ending in a volume way too thin. She leaves you with a satisfying story and you can't wait for the next volume just because you know you will enjoy it like a gourmet meal, one bite at a time that leads you to the next course seamlessly. Don't rush through this journey. Savor every bite and remember the flavor and excitement of a fine literary meal. You won't be sorry. I would love to read it again for the first time. I can't, but you, dear reader CAN and you will remember what a glowing review this was, written just for you because I rather envy the new reader, so I'm reading it again.

WHAT A BOOK and WHAT A WRITER!!! The BEST book I've EVER, EVER, read!!! This book was recommended to me 10 years ago by a coworker. I purchased the book from AMAZON but couldn't get into the book because at the time, I was into reading true crime or books based on true stories. So I gave the book to the individual who recommended it. About 5 years later, a friend gave me a bag of books and OUTLANDER was one of those books. I thought OH NO! There's that book again! I donated the bag of books to a charity. Last July I wanted to get back into reading historical romances and read a couple of books that were so-so. I wanted to read something EXCELLENT and long, perhaps a series. Then I got to thinking about OUTLANDER. I know the book had excellent reviews on AMAZON so I downloaded the sample onto my KINDLE FIRE. The sample only has two chapters. Not enough to know if you'll be able to get into the book. I was afraid if I purchased the book at $8.99 I wasn't going to be able to get into it like before. I called AMAZON to see if I could download it for free since I purchased it in 2003 and it's there in my history orders. AMAZON said NO. I would have to purchase the book again. So I did. Forcing myself that I would get into the book no matter what. Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, I would have to get into it after pay $8.99 again. OMG did I ever get into this book! I LOVE IT! I'm up to DRUMS OF AUTUMN (forth book) and to me, so far, the first two were EXCELLENT!!! I shall see what the rest of the series brings. I hope this review helps in your decision in reading the series! Thanks!

3.5 stars (haha STARZ 🤪) so I rounded up. Claire is a great protagonist. She’s smart, funny, cynical and this author clearly understands what it’s like to have curly hair! It’s not always the most glamorous feature, but beautiful as all heck when we get it right. BUT, as someone who has never been in love nor really even believes in it, a lot of the love dialogue and scenes were so cringy I found myself laughing hysterically, especially during that scene where they do it on a rock with all those soldiers around them. The sex was realistic, especially after Jamie first discovered it and was so... enthusiastic, but it just got ridiculous towards the end to the point where Claire’s love for Jamie just feels like Stockholm Syndrome. I still 100% recommend this. It was fun and intentionally hilarious at some points, and not to mention highly original in concept. I’m in no rush to read the sequels, especially since the series still has two books yet to be released, but I definitely look forward to them. I’m glad smallpox vaccines aren’t a thing anymore, too. YOINKS! That sounds like one painful needle.

So, my review on the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon... I thought I would HATE this book because there's "time travel". Wrong. The main character does time travel, though it's unintentional, and it was very well-played. The time travel itself is not a main focus of the book, rather it's just a plot device to further the conflict and main plot in the story. I didn't skim any part of the book. This is what I refer to as a "VERY BIG DEAL". I wasn't bored by superfluous text or dialogue meant only to beef up the page count. NOT ONCE! I have read EVERY WORD! The characters are flawed and believable. The herione is funny and smart but sensible and rational yet still caring and empathetic. She is never over wrought about tedious drama, instead she responds naturally to stimuli as actual humans would respond. And if that stimuli warrants a break down, she has it. If it requires quiet introspection, she does it. If it requires violence, she deals it. If it requires a soft touch, she gives it. She has even made some TSTL mistakes due to not acclimatizing to the different time period and culture properly..., but she learns and grows and fixes herself, especially when she realizes her mistakes affect others in life threatening ways. As Dorothy would say, she's "not in Kansas anymore". I am IN LOVE with the main hero character, Jamie. So fierce and good and honest but somehow still innocent without being naive. He is one of the most well developed male characters I've come across in a female-as-the-main-character book. He's not perfect. Sometimes he's bossy and a bit overbearing, but he is a product of his time. Even with his faults, he is sincere and promptly apologetic when appropriate. I would not hesitate to recommend it to any of you and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

Every now and again you come across a book that you just have to stop and stare at once completing it. And the only question that runs through your mind at that point of awkward staring at a paper bound novel is ‘Where have you been all of my life?’ Yes of course I must admit that my unyielding love for this book was derived from my current obsession with the TV series, but who can really blame me when there are men out in the world that look like this ~ e0c8595731a627f468520a8ee1c17184-1 and there are women that write so richly and blisteringly brilliant as Gabaldon. To put a word to the feelings I have about this book (and what I am hoping remains throughout the rest of the series..which I plan to marathon instead of writing my essays for university) is blissful. Engaged in the pages of this time-travelling masterpiece you feel as though you have stepped through those rocks with Claire and are frankly rather disappointed when you have to stop your reading to complete mundane human activities such as eating. I’m not going to tell you what it is about, that is what synopsis’s are for and there is a thumping good one just above provided by good ole goodreads. And in all honesty don’t even read it. Just let yourself be sucked into this historical romance of heart thumping and tear jerking adventure. Gabaldon has created such intensely realistic characters with prose that leave you re-reading and imprinting them to mind. I think my whole book has been tabbed with her brilliance at crafting a sentence, an homage to her brain if you will. It is marvellous, it is complex, you will swoon at the breathtaking imagery of the highlands and your soul will possible weep a little at the crushing reality that this world is fictional. I’m packing my bags and moving to Scotland.

This. Is. A. Ridiculous. Book. I didn’t even know this series existed. Books or show. I stumbled blindly upon the first book and decided to give it a chance. And damn. I was not prepared. I wasn’t prepared to become the immediate cheerleader for the heroine or the lust-filled fawn for the hero, but here we are and I can’t undo what’s already been done. For the first time in a long time, I’m fully invested in a series where chaos and trade by aren’t just plot devices to get the reader to feel something, everything is calculated, has consequences we don’t immediately get to see. I’ve got lost in the reluctant love story of Claire and Jamie and I find myself worrying after them the deeper I get into each book. Diana’s expert writing and the care she taken for each character allows us, the audience, to also root for the secondary characters in her books. Not only do I hope for Jamie and Claire’s future, but I find myself worrying over Frank, Rupert, Jenny, etc. Outlander takes the traditional love story and romance novel concept, and hurls them through a plate glass window and fractures the stereotype in this never ending twist of fate through time. Who will Claire choose in the end? Her 20th century English scholar or her 18th century Scottish rogue.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It had so much potential that seemed to get lost in the ubiquitous sex scenes that quite frankly became tiring at the end. I'm a fan of historical fiction, fantasy and some historical romances, but I just never got the sense that the author really decided what she wanted this book to be. There were definitely parts I enjoyed which kept me reading; great descriptions of the time and people and I feel like there is enough potential here to try the second book in the series, but I'm still undecided. While I won't rehash most of what other reviewers have said here, I do have to make a few observations. In the beginning chapters of the book, Frank references seeing a man in a kilt looking up at Claire in their room before fading off into the night. Is this Jaime? Has he traveled forward in time through the stones as well? If so there are a host of questions to be answered. Perhaps this comes to be explained in later books; just don't know if I have the patience to find out. While Claire is portrayed as an intelligent woman whose husband (Frank) is a history buff and apparently she is at least somewhat familiar with Scottish history and customs, I find it a bit of a stretch that she acclimated so fast to the 1740's. I realize this isn't essential to the story for the author, but other than the light cotton dress she went through the stones in and her medical knowledge from her days as a nurse, we really have no sense of what struggles she is having adjusting other than missing hot baths. I, like many other reviewers, struggle with her decision to stay with her new husband of a few months rather than stepping back through the stones to return to her modern day husband and her life. I realize the author tried to explain this a bit by discussing how Frank and Claire had barely been together for long stretches during the war; but really? The relationship between Jaime and Claire seems based highly on lust rather than love. I rarely saw any evidence of growing tenderness and love between the two but rather a complete focus on sex. I realize this is supposedly a "romance" novel but quite frankly the description of the sex scenes (really, how many do you need?) became tiresome. I do not understand the choice to introduce us to actually multidimensional characters and then discard them such as Geillis. I enjoyed Jenny Fraser's character as well, but again, we see them for a brief moment and they are gone. The Geillis story line could have been so interesting, or at least set up a a story line for Claire to attempt to find other time travelers or to at least find some additional information about her situation. Truly she almost seems disinterested. Again, I realize this is the first in the series, but the treatment of these issues seemed an afterthought. I know this series has an incredible number of fans worldwide and I realize this may simply not be my cup of tea and I'm being overly critical, but it's frustrating when you see such potential that just doesn't materialize. I may attempt the second in the series to see if it changes my opinions but first I need a break with some other form of literature.

I think I am probably the last person on the planet to read Outlander, but after many of my friends recommended it, I decided it was about time I read the novel. The story follows 1940s nurse Claire Randall, who while on a second honeymoon in Scotland travels back in time to the 1740s. There she meets Jamie Fraser, a handsome and noble young Highlander, becomes embroiled in clan politics, and discovers just how awful the English are. She also ends up wed to Jamie and eventually falling in love with him. This was a difficult novel for me to review, because for every aspect I liked about it, there was something I disliked. A few examples: 1. The writing is quite good. There are passages with amazing descriptions; there are paragraphs packed with emotion and brilliant word-weaving. And there are long passages that do little to nothing to advance the plot and feel like filler. 2. Jamie Fraser’s character is extremely well-drawn. He is complex and comes alive off the pages as an honourable, endearing man despite his flaws. I understand his motivations and why he acts as he does. Claire, on the other hand, I never felt I understood as well, which is odd since the novel is written in first person. She seemed a bit inconsistent, at times acting the perfect 18th Century lady, but at others acting more modern than a woman of the 1940s. I also never felt as sympathertic to her, especially because sometimes her actions were foolish and served to endanger herself, Jamie, and others. She is supposed to be intelligent and well-travelled. She should understand that as a stranger in a strange land one should try to follow local customs and listen to the local guides to avoid calamity. 3. I like novels with action and adventure. This novel had plenty of that. I also like a good villain and Black Jack Randall was a fantastic villain who I loved to hate. I don’t mind reading about blood, beatings, or even torture—if they advance the plot or are used for character development. I do mind such things when they are used wantonly, seeming to feed a fetish rather than to serve the story. There is plenty of blood and pain in this novel, especially in the latter part. I think, however, that the same ending could have been achieved without the gratuitous sexual assault. 4. And concerning the sex—there was a lot of it in this novel. Sex is another thing I don’t mind reading about, but it should be used to advance the plot or illuminate something important about the characters. While most of the sex scenes were well-written and several were vital to the storyline, some did feel like filler. Overall, I like this book. I plan on keeping it in my library. Unfortunately, the truly amazing aspects of it are tempered by numerous drawbacks.

I added it to my collection of the Outlander Series of books

I rarely write reviews although I read quite a few books, but this book compelled to take the time to write. I found Outlander to be a book that kept me completely absorbed throughout its 850 pages, and the characters and love story have stayed with me since I finished it. I would like to address some of the criticisms that I have read from other reviewers. The book is written from the first person point of view which actually frustrated me a little during the first 150 pages or so. The source of my frustration came from the fact that the author does not freely give the reader all the thoughts in the protagonist's head - motivations, logical reasoning, etc. I was often left wondering "why is Claire doing that" or such. Later in the book though, also after adapting to this style of writing, I found most of my questions were answered. More importantly, I came to the realization that the way the author presented Claire's reasoning and thoughts regarding her actions/words, was more realistic because I believe seldom do individuals know precisely all the reasons for their actions/words. Life unfolds and evolves, and individuals often act on intuition, and reason later. My bit of frustration was replaced with a feeling of relatedness, a recognizable parallel with my own way of thinking and acting. The love story between Claire and Jamie is beautiful. I enjoyed its evolution and felt the building passion and emotion between them both. I do not agree with the reviewers who believe there was no chemistry between Claire and Jamie. There was tension and forces which made the evolution to revealing each of their feelings to one another very difficult, but that is what made it so special to me. I am totally in love with Jamie, and as corny as it sounds, have been daydreaming about his character quite regularly. I find myself sort of smug that I married a man who has ancestral roots from one of the Scottish clans. Jamie is a true hero (as is Claire). I cannot wait to start reading the next installment!

I must be one of few people who didn’t watch the series, Outlander, but the books are great! I’m reading #4, Drums of Autumn now and have about 5,000 pages left to finish the series. I’m enjoying learning how people lived in the 1700’s and English, Scottish and American history of the time.

These two can't keep their hands off each other. I don't usually read books like this but aside from the sex I found myself getting drawn into the story. Have to keep reading now.

I was so caught up in the Stars series, that when they took the season break, I couldn't wait for the next season, I had to continue on. And what I discovered was that reading the book was so much better than watching the series. I was completely swept away by the description of how beautiful the Country of Scotland is. Her writings gave so much more detail than the series did. My imagination allowed me to see things that my eyes missed. And it was the detailed description that transported me to 18th century Scotland. The book gave my imagination a incredible workout. I became spectator to Jamie and Claire's their very unique and intimate romance, their love. There were times while reading I experienced feelings of embarrassment, because I felt like a intruder, an uninvited voyeur. There were days when I read not stop, because I felt very much apart of her time travel experience. Her captivity became a kind of enjoyable escape for me. As I moved towards the end of this reading adventure, I felt a little sad that the experience was coming to a close. The one thing that gave me a measure of escapism had partners, there was another part, another novel to be read. The joy of knowing that I would once again embark upon another leg of their journey. I thank the author Diana Gabaldon for laying out her fanciful flights of fancy for a very grateful audiences. I've told my family and friends, who are fans of the series, about how enjoyable reading the novel was for me. And many of them expressed a desire to read the books along with watching the series. The Outlander saga, the story of Claire and Jamie Frasier is one of the most unique love stories that I've ever read. Which is why this book gets a 5 star rating from me.

I absolutely loved this book and the author, Diana Gabaldon. She is a beautiful writer. She writes books for adults. She challenges us with actual college level reading and throws in language in Gaelic (which I don't speak or understand), but makes it fairly easy to figure out what is meant at the time. The characters are wonderfully complex and descriptions given of the Scottish Highlands and Highlanders make them so real. I did watch the show, but decided I wanted to hear the characters and so purchased the first 2 and then the third. I was hooked after the first. It is very obvious she researched the battles and historical figures very well. I always appreciate research in historical novels. I can't say I am a romance reader and was pretty surprised I enjoyed this so much. I think that is because it also contained so much history. One of my favorite questions is "If you had a chance to change history, would you and if so, how?" They begin to explore this question trying to stop a massacre by the English and the horrors that follow. Jamie and Claire's love story is one for the ages. I would not recommend the books to everyone because the lovemaking scenes are very vividly described and more than likely the strictly religious would be shocked and a bit disturbed. However, I do believe Gabaldon writes the scenes well and they are important to the story, establishing the relationship between Jamie and Claire and that both are each other's loves of their lives. I have no idea why I haven't read her books. I may never have discovered them if not for the show. I found it very interesting how a modern '40's nurse knew enough of botany/natural medicine to be able to treat people. It was interesting to learn what Claire uses for various diseases.I highly recommend this to most people. I loved it!

I needed a new copy for my collection. This one fit the bill perfectly. If you haven't discovered the Outlander world, best give it a try immediately. Don't forget that it is televised on Starz. Great, great series.

This is a very engaging premise and story. The characters, a young couplewho has been separated by WWII for most of their marriage, he fighting at the front and she as an army nurse, are off on a holiday, a sort of honeymoon to get to reacquainted. The woman went for a walk and found herself flung back in time 200 years to the early days of the Jacobite Rebellion. The story is full of action, and adventure, and more than a little romance. Be aware that this novel is the beginning of a very long running series. Fans of period romances should note that this is much more Bridgerton than Downton Abbey and much, much more violent than both so not a good gift choice for a tween age cousin or prudish Aunt Sally.

If I could give this book 10 stars I would. I didn't think I would care for another time travel novel after having read A Knight in Shining Armor. I was wrong! While A Knight in Shining Armor was an OK read, Outlander is work of art. It's remarkably well written and the character development was impeccable but most of all the story was realistic. There are a lot of action/rescuing sequences in this page turner and I liked that the author didn't take the traditional route by having each character saved just in the nick of time. By not doing this you get to really feel every emotion that they endure...the last couple of chapters were heartbreaking but they were written perfectly and made me care for the characters on an even deeper level than I thought possible. Claire and Jamie are the ultimate heroine and hero. I loved that they were both strong-willed but willing to acquiesce when the need arose. Their relationship is not the traditional "boy meets girl, they fall in love and live happily ever after" or the other favorite "girl meets boy, dislikes boy, boy proves himself worthy and they live happily ever after" Instead, they come together in an unsual way and get to know and love each other through their adventures. There is not one thing I would change about this book. Half way through Outlander I wondered if the author would have any material for the remaining books in the series. That's because Outlander is a lengthy (but delightful) read and I felt as if the author poured everything she had into it. By the time I got to the end I realized that there is so much more she can do with these wonderful characters and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I'm not sure if the books have been made into a movie or at least an HBO series but they definitely should be.

What a fantastic book. If you are not a historical reader the imagery details may escape you. She had to have researched this book to the ends of the Earth to have gotten all of the minor details right. I know this was written a decade ago but it provides a prime example of the difference between fly-by-night self-publishers and ones backed by publishers. Don't get me wrong I LOVE Indy writers and actually prefer them over publishing houses and their forced drivel! Diana gave me chills at every turn though my least favorite part was the prison scene after she leaves Jamie behind. There was something lacking like she danced around the edges of the topic at hand. However I will say that ten years ago talking about a subject like this was a dicey proposition! We are far more open to the ideas now. Her descriptive style is what makes writers great story tellers. My favorite by far was the explanation of what it felt like to fall through the stone. The sense that you could feel it with Claire was truly incredible! It still gives me chills. I must have reread that passage fifteen times it was so enchanting. The ending was a little lack luster a hint of what was to come probably meant as a cliff hanger. It could have provided drive for the next book. Instead she "jumped the shark" in as few as five pages of the next book. It ruined the series for me. I won't say more but I will caution you if you are a Jamie supporter you may end up bitter with the first chapter. So unhappy that I read the spoilers and then promptly returned the book. Too bad there was so much going for this series. That being said I still gave Outlander five stars. Success can be such a fickle friend as it certainly was for this author after Outlander.

I have watched and re-watched the Outlander series on Starz. I was hesitant to this book because I love the show so much and they are rarely the same. To my surprise the show follows the boom quite well.

I tried reading this years ago when it was first published in the early '90's, but I just couldn't get into the story - perhaps the 800 - 900 pages of the book intimidated me, or perhaps I couldn't get passed the fact that whoever explained the plot to me didn't do the time travel/romance aspect of it the story justice. However after hearing feedback from a few people and of course catching a few episodes of the Outlander series on Starz - I decided to give the book one more chance, and I am glad I did! How did I go 20 years without reading this book?!? I found it easy to submerge myself in the beautifully told and detailed story with characters that have rich, deep personalities. The book literally has a bit of everything: adventure, history, fantasy, drama and romance all in one! I will admit - this series is not for everyone. There is some sexual violence, abuse, and even some sadism - and if you can read those topics without being disgusted or offended then you should give this series a try! I have read some reviews that degrade Gabaldon for domestic abuse, i.e. the scene where Jamie spanks Claire, and while I can empathize with their reasons for being offended - it's really not that bad of a scene! One must remember that the era during which the majority of this book takes place it was not considered abuse for a husband to reprimand a wife in that fashion - if not worse! So if you aren't easily offended by sexual violence, abuse and such - and are interested in a well written book that has a little bit of everything while still being an easy read for all of its 800 - 900 pages, then definitely give it a try!