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Summary: Get Out Your Fiddle and Play Me a Reel!
Review: Having read all four books of the Outlander series, I decided to write my review about "Dragonfly In Amber" merely because it is my favorite so far. I eagerly await the fifth book of the series. Diana Gabaldon is, simply put, a master storyteller. Her characters are intelligent, engaging, interesting, and -- in the case of the heroes and heroines -- likeable. On the other hand, the villains are likewise intelligent, though they are also despicable, corrupt and degenerate. But unlike so many authors, Gabaldon never makes the mistake of having her villains become caricatures of themselves. As for the plot itself, let me just say that it isn't just anybody who can write a book about a time-travelling Army nurse who ends up in Jacobite Scotland and ALSO make it believable. Not only does she keep the story rolling along at a breakneck speed, but she does so without EVER insulting the reader's intelligence. This book (and the others in the series) is one hell of a great read. Pick up all four, sit down in a comfy chair, and begin consuming the nearly 4,000 pages. You won't regret it. I will sign off now...for some inexplicable reason, I feel the need to go frolic in some heather...
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Summary: The Saga Continues
Review: Thie is the second volume of what appears will be a six-volume story by a woman who is unfairly shelved with "romance" fiction in the bookstores and in the library. Diana Gabaldon is light-years ahead of most "romances" with this series, which involve time-travel, history, medicine, and a cast of thousands, headed by the most romantic red-headed Scot (Jamie Fraser)you've ever met! The books in this series can be read individually -- in fact I started with the fourth volume, Drums of Autumn, and was impelled by it right back to Volume One, Outlander. This is Volume Two, Voyager is Volume Three, Drums of Autumn, noted above, is Volume Four; and oh, joy, Volume Five, The Fiery Cross, is scheduled for publication this November. I rate all of these books at five stars -- they are the best read available in a long. long time. Keep 'em comin', Diana!
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Summary: SECOND IN AN OUTSTANDING STORY!
Review: After Outlander, this was another happy surprise. It's not your typical historical romance. You learn something about Scotland in the 1800's too. The continuing story of Jaime and Claire is the real pull here. Its amusing, loving and tragic. All the characters are interesting. Things were tough in the 'old days'. This paperback is over 900 pages and you will whirl thru it! On to the next!
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Summary: Dragonfly in Amber
Review: The entire series of Dianna Gabaldon's books is absolutely mesmerizing. This author is one of the most creative writers. This book as well as the others in the series are impossible to put down.
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Summary: Great Scot! What a Fabulous Series!
Review: I absolutely love reading books that incorporate Scottish or English history with fiction. I had recently read the series of books written by Barbara Erskine, and I was desperate to find another series of fiction that would take me back into time again. It was by accident that I came upon Diana Gabaldon's series of books in a bookstore one day as I was browsing. I wasn't quite sure which book was the first in the series, but by luck I picked up "Outlander". After reading the blurb on the back of the book, I wasn't sure whether this was what I was looking for as I'm really attracted to the medieval times. But I took it anyhow. I'm so glad I did! I could not put the book down. Before I even finished the book, I went back to the bookstore to buy the second instalment (I didn't know which title was the 2nd book). As I was standing in the store going from book to book and back again trying to figure it out, a woman had been watching me. She approached me and raved about the series, and told me that Dragonfly in Amber was the next instalment I was looking for. She was a member of a book club that had read the entire series, and they had voted the series the best they had read, and in fact Dragonfly in Amber had been her favourite. Great! I couldn't wait to begin!I just finished the book, and I absolutely loved it! Jamie and Claire are bold and sensual characters, and the historical accounts, locations, and adventures are fantastic!!! I'm definitely looking forward to the remainder of the series.
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Summary: Funniest, saddest book I have read
Review: For anyone who knows anything about Scottish history, this story is achingly sad. From the very beginning you know what the outcome will be - death, persecution and hardship for Jamie, his family, his clan, everyone he knows. And yet, this tale has hugely funny moments, eg Jamie's reaction when Claire has sugaring done. You forget that it those days depilation was not the norm for women. I found Jamie and Claire to be believable characters with flaws and dark sides. Their story is one of constant struggle; to maintain their relationship despite their disparate backgrounds and expectations, to circumvent the expectations of their family, to overcome the harrowing realities of 18th century life, and to survive the inevitable climax of the story. The long wait I had to read this book was well worth it. I have not hesitated to recommend this book, and its 3 siblings, to friends and acquaintances.
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Summary: Mystery, Adventure and Time Travel...what more could I want?
Review: The second book of the trilogy (the first book was Outlander) has Claire and Jamie Fraser in France attempting to thwart the efforts of Prince Charles to regain the throne, in an effort to avoid the slaughter that Claire knows will come at Culloden. The book begins when Claire Randall, now a doctor living in America, has returned to Scotland after Frank's death. She has brought her daughter, Brianna, with her and hopes to find a way to tell her about her real father. First meeting Brianna, I'm not yet too fond of her. After all we have experienced with Claire and Jamie, Brianna comes as a bit of a disappointment. Hopefully in the next book, Voyager, Brianna will become more likeable. It's 1968 and this is Claire's first visit back to Scotland since she and husband Frank visited 22 years before--the time when she walked through a Druid stone circle and into the middle of the 18th century. Claire wants to learn if Jamie was successful in his quest to save his men (the men of Lollybroch) from the slaughter at Culloden where Prince Charles and the Highlanders met the English for the final battle of the war. It is during the telling of the story to her daughter of her time travel back to 18th century Scotland, that we the readers, experience the story of this second book in the trilogy. Claire believes that Jamie died at the battle of Culloden and when she accidentally stumbles upon his grave in present day Scotland, she is confused as to why he would be buried so far from the battle field. That particular scene is most heart wrenching and Ms. Gabaldon, as we have come to know, has the ability to draw the reader into the emotions experienced by the heroine. There is a new character introduced in this second book, Roger Wakefield, the adopted son of the local pastor of Inverness. Claire and Frank had met the pastor during their first stay in the small town. Roger, at that time, was a young boy. The pastor has recently died and Roger is in the process of closing up the pastor's house when Claire arrives in Scotland in 1968 and seeks Roger's help to discover what happened to the men of Lollybroch. Roger's connection to 18th century Scotland will surprise the reader in one of many of the twists and turns in this book. I am totally immersed in this saga of historical Scotland, the timeless connection and passionate love of Claire and Jamie. This second in the series was as good, if not better, then the first. I simply can't wait to begin the third book, Voyager, to continue this wonderful story. It truly captures the imagination and those readers who love time travel, history, courage, daring and mystery will want to read this series of books.
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Summary: A LOVE THAT TRANSCENDS TIME CONTINUES TO RIVET THE READER...
Review: This is the second in a series of time travel, adventure/romance books by the author. There are four such novels published to date in what is hoped to be a series of six books. These novels have engaged readers everywhere, because of the author's masterful storytelling, as well as for the superlative use of historical detail which is woven into the tapestry in this most intriguing of stories. While the core of the story is about a love that transcends time, it would be a disservice to label it a romance, as it is much more than that. It is a wonderful adventure story interspersed with actual historical events and authentic period detail. It is this attention to such matters by the skillful pen of the author that renders these books three dimensional and so enjoyable. They are positively addictive! The love of the ages that binds these books is the love that twentieth century Claire Randall has for the eighteenth century Scottish highland warrior, James Fraser. Those of you who read the first book in the series, "Outlander", know that in 1945, Claire, an Englishwoman and combat nurse during World War II, is reunited with her husband, Frank, after the war. While on a second honeymoon in Scotland, she visits a strange, flat topped hill in the highlands of Scotland, where a forbidding stone circle draws her. Touching one of the stones, she is hurled through a vortex in time and finds herself in eighteenth century Scotland, where she meets a brave and brawny, red headed Scot, James Fraser, with whom she falls completely in love, body and soul. Finding herself thrust into the midst of clan warfare and intrigue, she and her beloved 'Jamie' have enough adventures to last a lifetime, which makes for a riveting story. This book is a continuation of that story. It is told from the perspective of the twentieth century where Claire, who is now a doctor, has lived for the past twenty years. Upon the death of her twentieth century husband, Frank, Claire returns to Scotland with her grown, red headed daughter, Brianna. There, she discloses to Brianna the events of her secret past, as well as the truth of whom Brianna's biological father actually is and of the love that Claire bore him. While in Scotland, however, Claire discovers something that will forever change her future, as well as her past. You see, for the past twenty years, Claire has believed that her beloved 'Jamie' died in the historic battle of Culloden. It was there that the Scottish highlanders bravely fought the English in a misguided attempt to restore Charles Stuart, their bonny Prince Charlie, to the English throne, only to be decimated and branded as Jacobite traitors. It was this very event that she and James Fraser had conspired to change only to fail. It was this failure that brought Claire and 'Jamie' to a crossroad that would force them to part and have Brianna become a denizen of the twentieth century. This book continues the saga so deftly begun in "Outlander". It tells the story of what happened in the eighteenth century that ultimately caused Claire to leave the love of her life and return to the twentieth century. It recounts the plight of two star crossed lovers who make a desperate and valiant attempt to change the course of history. It regales the reader with the adventures they encounter along the way. It is a story that transports the reader from the turmoil of the Scottish highlands to the intrigue of the French Court. Readers will be captivated by this amazing and compelling time travel saga.
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Summary: FYI:Read-You WONT be disappointed!!
Review: I'm still riding high from the first book, Outlander. As soon as I finished it I started on Dragonfly in Amber with more relish. The characters are so memorable, strong and resilient. It's great that they can be continued and the transition is well done. The strong Red Jamie and the mystical Claire, the healer. She doesn't spend too much time retelling and gives us enough glimpse of what happened during those missing years without boring you too much. Enter Brianna, Jamie and Claire's only child, who is unaware of the true origins of her heritage. Some of the events and scenes are little unbelievable. It seems that everybody wants Jamie the Warrior. Their plight in Paris and political escapades are intriguing and we are enlightened about Claire's husband, Frank Randall's relative, Black Jack Randall. Gaps are filled in that weren't there in the first book. As soon as you finish this book, the cliffhanger will make you get the third installment ASAP! All in all, you will highly enjoy the second installment of the series.
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Summary: Dragonfly in Amber
Review: It would be easy to say Drangonfly in Amber is not as good as Outlander, but how can a writer improve on such a sweeping work? This book is just as moving and lets us have more of Jamie and Claire, which is what we all want. I was a bit put off by some very odd moments. Did Claire really never take her rings off and notice the incription inside the one Jamie gave her?? ... This whole thing just feels too contrived for my tastes. Despite this, and any other odd notes, I will follow Jamie and Claire till the end of time!
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