Drums of Autumn

Rating:
Summary: BRAVO---BRAVO... My life has changed!!
Review: I have never read anything better than the Daina Gaboldon series! I look at my life differently, in fact I look at everything differently. Of course I'm in love with Jamie as so many others. I don't know if I would want a movie to be made...No, No I don't. I will from here on in spend the rest of my life looking for my Jamie. Thanks and hats off to you Diana!!

Rating:
Summary: This series has made me crave real history!
Review: I never really liked history in school, in movies and other books it was just "background". Ms. Gabaldon has brought it alive! I have been reading a lot of other historic romances, nothing compares to this series! Next I plan to pick up some history books of 18th century scotland, then a Gaelic dictionary, and, hopefully, teach myself Gaelic. All this thanks to Ms. Gabaldon's wonderful Outlander series! Having Irish ancestors and my husband having Scottish ancestors, we just loved the books, read all together. Wow, what an aphrodisiac! I loved all 4 books, beginning to end, even the boring parts (isn't life like that?). I had to go back over chapters to try and absorb the whole picture, and realized that even the slow or seeming uninteresting parts had a purpose to complete the story. I will pick up one of the books and just open to wherever and start reading, this will usually prompt me to want to read another chapter in same or other book for a complete picture! I have never had this happen with any other book(s) I've read, and I have read hundreds of books and series. I love Jamie and Claire like best friends. I eagerly await the next two books! check out Ms. Gabaldon's web site for excerpts from the two upcoming books for a little "fix" until they come out, it gets me through hunger pangs for them. Thank you Diana!!

Rating:
Summary: Heart-pounding, erotic, soul-stealing, knee-buckling!!
Review: Diana, you did it again! I can't get enough of Jamie, Claire and the whole damn clan!! I've recommended your books to EVERYONE I know and you're characters are regular topics of happy-hour conversations now. Keep 'em coming, Diana!!

Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY STELLAR!!
Review: The entire 'Outlander' series is wonderfully romantic. Diana Gabaldon writes with such passion and heart that the reader actually feels a part of the story. I am now in the process of re-reading the 4 existing books for the 3rd time. I am eagerly awaiting with bated breath the continuation of this series...waiting to re-enter the lives of the beloved Jamie and Claire. Once again, absolutely stellar!!

Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
Review: With each succeeding book in the series, I think the author cannot possibly do a better job, but she always pleasantly surprises me with her ability to write an interesting story about very human characters. Each time I finish a book, I experience a few days of depression since I have, in effect, just lost two very dear friends ... at least until the next book in the series is published. I think that's why the books are so very good, because the characters aren't just words on paper ... in your imagination, they actually become living, breathing people and you feel that you know them inside and out. Better yet, you CARE for them! Anyone who doesn't enjoy these books has something very wrong with them!

Rating:
Summary: Not her greatest, but worth a read
Review: I too must say that I was a bit dissapointed with this book, especially with the character development of Roger and Brianna (annoying!) and the contrived ending. However, this book still has some very good parts and is worth a read. I hope that the next book in the series will be more representitive of what we know Ms. Gabaldon can do. Some more focus on characters such as John Grey and Willie or a change of scenery would be nice in future books. Colonial America didn't seem too interesting, although the colonial North American setting had potential( but I DON'T want to read about the american revolution!). I'd like to see them go back to Europe (please!) or go to another colony.

Rating:
Summary: How can you not love Jamie?
Review: To anyone who didn't like this book-you must be crazy. I count this series as the best 4 books I have ever read and recommend them to friends all the time. Yes, there are still some questions left unanswered (like why was Jamie haunting Claire in the beginning of Outlander). But, that's why we can't wait for the next installment.

Rating:
Summary: Diana Gabaldon couldn't keep it up! And neither could Jamie!
Review: I guess it had to happen, but hope against hope, I thought here was one writer who could sustain her readers' interest throughout the entire series. Well, dear reader, it turns out she is just another "romance writer"--a term she hates. I, too, was enchanted by the first three novels in this series, but this one is so very disappointing--Brianna's a jerk, Roger is a wimp and Jamie-alas!-just another boorish character who resorts to violence. The use of the standard "bodice-ripper" devise of creating a situation where the young lovers have a mis-understanding, are separated for most of the book, and then re-unite at the end was too trite for words. And Claire! Where is her fire, her passion, her independence! All now reduced to a haus frau! I think Ms. Gabaldon has too many irons in the fire-a book edited by her on writings by mothers and daughters is due out soon. She threatens to leave her loyal readers of the Outlander series hanging while she starts another series. (See her web page.) For God sakes-quit milking the cash cow and give your readers what they deserve-a great ending to a (sometimes) superior series.

Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as the rest,
Review: While I didn't find this book quite as spellbinding as the first three I thought it was wonderful, and will look at it as a bridge to
(hopefully,) several more volumes in the saga of Claire and Jamie. Every time I start a new sequel I reread the previous volumes and they never, never fail to push me to the limits in all areas of the emotional spectrum. Each time I can't put them down, and I've not met anyone, male or female who has read them that doesn't feel the same.
I have only one fear for the future of Jamie, Claire, and the rest of the characters, and that would be to lose them to a poor screen adaptation. These characters are much to beautifully written to be slaughtered by desperate producers who want a cheap and fast product. If the author reads these reviews I hope she hears our plea for her to retain control of her amazing characters and their stories. In my opinion, (whether or not you want it,) I think Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio would be an excellent Claire, and have since I first picked up Outlander. She has way more humour and sass than most of the names I've seen mentioned so far, and her looks are right on. As for Jamie, we need a big, red, bearded,gruff, sensitive, funny, wonderful,guy. We're all already in love with him so good luck getting it right. A poor choice would ruin it all. It would be really icky to see some wimp's face in our minds,( for either part,) every time we picked up one of the books. I think we need to look to the ranks of talented supporting actors and extras and not over-rated big names, Jane Seymour and Liam Neeson? YUK!!!

Rating:
Summary: Good Book but not as good as the first three
Review: I liked this book but didn't like it as well as the first 3 books in this series. I didn't like Brianna and Roger. I guess I am having a hard time accepting Jamie and Claire getting older too. I felt there wasn't as much time spent on Jamie and Claire as Brianna and Roger which I didn't like. I'm hoping there will be a book 5 out because there are still some unanswered questions. Like how did Jamie kill Randall? Or did he? What happened to Jamie's son? I'll be looking forward to my questions answered.