Drums of Autumn

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant as usual - more please
Review: The story of Claire and Jamie will go down as being a classic - the story continues with its usual breathtaking pace and realism, and a great twist at the end. Oh to know such people and such feeling that they have - a romance without being slushy, adventure, historic yet a very modern feel to it - who could ask for more - except more of the same please. A definite winner.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutly Obsessed
Review: Yes I'm obsessed with these books! The only thing that makes Drums of Autumn a 9 and not a 10 is I had to read Voyager to get this far. What great fun. On a bad writing day , her work is miles beyond most novelists best attempts. It's a crime to classify these as romance novels. Not many authors can write to make you want to reread a paragraph just to revel in it's construction; or make you say aloud "Ohh that was wonderful." I am even more impressed with her skill as a writer when I consider that it's tough enough to create good characters for a developing story line, but it's even harder to take existing personalities and weave a story around them that fits. Her pros are matched only by her inventive characters. It's wonderful to read books where the hero is not perfect. Both Claire and her man fall short of perfect and Diane G. is great at giving them flaws. All I can say to those who did not like this book is it just too bad people aren't always what you want them to be, but that's what makes them human. I find myself often thinking of these people and I wont tell you how often I've reread these books. Until she publishes again, all I can do is imagine how their lives must progress in the 18th century. This is dangerous only because I can not possibly imagine it right, just as one can not possibly imagine loosing her virginity correctly. But I listen to Oldies stations (the 60's) thinking what songs Roger might sing to Brianna when they are alone and he wants to make her happy. Or what Brianna might construct on their farm that shouldn't be there. I am interested not only in the plot to these books but also in the people she creates therein. I hope her next book brings all her characters back strong. I did miss having Fergus cut out so abruptly. After all, he was the only child Jamie actually had a hand in raising. As to anyone who thinks this would be good movie material.... Forget it. No movie could ever get it half right! I can't wait to read more of this series, but I can wait long enough for Ms. G. to get it all down right.

Rating:
Summary: Two shadows love and laugh, two lovers embrace in time.
Review: I, not being one who reads lengthly books nor romances for that matter, fell in the depths of this series rather quickly. "Outlander" was introduced to me by a friend of mine whom use to roll her eyes and laugh whenever I mentioned lavendar oil, and I simply had to find out what this small thing about lavendar oil she had. Not knowing what to expect, I was skeptical, but that was soon put to ease. This series is does a wonderful job of exploring the trendils of Scotthish History, along with a bit of French, West Indies, and pre-revolutionary American History, with the tied in web of two lovers - James Fraser and Claire. Thrown together by time and war, they fall into the depths of love. Torn apart by blood and hate, and a unborn child, they battle their lives seperated by 200 years, once again back together in passion that could dispell even Muspell's fires, they struggle for their lives, living with the love and seperation of their daughter, and their guilt of things done during the 20 years apart. Finally to settle in America before the Revolotionary War, making new friendships with Natives, and bears and skulls (grin). And to be reunited with their lost daughter Brianna. (whom also has a heated romance with a Roger MacKenzie, that is quite interesting in itself). Through a few family feuds (mostly between Brianna and stubborn Jamie) the series ends leaving you longing for more, and with a dreamy smile upon your face. I will not say the series is flawless, because it's not, but I truely do recomend this series to anyone who wants to escape reality and forget everyones' existance, even for only a few hours at a time.

Rating:
Summary: Waiting for the next!!
Review: Outlander, given to me by a friend......she hasn't gotten the first three books back yet....I LOVED them....I read each of the first three books w/in a three week time period......and Drums in less than a week......I would stay up 'late' at night to read. Her choice of words make you feel like each character is speaking to you......between the magic, romance, history and humor..I think anyone would love these books. I had never read a 'romance' novel before.........and although these are not truly classified as romance, I do not think I would read any other author BUT Diana........It's really a 'must try' book for people that are hestiatant to read 'romance'...

Rating:
Summary: Enough is enough . . . .
Review: I continued on with the series because of my curiosity of what would happen to Jamie and Claire. This is a testament to the wonderful way Gabladon can weave a story with the magic of words. She has an excellent grasp of the English language. She is not a trite nor is she a cliched author. This takes talent. However, in this book more than the others, the character development is at its weakest - often making the characters seem one dimensional. I am not any more fond of Claire here than in any of the other books - possibly because I still have a huge issue with her waiting 20 years to inquire about the fates of all the people she knew in the 1700's (it still took Roger telling her about Jamie - she never asked). Yes, as I stated in another review, this was a plot device to bring us to the American Revolution. I could have lived without this if there was more in-depth, emotional study of Jamie and Claire. Why, oh why, can this woman never be without Frank's wedding ring? If she stayed with Frank out of convenience and Jamie is her "heart" as she once tells Brianna (Voyager), what gives with the band? When Jamie offers it back to her at the end of Drums and she accepts it back by having Jamie put it on her, I asked my husband for a male point of view. He told me he would have not stayed with a woman like Claire in Outlander let alone through the rest of the books. The wedding band would have been the last straw for him. Personally, I would have taken off Frank's band in Outlander when I did not go back through the stones and chose to stay with Jamie. Then to have a petulant child such as Brianna for a daughter, I really found myself questioning Jamie's choice in women. It is a testament to Gabaldon as a writer that her work can draw so much discussion. And, I will say it again - she took some risks as an unknown author that I applaud - they, for the most part, worked wonderfully well. I was more than glad to see an author show a couple past their 30's enjoying a healthy, active love life - too many shy away from this. It is a good author that can take stories that have been done before and do them differently enough to make them seem fresh and new. After all, there are only 7 stories to be told. Yes, I will continue to read the series - they are entertaining, though when they come out, I will not be rushing out to buy them. It will be interesting to see how Gabaldon does with her works that will not have Jamie and Claire (her contemporary mysteries). I only hope she works on her character development as much as she works on her plot lines and research. Finally, I will say I respect Gabaldon for having a dream and following it with both guns blazing and not being sucked into any kind of vortex of putting something out quickly that may not have had any kind of quality whatsoever just to make money (as so many authors do these days).

Rating:
Summary: Take as much time as you need for the next book...
Review: After reading some of the other reviews (which I did not do until after I finished the book), I realize that my feelings are shared by many. While I devoured this book like I did the previous three, I felt at times that I was just "reading to be reading". I wasn't really the whole book which made me feel that way, just parts. I know that with any series, a reader starts to predict and forcast events and actions. I think I got caught doing this a lot. For example, I pictured Brianna to be EXACTLY like her father. Well, she wasn't, and it was probably a bit unrealistic to think she would be. She is female, and Claire was very different from Jamie. Anyway, I still love the series and look forward to the next book...

Rating:
Summary: "Drums" lacks passion of previous books.
Review: It is not easy to have Jamie and Claire growing older. I was hoping that the book would draw us to Brianna and Roger the same way we were drawnto Jamie and Claire. I was expecting the same level of passion that Jamie and Claire had always had. I found John Grey to be a very interesting and diverse. Diana Gabaldon is a great romance novelist. I hope the demand for the book did not pressure her to finish "Drums"sooner than she would have liked. We are anxiously awaiting the next book, however, we will wait longer if it is necessary!

Rating:
Summary: LACKING MAGIC, BUT ENTERTAINING
Review: When I read the first 3 books in the series I became so entrenched in the story that it stayed with me for days. "Drums" doesn't have the same pull, there is no passion between Claire and Jamie. They say the right words but we don't feel the internal flip flops, the gut wrenching emotion that kept us desperately seeking more, more! A lot of missed opportunity too: it's a major scene when Brianna finally finds Jamie but did she have to find him relieving himself under a tree?! Could have been a great moment in the book but it fell flat. Unfortunately too, Brianna comes across as spoiled and churlish, having rages against Jamie and Roger while she, herself, made the bad decisions that had nasty consequences. John Gray steals the story...hope to see a lot more of him. I say to Ms. Gabaldon. "You are a phenomenally talented writer who has delivered us from the mundane and we are eternally grateful...bring back the magic!! Can't wait for Book # 5 but I DREAD reaching the end of the series."

Rating:
Summary: Truly the best of the series
Review: To me this was a book about fatherhood. I was absolutely touched to the heart by the story and depth of character development. I am stunned that some people have not found this to be Ms. Gabaldon's greatest achievement thus far. I attribute some of this reaction to the fact that reader's who have fallen in love with a character may not like to see them change. But Jamie and Claire have developed as souls before our eyes in this amazing series. We've seen Jamie grow from a young and innocent young man into a mature and concerned father. (Well, sometimes he's mature and sometimes he's a typical, stuborn Scottish dad!) And I love the story of Bree and Roger. These two converging plot lines demonstrate Ms. Gabaldon's tremendous talent. I really enjoyed her exploration of the theme of fatherhood.

Rating:
Summary: Timelessly Emotional
Review: I received Outlander as a gift a year ago. I read it without puting it down, and was done the next day. I had never read book that looked so deeply into someone's soul. Gabaldon's characters are incredibly real. It sparked my interest like no other book. (Especially about Scotland.) I have read other romance books that were good, but this one is by far the best. I say this because this book made the relationship real. They fought, situations going on around the effected them, and they truly seemed real. I begged for the next two books for my birthday, (I'm only 15) and was elated when I got them . I read them greedily, and was pleased the way the characters did not change, and how beautifully the story of Claire and Jaime was unfolding. In the scene of Drums of Autumn where Young Ian must say good-bye to his family forever, I cried. The book has an emotional foothold with me. I both thank and commend Gabaldon, on her four literary master-pieces. (in my opinion) I await the next two books impatiently.