Drums of Autumn

Rating:
Summary: A compelling read, you'll hate to put it down.
Review: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon is the fourth in a series; the story around the mysterious disappearance and intriguing reappearance of Claire Randall. In this, the fourth book, Claire and her Highland Scot husband have landed on the coast of the Carolinas after a shipwreck. They are now almost destitute and without a definite destination for their future. This wonderful story continues the fine tradition of the first three books; it contains heartbreak, love, tragedy, mystery, betrayal and more. Gabaldon twists the plot with the entrance of Claire and Jamie's daughter Brianna - from the 20th century. The author keeps us looking on as she switches back and forth between the events of Brianna's trek to pre-Revolution America to find and warn her parents of their impending death, and Claire and Jamie's trip up the east coast of the colonies and their subsequent settlement in the mountains. With disease, wild Indians, treacherous pirates, lust, greed and just plain survival, the story never slows. From one minute to the next you are compelled to read on. The events are told with a realism that makes you hear and see the sights and sounds of an America we won't see again. The colorful descriptions of everyday life and people make us feel as if we could reach out and touch them. We understand the pain, love and desires that drive the characters that are now almost a part of our own family

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it tremendously
Review: I anxiously awaited the debut of this book. It was amazing how the day-to-day life of the characters could be so interesting. The characters seem so real that you find yourself wondering how their lives will be in the next book. I understand it takes awhile to write a book this good, but I wish the author would give a bit more of the old history that happend in previous novels so that I don't have to remember so much detail from a book that I read 2 years ago. Thanks again for a great boo

Rating:
Summary: Diana Gabaldon tells a great story.
Review: Which genre to pigeon-hole the Outlander series into has become a great debate. What it all boils down to is great old fashioned high Romance in the tradition of Sir Walter Scott and R.L. Stevenson, updated for a modern audience. Diana Gabaldon is the person everyone would have wanted seated by the fire in the days before TV and radio. She is a wonderful, imaginative storyteller. Drums of Autumn is a little weaker than Voyager, but seems to set the stage for more to come in the next two books. And after all, how much more physical abuse could Jamie take? Give the man a break. Please don't attempt a movie, it would spoil the fun

Rating:
Summary: Boy, was I surprised!
Review: Having read a number of readers' glowing reviews here at Amazon.com about Ms. Gabaldon's time-travel series, I purchased the first book and excitedly set out to read as much as I could in a weekend. I love the concept of time travel, am intrigued by Scotland and its history and was hooked. Only when I ran to a local bookstore for the second book (sorry Amazon, needed to keep reading right away!), looking in the scifi section where I'd seen the whole series initially, did I come to realize that this was a ROMANCE series. *laugh* Not exactly my standard reading material. I admit, it took quite a bit to buy the next book and keep reading but the characters were so appealing I really felt compelled to. The smarmy romance I found slightly annoying until I began to imagine Duncan McLeod of the Highlander TV series (the actor Adrian Paul) in the title role of Jamie... and ... all of a sudden romance wasn't such bad reading material. By the 4th book, I really needed something inspiring to keep reading and I must say, I was disappointed with Drums of Autumn. The work read as though it had been rushed to publication, not nearly as well thought out as the first two in the series, and so my overall rating of the series is a 5. Now, back to Adrian Paul..

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the other three
Review: With her latest book, Drums of Autumn, Diana Gabaldon continues to enchant us enough to look forward to more in the series which began with Outlander. The story of Claire and Jamie is compelling, but to be truthful, not as compelling as her first three installments. Something is lacking, and I believe it to be the fact that there is no truly dastardly villain such as Black Jack Randall. Also, one can only suspend belief so far when it comes to imagining life in the North Carolina wilderness in the late eighteenth century. Can we accept that Claire, even for the love of this man who is larger than life, can undertake all the chores, e.g. planting, harvesting, cooking, preserving, doctoring the neighborhood, etc., etc., and still have time and energy for a late night romp under the bushes? Besides, when did she learn to do all this? Her daughter Brianna's tragedy is almost glossed over, unlike the rape of Jamie, which was dwelled on with loving detail in previous books. The trials and tribulations of Roger MacKenzie are almost by the way. My favorite, most fully drawn character in this book is John Grey. He is charming, sympathetic and tragic. I keep seeing David Hyde Pierce of Frasier in the role. While I loved Diana Gabaldon's first three novels, I merely liked this one. Enough to read more, but also hoping for more.

Rating:
Summary: Great entertainment; just a touch of fantasy
Review: I've waited a long time for this book, after reading the previous three a few years ago. Once again, this book was delightful, as were the others. The book seems to be historically accurate (for a non-historian like me) and the details with regard to what a 20th century physician would know and be able to apply in the 18th century are very realistic. It took too long to find out about Roger (I peeked ahead), but all in all, a very satisfying read. It has room for another sequel, so I hope Diana Gabaldon is working on one, and I hope it won't take as long as this one did

Rating:
Summary: pretty darn dumb
Review: This book is SOOOOOOOOO dumb! No plot. No depth to the characters. Not easy to understand (and I read lots and lots of books!) There. That's why I don't like it. Believe me: this ain't the best book.

Rating:
Summary: I won¿t say, because I didn¿t finish the book
Review: There are people calling this a great book. What? Excuse me? I don't think so. This book has no plot, action, or anything that would even be considered remotely good. I don't know how people could ever want to read it. Actually, the book is a -1, but hey, whose counting? I couldn't even finish the book, it was so dumb. But if the sort of book that you like is the one that doesn't make you think or be excited, this book is the right one for you.

Rating:
Summary: An engaging work of entertainment with a history lesson****
Review: Drums of Autumn continues the saga of Jamie and Clair while providing fuel to the simmering flame of Roger and Brianna. Having survived a treacherous voyage that leaves them in a land both new and old, Jamie and Clair are faced with making a life changing decision. However, once this decision is made, they are faced with new danger and adventure with the appearance of their daughter Brianna. Having come through the same breach in time that Clair once entered, Brianna is on a life saving mission. It is Roger, following Brianna, who inadvertently provides the catalyst that sends each character on a new path. Diana Gabaldon has the ability to entertain while providing an inside view of life 200 years ago. Reading her books is like walking alongside her characters. You feel what they feel, see what they see. When they are sad you cry, when they are funny you laugh, when they are in danger you want to join the fight. When slops are thrown from a window you find yourself lifting your feet and when a man's dirty collar is described you hold your nose. A tradition of great writing that began with a breach in time continues in her latest offering.

Rating:
Summary: The best in the series since Outlander
Review: I think that this is the best of the Claire/Jamie series since the first book, Outlander! Plot is tighter, the story doesn't drag anywhere, and great character development. It's nice to see that Jamie is multifaceted enough to make some mistakes, and Roger has become MUCH more interesting! I'm not sure how Brianna is going to develop as she matures, should be interesting. Definitely worth the wait. A map would have been useful. I get "lost" sometimes; but this is a minor criticism