Outlander

Rating:
Summary: It's *How* Many Pages???
Review: This book was a Christmas gift from my new daughter-in-law. I have to admit that I almost choked when I saw the size of it.......I've always thought, if it takes that many pages to tell the story, I'm really not interested! But, it was her favorite book, and I decided to give it a try. I've never been one to read every word in a book..........especially one of this length. I usually don't enjoy history and skip over descriptive passages. Diana Gabaldon changed all that! The writing is superb and makes you cherish every single word. The story is spellbinding, and the characters endearing. I loved every minute of reading, and I'm so glad that for Mother's Day I received the next book in the series (which I'm currently reading!). Give this one a try -- it will surprise and delight you!

Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: I have never read a more well-written book. I'm still fairly new to romance and time-travel, i don't generally read. This book had me reeling days after i'd finished. I was NEVER bored while turning these thrilling, romantic, scenic pages. The imagery was stunning and the characters were so thoroughly captivating that I couldn't help but hold them dear.
Claire was bold and sassy, but James is my new hero. A more courageous, loveable, funny, stubborn man was never written about. I was rooting for them from the moment they met. I had to stop every so often and remind myself that this was just a book. A real emotional roller coaster ride, it was.(Guess that's the down side to have an active imagination). Everything was so real. I laughed, I cried, I RAGED at the villian! I highly reccomend this novel. Never be daunted by the number of pages. The length only gives you more time to grow as fond of the characters as I did. Diana wrote the heck out Outlander.

Rating:
Summary: Didn't think I'd like it....
Review: A friend of mine kept telling me about this book, "Outlander", and insisting I just *had* to read it. She eventually got tired of me putting off getting the book, and sent me "Outlander" and "Dragonfly in Amber" for my birthday.

I was a little taken aback at the length of the book, but my husband went out of town, I was bored, started reading. I found the beginning a little slow, but that ended up being my only complaint with the book by the time I finished it.

Now if you're looking for a nice little historical romance, this is not the book for you. This is more historical adventure saga with a little love thrown in. I found the characters to be very real, and some of the little things very realistic. For example, how when Jamie's reunited with his sister, they start arguing, screaming at each other, which is something that could happen in my family. Or how after traveling through the Highlands for a couple weeks, Claire isn't the heroine with gleaming hair and a few wrinkles in her gown, instead, her clothes are torn, she's dirty, her hair's a tangled mess with stuff stuck in it...now to me, that's more realistic for the time period.

Sure it's long, full of details, violence, adventure, and after a couple nights of reading this, I started dreaming about men in kilts, but I was completely taken in, and by the end of it, these characters were real to me. They have faults, they do stupid things they regret, they get into fights with those they love, they love each other, tease each other, would give their lives for another.

I noticed the mixed reviews for this book, either people loved it or hated it. Here's my advice...if you're looking for a light historical romance where she wears velvet gowns and he's dashing, strong, but gentle, this is probably not the book for you.

But for someone who did not think she'd like it, I ended up loving it, have read the whole series to date, and am waiting for book #6. My husband was flying out of the country on business, so I loaned him "Outlander" for the flight (it was a 10 hr flight), and he ended up enjoying it too.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!
Review: I am typicaly a Science fiction reader. I fell in love with the characters that Diana so artfully created. WOW the story some times just took my breath away... not just the erotic passages either. VERY vivid roller coaster ride through time GET IT!

Rating:
Summary: This is the best book I have ever read
Review: I loved the Outlander series, but of course with anything the first book is the best. I could read this over and never get tired of it. Outlander is the best book that I have ever read, lots of detail very in depth. If you want to read something historical, read this I don't know any one who has read it that does not like it.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE this book
Review: My mom recommended that I read this book and it didn't look very good so i put it off for a while. BIG MISTAKE. This is my favorite book after I read this book I bought all of Diana's other books. Her writing is magnificent, and the characters are so well developed. Once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Jamie, he is my hero! He was everything that you would want in a man. Claire was a wonderful main character and I could really sympathize with her predicament. The secondary characters complete a wonderful cast for an extraordinary book. I was pleasently surprised that the book was written with a first person narrator. You don't see that very often and it helped to understand the characters more. I would reccommend this book to anyone. It is definitely a keeper!

Rating:
Summary: An amazing read, emotional and beautiful
Review: Outlander made me laugh, think, and even made me cry. Diana Gabaldon has crafted an amazing work that, despite its size, is a fast read and nearly impossible to put down.

If you read further into the reviews, you'll notice comments on homophobia, and beatings. Don't worry, later novels put the homophobia to rest, and Jamie beating Claire, while disturbing, does have a point to it, and isn't just random cruelty. And if that does disturb you, he swears never to do it again, as well.

The scenes in this book are amazing, and must be read to be believed. The characters become your friends, and when the last page is turned you'll be yearning for more.

Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: OK, my name is Jessi, I am 15 years old. I was sooo bored last summer and, my being the biggest bookworm in southern california, have read all the books I own. So I thought. It was one sunny, boring day that I was lazing about the house, and my mom suggested I read "Outlander". "What's it about?" I asked suspiciously, knowing that my mom had a taste for romance novels. She rolled her eyes at me and told me, if I wanted to find out, i'd have to read it. So, having nothing else to do, I picked up the book and read it. I was so hooked by the first chapter that I would put the book down for three days. I was even more ecstatic to find out that there were three more books that my mom had! I am proud to say I am a total and complete Diana Gabaldon fanatic. I have read all the books at least a dozen times, but Outlander remains my favorite.

Although I am not a romance novel kind of person, the Jamie and Claire series are my favorite books. (Ask any of my friends; they still have no idea who Jamie and Claire are, but they put up with me whispering behind my hand and pointing at every red-headed guy I see at the mall.) I mean, you'd think it would be boring, like most dumb romance stuff out there. But it is totally the opposite. Gabaldon's incredible style of writing adds to the fact that the characters are great and the storyline is exiting. If you haven't read this book, you are missing out on a great, though not yet well-known, piece of literature. Ok, I'm starting to sound like that Ebert guy on TV, so I'm just gonna end this now and say, READ THIS BOOK!!!!!! :)

Rating:
Summary: The Fiery Cross
Review: I have read all of Diana Gabaldon's books and looked forward to her next addition to this wonderful saga. I was so disappointed with the Fiery Cross. Diana went on and on and on with description....I think 24 hours took a couple of hundred of pages. I think our beloved author has lost her ability to move the story along. I hope she hasn't gotten caught up in an ego trip where she believes everyone is hanging on her every word and description. We need to hear a good story beyond her initial characters. They are getting on in years and their daughter and her husband need to pick up from here. I don't think Diana knows how to develop those characters enough to keep the series flowing. I was so disappointed. And I bought this book in hard cover, not wanting to miss any more time away from the
characters I had grown to love. Diana...do not fall in love with your words...allow us to continue our love of your characters.

Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: I read dozens of books a month--everthing from romance to historical fiction to horror to "real" literature. I have re-read maybe two or three of these books in my life. I'm generally the type of person who spends $7 (or $25) on a book, reads it within two days, then packs it away for good. THIS BOOK, however, I have read six times. I read it twice when it was first published and I have been compelled to read it again after the debut of each new installment. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance or historicals. In particular, people like me who are fascinated with the idea of how people lived on a day to day basis in the 18th and 19th centuries.

I would like to clear something up about Outlander. Diana Gabaldon is not a romance writer. She has said in interviews that she did not write this book as a romance and had, in fact, never even read one before this book was written. The publisher insisted on labeling the book a romance, but she considers it simply fiction. This is, no doubt, true, as I haven't read too many romance series that follow the couple for thirty years.

That said, it is inappropriate to criticize the book for not following the dictates of the genre. Yes, the book is very violent--as befits setting. Yes, Jamie did commit violence against Claire. He spanked her, by the way. Everytime I read a review that says he "beat" her, I picture him pummelling her with closed fists as she cowers on the floor. Also, Claire CHOOSES the spanking as an alternative to being shunned by the rest of the group.

Jamie is not supposed to be a standard romantic hero. The series is as much about history as it is about romance. There's little enough that's romantic about being at war in the eighteenth century. Also, Claire is a nurse (and later a doctor). She sees plenty of disgusting things. I, for one, LOVED reading about them.

Lastly (finally!). . . Yes, the villain of the book is bisexual. He is also a sadist and a rapist; these traits make him the villain, not his attraction to men.