Rating: 
Summary: Wow! Wow! Wow!
Review: I admit to being a little skeptical when this book was recommended to me and I found it in the romance section. Not thinking of myself as a romance novel fan, I wasn't sure I would like it at all but I gave it a try anyway. Well, it's wonderful! There definitely is a romance angle but it's much more true to life than the average romance and the other aspects of the story are fascinating. Rich characters and realistic situations make for a thoroughly entertaining read from the second Claire appears on the scene. And then there's Jamie! Wow! You will not be able to put it down.
Rating: 
Summary: "love" in the dark ages
Review: I was enjoying this book very much until the beating began. I understand that this novel is historically acurate, and that men beat their wives in the past and today. However, I do not believe that true love includes physical violence-- especially the sadistic sort. Although this was 250 years ago, domestic violence is still wrong! I read up until this part, got sick to my stomach and threw this book where it belongs- the dumpster.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!!!!
Review: I started it a couple of days ago and I cannot take my eyes out of it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not What I Expected
Review: Outlander was not what I was expecting. I was not prepared for the sadistic homosexual sexual images that were in the book. Homosexual sex does not offend me, not even mild S&M, but true torture tied with sex is repulsive. I also got bored. The book was too long.
Rating:
Summary: Ruined
Review: I'm ruined, and Diana Gabaldon did it! I have always enjoyed the genre of romantic historical fiction. But after reading Outlander and the rest of the Outlander series, I am ruined for other historical romances. Nobody does it better than Diana!I have often said in describing her books (to anyone who will listen) that you can smell the salt air on the craggy shores of the highlands of Scotland, and feel the waves lapping at your feet. You can see the coppery strands of Jamie's red hair as the brisk air blows it off his shoulders, and feel the warmth of his body radiating through the chill. Diana writes descriptions in such a way, that you do not feel "described to" you feel that the description would be incomplete without every word she has exquisitly chosen. Her descriptions make you more acutely aware of all the sensations around you. In one of her books she describes the warm baked bread smell of a lactating mother. I had never noticed it before, having nursed two of my own, but doggon if she wasn't right when I nursed my third. My own senses are hightened, and I now find myself thinking, "how would Diana describe this sensation?" I am most thankful that James Alexander Malcom MacKenzie Fraser is not a real man. Otherwise my marriage might be ruined too, as I went chasing off after this near perfect man. Ladies, you have to read him to appreciate his galantry, passion, sensitivity and pure virile manliness! Never baudy, but highly passionate, the love scenes will make your heart pound as if you were there. As a literature major, and a passionate book lover, I have seldom read a book twice (except maybe for classroom work). I have read Diana's entire series 3 times, and am positive I will read it over and over again in the years to come. If only I could find another author who could satisfy my need for historical galavanting, romantic passion, and exquisite writen word... Read Outlander, and enjoy getting "ruined" too!
Rating:
Summary: Don't plan to get much work done 'til you turn the last page
Review: First, my paperback copy is 850, not 600 pages. Second-- 659 reviews as a write this. But I'll bet not many are guys. I saw an ad that looked good in the NY Times, saw a pile in front of the cash register desk at Walden (of the 5th in the series) so I figured, having always enjoyed time travel stories, that I'd take this one for a ride. It's a tale about a nurse, who, just after world war two has ended, while visiting Scottland for a second honeymoon, walks into some magic which whisks her back to the mid 1700s in the highlands. First surprise, when I asked for the first in the series-- it's in the romance section. Okay, so I'm an open-minded, somewhat androgynous guy. I can handle this. It's not as bad as asking for directions or carrying my significant other's purse (when we are taking a hike where I got to choose the path.) I figured this might be a bit like Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. That was maybe 20% right. But, being a science fiction fan, I expected to see loads of examples of how she brings 20th century to the loch and the castle. Not happening. While not what I expected, it's a great period piece which makes you feel you are looking through this woman's eyes and really seeing the pre-colonial era. For me, it got kind of weird when the love-making is given graphic description. My other half asked me if it turned me on. "It's from a woman's point of view!" I exclaimed. So it was not a turn on, but it was interesting. These are two highly sexed main characters. The bad guy in the story has an interesting twist. The last long novel like this I read was Anne Rice's The Witching Hour. Like that book, this one has a series of sequels to enjoy. I am looking forward to the next part of the story.
Rating:
Summary: What's sleep anyway?
Review: I found this book to be completely engrossing from beginning to end. I bought it simply from curiosity after seeing the many wonderful reviews it's received here, (I bought the first 4 books). I am so glad I did because I was unable to put this book down and although they arrived just 4 days ago, I have already finished the first book and I'm into the second. The night they arrived I literally was up all night reading, I don't remember the last time I've read anything that kept my attention to that degree. Well worth it I say, even if I was a little bleary eyed with my 2 year old the next day :). I had my doubts about being able to really get into the book, wether I would find the story believeable enough to keep me interested, no problem there at all. Diana Gabaldon has the extaordinary abilty to paint a picture with words so that the reader feels like they are actually there as witness. She is truly an incredible writer with a flare for detail and an imagination I can not begin to fathom. Buy this book!!!! You will be well rewarded by a wonderful story of love, mystery, intrigue, suspense, tenderness and just about anything else you can think of. The characters are very real and some parts will make your heart break for them but in the end, all you'll want is MORE, MORE, MORE, especially more of Jamie and Claire together. I thought these books would be the perfect companion during the long winter months, now I wonder if they'll last until the first snow.
Rating:
Summary: Historical fiction that's actually historical...
Review: Diana Gabaldon is one of the best examples of a historical fiction author - her research and knowledge of not only event-based facts, but all the simple day-to-day customs of an era are astounding, and glow from every page and line of dialogue. Besides that, "Outlander" is simply a fantastic adventure and romance. While Jamie & Claire could simply be pigeonholed as "fated across time and space" lovers, Gabaldon shows all the messy emotional, philosophical and existential conflicts that would arise, were time-travel possible.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: As silly as the whole time travel/romance genre could be, this book and its sequels are a pure joy to read and anticipate. Indeed, Claire and Jamie are larger than life. But who cares? There is never a dull moment, adventure follows adventure, supposedly dead characters are resurrected, and our heroine and hero are certainly not one-dimensional as their emotional sonars have more hills and valleys than the advanced program on a Stairmaster. There is no time for any ridiculous introspection from either of them; turn the page and you cannot move your eyes fast enough to keep up with the rapid beating of your heart as Claire and her soulmate move into the next phase of their love, their lives and the early history of the United States.
Outlander has some disturbing scenes at the end when Jamie is imprisoned and the ending is just a teaser for the next book, but none of this "form and style" English class stuff matters as the book is so utterly enjoyable!
Brava Ms Gabaldon--your fans await your next installment!
Rating:
Summary: AAAHHH! Why did it take me so long to pick this up????
Review: I was first a fan of Sara Donati's "Into the Wilderness" series. Anytime I mentioned them to someone who had read the "Outlander" series told me that I would love these that much more. But being my stubborn self, I refused to believe anything could be better. Well, needless to say, I was wrong. Gabaldon is quite the storyteller and I found myself completely absorbed for two days. Jamie Fraser is a man any women would want to love, with the greatest mix of innocence, courage, and strength. Claire (who I am slightly jealous of) is of the same mix, but for different reasons. Truly a great heroine. Aside from powerful characters, Galbaldon has done her research well, giving great facts on 18th century Scotland and only making the book more vivid. If the rest of the "Outlander" series is as good, I am definitely in for a treat.
| 
