Outlander

Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: I took this book with me on vacation and could not put it down. Ms. Gabaldon has done a fabulous job of telling the time travel story with so many twists and turns. If you want an easy book to read to get away from it all....pick up Outlander!

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it, but then it got VERY disturbing
Review: Yes, this book is engaging and immediately pulls you in, with its [mostly] strong characterization and its very rich details of life in 18th century Scotland. The author has done her research, and I appreciate that when it comes to historical romance. However, the last section of the book -- when Jamie is captured by a nasty English officer -- contains scenes of such graphic sexual violence that I could hardly continue reading. I put this out there as a warning to other readers who dislike reading about brutal sadism: you may want to skip this book. It's a shame, as there is so much in the book that is is lyrical and engaging and enjoyable. But the last section left me with a very, very sick taste in my mouth.

Rating:
Summary: The books are not long enough!
Review: I never want a good book to end, and each book written by Diana Gabaldon evokes the same wish....Do not end--keep going--don't stop! I find I read rapidly at the beginning, savoring the fact I have a new book to read, and I am anxious to be pulled into the web Diana forms, and I can't wait to see what the Jaime/Claire duo will get in to. Then midway through, I get wary of being halfway finished, and then I start reading slowly till the end. And then I am like an addict needing a fix! I have read each book 5 times....I cannot get enough. I found my life greatly influenced by her characters....they become part of one's family!!!!
A person should read them in order. The first one I read was the second one she wrote, so I was elated to find it was one in a series.
I enjoyed the fact that I could NOT figure out what was happening next. I love thrillers, and romance, and adventure, but books and movies are often easy to figure out for me. Gabaldon's books are filled with adventurous twists that hold one's interest just because everything is so unpredictable. And yet, after reading a particularly enjoyable series of chapters, one can sit back and say, "Yep, that is exactly what should or would happen!"
I am in the 50+ age group, and I shall tell you that reading her books made me admire my husband all over again, I looked at him in a new way, and found he was verrrry much like Jaime. And, that made it worth reading every book 5 times! Yes, the 40-60+ crowd can still enjoy that which Jaime and Claire found so captivating....and I pray they never tire!

Rating:
Summary: A great story, but very disturbing at the end
Review: Diana Gabaldon has created a page-turner, I loved the combination of romance, well-researched Scottish history, and tongue-in-cheek humor. However, I was very disturbed by increasing amount of graphic sexual violence at the end of the book, as well as hints at it throughout. As another reviewer pointed out, I realize that these were violent times, but descriptions of sexual violence totally detract from the book. I didn't finish it because of this, and almost didn't read the next one in the series, despite the fact that I was hooked on the overall story. But I did go on, and I'm grad I did. Dragonfly in Amber is terrific. Bottom line - for readers that are disturbed by excessive violence, skim the sections that are disturbing at the end, and plunge on to the next book in the series. You won't be sorry!

Rating:
Summary: Oh, to find a love like that
Review: Wonderful story - you get love, history, suspense, time travel all in one book.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Obviously, Ilike the book. If you have read the (very few) negative reviews, I'd like to answer them.

First of all, the wife-beating. Jamie spanks Claire because she disobeyed his orders and thereby put several men in danger of losing their lives. He does not 'beat her half to death'. He spanks her. Something that several kids go through in their lives.

Moving on to the graphic sex-scenes. In my humble opinion, they are not graphic, but realistic. You really don't get every single detail. Also, the sex scenes are usually alluded too, and not really written out in full detail.

Torture. Maybe I'm forgetting something, but the only scene that I would qualify as torture (as in prolonged suffering of pain by someone else that is completely unjustified)is Jamie's telling of his treatment by Jack Randall.

I would also like to point out that this book (and series), cannot be labeled. If you are a hard-core science-fiction/romance/fantasy/historical novel fan, this book will probably disappoint you.

However, the story is incredibly well-written, with a fast moving pace, and historical detail. I was completely engrossed by the book in the first chapter, not because something very exciting happens, but because of the writing ability that the author displays.

I hope that this review has been helpful to you

Rating:
Summary: I was gonna give it 4 stars, but...
Review: Wow...
Starts a little slow, but takes of like a locomotive after "Claire" goes back in time...

After the last page I wanted more, so yeah, I'm gonna have to get the next book in the series. (That's why I was going to give it 4 stars instead of 5, it left me hanging at the end!)

Rating:
Summary: Soooo good!!
Review: Okay so I'm still pretty young (16)... but my sister recommended it to me after she read it, and I've been obsessed with the series ever since. It's such a wonderful adventure story that keeps you on the edge of your seat... mixed with lots of romance that doesn't drag you down!! It's such an amazing book and the writing style of it is completely brilliant. It isn't another airport terminal romance novel... it's an excellent book! Jamie is a gorgeous character who won't let you put the book down! Make sure you have plenty of time set aside to read this book because you won't have a clue where the time goes! The bottom line?? It's a wonderful book and it comes with a 5 star rating from me. However... if it had been possible, I would have given it 10 stars. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Not exactly riveting
Review: Don't get me wrong, it isn't a bad book. I guess most women would enjoy it. It allows them to justify fantasizing about another man while staying married, and in a vacation nature spot. In fact, it is the female's version of a man's - being abducted by a female alien in a spaceship. People have handed this book to me for years just gushing over it. I finally picked it up and started reading it, but I won't finish it. I just am not enthralled, and it wasn't too hard to leave on the front porch a week ago. I would rather read a Johanna Lindsey "novel" than just a little "upscale" like this with the added nature descriptions. Lindsey is shorter, to the point, totally mindless and enjoyable without all the descriptions of foliage. And, I will remember both plots about the same.

Read Rebecca by D. Du Maurier or The Alienist by Caleb Carr, or the Harry Potter books. Something a little more imaginative.

Rating:
Summary: Outlander
Review: I heard a review of Gabaldon's 4th book in the series, and it sounded so good I went to the bookstore, and found that it was a series. Started with Outlander, and couldn't put it down, through all 800+ pages! I read a few pages aloud to my husband, who likes history and mystery stories. He was hesitant, and I suggested he read just the first 100 pages. He is hooked, and we both got copies of the second book, and he is now through book 4. Wonderful writing, great twists of plot, characters are fascinating. I hope that Gabaldon gets more recognition. She certainly deserves it. As a last note, I enjoy seing how an author's past experiences affect writing... Gabaldon's knowledge of plant medicines provide an excellent bridge for Claire.