Outlander

Rating:
Summary: Amazing and Incredibly Engaging
Review: The written work is simply beautiful, the best historical novel since Captain From Castile. But I also must comment on Geraldine James' reading. It is an incredible piece of work. I would have never thought that someone could read in such a fashion that both presentation of male and female are equally real. She does it so well that at times I have wanted to cry and other times where I have simply laughed out loud. What an incredible display of talent. I hope somehow that this e-mail makes its way not only to the author but to this marvelous, talented presenter of her work. Thank you both for such a wonderful experience.

Rating:
Summary: A shame someone of Gabaldon's talent writes bodice-rippers
Review: I stayed through Outlander only because a family member urged me to. There were points when I just had to howl, the language was so silly...the heroine fantasizes about thehandsome Jamie--"He could ride me anywhere." But Gabaldon does have a turn of phrase and facility with the language, and there's one point toward the end that frankly is brilliant. It's a shame she doesn't put it to better use. It's all pretty harmless except for her disturbing preoccupation with sodomy. Even if that sort of thing happened a lot back then, the lines about kilt-clad men having to watch their posteriors for fear of "buggery" got a wee bit tiresome. When a "good guy" in the book is raped by another man--who feels a sick sort of love for him--the author dwells on it for page after page. I skimmed most of it, but it made my skin crawl. I don't know if Gabaldon thinks this is cool or kinky or a turn-on, or she's really tapped into her audience and knows this is what they'll plunk their money down for. Either way, it's kinda sick. At the end of the day, Outlander is pretty low-rent. If you want British Isles history, why not stick with Braveheart and Ivanhoe and the incomparable novels of Mary Stewart?

Rating:
Summary: Can anyone recommend other books as good as these?
Review: I read this book last year and quickly followed up with the other three. I was totally absorbed by the story, the historical information, the romance. I suffered withdrawal when I was done reading these and have been searching for comparable authors ever since. I could recommend The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and Cold Mountain both of which I read in the past year. If anyone out there cares to recommend books that they have particularly enjoyed lately I would love it. Thanks from Seattle.

Rating:
Summary: This was a great book
Review: My version at home calls it Cross Stitch but none the less I'm also 13 and I loved this book

Rating:
Summary: I Love This Book
Review: By reading these reviews I expect most of you are adults but I'm a 13 year old girl who loved this book a lot its one of the best i've ever read

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Summary: History, time travel and romance without being hokey!
Review: Ms Gabaldon has achieved a superb blend of genres into this book (as well as the entire series). They are in a class by themselves. I am currently rereading all of them. The comments about the violence and wife beating scenes amazed me. This was a violent era and Ms Gabaldon shows how corporal punishment was part of people's everyday lives. For those that cannot accept that reality, you will probably not enjoy this book; however, if you can keep an open mind, you will soon discover one of the most wonderful books of all time. Jamie's character is particularly appealing and complex. We are allowed to see his vulnerable side as well as his strengths. I am anticipating the next installment and hope it's published soon.

Rating:
Summary: OUT-Standing!!!!
Review: I am a VORACIOUS reader and consider myself a Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Patricia Cornwell, John Sandford, John Grisham, (etc, etc) fan. I've never liked "romance" or "historical" fiction in the past, but Diana Gabaldon has turned my head and won my heart! I absolutely LOVED all four books in the Outlandish series. I couldn't put them down! My sister-in-law (Thanks, Janine!) recommended Outlander to me after she read it and I surpassed her reading the others! Although there are a few unflattering reviews listed here, the vast majority are not just favorable, but raving! Trust these! Diana Gabaldon writes with such detail and passion that you will be drawn into the story (and if you don't fall in love with Jamie and Claire, you need to check your pulse!) Buy it...read it...love it. I did!

Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC
Review: This is one of the best books i have ever read, its dramatic, violent but above all it has an intense passion at its core that took my breath away. Why can't we all find a Jamie???? I had to go out and buy the second installment straight away and am now happily ensconed in the adventure all over again. I have but one question does anyone know when the 5th and 6th books are coming out if ever???? Email me if you know anything.

Rating:
Summary: A great storyteller
Review: Having read with interest a number of the 300 plus reviews on this series, I would like to add some clarity to the subject. I keep seeing reviews in which people state that this is the greatest book they have ever read. Compared to what? A quick glance at one shelf of my bookcase, which is filled with books by Austen, Woolf, Steinbeck, Salinger, Fitzgerald, and Ann Tyler, to name a few, and I can tell you that this isn't on my "greatest books" list. It is, however, on my "most fun" list! Gabaldon is a good, solid writer and she is a great storyteller. For those of you who enjoy an escapist novel from time to time, this is well written, and a lot of fun.

Rating:
Summary: Not as great as the reviews suggest
Review: I too read this book because of the number of excellent reviews. It was a quick read (for 850 pages!), but it was not one of the greatest books I've ever read. I could go with the story up until the last 150 pages - the torture/redemption bit was just too much. It was disturbing and not what I expected from an escapism novel.