Voyager

Rating:
Summary: Poor in comparison to the first and second books.
Review: The whole scenario was annoying and far-fetched with the jewels. The reunion of the two lovers was touching. But everything was ruined by the movement of the storyline setting to the caribbean island. It was just utterly ridiculous and bored me to tears with the whole thing. Did not like this one at all for those reasons.

Rating:
Summary: The series only gets better...........
Review: First of all, this 3rd book in the Outlander series introduces Major Lord John Grey who is the main character in Diana Gabaldon's new trilogy.

I am not a "romance" reader but am completely hooked on this series. The Outlander Series was recommended to me 10 years ago and when I read the discription of the story, I thought, "noooo, not for me". Then it was recommended by another person who just raved about the book. So I picked up a copy of Outlander almost a month ago, then Dragonfly in Amber, now Voyager and haven't put the series down. I absolutely loved reading the historical detail, the growth of respect and love between Claire and Jamie, and the fascinating characters introduced in each book in the series. Who couldn't fall in love with Jamie afterall?

It is seldom when an author can make me unconsiously smile and then a few pages later tear. I liked this book more than I did Dragonfly because the intimatcy between Claire and Jamie was left more to the imagination of the reader. This made the story flow more smoothly in my opinion. In addition, this book answered a number of questions left from Dragonfly.

This is more than a story of Claire returning to Jamie. It explains what happened to the clansmen during and following the Battle at Culloden. In addition, we find out what happened to Claire and Jamie during the twenty year separation. I felt sad to think that Jamie had not survived after Claire stepped through the stones, even though I knew better because he appears in the next book. Now that's good writing!

There is only one issue, just how many more whippings, stabbings, hits over the head, rapes, and shootings is Jamie going to be able to take?

Rating:
Summary: Getting annoyed with the characters
Review: Basically speaking, this book is not as good as the first two by far. A lot of the excitement and freshness of Jamie and Claire's relationship is not there, and I found myself getting annoyed with many aspects of the book. Overall I would recommend this book for anyone who simply loved the first two, but do not expect the same power from this novel. I would not recommend this book to anyone who thought Dragonfly in Amber was just okay. Reading this book will not add anything special for you.

Rating:
Summary: Once you start . . . you can't stop!
Review: This book is amazing . . Once you pick it up - you won't beable to put it down - it draws you in and makes you forget about everything else but what's happening inside the story. You feel as if you are there - with the characters! It's a wonderful series!

Rating:
Summary: Like being in a 18th century tornado! Non-stop action!
Review: The story: Claire finds out that Jamie survived the Battle of Culloden and knows she must join him back in the past. She makes peace with her daughter Brianna, ties up loose ends back at the hospital in Boston, and then returns to Scotland to make the journey through time to 1768, Scotland. Once she gets back to 18th century Scotland, she and Jamie have a few days together and then the adventure begins.
Jamie's nephew, Ian, gets kidnapped by pirates, and Jamie and Claire must sail to the West Indies to find him. Their journey is exciting and frought with peril. The re-joining of Jamie and Claire does not dissapoint.
This book also tells the tale of what happened to Jamie after the Battle of Culloden. It is a tale of such loneliness and tragedy that it will break your heart! It also tells of what happened to Claire after she reappeared in Scotland in 1948 after being gone for 3 years, and her life with Frank and Brianna.

This book kinda plays "catch up" for the first few hundred pages. This part of the book is very good, but it does not have the insomnia inducing, page turning qualitites of the first two books. THEN...you get to the adventure once again. Once Claire gets back to Jamie, the story speeds up with a vengence. I mean, come on, arson, sabotage, kidnapping, pirates, voo doo, and hurricanes...what more can you ask for?
This book focuses less on the love story, and more on adventure and story-telling. Alot can be learned about Jamie and Claire from the tales of the 18 years they were apart. Another great part of this book, is seeing the beginnings of the relationship between Roger and Brianna. Make sure, you have Drums of Autumn handy because after finishing this one, you will not want to wait to start the next one!

JBogue
paper-and-lace
Specializing in paranormal romance and fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!
Review: Wow! I spent 3 days absolutely inhaling the first 2/3 of this book, and I must say that it is my favorite of the three so far. My cousin has been recommending that I read this series, and I finally got started in November. I really can't get enough. The depth of the story and the historicity is really incredible, but the love story of Jamie and Claire is truly spectacular. Though it saddened me that they were apart for 20 years at first, I quickly got over it and sat in one position until I got to the reunion. Jamie in his 20s was something, but I have to say Jamie in his 40s is obsession-inducing. The trials he went through during the years he was apart from Claire has added dimension to the character that has only made him even more covet-worthy. The story, likewise, is very exciting, almost too exciting! It can get a little stressful, but that just keeps me glued to the pages until whatever fiasco Jamie and Claire find themselves embroiled in is over. I am just lost in this book. If you loved Jamie in the first two, you will fall even more in love with him in Voyager. Boy, wouldn't life be great if there were enough Jamies to go around!

Rating:
Summary: I have decided that I am in love with Jamie Fraser!
Review: Okay..so I realize that Jamie isnt real, but how can you not love him? The things he says to Claire kill me..and that accent!! oooohhh!!! Anyways..this is the first book in the Outlander series that I have not given 5 stars...that's not to say that it wasnt an excellent book..it was, but it failed to move me as deeply as the 2 previous books. I was bothered by some of the things that happened during their separation..one of these things being revealed in the chapter "Daddy" I wont give away what happened, but I just was REALLY sick with Jamie during this section of the book. Also..I found their reunion to be lacking, but maybe that's just me...on the other hand..I really enjoyed the fact that we were able to get into Jamie's head in this book..before, we only knew him through Claire, but in Voyager we're given a closer look. Speaking of Claire, as much as I like her..she's a bit of a B**ch..I didnt care for how judgemental she was towards certain people because of their looks...also...cant these people have even one full day of peace? Anyways...This is definitely worth reading..while I'll admit that I'm going to take a break from this series for awhile..I'm most certainly going to keep on reading till the end...

Rating:
Summary: The third book
Review: After reading the first two in the series, I am about to sit down to this one. The cliffhanger ending of "Dragonfly In Amber" makes me want to pick it up right away - however, after reading here about Jamie's life after Claire returns to her own time, I'm having second thoughts. Can someone tell me - how traumatic is it? I can't believe that he would be with someone else, even if she DID leave! How is this dealt with? If he falls in love with someone else, or goes to someone else without feeling remorse, I don't think I'll be able to take it. Can the reader manage to forgive him? Please spare me the emotional truma if at all possible!

Also, I have to agree with the reader who commented that Claire missed her chance to set the record straight with Jack Randall in "Dragonfly". I wanted to shake her! Come on! Jack may have had Jamie's body in one depraved episode, but that's nothing compared to his soul and the love he and Claire share. Just no competition...

Rating:
Summary: Voyager on 30 Cassettes
Review: The adventure continues to entertain. Davina Porter is an exquisite narrator, and makes the story come very much alive. I like the movement to the West Indies, though I agree that it could not have worked without several contrived coincidences. While I completely enjoyed this one, some things bothered me. I think Gabaldon is a bit careless here. Regardless how sad her relationship with Frank was, Claire never seems to completely convey this to Jamie. As I recall, there is not even so much as a "I talked at length about my life with Frank." More incredible, Jamie does not seem interested to hear it; he hints that he would like to learn about those years, but goes no further.

The pictures of Brianna...now, come on. Surely someone not familiar with 20th century photo technology, other than Jamie, would have come across them, and demanded an explanation. This was difficult to believe. I waited for that moment the entire 30 cassettes, until...well, readers know when I gave that up.

Another careless moment has Clair reminiscing about Brianna's young childhood and recalling sitting with her and reading, "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish." Whoops. Brianna was born when I was and Dr. Seuss was not available to me. This particular book was not published until 1960. Brianna would have been a pre-teen, at least, by then. And, while surely her attentive mother would have been reading and bonding with her at this age, such a "clever" girl as Brianna would not, have sat still for "one fish, two fish..."

The maggot thing is another point of concern. Davina Porter's "uuuuuu!!!!!" conveyed a marked level of olfactory disturbance connected to the maggot infested substance. The description had maggots covering the object, accompanied by significant stench. It is my understanding as a biologist, and experience as a resident in a farming community, that once a substance is covered with maggots, the amount of rotting matter is greatly decreased, and with it most offending odor.

I also recall two conflicting references to the date of Jillian's travel through the stones. I believe both are in chapter 60 - 1967, then 1968. I had thought it was 1968. Can anyone explain this contradiction?

Aside from my nitpicking, this is a fine installment. I just wish Gabaldon had been more careful. However, nothing is quite so serious as her not allowing Clair to set the record straight with Jack Randall in Dragonfly. He did not connect with Jamie's soul; only his biology. What a beautiful, profound statement Clair could have made - a statement that could have benefited many of her readers.

Oh, and I do agree that too many reviewers give away far too many of the details of plot and story. Such reviews should be omitted.

Rating:
Summary: Voyager on audio tape
Review: Like the first two books, I completely enjoyed this one. I do a lot of driving about in my busy life, so listen to Davina Porter reading Gabaldon's words. Her voice is miraculous. I would easily travel and pay to take voice lessons from her. Were I reading the printed edition I would have been flipping pages and looking things up, however. It seemed that there were two conflicting references to the date of Jillian's travel through the stones, but I haven't double checked. Also, a bit of carelessness by this usually careful author surprised me. Claire is remembering sitting and reading to the little girl, Brianna. As she reminisces she wistfully recites, "One fish two fish, red fish blue fish." Hmm. I am of Brianna's generation and Dr. Seuss was not available to me, so I was curious about this reference, and looked it up. My source asserts that "One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish" was not published until 1960. By my calculations Brianna would have been a pre-teen or, perhaps, even a teenager by then. I feel certain Claire would have been reading to and exploring literary adventures with her daughter at this point; however, I must wonder how she could have been reading "One fish two fish..." I also agree with the reviewer who suggests that inherent in the review of any book is the responsibility to not give away plots and delicious secrets that make the reading all the more fun. So, I am avoiding that one in February 2002. I think it should be stricken, along with a few later ones written by other reviewers who seem unable to laud the book without giving away too much and, thus, spoiling the adventure for others. "Other People's Children" is another one read by D. Porter, and is wonderful. Happy reading/listening.