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Title: Outlander
ISBN: 0385319959
Author:
Diana Gabaldon
Publicate Date: 1998-08-10
Publish: 1998-08-10
List Price: $15.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $7.50
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $5.69
Amazon Merchant Price: $10.20
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Swashbuckling Fun
I recently purchased "Outlander" after having read it previously. I bought two copies and gave one to a friend. It is a swashbuckling adventure of epic scale. Diana Gabaldon is a master at transporting her readers into a world of dashing heroes and heroines and diabolical villans. Added in is a mixture of greed, power, scorcery, romance, sex and time travel all set within an historical backdrop in Scotland. The "Outlander" series will keep the reader totally entertained and enthalled as well.
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2: A good but different book
I was leery at first about this book after I read some of the reviews.I have now read it and I really enjoyed it. I am a plain guy, married 30 years and enjoy science fiction.
This book had a lot going for it. I think both men and women will like it. I am going to get the second book as soon as possible!
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3: Great book!
My wife was missing this one volume to this collection. Got it for her birthday & she absolutely loves it & now she's got the full collection too!
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4: very good read
It was a good book; the author did well at combining romance, adventure, science fiction, and even a little bit of religion. The characters were well developed and the story kept my attention throughout the grueling 600+ pages. Still, I think it was a bit drawn out, some parts unnecessary. Even some details, i.e. the man-raping, had me flinching and did very well at portraying a vivid image, one that I'd rather not imagine. But overall, a good book... I'm reading the rest of them.
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5: Don't underestimate....
I am joining the Outlander craze very late in the game. I had never heard of the series until Amazon recommended it to me as a similar title to Audrey Niffenegger 'The Time Travelers wife', which I loved!
Both have time-travel in common (and a main character named Claire), but other than that, the two are nothing alike. 'Outlander', Diana Gabaldon's first in a series of seven (the latest book will be released this year) is in the historical romance genre. For that reason, I was very skeptical before reading. Mills & Boon comparisons flashed in my mind as I browsed the various book covers. But I was wrong to have been so cynical, because after reading the first book, I am officially hooked.
The novel starts out in 1946. Twenty-seven year old Claire was a British nurse during WWII, now enjoying a second honey-moon in Scotland with her husband and history-enthusiast, Frank Randall. The couple are trying for a baby, as well as attempting to rekindle what the war interrupted. While out exploring a stone henge called Craig Na Dun, Claire finds herself mysteriously transported 200 years into the past - thrown into the middle of a battle between Scottish highlanders and the British army, led by Jonathan Randall, sixth grandparent to Claire's own Frank. The highlanders, intrigued by Claire's healing abilities, kidnap her and take her back with them to Castle Leoch (Loch Ness) where she is captive to the Mackenzie clan, specifically brothers Dougal and Column. In attempts to adapt to her new surroundings Claire finds herself forced into a marriage of convenience (and safety) with 23 year old Mackenzie nephew, Jamie Fraser. Together Claire and Jamie try to evade capture by Jonathan Randall, while dealing with clan politics that are suspicious of Claire and wary of Jamie's claim on the clan throne.
Much has been made of the romance in this historical romance. Many reviewers slanderously call the Jamie/Claire relationship an outlet for bored housewives to get their kicks. Fair enough, the romantic bits are pretty heavy and clearly aimed to please the ladies (a virginal male hero who enjoys... *ahem*, 'serving' his wife). But any other reviewers who delegate 'Outlander' to the Mills & Boon style of trashy romantic writing (as I originally did - for shame!) are much mistaken.
Gabaldon has written a book with three dimensional characters, with a hero and heroine whose roles are often seamlessly reversed and traded back and forth. Jamie and Claire they spend the book rescuing each other from various deadly situations. Granted, the damsel in distress plot devices and numerous sticky situations get a little much, but are never dull. Gabaldon's writing is fluid and some of the dialogue refreshingly witty and rhythmic.
A long book, 600 and a bit pages, it is never dull. Likewise, the action is not relentless and therefore monotonous. Gabaldon strikes the perfect balance - thanks in large part to the Jamie/Claire relationship evolution which allows the plot to slide into an easy calm in some places.
Many reviewers also complain a lot about Claire's lack of exploration into the time travel business. Fair criticism. She pretty much shrugs her shoulders at the whole 200 years in the past thing and gets on with Highland business. But in all honesty, she has the lovely Jamie Fraser to occupy herself with... no wonder the time travel takes back seat to the romance.
This is not your typical trashy historical romance. Outlander is smart, funny and enthralling from beginning to end. And addictive! Once you start you will be chomping at the bits to read the next in the series, and the one after that, and the one after that and.... well, let's just be grateful Gabaldon knows a good thing when she writes it.
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