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Title: An Echo in the Bone: A Novel (Outlander)
ISBN: 0385342454
Author:
Diana Gabaldon
Publicate Date: 2009-09-22
Publish: 2009-09-22
List Price: $30.00
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $15.55
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $14.99
Amazon Merchant Price: $19.80
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1: Gabaldon's "An Echo in the Bone" Reviewed by the Book Junkie
An Echo in the Bone is the seventh book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, which centers around Claire and Jamie Fraser. Set partly at the opening of the American Revolution and partly in Scotland in 1980, "Echo" is a sprawling tale. It has four major plot lines: Jamie and Claire (and Ian), Brianna and Roger, John, and William. All of the characters we've come to love over the years are accounted for (including Rollo the dog), and the book is overall very satisfying. It did leave me wanting more--as it's not the end of the series, there is quite obviously more story to be told. Frustratingly, I'll have to wait for several more years to read the next installment. Books this big do not get written in a month! My main quibble is that the book ends with a cliffhanger for each plot line. It seemed more like the first part of a book (despite its length) rather than a novel in its entirety. While Gabaldon expects to write additional books to wrap up the series (she has promised that "Echo" is not the last), leaving the story lines dangling made me feel like I hadn't finished. There was no denouement to satisfy the reader's need for closure at the end of the story, so I finished the book frustrated instead of content.
Plot line one starts with Jamie, Claire, Ian and Rollo preparing to leave Frasier's Ridge, both to escape the danger inherent in staying and to go to Scotland to retrieve Jamie's printing press. At the end of A Breath of Snow and Ashes, the little world of the Ridge is in turmoil; the big house has burned down, two residents have been killed, and the Bugs have made off with a fortune in gold. Echo begins here. Jamie and Ian uncover the location of the treasure, but accidentally kill Mrs. Bug in the process of retrieving it. This sets Mr. Bug on a mission of revenge that will chase Ian through the rest of the book.
Despite my complaints, Echo has all the elements of Gabaldon that I've come to love--the historical facts interwoven in the fictional plot line, the fully-fleshed characters (who seem like real people to me), the details of scenery, action, and day-to-day minutiae of life in the 1700s in the Colonies, and the cameos of real people (in Echo, we get to meet Ben Franklin and Benedict Arnold, among interesting folks). I did occasionally get frustrated with the multiple stories as I was reading--I would have enjoyed being able to read each plot line straight through. However, by the end of the book, it was clear why so many complicated stories were told within the covers of one book. They really do meld; you just have to be patient and get to the end. And then be patient for the next few years while she writes the next book to tie up the ends she left loose. On reflecting, the lack of denouement emphasizes the story's themes and the characters' struggles; we leave them in the midst of a time of great turmoil in the world--how else could Gabaldon leave the reader other than in turmoil at the anticipation of what's to come next in the series?
All in all, An Echo in the Bone was worth reading. I did have to push myself sometimes, and it did take me a couple of weeks to read, but by the time I finished, I was glad that I had. I will clearly have to go back and reread it in a few weeks; at 800 pages, it's not a book I can digest in one reading. For those who, like me, sometimes enjoy a book as meaty as this, "Echo" is a pleasure to read. For those who, like me, are used to waiting for the next book in an exciting series (Harry Potter, anyone? Eragon?), you'll understand my impatience on reaching the end of the book. And perhaps you'll join me.
Please note, Gabaldon has explicitly said that this is NOT the last book in the series, so while the cliffhanger endings are frustrating, we will have our questions answered in a few years.
See all of my reviews at [...]
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2: Far too long!
Really enjoyed all the books but far too long and boring. Have to skim read to get through them as not interesting enough to read every word. Most of the time I'm thinking - who cares, what's that to do with the story. Poor old Roger - what a disappointing character and the best thing - his voice - she took away from him. Can't imagine what her editor is doing not cutting it back - half the size would be good. Written equivalent of 'the runs'. Agree with all the other comments re Lord John - boring character and certainly won't be reading those books. Jamie was too good to be true and found myself actually being irritated by him at times - strange.
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3: Complete Disappointment
Other reviewers have said it better than I am able, so I won't reiterate their glowing reviews of the failings of this sadly improbable - and hopefully last - installment. As with other recently popular authors, Charlaine Harris in particular, it seems as if the author was rushed to meet a deadline without really having a complete story in mind, just random meanderings on many different fronts. Where is the editor for this mess???
So, sadly, this series has come to an inglorious and inadequate bunch of tripe. It is quite obvious by now that Gabaldon is only in it for the money and does not want to be sued by not fulfilling her contract(s.) The Lord John series makes this abundantly clear.
BTW, has anyone noticed that Gabaldon has taken down her website???? Probably too many personal attacks on her failing ability to write cohesively.
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4: Very torn...
Ugh! I feel very aggravated. I liked the book, I love the characters, and I love Diana Gabaldon. However, the ending of this book is enough to make you grit your teeth. There were just WAY too many story lines in motion when the book just abruptly ended. It makes me happy that there will obviously be another book in the series (I hope), but I really don't want to wait five years for it. Overall, I liked the book but can't help feeling disappointed by the ending. I will still be ordering the next book as soon as humanly possible though. Hurry up Diana!
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5: ach, too sad lassy!
I share the sentiment that An Echo in the Bone does not read like a DG book at all--sloppily written with no regard for the flow of the story. From the point the Jamie suddenly dies, (with no regard for poor Claire's feelings), to the crummy ending leaving the little guy in the tunnel like a cheap comic book trick; there is no hope at all. Please, please, bring back the Jamie and Claire we have grown to love--with all of the fine writing---and great story telling.
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