Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Delta (1998), 850 pages
Description
Hurtled back through time more than two hundred years to Scotland in 1743, Claire Randall finds herself caught in the midst of an unfamiliar world torn apart by violence, pestilence, and revolution and haunted by her growing feelings for James Fraser, a young soldier.
User reviews
LibraryThing member miketroll
This is a wretched novel: absurd, tedious, mawkish, inane, grotesque. To borrow a line from a real Scot, Christopher Brookmyre: “It smelt like low tide on the shores of Loch Shite.”
In 1945 an English nurse takes a trip with her husband to the Scottish highlands. But very soon she vanishes
In fact, the whole thing stays in 1743. She never goes back to the future! Apart from some token concern for her 20th Century husband around page 300, the time travel wheeze is rapidly shelved as a bad idea.
In hardly any time at all, nurse has married an outlawed Braveheart type and it’s humping-in-the-heather the length of Loch Ness. The bouts of bonking are punctuated by skirmishes with the Redcoats. Braveheart is captured and escapes but inexplicably hangs around to be caught again. The author gratuitously details his homoerotic torture by Colonel English-Nasty. But Brave-arse is rescued from a heavily guarded granite fortress in murkily Macgyveresque fashion. Finally, he and his nurse get away to France.
And that’s about it really – hardly a story for 600 pages! So what of the other 550? Just padding! - dull, relentless, repetitive, sentimental trivia: the crofters’ domestic arrangements, picking herbs on the moors. The highlanders are plucky little Brigadoon stereotypes growling “Och, laddie, dinna ye ken…” and dipping their bannocks in whisky.
The language of the narrative is in fact mostly neither Scots nor of the 18th Century, but resonates with the clichés of modern English suburbia. At times the writing is so monotonous that you wonder if she was watching TV at the time, putting in another 500 words instead of doing a little crochet. This book had an editor, allegedly.
Enough! But what to do with the book now? Releasing it into the wild would be an act of urban terrorism. Put it on a nail in the toilet? Hmm….
In 1945 an English nurse takes a trip with her husband to the Scottish highlands. But very soon she vanishes
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through a time portal into 1743. Or rather, HE vanishes, since the narrative stays with the lady in the era of Bonnie Prince Charlie. In fact, the whole thing stays in 1743. She never goes back to the future! Apart from some token concern for her 20th Century husband around page 300, the time travel wheeze is rapidly shelved as a bad idea.
In hardly any time at all, nurse has married an outlawed Braveheart type and it’s humping-in-the-heather the length of Loch Ness. The bouts of bonking are punctuated by skirmishes with the Redcoats. Braveheart is captured and escapes but inexplicably hangs around to be caught again. The author gratuitously details his homoerotic torture by Colonel English-Nasty. But Brave-arse is rescued from a heavily guarded granite fortress in murkily Macgyveresque fashion. Finally, he and his nurse get away to France.
And that’s about it really – hardly a story for 600 pages! So what of the other 550? Just padding! - dull, relentless, repetitive, sentimental trivia: the crofters’ domestic arrangements, picking herbs on the moors. The highlanders are plucky little Brigadoon stereotypes growling “Och, laddie, dinna ye ken…” and dipping their bannocks in whisky.
The language of the narrative is in fact mostly neither Scots nor of the 18th Century, but resonates with the clichés of modern English suburbia. At times the writing is so monotonous that you wonder if she was watching TV at the time, putting in another 500 words instead of doing a little crochet. This book had an editor, allegedly.
Enough! But what to do with the book now? Releasing it into the wild would be an act of urban terrorism. Put it on a nail in the toilet? Hmm….
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LibraryThing member bragan
It's 1945, and Claire, a newly retired army nurse, is in the Highlands of Scotland attempting to enjoy a second honeymoon with the husband she's barely seen in the last six years. Instead, she takes a wrong turn through a magical stone circle and ends up being thrown back in time a couple of
This book was recommended to me, if I recall rightly, as being a great romance novel for people who don't read romance novels. Well, hey, I thought, I'm someone who doesn't read romance novels! But I do like a good time travel story. Maybe I should check it out sometime. So I stuck in on my wishlist and mostly forgot about it until somebody went and bought me a copy. At which point, I felt obligated to read it, but couldn't help approaching it with a certain amount of trepidation, what with the whole not-reading-romance-novels thing. And at first, I was pleasantly surprised. It was effortlessly readable, the heroine was pleasantly down-to-earth, the romance seemed to be starting with a friendship in which the two people involved actually had things to talk to each other about, and the setting was reasonably interesting.
The more I read, though, the more I had to admit that this book has... issues. The passion between the two characters, once it develops, seems to be more presented to us as a given than convincingly shown, despite all the sex. And speaking of the sex, there's a moment or two in there that had me rolling my eyes and remembering some bad fanfiction I'd read. Also, Claire seems to experience remarkably little culture shock and to spend remarkably little time thinking much of anything about the bizarre nature of her situation, which is odd and makes things somewhat less realistic and interesting. The history and politics of the time are never as fleshed out as they could be, either, mostly just being there to keep the romantic action going and to set up situations for one of the two to rescue the other from. But strangely none of that seemed to present much of a barrier to my enjoyment. What was more of a problem was the book's overwhelming obsession with sexual assault. Seriously, there were stretches in here where the heroine seemed to be threatened with rape at least once a chapter. Hell, there were longish periods where that's all that seemed to happen. Threats of rape, jokes about rape, attempted rape, discussion of rape, over and over and over. Also, a spot or two of homosexual rape, I guess so the guys wouldn't be left out, and some no-means-yes, it's-a-good-thing-she-likes-it-because-he's-going-to-do-it-anyway borderline marital rape, which I think I was supposed to find sexy. Which... Um. Yeah. It's all simultaneously tediously repetitive and disturbing. And then, when it's not harping on rape, the book is way, way into descriptions of corporal punishment, from physically disciplining children (it's mostly pro), to flogging and torture (it's anti, but likes to watch a manly man take it), to getting turned on by beating your wife for disobedience.
And, geez, having just typed all that, I feel really embarrassed to admit that I didn't hate it. Honestly, it was pretty much the epitome of junk food literature. You know it's horribly unhealthy, and you can almost feel it giving you indigestion, but somehow it's still mindlessly pleasant and just so damned effortless to munch through. I'm sure it helped, too, that I read in on vacation, when junk food reading was exactly what I wanted.
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hundred years, where thanks to complicated set of circumstances, she finds herself taking up with a strapping young Highlander with a price on his head.This book was recommended to me, if I recall rightly, as being a great romance novel for people who don't read romance novels. Well, hey, I thought, I'm someone who doesn't read romance novels! But I do like a good time travel story. Maybe I should check it out sometime. So I stuck in on my wishlist and mostly forgot about it until somebody went and bought me a copy. At which point, I felt obligated to read it, but couldn't help approaching it with a certain amount of trepidation, what with the whole not-reading-romance-novels thing. And at first, I was pleasantly surprised. It was effortlessly readable, the heroine was pleasantly down-to-earth, the romance seemed to be starting with a friendship in which the two people involved actually had things to talk to each other about, and the setting was reasonably interesting.
The more I read, though, the more I had to admit that this book has... issues. The passion between the two characters, once it develops, seems to be more presented to us as a given than convincingly shown, despite all the sex. And speaking of the sex, there's a moment or two in there that had me rolling my eyes and remembering some bad fanfiction I'd read. Also, Claire seems to experience remarkably little culture shock and to spend remarkably little time thinking much of anything about the bizarre nature of her situation, which is odd and makes things somewhat less realistic and interesting. The history and politics of the time are never as fleshed out as they could be, either, mostly just being there to keep the romantic action going and to set up situations for one of the two to rescue the other from. But strangely none of that seemed to present much of a barrier to my enjoyment. What was more of a problem was the book's overwhelming obsession with sexual assault. Seriously, there were stretches in here where the heroine seemed to be threatened with rape at least once a chapter. Hell, there were longish periods where that's all that seemed to happen. Threats of rape, jokes about rape, attempted rape, discussion of rape, over and over and over. Also, a spot or two of homosexual rape, I guess so the guys wouldn't be left out, and some no-means-yes, it's-a-good-thing-she-likes-it-because-he's-going-to-do-it-anyway borderline marital rape, which I think I was supposed to find sexy. Which... Um. Yeah. It's all simultaneously tediously repetitive and disturbing. And then, when it's not harping on rape, the book is way, way into descriptions of corporal punishment, from physically disciplining children (it's mostly pro), to flogging and torture (it's anti, but likes to watch a manly man take it), to getting turned on by beating your wife for disobedience.
And, geez, having just typed all that, I feel really embarrassed to admit that I didn't hate it. Honestly, it was pretty much the epitome of junk food literature. You know it's horribly unhealthy, and you can almost feel it giving you indigestion, but somehow it's still mindlessly pleasant and just so damned effortless to munch through. I'm sure it helped, too, that I read in on vacation, when junk food reading was exactly what I wanted.
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LibraryThing member atheist_goat
I ran across the first three books in this series at a used bookstore, after totally forgetting that I read Outlander years and years ago at my (now late) cousin's house. So I picked them up more from sentimental reasons than anything else. (Premise: woman from 1945 travels back in time to 1743
I had remembered liking this book almost despite the heroine, who isn't annoying so much as colorless - after eight hundred pages of first-person narrative, one should have more of a sense of who she is than one does. That was the case upon a re-reading as well, and because I seriously value things like medical care and hygiene I found her decision to stay in 1743 bizarre. Yes, I believe in true love; but if the odds are enormous that you're only going to have a decade or less left with your true love before childbirth or some minor infection kills you, then my vote is for a long healthy life with a sweet memory of that true love. And with dental care.
Anyhoo, so this remained a pretty fun read, though I had forgotten that the hero beats the heroine and that they matter-of-factly discuss the beating of their future children. Okay, so it's more historically accurate than romance novels in which the eighteenth-century hero has weirdly modern feminist notions, but: ugh. Also, the heroine's from 1945, for heaven's sake: why is she so fine with this? And I had certainly forgotten that both villains are gay and that for Gabaldon "gay" is synonymous with "sexual predator". NOT COOL. Sure, there are heterosexual rapists running around too, but the way it's presented that gay men by nature are constantly trying to rape boys in stables is so revolting.
I've got the next two, so I plan to read them (wicked fast reads, I'm sure), but I hope Gabaldon lays off the gay = evil and child-beating = A-OK. Also, huge pet peeve of mine: there was no such thing as a "clan tartan" in the sense we now know it (and the sense in which Gabaldon uses it) until the early nineteenth century. It drives me nuts when authors clearly do enormous amounts of research on their time period and then leave in what they know is an anachronism but insultingly assume their readers won't.
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Scotland and meets a tall broad-shouldered hunk. As one does. In 1743 your average Scotsman was about five foot three and had rickets, but the wisdom of our ancestors is in the romance tropes, and who am I to quibble.) I had remembered liking this book almost despite the heroine, who isn't annoying so much as colorless - after eight hundred pages of first-person narrative, one should have more of a sense of who she is than one does. That was the case upon a re-reading as well, and because I seriously value things like medical care and hygiene I found her decision to stay in 1743 bizarre. Yes, I believe in true love; but if the odds are enormous that you're only going to have a decade or less left with your true love before childbirth or some minor infection kills you, then my vote is for a long healthy life with a sweet memory of that true love. And with dental care.
Anyhoo, so this remained a pretty fun read, though I had forgotten that the hero beats the heroine and that they matter-of-factly discuss the beating of their future children. Okay, so it's more historically accurate than romance novels in which the eighteenth-century hero has weirdly modern feminist notions, but: ugh. Also, the heroine's from 1945, for heaven's sake: why is she so fine with this? And I had certainly forgotten that both villains are gay and that for Gabaldon "gay" is synonymous with "sexual predator". NOT COOL. Sure, there are heterosexual rapists running around too, but the way it's presented that gay men by nature are constantly trying to rape boys in stables is so revolting.
I've got the next two, so I plan to read them (wicked fast reads, I'm sure), but I hope Gabaldon lays off the gay = evil and child-beating = A-OK. Also, huge pet peeve of mine: there was no such thing as a "clan tartan" in the sense we now know it (and the sense in which Gabaldon uses it) until the early nineteenth century. It drives me nuts when authors clearly do enormous amounts of research on their time period and then leave in what they know is an anachronism but insultingly assume their readers won't.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Where has this book been in my life, and why has no one demanded I read it until this year? Seriously, I was absolutely stunned by the deliciousness of this book. Even though it came very highly recommended to me by others - I believe many mentioned it was their favorite book of all time - I
Speaking of Claire, I love the fact she is such a strong female main character. She is not afraid to make the tough decisions, even though she knows how much trouble it may cause. However, I was left wondering if this were more her character itself or the generation into which she was born. Another question that kept running through my mind is whether she truly loves Frank. She doubts his fidelity during the War; she mocked his interests/passions and did everything possible to ignore them. To me, I did not see the love there, especially when compared to her love for Jamie.
As to Jamie, all I can say is "Hot Damn!" He has a childlike abandon to life that is very endearing, but the reader is never left with any doubt that he is ALL male. One can't help but fall in love with him and weep over his plight. His pragmatism is both frustrating and yet one of his best characteristics. And let me just say how nice it is to read about a major male lead who has chest hair. I get tired of reading about all these smooth chests and arms. Granted, that may be my personal preference, but it also seems more realistic to me.
Captain Randall is the villain we love to hate, isn't he? I also liked how Frank's research of him differed from the true man. If that isn't a not-so-gentle reminder that history can easily be distorted through the years and that we should not believe everything we read in history books, then I don't know what is. It also serves as a reminder not to romanticize the past. Unfortunately, because of the romanticization of Black Jack, his appearance, in my opinion, makes it impossible for Claire to choose any other path than the one she chose. If she had gone back through the stone circle, she would have never been able to forget either Captain Randall, and subsequently Jamie. Because of their physical likenesses, her attraction/love for Frank would always be tainted by her experiences with Jack. It is an interesting conundrum but adds great tension to the book.
One can't discuss the book without mentioning the backdrop, as they are very much another character. The Scottish Highlands are charming but tough, beautiful but extremely dangerous, mystical but yet realistic. They reflect the characters of the Scots themselves. The dialect was easy to understand and made me feel like I was really in Scotland. I would get a rude awakening each time I finished reading, and someone would speak to me without using a Scottish lilt. I was completely immersed in the book, and I feel it is due in large part to the realistic portrayal of life in the Scottish Highlands in 1743.
Overall, if you can't tell by now, I feel that this was one of the best books I have read all year, if not the very top of my list. I will gladly put this in my top ten favorite books of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Thank you to all my friends who recommended this to me. You all were absolutely correct in your estimations of it. This is the last book for my Fall Into Reading Challenge. I definitely saved the best for last.
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remained dubious and tried to keep my expectations low. That may or may not have played in my favor. All I know is that this book left me an emotional and mental wreck; my heart raced, my stomach churned, and I could not get Claire and Jamie out of my mind the entire time I was reading the book.Speaking of Claire, I love the fact she is such a strong female main character. She is not afraid to make the tough decisions, even though she knows how much trouble it may cause. However, I was left wondering if this were more her character itself or the generation into which she was born. Another question that kept running through my mind is whether she truly loves Frank. She doubts his fidelity during the War; she mocked his interests/passions and did everything possible to ignore them. To me, I did not see the love there, especially when compared to her love for Jamie.
As to Jamie, all I can say is "Hot Damn!" He has a childlike abandon to life that is very endearing, but the reader is never left with any doubt that he is ALL male. One can't help but fall in love with him and weep over his plight. His pragmatism is both frustrating and yet one of his best characteristics. And let me just say how nice it is to read about a major male lead who has chest hair. I get tired of reading about all these smooth chests and arms. Granted, that may be my personal preference, but it also seems more realistic to me.
Captain Randall is the villain we love to hate, isn't he? I also liked how Frank's research of him differed from the true man. If that isn't a not-so-gentle reminder that history can easily be distorted through the years and that we should not believe everything we read in history books, then I don't know what is. It also serves as a reminder not to romanticize the past. Unfortunately, because of the romanticization of Black Jack, his appearance, in my opinion, makes it impossible for Claire to choose any other path than the one she chose. If she had gone back through the stone circle, she would have never been able to forget either Captain Randall, and subsequently Jamie. Because of their physical likenesses, her attraction/love for Frank would always be tainted by her experiences with Jack. It is an interesting conundrum but adds great tension to the book.
One can't discuss the book without mentioning the backdrop, as they are very much another character. The Scottish Highlands are charming but tough, beautiful but extremely dangerous, mystical but yet realistic. They reflect the characters of the Scots themselves. The dialect was easy to understand and made me feel like I was really in Scotland. I would get a rude awakening each time I finished reading, and someone would speak to me without using a Scottish lilt. I was completely immersed in the book, and I feel it is due in large part to the realistic portrayal of life in the Scottish Highlands in 1743.
Overall, if you can't tell by now, I feel that this was one of the best books I have read all year, if not the very top of my list. I will gladly put this in my top ten favorite books of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Thank you to all my friends who recommended this to me. You all were absolutely correct in your estimations of it. This is the last book for my Fall Into Reading Challenge. I definitely saved the best for last.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
I read this on vacation at a friend's recommendation and have to say that I don't quite get the overwhelming number of 5 star ratings...but to each his/her own. For me, the time spent on this book was more like a little escape into some trashy fiction. Sheepishly, I admit to enjoying doing just
I know some people find Gabaldon's writing tedious; I didn't. The book is fairly loaded with cliché, but then, that's the genre.
However, I couldn't shake the knowledge that Claire's behavior was just not believable...not for an independent, contentedly-married, 20th century woman. It's as if a switch gets thrown a short way into the book: thoughts of hubby are erased, brain shuts down, libido gets amped up to 11, and away we go...
That colored the whole book for me. So, approach it for what it is...a bodice-ripper that you might feel a little guilty about finishing. That's what I did. :-)
I skimmed through some portions of the sequels and find no desire to read any of them.
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that at times.I know some people find Gabaldon's writing tedious; I didn't. The book is fairly loaded with cliché, but then, that's the genre.
However, I couldn't shake the knowledge that Claire's behavior was just not believable...not for an independent, contentedly-married, 20th century woman. It's as if a switch gets thrown a short way into the book: thoughts of hubby are erased, brain shuts down, libido gets amped up to 11, and away we go...
That colored the whole book for me. So, approach it for what it is...a bodice-ripper that you might feel a little guilty about finishing. That's what I did. :-)
I skimmed through some portions of the sequels and find no desire to read any of them.
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LibraryThing member M0vingon
I must admit that I don't get why people love this book. I'm not a romance fan to begin with and Outlander had far too much romance accompanied by pages of innuendo and sex that I can live without. I believed this book to be of the sci-fi/historical fiction genre, but it was a glorified romance
There were so many loopholes in the time travel element! I'm sorry, but an academic knowledge of the lifestyle of the times does not compensate for the removal of self from the 20th century and all amenities therein. Furthermore, I found the dialogue to be wrought with vocabulary and allusions that would not have taken place in 18th century Scotland. The only historically accurate elements seemed to be the brutality and sexism- upon which the story rides.
I had the odd sense that the only reason I was forcing myself to finish it was in the hopes that it would eventually get better and be worthy of all the fabulous reviews. I truly believe that the reason the majority of readers love this book is because Gabaldon does an adequate job of giving people "the hots" for her fictional male character. If you're looking for a tight plot, historical accuracy, and excellent story progression, this is not it. Overall, this book gets a thumbs-down from me.
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novel. Am I mistaken or have we heard the "You must marry this rogue (to whom you are secretly attracted) against your will to save your own life" plot line before? There were so many loopholes in the time travel element! I'm sorry, but an academic knowledge of the lifestyle of the times does not compensate for the removal of self from the 20th century and all amenities therein. Furthermore, I found the dialogue to be wrought with vocabulary and allusions that would not have taken place in 18th century Scotland. The only historically accurate elements seemed to be the brutality and sexism- upon which the story rides.
I had the odd sense that the only reason I was forcing myself to finish it was in the hopes that it would eventually get better and be worthy of all the fabulous reviews. I truly believe that the reason the majority of readers love this book is because Gabaldon does an adequate job of giving people "the hots" for her fictional male character. If you're looking for a tight plot, historical accuracy, and excellent story progression, this is not it. Overall, this book gets a thumbs-down from me.
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LibraryThing member Kskye
I was seriously prejudiced when starting this book. Like many other of my reads I finally read Outlander because I kept hearing people rave about it on Tumblr and so forth. I opened the book and read the first sentence of the brief summary:
“Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a
*slammed book shut*
“Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire.”
This suspiciously sounds like one of those books your aunt gets caught reading from the book stash hidden under her bed. Plus I hate infidelity…I don’t care if your husband and your lover will never meet because while with one the other wasn’t born yet, or with the other your lovers been dead 200 years. Pfft. How convenient.
Details, Please
So in 1945 while on her second honeymoon, former nurse Claire Randall ends up touching some random boulder in an ancient stone circle while out collecting plants and –Bamf- gets transported to 1743 Scotland. Freaked out and landing in possibly the worst place ever she ends up between a feud with Scots and the English. Now she constantly has to defend herself because everyone who’s anyone thinks she’s a spy or a witch. She meets Jamie Fraser a younger Scots warrior and complications arise. What’s a time traveling girl to do? Stay with her younger warrior or return to her husband in the 20th century…
So what? *Slight spoiler warning*
I heard it’s difficult to classify this book because its historical fiction, fantasy and even science-fiction, but you know what? It’s basically an angsty romance. I guess you could call it a fantasy...the Loch Ness Monster makes an appearance. But Gosh, I got over my initial prejudice about this book, because I was curious and I heard the first chapter on audiobook while packing. It was interesting. I mean the one scene that made me curious is when Claire’s first husband sees a Scotsman ghost staring at her from outside her window. I kept reading. Here’s the thing: It’s brutal.
I did not take pleasure in worrying about whether someone was going to get flogged, raped or assaulted at every corner. I felt like I was peering through sadistic windows, becoming an unwilling voyeur. I had to take a break half way through and read Harry Potter fanfiction. Dude, that’s how upset I was.
I felt bad for her first husband probably going out of his mind looking for her. I felt like the author was trying to justify Claire not going back to her husband because her first husband’s six-time-great grandfather is the villain of this book. Plus, some of the sentences just made me laugh:
“I was now shut in the room of a rural inn, awaiting a completely different husband, whom I scarcely knew, with firm orders to consummate a forced marriage, at risk of my life and liberty.”
I had a legit reason to marry another man in a different century! Pfft. Please.
Overall
Read it, just so you can say you read the book all the girls are fangirling about, but only if you don't care about wasting your time. I just got tired of feeling uptight. The book has some controversial scenes. I mean the majority of it took place in the 18th century so of course women of today would be scandalized by some scenes. I don’t know what to think of them except I didn’t like reading about someone getting beaten within an inch of her life, and it being acceptable at the time.The ending was happy, but it wasn’t worth the crap I had to trudge through to get there.
I can’t go any further. I’m emotionally spent. I hear someone gets sold into slavery in the next book? No thanks. I’m not coming back to this world. I’m touching the stones at Craigh na Dun and I’m going back home.
To be fair, I'm surrounded by positive reviews, so just judge for yourself.
“Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a
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husband in one century, and a lover in another.”*slammed book shut*
“Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire.”
This suspiciously sounds like one of those books your aunt gets caught reading from the book stash hidden under her bed. Plus I hate infidelity…I don’t care if your husband and your lover will never meet because while with one the other wasn’t born yet, or with the other your lovers been dead 200 years. Pfft. How convenient.
Details, Please
So in 1945 while on her second honeymoon, former nurse Claire Randall ends up touching some random boulder in an ancient stone circle while out collecting plants and –Bamf- gets transported to 1743 Scotland. Freaked out and landing in possibly the worst place ever she ends up between a feud with Scots and the English. Now she constantly has to defend herself because everyone who’s anyone thinks she’s a spy or a witch. She meets Jamie Fraser a younger Scots warrior and complications arise. What’s a time traveling girl to do? Stay with her younger warrior or return to her husband in the 20th century…
So what? *Slight spoiler warning*
I heard it’s difficult to classify this book because its historical fiction, fantasy and even science-fiction, but you know what? It’s basically an angsty romance. I guess you could call it a fantasy...the Loch Ness Monster makes an appearance. But Gosh, I got over my initial prejudice about this book, because I was curious and I heard the first chapter on audiobook while packing. It was interesting. I mean the one scene that made me curious is when Claire’s first husband sees a Scotsman ghost staring at her from outside her window. I kept reading. Here’s the thing: It’s brutal.
I did not take pleasure in worrying about whether someone was going to get flogged, raped or assaulted at every corner. I felt like I was peering through sadistic windows, becoming an unwilling voyeur. I had to take a break half way through and read Harry Potter fanfiction. Dude, that’s how upset I was.
I felt bad for her first husband probably going out of his mind looking for her. I felt like the author was trying to justify Claire not going back to her husband because her first husband’s six-time-great grandfather is the villain of this book. Plus, some of the sentences just made me laugh:
“I was now shut in the room of a rural inn, awaiting a completely different husband, whom I scarcely knew, with firm orders to consummate a forced marriage, at risk of my life and liberty.”
I had a legit reason to marry another man in a different century! Pfft. Please.
Overall
Read it, just so you can say you read the book all the girls are fangirling about, but only if you don't care about wasting your time. I just got tired of feeling uptight. The book has some controversial scenes. I mean the majority of it took place in the 18th century so of course women of today would be scandalized by some scenes. I don’t know what to think of them except I didn’t like reading about someone getting beaten within an inch of her life, and it being acceptable at the time.The ending was happy, but it wasn’t worth the crap I had to trudge through to get there.
I can’t go any further. I’m emotionally spent. I hear someone gets sold into slavery in the next book? No thanks. I’m not coming back to this world. I’m touching the stones at Craigh na Dun and I’m going back home.
To be fair, I'm surrounded by positive reviews, so just judge for yourself.
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LibraryThing member cranmergirl
This book is a Harlequin-style romance novel unsuccessfully trying to masquerade as something more substantial. First of all, I do not care for Gabaldon's style of writing. Too much sex; not enough character development. I didn't give a fig about any of the characters, with the possible exception
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of Frank, till at least half way through this long book. The protagonist, Claire, is the most annoying character of all. We first meet her in 1945 while she and husband Frank are in Scotland on a second honeymoon after a six year separation during the war. Next thing you know, she's been transported back to 1743 and in pretty short order, she's enjoying herself in the sack with her new husband, Jamie. Not much is said about Frank and the reader is left to wonder what happened to him and why Claire doesn't seem to care all that much. In addition, Gabaldon would have us believe that in a relatively short period of time, this modern woman has quite willingly given up all modern conveniences such as showers, indoor plumbing, modern dentistry and heat, all in the name of lust. As the story progresses, Claire kills a couple of people in self-defense and eventually (long after it occurred to me), she wonders for about ten seconds if this might interfere with the future. Ya think?? But not to worry. Our heroine doesn't waste much brain power on that concept because soon it's time for another roll in the hay with her soul mate Jamie. Having said that, this book was not totally without merit. There were times when I was interested in what was going to happen next. But overall, I was turned off by the author's failure to develop some of the most promising story lines amid her overuse of titillating sex scenes. My advice is read this book ONLY if you are a dedicated reader of Harlequin-style romances; if you want a good time travel story, keep looking. Show Less
LibraryThing member puttocklibrary
This is just about my favourite book ever. I recommend it and the series, to everyone who asks for a good book to read. I love it because it has a little of everything: romance, adventure, mystery, a bit of the paranormal, and even some horror. This is one book that just will not fall into any one
The setting is Scotland, a land of beauty and history, myth and mystery. The wealth of historical detail, and Claire's quirky modern descriptions of a time not her own, enthralled me completely, and have never let go. Claire and Jaime have become to me the most real fictional characters I have ever met.
This first novel is the wonderful tale of how they met, and fell in love, despite the incredible cultural and ideological gulf between them (not to mention the 200 or so years between their respective births).
This is no typical corny romance time-travel. The means by which Claire travels through time is both plausible and mysterious, and does not provide a convenient and easy way for her to live in both worlds. She must make a difficult choice between the two men she loves, and whether to remain living in a Scotland where, she knows with utter certainty, war is coming.
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category.The setting is Scotland, a land of beauty and history, myth and mystery. The wealth of historical detail, and Claire's quirky modern descriptions of a time not her own, enthralled me completely, and have never let go. Claire and Jaime have become to me the most real fictional characters I have ever met.
This first novel is the wonderful tale of how they met, and fell in love, despite the incredible cultural and ideological gulf between them (not to mention the 200 or so years between their respective births).
This is no typical corny romance time-travel. The means by which Claire travels through time is both plausible and mysterious, and does not provide a convenient and easy way for her to live in both worlds. She must make a difficult choice between the two men she loves, and whether to remain living in a Scotland where, she knows with utter certainty, war is coming.
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LibraryThing member kiravk
Outlander is a book that can't quite decide what it wants to be. A bodice ripper? Science fiction? Historical fiction? Pretentious chicklit? 600 pages later, I'm still trying to figure it out.
In the aftermath of World War II, spirited Claire Beauchamp and her British husband set off on a romantic
Despite this ridiculous premise, Diana Galbadon's writing is very, very good. I'm a complete sucker for Scottish history and the superb quality of her prose almost makes up for the distinct lack of plot. More unforgivable are the implausible reactions of her characters. Case 1: Claire agonizes over the separation of her husband for all of three paragraphs. Woe is me! Where is Frank? I love him so. We cannot be separated! I must find a way back to him! All thoughts of her supposed beloved are merrily tossed to the wind the moment her younger, rugged-manly-man Scot shows up on the scene----at which point we will never hear poor cuckolded Frank mentioned again. More annoyingly, Claire never expresses any true displeasure at being thrown 200 years in the past. She takes witch hunts, unsanitary conditions, and primitive technology completely in stride. This impressive cultural assimiliation is probably the most eye-rolling aspect of the entire novel, since any normal person would be whining for electricity and warm showers.
But the thing that really earned this book a thumbs down is this: after Claire disobeys Jamie by running off, he physically beats her---badly enough that she's in pain for several days.
I thought this would be a crux of self revelation for Claire: I've shacked up with a jerk! Living in the 18th century sucks! Take me back to my educated, well mannered husband in 1944! Instead, Claire sulks for twenty pages, then promptly hops back into bed with him. Ok, I get that it's the 18th century and it was socially acceptable at the time to beat women, but I was disgusted that any author would give her "hero" a get-out-of-jail-free card for abuse. Her attempts to vindicate this caveman behavior fell completely flat for me, so it's a mystery as to why Outlander was a huge bestseller. Even now, it still has about a million squealing fans ready to dissect every page; when I checked it out, the librarian gushed, " You'll just love this book! It's addicting!" This is actually the first in a series of six, I think---I've read the second one awhile ago, mistakenly thinking it was the first, and it was actually much better. There's more action, a better plot, and Jamie is less of a jerk. But be ye warned: Galbadon is incapable of writing a book under 500 pages.
In the aftermath of World War II, spirited Claire Beauchamp and her British husband set off on a romantic
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vacation to Scotland. Just when you're convinced that this will be a regular romance, Claire stumbles through a circle of "magic stones" ( I know, I cringed too) and time travels back to 18th century Scotland. There are admittedly better places to be transported: at the moment of her arrival, the British and the Scots are in the middle of tearing each other apart. Bewildered and confused, our plucky heroine is convinced that she's stumbled upon a film set until Captain Randall, her husband's evil ancestor, decides to takes her prisoner. After narrowly escaping rape & capture, she teams up with the fleeing Scots. Among them is Jamie Fraser, a man who embodies every single romantic stereotype women have about Scottish men. He is---hold your breath----Claire's soulmate. Despite this ridiculous premise, Diana Galbadon's writing is very, very good. I'm a complete sucker for Scottish history and the superb quality of her prose almost makes up for the distinct lack of plot. More unforgivable are the implausible reactions of her characters. Case 1: Claire agonizes over the separation of her husband for all of three paragraphs. Woe is me! Where is Frank? I love him so. We cannot be separated! I must find a way back to him! All thoughts of her supposed beloved are merrily tossed to the wind the moment her younger, rugged-manly-man Scot shows up on the scene----at which point we will never hear poor cuckolded Frank mentioned again. More annoyingly, Claire never expresses any true displeasure at being thrown 200 years in the past. She takes witch hunts, unsanitary conditions, and primitive technology completely in stride. This impressive cultural assimiliation is probably the most eye-rolling aspect of the entire novel, since any normal person would be whining for electricity and warm showers.
But the thing that really earned this book a thumbs down is this: after Claire disobeys Jamie by running off, he physically beats her---badly enough that she's in pain for several days.
I thought this would be a crux of self revelation for Claire: I've shacked up with a jerk! Living in the 18th century sucks! Take me back to my educated, well mannered husband in 1944! Instead, Claire sulks for twenty pages, then promptly hops back into bed with him. Ok, I get that it's the 18th century and it was socially acceptable at the time to beat women, but I was disgusted that any author would give her "hero" a get-out-of-jail-free card for abuse. Her attempts to vindicate this caveman behavior fell completely flat for me, so it's a mystery as to why Outlander was a huge bestseller. Even now, it still has about a million squealing fans ready to dissect every page; when I checked it out, the librarian gushed, " You'll just love this book! It's addicting!" This is actually the first in a series of six, I think---I've read the second one awhile ago, mistakenly thinking it was the first, and it was actually much better. There's more action, a better plot, and Jamie is less of a jerk. But be ye warned: Galbadon is incapable of writing a book under 500 pages.
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LibraryThing member MickyFine
Claire Randall is on a second honeymoon with her husband in Scotland in 1945 following the end of World War II. While walking in the hills, she touches an ancient stone which pulls her back into the past to 1743 where she is pulled into a clash between the Scottish clans of the Highlands and
The Outlander series had been on my radar for a while now, but I have only just gotten to it and I was thoroughly impressed by what I found. Gabaldon has created a wonderful heroine whose reactions to being hurled from post-war Britain into 18th century Scotland are realistic and gripping reading. Claire's relationships with her husband, Frank, in 1945 and Jamie in 1743 are compelling and Gabaldon ensures that the two men in Claire's life are not interchangeable.
While time travel is the catalyst for the narrative, it is not the main point of the novel. This element is included rather, in my opinion, in order to provide a more relevant heroine for the modern reader to relate to. It also adds a unique spice to the historical novel. And Gabaldon's historical fiction is already a potent mixture. The books is obviously well-researched and she has an excellent grasp on her subject. She also has fantastic descriptions that in turn can be beautiful or gruesome. I plan to seek out the next books in the series but with breaks in between each of them as her novels are rich and I know an overload of them could cause reading fatigue.
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English troops.The Outlander series had been on my radar for a while now, but I have only just gotten to it and I was thoroughly impressed by what I found. Gabaldon has created a wonderful heroine whose reactions to being hurled from post-war Britain into 18th century Scotland are realistic and gripping reading. Claire's relationships with her husband, Frank, in 1945 and Jamie in 1743 are compelling and Gabaldon ensures that the two men in Claire's life are not interchangeable.
While time travel is the catalyst for the narrative, it is not the main point of the novel. This element is included rather, in my opinion, in order to provide a more relevant heroine for the modern reader to relate to. It also adds a unique spice to the historical novel. And Gabaldon's historical fiction is already a potent mixture. The books is obviously well-researched and she has an excellent grasp on her subject. She also has fantastic descriptions that in turn can be beautiful or gruesome. I plan to seek out the next books in the series but with breaks in between each of them as her novels are rich and I know an overload of them could cause reading fatigue.
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LibraryThing member majkia
Hated it. Only made it through about half way.
Yes, the writing is great. But honestly, it is everything I despise about the Romance genre (however it ends and whether or not it as a HEA ending).
The heroine is a dolt, the hero is a lout and sex addles everyone.
It was like reading an entire Game of
Yes, the writing is great. But honestly, it is everything I despise about the Romance genre (however it ends and whether or not it as a HEA ending).
The heroine is a dolt, the hero is a lout and sex addles everyone.
It was like reading an entire Game of
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Thrones size tome of nothing but Sansa Stark chapters. Me, I want Arya! Show Less
LibraryThing member cameling
An exciting and wonderfully entertaining story of time-travel. Claire Beauchamps is vacationing in the Scottish highlands with her husband Frank after the end of WWII. During one of her solitary strolls, she comes across some stones and in resting her palms on 2 of them, she falls and finds herself
A nurse in the 1940s, her ability to set broken bone and patch wounds, allows her relatively safe passage with the Scottish warriors who find her. Life in the 18th century is nothing like what she had imagined, and she finds more adventures as she adapts to the time she finds herself in. But while she learns to live and care for the people who have taken her in, she can't help but plan her escape to get back to her husband and the time she came from.
However, the thing with time travel is that any change to events and different meetings with different people in a different time, will all have an impact in the future. An English captain is trampled to death by stampeding cows instead of on a battle field. How does this impact the future? If he died before he had his family who were supposed to have been ancestors to those alive in the 1940s, does that mean that they would not exist? How might certain events in the future be different if one travels back in time, and prevents certain things from happening? Does Claire have a duty not to tamper with history just because she carries the knowledge of the future with her, even if it may have a disastrous impact on someone she's fallen in love with in this wild Scottish highland?
I don't think this book is meant to be anything other than entertaining, and I know that it's part of a long series, but it did make me pause to consider how even the most innocent and possibly innocuous meeting or event, may result in a drastic change in the future.
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on the fringe of a skirmish between some English Redcoats and some Scottish warriors. A nurse in the 1940s, her ability to set broken bone and patch wounds, allows her relatively safe passage with the Scottish warriors who find her. Life in the 18th century is nothing like what she had imagined, and she finds more adventures as she adapts to the time she finds herself in. But while she learns to live and care for the people who have taken her in, she can't help but plan her escape to get back to her husband and the time she came from.
However, the thing with time travel is that any change to events and different meetings with different people in a different time, will all have an impact in the future. An English captain is trampled to death by stampeding cows instead of on a battle field. How does this impact the future? If he died before he had his family who were supposed to have been ancestors to those alive in the 1940s, does that mean that they would not exist? How might certain events in the future be different if one travels back in time, and prevents certain things from happening? Does Claire have a duty not to tamper with history just because she carries the knowledge of the future with her, even if it may have a disastrous impact on someone she's fallen in love with in this wild Scottish highland?
I don't think this book is meant to be anything other than entertaining, and I know that it's part of a long series, but it did make me pause to consider how even the most innocent and possibly innocuous meeting or event, may result in a drastic change in the future.
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LibraryThing member coffee.is.yum
While I understand why some may consider this to be an epic novel (or series), I became rather bored with it. It does have its good qualities, but the bad ones overwhelmed the good.
The beginning started out incredibly slow. Once the main character was transported into the past it became much more
The main problem I had with the book is while many characters developed as I read the main character did not. Sure, her life and environment changed but she never really developed anything personality and character-wise. She was always able to cope with EVERYTHING. When she met the terrible Jack Randall, she dealt with it rationally and was ultimately unaffected. When she transported into the past, she was flexible and made the best of it...and when she was forced to marry she decided "well, I WAS always attracted to him anyways..."
I just never cared for Claire.
While large books are fine to read---this one was overwhelming (I think Gabaldon could have easily cut out 1/3 of the book without making a difference at all). The characters were always going back into the past telling stories and anecdotes, especially Jamie. It became dull fast learning the past of every character and what they did that Monday morning when they were 16, among other histories of random people they once knew.
Awkwardly enough, there were no anecdotes of Claire. About page 450 trying to finish the book became torture. There was too much lovey-dovey and too little plot.
The beginning started out incredibly slow. Once the main character was transported into the past it became much more
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interesting, and even more so once Claire met James and their romantic relationship began forming. The story then went downhill.The main problem I had with the book is while many characters developed as I read the main character did not. Sure, her life and environment changed but she never really developed anything personality and character-wise. She was always able to cope with EVERYTHING. When she met the terrible Jack Randall, she dealt with it rationally and was ultimately unaffected. When she transported into the past, she was flexible and made the best of it...and when she was forced to marry she decided "well, I WAS always attracted to him anyways..."
I just never cared for Claire.
While large books are fine to read---this one was overwhelming (I think Gabaldon could have easily cut out 1/3 of the book without making a difference at all). The characters were always going back into the past telling stories and anecdotes, especially Jamie. It became dull fast learning the past of every character and what they did that Monday morning when they were 16, among other histories of random people they once knew.
Awkwardly enough, there were no anecdotes of Claire. About page 450 trying to finish the book became torture. There was too much lovey-dovey and too little plot.
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LibraryThing member crazybatcow
Don't tell anyone that I liked it...
I bought this because it was advertised as a sci-fi fantasy. The write up claimed it has "a dash of time travel" - and that's all it has in the way of fantasy/time travel - a dash. Time travel is used as a way to launch a HISTORICAL ROMANCE. And, ultimately,
Keeping that in mind: it is VERY well done. The story is engaging (though I did skim several times to get through the long descriptions of clan family lines, or details of the clothing/housing/etc of the time).
I don't like romances and I don't like historical fiction so I thought the two together would mean I was wasting my time. Not so. Even though it's as far from my usual listening choices (sci/fi or cop/detective stuff) as it could be, the story flew by: I caught myself smiling at events in the story pretty regularly.
Remember though, this is a romantic novel with some/lots of sex (though having made it through the sex scenes in Altered Carbon, this is pretty "romantic" sex) - so if you're looking for sci-fi or fantasy, you will be disappointed in this. Otherwise... if you're not the romantic type but, like me, stumble onto this story by accident only to find that you like it - don't worry, we won't tell anyone...
I bought this because it was advertised as a sci-fi fantasy. The write up claimed it has "a dash of time travel" - and that's all it has in the way of fantasy/time travel - a dash. Time travel is used as a way to launch a HISTORICAL ROMANCE. And, ultimately,
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this is exactly what it is: a very detailed romance novel set in 18th century Scotland. Keeping that in mind: it is VERY well done. The story is engaging (though I did skim several times to get through the long descriptions of clan family lines, or details of the clothing/housing/etc of the time).
I don't like romances and I don't like historical fiction so I thought the two together would mean I was wasting my time. Not so. Even though it's as far from my usual listening choices (sci/fi or cop/detective stuff) as it could be, the story flew by: I caught myself smiling at events in the story pretty regularly.
Remember though, this is a romantic novel with some/lots of sex (though having made it through the sex scenes in Altered Carbon, this is pretty "romantic" sex) - so if you're looking for sci-fi or fantasy, you will be disappointed in this. Otherwise... if you're not the romantic type but, like me, stumble onto this story by accident only to find that you like it - don't worry, we won't tell anyone...
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LibraryThing member TeresaInTexas
It took me forever to read this, but I stuck with it to the end. There's just an awful lot of filler in this--so many unnecessary scenes that did not move the story along. I thought Jamie's character was well-drawn, but Claire's really lacked. The story should have been written in third person,
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rather than first. I think Claire's character would have fared better as seen through a ubiquitous narrator, rather than having the story told through her eyes only. So many characters had to tell her what happened, so that WE, the readers could then know what happened. This story telling to Claire also bogged down the novel's pace. And, I just didn't get the sexual tension between Jamie and Claire; it didn't seem real to me. There's been better sexual tension in some Harlequin romances. I've got the next 3 sequels. I hope the pace and characterizations pick up. Show Less
LibraryThing member alana_leigh
If you're anything like me, even in today's age of online shopping, you still spend a good deal of time lurking in the fiction section of bookstores, idly scanning the spines of books to find titles to add to your growing list of things to read. As a result, you might have noticed an ever-expanding
Um, yeah, let me start over. Claire Randall and her husband, Frank, have gone to the Scottish highlands for a second honeymoon. The year is 1945 and the second world war has just ended. Claire and Frank married quite quickly before the war and found themselves separated for years while they both served their country. Claire was a nurse in a field hospital and Frank was sent off to officers' training and then to MI6. They decided that what they need is a bit of time to get reacquainted... hence, the second honeymoon. Frank has his own historical interests, largely wrapped up in his genealogy, and Claire is an amateur botanist, so they both have things to keep them occupied while they stay near Inverness. Things seem to be going well for them, aside from this brief moment where Frank rather cautiously broaches the subject as to whether or not Claire might have some love affair during their long separation, which he insists he would completely understand. Claire vehemently protests that she never did any such thing and only later does it occur to her that perhaps Frank was the one who had done such a thing. One morning, after being tipped off that a Druid Beltane ritual might take place at a particular stone circle nearby, they hide and silently watch women of the town perform an ancient ceremony. The next day, Claire returns to the place to take some plant samples... and by touching one of the stones, she tumbles headfirst into a different time.
Of course, it takes a little while for her to accept this fact, even after nearly being captured by her husband's ancestor Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall and then actually being captured by a band of kilted Scotsmen brandishing weaponry. At first, she tries to convince herself that this is simply some renegade Scottish clan in a particularly uncivilized patch of the country, but no... she's in the 1740s and her life depends on being able to not seem like a crazy woman, babbling about how she's come through some portal from a time 200 years in the future. It's bad enough that she's English and the Scots aren't too wild about the English or solitary women wandering about in what appears to be a very skimpy shift (as opposed to the pretty floral dress it would have been identified as in the 1940s). Indeed, this is the time right before the Jacobite Rebellion/Rising of 1745 and the Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie. Suspected as a spy, Claire saves her own skin by being able to bandage up the wounds of a handsome young Scot named Jamie... and further assists when she tips off the group about a particular marker that she had recently learned (while listening to a history of the country back in 1945) was a favorite location of the English to ambush the Scots.
Claire is taken to Castle Leoch, where the laird, Colum MacKenzie, is to decide her fate. His brother, Dougal, was the man who captured her and while Claire doesn't quite trust the fellows, Dougal does recommend Claire's healing skills to Colum. He asks her to stay on in the castle to do what she can as a healer for the people there while he supposedly tries to find a way to get her to France. (Claire had worked up a story about being a widow, ambushed on the road as she started a journey to relatives in France.) She sticks to the story, but the MacKenzie brothers aren't quite satisfied here and Claire is basically watched every moment. Despite befriending a few people, Claire is still a "sassenach," or "outlander," and she's desperate to see if there's any possible way for her to return to her own time via the stone circle. Things get even more complicated when Claire finds herself in the awkward position of having to marry the young Scot, Jamie, in order to protect herself from Black Jack Randall (who looks far too disconcertingly like her husband, Frank, and yet is filled with cruelty).
I have a feeling that I would have really loved this book back when I was twelve, eager to read historical novels that weren't YA. I still enjoyed it now in its mass market context of a fun, romantic novel. It's packed with quite a few sex scenes that illustrate the passionate charge between Claire and Jamie which leads to Claire being completely torn about the idea of returning to her actual time because of this handsome young Scot. Their fights are pretty impressive, too; Gabaldon seems to believe that with that much passion between them, they'd spend as much time fighting as they would making up... well, maybe a little more time making up. Jamie rescues Claire repeatedly from danger and she manages to do the same for him (though usually with a little less panache). There is, however, a great amount of historical detail that goes into the book, so it's not all romance novel-y. It's chock full of scenes to evoke the time period that involve Scottish politics, witch trials, attempted rapes, battles, and rudimentary medical practice. There's also a surprising amount of references to sodomy, though never really positive. I suppose there's this blunt Scottish attitude that makes things both funny and a bit shocking at times.
Claire is a very warm and likable heroine (I particularly enjoyed her very modern swearing that repeatedly requires explanations, like "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ") and Jamie is a charming hunk of a hero. I initially thought that Gabaldon's choice to write in Scottish dialect was annoying, but it certainly keeps the Scottish burr in your mind, and when it's coming from big, strong Jamie, that's hardly a bad thing. Their growing love is the main appeal of the novel, but the historical detail is great, particularly when we understand that Claire means to change the future and save Scottish clansmen from the slaughter at Culloden that marks the final battle of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Whether or not she can will certainly be the subject of a future novel, because what Claire needs to decide first is in what time she truly belongs. Gabaldon has created a thrilling store of highland romance and I finally see what all the fuss was about. Outlander is not great literature by any means, but Claire and Jamie are pleasant companions on a rainy day when the Scottish highlands seem like they aren't quite so far away from one's imagination.
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space of shelf in the Gs for Diana Gabaldon. The covers of her books are a solid background color with only the author name, the book title, and an image of a crown or a thistle or something. Having seen these for years, I figured they were some historical epic that spawned countless sequels. I was right. But I'd also, apparently, been missing out on the fact that these rather simple covers encapsulate a romantic storyline that sweeps over the Scottish highlands of the 1700s, yet does so from the perspective of a twentieth century woman. How? Well, there's this magic stone circle...Um, yeah, let me start over. Claire Randall and her husband, Frank, have gone to the Scottish highlands for a second honeymoon. The year is 1945 and the second world war has just ended. Claire and Frank married quite quickly before the war and found themselves separated for years while they both served their country. Claire was a nurse in a field hospital and Frank was sent off to officers' training and then to MI6. They decided that what they need is a bit of time to get reacquainted... hence, the second honeymoon. Frank has his own historical interests, largely wrapped up in his genealogy, and Claire is an amateur botanist, so they both have things to keep them occupied while they stay near Inverness. Things seem to be going well for them, aside from this brief moment where Frank rather cautiously broaches the subject as to whether or not Claire might have some love affair during their long separation, which he insists he would completely understand. Claire vehemently protests that she never did any such thing and only later does it occur to her that perhaps Frank was the one who had done such a thing. One morning, after being tipped off that a Druid Beltane ritual might take place at a particular stone circle nearby, they hide and silently watch women of the town perform an ancient ceremony. The next day, Claire returns to the place to take some plant samples... and by touching one of the stones, she tumbles headfirst into a different time.
Of course, it takes a little while for her to accept this fact, even after nearly being captured by her husband's ancestor Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall and then actually being captured by a band of kilted Scotsmen brandishing weaponry. At first, she tries to convince herself that this is simply some renegade Scottish clan in a particularly uncivilized patch of the country, but no... she's in the 1740s and her life depends on being able to not seem like a crazy woman, babbling about how she's come through some portal from a time 200 years in the future. It's bad enough that she's English and the Scots aren't too wild about the English or solitary women wandering about in what appears to be a very skimpy shift (as opposed to the pretty floral dress it would have been identified as in the 1940s). Indeed, this is the time right before the Jacobite Rebellion/Rising of 1745 and the Young Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie. Suspected as a spy, Claire saves her own skin by being able to bandage up the wounds of a handsome young Scot named Jamie... and further assists when she tips off the group about a particular marker that she had recently learned (while listening to a history of the country back in 1945) was a favorite location of the English to ambush the Scots.
Claire is taken to Castle Leoch, where the laird, Colum MacKenzie, is to decide her fate. His brother, Dougal, was the man who captured her and while Claire doesn't quite trust the fellows, Dougal does recommend Claire's healing skills to Colum. He asks her to stay on in the castle to do what she can as a healer for the people there while he supposedly tries to find a way to get her to France. (Claire had worked up a story about being a widow, ambushed on the road as she started a journey to relatives in France.) She sticks to the story, but the MacKenzie brothers aren't quite satisfied here and Claire is basically watched every moment. Despite befriending a few people, Claire is still a "sassenach," or "outlander," and she's desperate to see if there's any possible way for her to return to her own time via the stone circle. Things get even more complicated when Claire finds herself in the awkward position of having to marry the young Scot, Jamie, in order to protect herself from Black Jack Randall (who looks far too disconcertingly like her husband, Frank, and yet is filled with cruelty).
I have a feeling that I would have really loved this book back when I was twelve, eager to read historical novels that weren't YA. I still enjoyed it now in its mass market context of a fun, romantic novel. It's packed with quite a few sex scenes that illustrate the passionate charge between Claire and Jamie which leads to Claire being completely torn about the idea of returning to her actual time because of this handsome young Scot. Their fights are pretty impressive, too; Gabaldon seems to believe that with that much passion between them, they'd spend as much time fighting as they would making up... well, maybe a little more time making up. Jamie rescues Claire repeatedly from danger and she manages to do the same for him (though usually with a little less panache). There is, however, a great amount of historical detail that goes into the book, so it's not all romance novel-y. It's chock full of scenes to evoke the time period that involve Scottish politics, witch trials, attempted rapes, battles, and rudimentary medical practice. There's also a surprising amount of references to sodomy, though never really positive. I suppose there's this blunt Scottish attitude that makes things both funny and a bit shocking at times.
Claire is a very warm and likable heroine (I particularly enjoyed her very modern swearing that repeatedly requires explanations, like "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ") and Jamie is a charming hunk of a hero. I initially thought that Gabaldon's choice to write in Scottish dialect was annoying, but it certainly keeps the Scottish burr in your mind, and when it's coming from big, strong Jamie, that's hardly a bad thing. Their growing love is the main appeal of the novel, but the historical detail is great, particularly when we understand that Claire means to change the future and save Scottish clansmen from the slaughter at Culloden that marks the final battle of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Whether or not she can will certainly be the subject of a future novel, because what Claire needs to decide first is in what time she truly belongs. Gabaldon has created a thrilling store of highland romance and I finally see what all the fuss was about. Outlander is not great literature by any means, but Claire and Jamie are pleasant companions on a rainy day when the Scottish highlands seem like they aren't quite so far away from one's imagination.
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LibraryThing member mom2lnb
I've read that Outlander was originally marketed as a romance novel because the publisher didn't know what else to do with it, but this book is no ordinary romance novel. It doesn't follow any typical romance formula and is a real genre bender that doesn't fit neatly into any one category.
Claire is an incredibly strong heroine, who can sometimes be a bit brash and sassy, but deep down she is a kind and caring person at heart. She adapts amazingly well to a new time and place, much better than most people ever would if faced with the dilemma she was. Claire is a very intelligent woman who uses every ounce of knowledge at her disposal to reverse her predicament, while helping others, especially with their medical needs, and bringing a much needed modern perspective to ancient methods. She somehow finds the courage to made difficult choices in an era when choices were sometimes few or non-existent, especially for women, and to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. Claire is stubborn and persistent even in the face of nearly impossible odds. Best of all she is a pillar of strength to her beloved Jamie as much as he is to her, and she has a powerful underlying passion that matches his own for her.
Jamie, in my opinion, is the best romantic hero ever to be penned by an author. He exhibits both physical and mental strength, as well as a strength of character, that go above and beyond any ordinary romantic hero. His word is his honor, and his commitment to that honor is moving beyond words. If only there were more men in reality who could be so easily trusted and taken at their word. Jamie shows a deep respect, not just for Claire, but for all the women with whom he comes in contact, a true gentleman in every sense of the word. On the outside, Jamie is tough as nails, enduring more physical pain than any one person should ever be expected to, while on the inside, he is kind, gentle and sensitive, often instinctively knowing things that others don't. He is thoroughly intelligent and well-educated and often beautifully poetic in his speech. He is lighthearted and self-deprecating, never taking himself too seriously. I loved the way he was always teasing Claire. Jamie is simply a wonderful character, a man who loves selflessly and with his whole being.
There is much to enjoy about this book. Together, Jamie and Claire make a formidable couple, and it is obvious from the outset that they are soulmates. Their absolute trust in each other, basically from the moment they meet, is in and of itself, romance at it's finest. There are no contrived misunderstandings between them, only naked honesty, which brings an openness and vulnerability to both characters that is breathtaking. I love the way the author creates a beautiful friendship between these two characters before they end up at the altar and of course then become lovers. What's even better though is how that friendship continues to blossom and grow deeper and deeper even after they are married. The intimacy level of these two characters is something I rarely see in a novel, and most of it has little or nothing to do with sexual interludes. During the times when Jamie and Claire were apart even for short periods of time, I simply couldn't wait for them to be reunited, as the two of them together absolutely electrify the pages. All the secondary characters are extremely well-crafted and surprisingly well fleshed out, even those who play only minor parts. The setting is beautifully rendered as well, almost becoming a character unto itself. The time travel aspect adds an extended element of intrigue, and Ms. Gabaldon has certainly taken the time to think through the ramifications of such a feat if it were indeed possible. Every scene simply adds to the richness of detail in the book, and there is nothing that I felt was excess. The author's care in seamlessly weaving all of the elements together is evident all throughout the book.
While there are many things to love about this story, there were a few events that bothered me just a bit. There was a scene in which Jamie beats Claire with his sword belt for disobedience. The scene in and of itself actually did not bother me much, because I fully understood his reasons for doing so and he later took a vow never to do it again. What did bother me was his admission that he enjoyed it. The admission was made in a fairly lighthearted manner. In light of that, I suppose it might have been meant as humorous, but perhaps it was too subtle for me to fully appreciate. Even so, I might not have thought much of it except for the fact that the villain in this story is a brutal sadist. For that reason, I found myself a bit annoyed at having the hero of the story exhibit even a hint of such a tendency. There were also a couple of scenes of what I would term rather intense and rough lovemaking, one of which began with Jamie behaving in a dominant manner, and neither of which were quite to my taste. They just seemed a bit out of character for Jamie, who up to this point, and following, was always a gentle and considerate though passionate lover. I will allow though for the fact that Jamie apologized for the first incident and admitted equality after the second. Finally, there was a scene in which Jamie related a prior incident with a secondary character in his youth, which by today's standards would have been nothing short of an act of child molestation against him, but which was treated rather casually by all involved. I wanted to reconcile this in a historical perspective, but as hard as I tried, I simply couldn't. I also feel compelled to warn sensitive readers that there is an incidence of brutal sexual violence near the end of the book. It is not played out in real-time, but instead is related a bit at a time through dialog and implication, but still is immensely palpable in the intensity of it's aftereffects on the psyche of the character who was the victim. I'm not usually overly squeamish about such things, but I have to admit to having some difficulty reading these passages. More than once, they brought tears to my eyes.
In spite of the things I have mentioned though, Outlander is still by far one of the best books I have ever read. I have to give Ms. Gabaldon extra points for all of her attention to details. It is a joy to read such an intelligently-written and meticulously-researched novel that is so rich in detail. It went far beyond my expectations for a debut novel for any author. It even sparked my interest in learning more about the time and place that is depicted in it. Outlander is the type of book that is so engrossing and compelling that it makes one want to read straight through without ever putting it down, though it's epic length makes that somewhat unfeasible. This was my second reading of the book, and it certainly won't be my last. It has a earned a permanent place on my keeper shelf along with it's sequels Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes all of which continue Jamie and Claire's story.
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Outlander has a swoon-worthy hero and dozens of truly romantic scenes that should be sufficient to satisfy even the most discriminating romance reader, while it's time travel aspect and a few references to witches and fairies should be of interest to readers of fantasy and paranormal stories. At it's heart though Outlander is a historical novel rife with details of 18th century life in the Scottish Highlands both inside and outside a castle or large estate. It also recounts some of the events leading up to the Jacobite Pretender's Uprising of 1745. Diana Gabaldon is an amazing writer who delves deep into her character's lives and the history surrounding them, painting an extraordinary picture that truly transports the reader to another time and place.Claire is an incredibly strong heroine, who can sometimes be a bit brash and sassy, but deep down she is a kind and caring person at heart. She adapts amazingly well to a new time and place, much better than most people ever would if faced with the dilemma she was. Claire is a very intelligent woman who uses every ounce of knowledge at her disposal to reverse her predicament, while helping others, especially with their medical needs, and bringing a much needed modern perspective to ancient methods. She somehow finds the courage to made difficult choices in an era when choices were sometimes few or non-existent, especially for women, and to do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. Claire is stubborn and persistent even in the face of nearly impossible odds. Best of all she is a pillar of strength to her beloved Jamie as much as he is to her, and she has a powerful underlying passion that matches his own for her.
Jamie, in my opinion, is the best romantic hero ever to be penned by an author. He exhibits both physical and mental strength, as well as a strength of character, that go above and beyond any ordinary romantic hero. His word is his honor, and his commitment to that honor is moving beyond words. If only there were more men in reality who could be so easily trusted and taken at their word. Jamie shows a deep respect, not just for Claire, but for all the women with whom he comes in contact, a true gentleman in every sense of the word. On the outside, Jamie is tough as nails, enduring more physical pain than any one person should ever be expected to, while on the inside, he is kind, gentle and sensitive, often instinctively knowing things that others don't. He is thoroughly intelligent and well-educated and often beautifully poetic in his speech. He is lighthearted and self-deprecating, never taking himself too seriously. I loved the way he was always teasing Claire. Jamie is simply a wonderful character, a man who loves selflessly and with his whole being.
There is much to enjoy about this book. Together, Jamie and Claire make a formidable couple, and it is obvious from the outset that they are soulmates. Their absolute trust in each other, basically from the moment they meet, is in and of itself, romance at it's finest. There are no contrived misunderstandings between them, only naked honesty, which brings an openness and vulnerability to both characters that is breathtaking. I love the way the author creates a beautiful friendship between these two characters before they end up at the altar and of course then become lovers. What's even better though is how that friendship continues to blossom and grow deeper and deeper even after they are married. The intimacy level of these two characters is something I rarely see in a novel, and most of it has little or nothing to do with sexual interludes. During the times when Jamie and Claire were apart even for short periods of time, I simply couldn't wait for them to be reunited, as the two of them together absolutely electrify the pages. All the secondary characters are extremely well-crafted and surprisingly well fleshed out, even those who play only minor parts. The setting is beautifully rendered as well, almost becoming a character unto itself. The time travel aspect adds an extended element of intrigue, and Ms. Gabaldon has certainly taken the time to think through the ramifications of such a feat if it were indeed possible. Every scene simply adds to the richness of detail in the book, and there is nothing that I felt was excess. The author's care in seamlessly weaving all of the elements together is evident all throughout the book.
While there are many things to love about this story, there were a few events that bothered me just a bit. There was a scene in which Jamie beats Claire with his sword belt for disobedience. The scene in and of itself actually did not bother me much, because I fully understood his reasons for doing so and he later took a vow never to do it again. What did bother me was his admission that he enjoyed it. The admission was made in a fairly lighthearted manner. In light of that, I suppose it might have been meant as humorous, but perhaps it was too subtle for me to fully appreciate. Even so, I might not have thought much of it except for the fact that the villain in this story is a brutal sadist. For that reason, I found myself a bit annoyed at having the hero of the story exhibit even a hint of such a tendency. There were also a couple of scenes of what I would term rather intense and rough lovemaking, one of which began with Jamie behaving in a dominant manner, and neither of which were quite to my taste. They just seemed a bit out of character for Jamie, who up to this point, and following, was always a gentle and considerate though passionate lover. I will allow though for the fact that Jamie apologized for the first incident and admitted equality after the second. Finally, there was a scene in which Jamie related a prior incident with a secondary character in his youth, which by today's standards would have been nothing short of an act of child molestation against him, but which was treated rather casually by all involved. I wanted to reconcile this in a historical perspective, but as hard as I tried, I simply couldn't. I also feel compelled to warn sensitive readers that there is an incidence of brutal sexual violence near the end of the book. It is not played out in real-time, but instead is related a bit at a time through dialog and implication, but still is immensely palpable in the intensity of it's aftereffects on the psyche of the character who was the victim. I'm not usually overly squeamish about such things, but I have to admit to having some difficulty reading these passages. More than once, they brought tears to my eyes.
In spite of the things I have mentioned though, Outlander is still by far one of the best books I have ever read. I have to give Ms. Gabaldon extra points for all of her attention to details. It is a joy to read such an intelligently-written and meticulously-researched novel that is so rich in detail. It went far beyond my expectations for a debut novel for any author. It even sparked my interest in learning more about the time and place that is depicted in it. Outlander is the type of book that is so engrossing and compelling that it makes one want to read straight through without ever putting it down, though it's epic length makes that somewhat unfeasible. This was my second reading of the book, and it certainly won't be my last. It has a earned a permanent place on my keeper shelf along with it's sequels Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, and A Breath of Snow and Ashes all of which continue Jamie and Claire's story.
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LibraryThing member LiterateHousewife
Ever since I've become aware of the greater book blogoverse, I've seen people gush about Diana Gabaldon and her Outlander series. Clearly I wasn't paying very close attention to what was being said, because I put those novels in the same category as the Clan of the Cavebear. I thought it was set in
Outlander tells the story of Claire Randall, relatively newly married woman in her mid 20s. Both she and her husband Frank have spent most of their marriage apart. He was fighting in WWII for the British and she was serving as an army nurse. They are just finding themselves when Frank, a college history professor focused on the Jacobites of Scotland, travel to the Highlands of Scotland to learn more about the the clans who were emaciated by the British in the uprising of 1745. Claire is supportive of her husband, but she isn't nearly as interested in his historical hunt until she learns more about some nearby standing stones, not far from where they are staying. While Frank continues to work on the Jacobites and his Jack Randall, his grandfather many generations removed, Claire sets out to discover the lure of the rocks on Belldane. What happens when she touches the rocks alters her destiny in ways she could never imagine.
Claire comes out on the other side of the rocks in another world in the midst of a small skirmish between Scottish Highlanders and Jack Randall himself. It took some time before Claire came to terms with the fact that she was now centuries in the past. Jack Randall was also not the calibre of man Frank would have appreciated. Claire would have discovered this fully if she hadn't been rescued/captured by the band of Scottsman. As the Scottsmen led by Dougal MacKenzie led her back to Castle Leoch, Claire began to plot her return to Frank. She had to find a way to get back to the standing stones. Destiny and Clan McKenzie had very different ideas. Before she could see anyway out of it, her fate is tied to young Jaime Frazer. She doesn't give up the hope of seeing Frank again, but can she keep Jamie from her heart?
At over 40 hours in length, I thought it would take months for me to finish Outlander. In the end, it took just about two weeks. I could not get enough of Claire and Jamie's adventures in the Highlands. I became fully engaged in the politics and plotting of the clans and never willingly stopped listening when I had to go into work or go into the house at the end of the work day. There were several times when my paperback copy came in handy. I just couldn't bare not knowing what would happen next, so I'd find my place and continue with my reading. I loved every minute of it, feeling guilty all the while for willing Claire to forget Frank (after all, he was never any where near as sexy or protective of her - I can rationalize infidelity in my fiction with the best of them). Thankfully by the time I had finished Outlander my Audible credits renewed, because I didn't want to have to wait to continue on with Dragonfly in Amber.
Davinia Porter does a magnificent job narrating Outlander. Her voice was perfect and fit so well with the story, reading the romantic parts as easily as the adventurous and dangerous parts. Her voice was so much a part of the novel that when I read from the paperback copy I was reading with her voice in my ears. That I couldn't wait on my next drive to finish the novel, I still felt like she was with me in the end.
Reading this book was also fun because I couldn't help but Tweet about it. Being one of the last people in the universe to read it had its advantages then. So many people jumped in on the conversation, especially Elle. Tweeting about it with her was an absolute treat. If you can't live in the same country, Twitter sometimes can be the next best thing.
My Final Thoughts
There is so much to love about Outlander. It's a great deal of fun and it doesn't take itself too seriously. Its at parts adventure, intrigue, mystery, and saucy romance. If you enjoy historical fiction and a romance that doesn't entirely dominate the story, you really must do yourself a favor and give this novel a try. It's an addiction that will sweep you away.
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a medieval time period and I just was not interested. In 2008 or 9, I signed up for an Outlander challenge, determined to find out what this was all about. I used one of my Audible.com credits for Outlander and was so daunted by the length of the book that I didn't go any further. I actually forgot all about purchasing it. When my great blogging friend Elle, who has been with me from nearly the beginning, offered to send me a copy of Outlander. She loves the series moer than anyone else that I know. Even though I was almost positive that it wasn't going to work for me, I couldn't turn her down. After all, she's read some of the most horrible novels with me as part of my attempts at hosting book clubs online. When I finally sat down with the paperback, I remembered the audio version that I'd never even downloaded. I loaded up my MP3 player and the rest is history.Outlander tells the story of Claire Randall, relatively newly married woman in her mid 20s. Both she and her husband Frank have spent most of their marriage apart. He was fighting in WWII for the British and she was serving as an army nurse. They are just finding themselves when Frank, a college history professor focused on the Jacobites of Scotland, travel to the Highlands of Scotland to learn more about the the clans who were emaciated by the British in the uprising of 1745. Claire is supportive of her husband, but she isn't nearly as interested in his historical hunt until she learns more about some nearby standing stones, not far from where they are staying. While Frank continues to work on the Jacobites and his Jack Randall, his grandfather many generations removed, Claire sets out to discover the lure of the rocks on Belldane. What happens when she touches the rocks alters her destiny in ways she could never imagine.
Claire comes out on the other side of the rocks in another world in the midst of a small skirmish between Scottish Highlanders and Jack Randall himself. It took some time before Claire came to terms with the fact that she was now centuries in the past. Jack Randall was also not the calibre of man Frank would have appreciated. Claire would have discovered this fully if she hadn't been rescued/captured by the band of Scottsman. As the Scottsmen led by Dougal MacKenzie led her back to Castle Leoch, Claire began to plot her return to Frank. She had to find a way to get back to the standing stones. Destiny and Clan McKenzie had very different ideas. Before she could see anyway out of it, her fate is tied to young Jaime Frazer. She doesn't give up the hope of seeing Frank again, but can she keep Jamie from her heart?
At over 40 hours in length, I thought it would take months for me to finish Outlander. In the end, it took just about two weeks. I could not get enough of Claire and Jamie's adventures in the Highlands. I became fully engaged in the politics and plotting of the clans and never willingly stopped listening when I had to go into work or go into the house at the end of the work day. There were several times when my paperback copy came in handy. I just couldn't bare not knowing what would happen next, so I'd find my place and continue with my reading. I loved every minute of it, feeling guilty all the while for willing Claire to forget Frank (after all, he was never any where near as sexy or protective of her - I can rationalize infidelity in my fiction with the best of them). Thankfully by the time I had finished Outlander my Audible credits renewed, because I didn't want to have to wait to continue on with Dragonfly in Amber.
Davinia Porter does a magnificent job narrating Outlander. Her voice was perfect and fit so well with the story, reading the romantic parts as easily as the adventurous and dangerous parts. Her voice was so much a part of the novel that when I read from the paperback copy I was reading with her voice in my ears. That I couldn't wait on my next drive to finish the novel, I still felt like she was with me in the end.
Reading this book was also fun because I couldn't help but Tweet about it. Being one of the last people in the universe to read it had its advantages then. So many people jumped in on the conversation, especially Elle. Tweeting about it with her was an absolute treat. If you can't live in the same country, Twitter sometimes can be the next best thing.
My Final Thoughts
There is so much to love about Outlander. It's a great deal of fun and it doesn't take itself too seriously. Its at parts adventure, intrigue, mystery, and saucy romance. If you enjoy historical fiction and a romance that doesn't entirely dominate the story, you really must do yourself a favor and give this novel a try. It's an addiction that will sweep you away.
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LibraryThing member toofacedgrl
I received this book as part of the early reviewer's program, but I have had the e-book copy for a few years and it is one of my absolute favorite books.
It should be established early and up front that this book is not for everyone, particularly if you dislike descriptive scenes of violence
If you're up to the challenge of reading a historical fiction/sci-fi/romance that doesn't pull any punches and is thorougly engrossing, this book should be on your list of must reads.
Outlander opens with Claire Randall, a young English field nurse in the post-WWII Scottish Highlands on her second honeymoon with her historian husband, Frank. One morning, out of boredom, Claire approaches some "standing stones" (similar to Stonehenge) on the outskirts of Inverness and is transported back through time to 16th century Scotland.
Claire is deposited in the middle of a skirmish between some British soldiers, including the iniquitous "Black Jack" Randall, an ancestor of her husband's, and a band of Scottish civilians, including Jamie Fraser, a rebel against the oppressive British rule of Scotland recently returned from exile.
The Scots save Claire from Randall and force her to accompany them in their journey back to the MacKenzie's ancestral home, Castle Leoch. Claire, who is strong-willed and outspoken, demands that the party stop so she can treat Jamie's wounds, which are extensive.
This begins the romance storyline of the novel. We watch Claire as she struggles between her fidelity to Frank and her growing love for Jamie, whom she is forced to marry for protection's sake.
Claire is also fighting to return to her "time" but wants to use her knowledge of the future to assist the Scottish people she has grown close to--particularly with her medical knowledge and awareness of future events that will affect the rebellion against British rule developing in the highlands.
What can you expect to encounter? Witchcraft trials, betrayal, rescues, torture, reunions, and suspense. I would be doing Outlander's 800+ pages a disservice by going into any more detail here. Instead I encourage you to read it if anything in my review has resonated with you and pass it on if you find yourself as in love with the story as I am.
It should be established early and up front that this book is not for everyone, particularly if you dislike descriptive scenes of violence
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(battles and abuse/rape, most notably). Gabaldon is an incredibly talented, descriptive writer, and she easily inserts the reader in the middle of these uncomfortable, graphic scenes. I respectfully disagree with previous reviewers' sentiments that the scenes are anachronistic and violent for violence's sake--Gabaldon seeks to illustrate the brutal, harsh truths of warfare and the treatment of women during that period in history. Her novels, particularly the the battlefield and medical triage passages, are meticulously researched and based in fact--there's no axe to grind or agenda to push.If you're up to the challenge of reading a historical fiction/sci-fi/romance that doesn't pull any punches and is thorougly engrossing, this book should be on your list of must reads.
Outlander opens with Claire Randall, a young English field nurse in the post-WWII Scottish Highlands on her second honeymoon with her historian husband, Frank. One morning, out of boredom, Claire approaches some "standing stones" (similar to Stonehenge) on the outskirts of Inverness and is transported back through time to 16th century Scotland.
Claire is deposited in the middle of a skirmish between some British soldiers, including the iniquitous "Black Jack" Randall, an ancestor of her husband's, and a band of Scottish civilians, including Jamie Fraser, a rebel against the oppressive British rule of Scotland recently returned from exile.
The Scots save Claire from Randall and force her to accompany them in their journey back to the MacKenzie's ancestral home, Castle Leoch. Claire, who is strong-willed and outspoken, demands that the party stop so she can treat Jamie's wounds, which are extensive.
This begins the romance storyline of the novel. We watch Claire as she struggles between her fidelity to Frank and her growing love for Jamie, whom she is forced to marry for protection's sake.
Claire is also fighting to return to her "time" but wants to use her knowledge of the future to assist the Scottish people she has grown close to--particularly with her medical knowledge and awareness of future events that will affect the rebellion against British rule developing in the highlands.
What can you expect to encounter? Witchcraft trials, betrayal, rescues, torture, reunions, and suspense. I would be doing Outlander's 800+ pages a disservice by going into any more detail here. Instead I encourage you to read it if anything in my review has resonated with you and pass it on if you find yourself as in love with the story as I am.
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LibraryThing member MissTeacher
This book never gave me quite what I was expecting!! Looking for a tender love story set against a quaint dream, I met instead with real characters engaged in real struggles--romantic or otherwise--with none of the sappiness that could so easily have been succumbed to. Descriptions were so detailed
Though "Outlander" was a bit more of a bodice-ripper than I had ever read before, the sex scenes were delivered frankly and openly, with none of the embarrasing over-the-top descriptions that are so often the case in romance books. Claire was a real woman, with a real life and real needs. One of the things I loved so much was that we met Jamie with no fanfare. There were none of the "sparks and fireworks" that usually shamelessly alert one to the identity of the romantic hero. Claire met Jamie in a normal, realistic setting--the same way that thousands of people meet the loves of their lives every single day. This truth helped their love grow into something which could at once be understood and wanted, and applied to present-day situations with virtually no stretch of the imagination. In short, the love was real and not without its (many) problems.
Also, the sheer scope of Diana Gabaldon's knowledge never ceases to impress in this book. She sets the scene of Scotland so perfectly that it is a struggle not to feel like you are there. The speech is lyrical and suits the time, not forced or archaic like many stabs at historical dialect. And the abundance of detail when dealing with Claire's healing is astounding--it is almost as if one could learn about the healing arts just by paying attention to her.
So, in short, this book is all at once compelling, magical, honest, realistic and fantastic. In more ways than one, it will leave you wanting more.
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and honest that you cannot help but to lose yourself in the place and time. Nothing was forced, and every aspect of the story was brutal and honest--from love scenes to battle, from arguments to tense moments of suspense.Though "Outlander" was a bit more of a bodice-ripper than I had ever read before, the sex scenes were delivered frankly and openly, with none of the embarrasing over-the-top descriptions that are so often the case in romance books. Claire was a real woman, with a real life and real needs. One of the things I loved so much was that we met Jamie with no fanfare. There were none of the "sparks and fireworks" that usually shamelessly alert one to the identity of the romantic hero. Claire met Jamie in a normal, realistic setting--the same way that thousands of people meet the loves of their lives every single day. This truth helped their love grow into something which could at once be understood and wanted, and applied to present-day situations with virtually no stretch of the imagination. In short, the love was real and not without its (many) problems.
Also, the sheer scope of Diana Gabaldon's knowledge never ceases to impress in this book. She sets the scene of Scotland so perfectly that it is a struggle not to feel like you are there. The speech is lyrical and suits the time, not forced or archaic like many stabs at historical dialect. And the abundance of detail when dealing with Claire's healing is astounding--it is almost as if one could learn about the healing arts just by paying attention to her.
So, in short, this book is all at once compelling, magical, honest, realistic and fantastic. In more ways than one, it will leave you wanting more.
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LibraryThing member Stensvaag
This turned out to be a great disappointment for me. At times, it seemed tediously drawn out for the purpose of padding the plot. ***SPOILER ALERT*** Ultimately, it involved far more torture (especially sexual torture) than seemed necessary. I know that Diana Gabaldon has her fans, but I will let
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Jamie and Claire ride off into the sunset with no curiosity about the subsequent 5 books. Show Less
LibraryThing member Alwaysmidnight
I don't get it. this book is supposed to be a classic....but god help me. I tried to get through it. I pushed on to make it through one more chapter...then another to understand what I was missing since its such a cult favorite. what's the fuss about?
I gave up. I wasted my life reading this book.
I stopped reading after they arrived at the castle...then I come to find out this jamie guy is her love interest? omg!! seriously ...didn't feel it. wasnt aware of the match. how does that happen. no chemistry there for me.
this book was slow and how its a romance I'll never know. I guess historical romance might just be entirely different from what I typically read new adult romance but jeez...I am not one for storylines other than romance. mystery, suspense...sidetracks me. not my thing.
but I can't do it anymore. I feel frustrated and stupified that I didn't like this book having heard such great things about it.
but I feel relieved that I'm not going to torture myself anymore by demanding that I finish it.
I gave up. I wasted my life reading this book.
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I was so uninterested and bored by this womens life it was almost torture. I will give her one star for using every word in a thesaurus but at some point it became hard to follow when you use too many words from a thesaurus. it was the first book I've ever read that I wanted to look up 10 words a chapter. I was completely lost in this book and it was just so slow. it was not funny, intriguing, suspenseful, no chemistry, omg. just gahhhhhhhhhhh! what the hell am I reading!!!I stopped reading after they arrived at the castle...then I come to find out this jamie guy is her love interest? omg!! seriously ...didn't feel it. wasnt aware of the match. how does that happen. no chemistry there for me.
this book was slow and how its a romance I'll never know. I guess historical romance might just be entirely different from what I typically read new adult romance but jeez...I am not one for storylines other than romance. mystery, suspense...sidetracks me. not my thing.
but I can't do it anymore. I feel frustrated and stupified that I didn't like this book having heard such great things about it.
but I feel relieved that I'm not going to torture myself anymore by demanding that I finish it.
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LibraryThing member Anna_Erishkigal
This is a 5-star story with 2 stars deducted for reasons I will explain below.
First the good: This is a well-researched story which begins in post-WWII with an English military nurse transplanted along with her husband to the Scottish countryside to start over their new life after a 7-year wartime
More good: Thanks to a little paranormal mishap involving some standing-stones, Claire suddenly finds herself transported back in time 200 years to Scotland during the beginnings of the Jacobite rebellion. There she runs into none other than her 1940's husband's ancestor, who turns out to be a very bad man. Some Scottish highlanders rescue her just before she can be raped and drag her, even though they think she's an English spy, to stitch back together Jaime, a handsome young Scottish man who becomes important to her over the course of the story. The author pieced together meticulously the way these 1700's Scottish people live and the journey is a fascinating one.
From there I won't elaborate more because it contains too many spoilers...
Now the bad: Back to the 'bad man' ancestor of her husband, this is where we get into the two deducted stars. Rape has always been, unfortunately, a part of war. That the bad man tries to rape Claire does not surprise me. Nor that we later learn this same bad man purportedly raped Jaime's sister. But then (view spoiler)
At what point does a story cross a line? When is rape is no longer used to portray a woman's worst fears and the horror of war, but becomes gratuitous? I think that line was far, far crossed by the third (and definitely by the fourth) rape scene. Enough, already! This story would have been perfect if not for the titillating depictions of rape. It went too far. It ruined my enjoyment of the story and left me feeling unsettled (and not in a good, thoughtful way) instead of satisfied.
I will likely snag the second book in this series at some point because I have fallen in love with Jaime and Claire and am a full-blooded Celt with a soft spot for Highlanders, but if -that- book as well has gratuitous rape scenes, it will be my last one by this author.
First the good: This is a well-researched story which begins in post-WWII with an English military nurse transplanted along with her husband to the Scottish countryside to start over their new life after a 7-year wartime
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separation. Having read much ACTUAL WWII literature written at that time, Claire's voice was credible and believable.More good: Thanks to a little paranormal mishap involving some standing-stones, Claire suddenly finds herself transported back in time 200 years to Scotland during the beginnings of the Jacobite rebellion. There she runs into none other than her 1940's husband's ancestor, who turns out to be a very bad man. Some Scottish highlanders rescue her just before she can be raped and drag her, even though they think she's an English spy, to stitch back together Jaime, a handsome young Scottish man who becomes important to her over the course of the story. The author pieced together meticulously the way these 1700's Scottish people live and the journey is a fascinating one.
From there I won't elaborate more because it contains too many spoilers...
Now the bad: Back to the 'bad man' ancestor of her husband, this is where we get into the two deducted stars. Rape has always been, unfortunately, a part of war. That the bad man tries to rape Claire does not surprise me. Nor that we later learn this same bad man purportedly raped Jaime's sister. But then (view spoiler)
At what point does a story cross a line? When is rape is no longer used to portray a woman's worst fears and the horror of war, but becomes gratuitous? I think that line was far, far crossed by the third (and definitely by the fourth) rape scene. Enough, already! This story would have been perfect if not for the titillating depictions of rape. It went too far. It ruined my enjoyment of the story and left me feeling unsettled (and not in a good, thoughtful way) instead of satisfied.
I will likely snag the second book in this series at some point because I have fallen in love with Jaime and Claire and am a full-blooded Celt with a soft spot for Highlanders, but if -that- book as well has gratuitous rape scenes, it will be my last one by this author.
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LibraryThing member JessicaReadsThings
Eh. I read this to have something to balance out the crushing weight of The Sparrow. I knew there was a lot of romance along with a historical epic. What I didn't expect was all the sex. Just all over the place, sometimes under the most improbable of circumstances and at the most inopportune of
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times. It was kind of like a historical fiction mashed up with a harlequin romance. Never overly explicit, though. So, if you're looking for a good romp through 18th century Scotland with a little drama thrown in to make it interesting, you could do worse than Outlander. (And it is a pretty good balance against a more serious book) Show Less
Subjects
Awards
RITA Award (Finalist — 1992)
Whitcoulls Top 100 Books (4 — 2008)
AAR Top 100 Romances (#4 — [Previously 1998-#3 / 2000-#2 / 2004-#7] Most Recent Rank - 2007)
Original language
English
Original publication date
1991-06-01
Physical description
850 p.; 6.13 inches
ISBN
0385319959 / 9780385319959
Local notes
Located in Fiction