Outlander (Outlander, #1)

by Diana Gabaldon

book data

18,695 ratings, 4.19 average rating, 3,037 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		54%
4		23%
3		12%
2		5%
1		4%

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published

July 26th 2005 (first published 1991) by Dell

binding

Mass Market Paperback, 853 pages

characters

Jamie Fraser, Ian Murray, Claire Randall, Jonathan Randall, ...more

setting

Scotland, The United Kingdom

isbn

0440242940 (isbn13: 9780440242949)

description

Unrivaled storytelling...unforgettable characters...rich historical detail...these are the hallmarks of Diana Gabaldon's work. Her New York Times be...more

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07/13/07

Eric rated it:

Read in January, 1997

I gave this book a really awful and visceral yet irreverent review and people got all hurty. Sorry, gentle readers. So here's a revised review - still bad, but with fewer sharp corners and internet ugliness.

I really disliked this book. As I think about all the books I've read, this one is at the very bottom, or maybe tied for last with a sci-fi paperback I found abandoned under a desk in 9th grade, about synthetically reincarnated twin midget space whores and some kind of cat peopl...more I gave this book a really awful and visceral yet irreverent review and people got all hurty. Sorry, gentle readers. So here's a revised review - still bad, but with fewer sharp corners and internet ugliness.

I really disliked this book. As I think about all the books I've read, this one is at the very bottom, or maybe tied for last with a sci-fi paperback I found abandoned under a desk in 9th grade, about synthetically reincarnated twin midget space whores and some kind of cat people.

I bought Outlander thinking, "Scotland. Time travel. Awesome." But it was not to be. What did it was the adolescent writing style. Actually it was the adolescent mindset behind the writing style, one which we as the readers are asked to share and indulge in, to wear like an uncomfortable and stupid-looking hat that we're supposed to pretend is neither. It made me angry with its badness.

On the upside, it finally cured me of a disease I used to have - a compulsion to finish any book I started. Because I mean you never know, right? Now I can safely let bad ones go and preserve precious hours of my life.

Anyway, the love scenes, as I mentioned in my previous review, were where the writing/mindset problems were laid most bare. Love scenes are not easy to do well, which is presumably partly why all the classy movie directors of yore panned away as the two lovers met, letting us fill in the blanks with our imaginations. This author didn't do that. Cheap, cheezy, overdone, unsubtle, and awful are the words that come to mind. The eyes roll. The breath goes "pwhauuugh."

One could almost picture a teenager carefully penciling each impassioned line in her spiral notebook, an airbrushed unicorn adorning its purple cover. "I'm going to be a writer someday. I'll show them all," she thought to herself as she read and reread each lovingly-crafted scene about a thing she had never done but had heard about, in a story she'd never share with anyone.

But where it veered from the adolescent into the disturbing was in a horrific gay rape/torture scene towards the end, with a nailed hand, lubricants, whimpering, and overtones of childhood incest. WTF?! A spot of light summer reading, the shop lady said! To top it all off, the rapee had to recount the story to his friends afterwards in an awful phonetic Scottish accent. If I remember correctly, his words were, "Aye, he used me hard. An' I could nae but respond to his touch." Aaaand... SCENE!

Go forth, gentle readers, armed with the good reviews and the bad.(less)

Like this review? yes (81 people liked it)

38 comments

05/07/08

Randomanthony rated it:

Read in May, 2008

(Ok, first off, there are going to be minor spoilers/hints in this review…read at your own risk, although I’ll try not to reveal too much.)

Outlander is a damn good book. Sure, the book has a blue fake leather cover, costs four bucks, and screams “spinning rack at the airport bookstore”. I approached the text with suspicion but found myself invested in the language and storyline within the first hundred pages. Here’s why:

TEN GOOD THINGS ABOUT OUTLANDER

...more

Like this review? yes (37 people liked it)

113 comments

06/29/07

Lisa rated it:

(review of isbn 0770428797)

bookshelves: trashy_trashy

Read in July, 2007

Contains SPOILERS ---
I was lying in a hospital bed with my leg broken, and once the library trolley came for a round of 'books, anyone?', my hand was in the air in no time.
Too late did the librarian notice the foreign literature on my bedside table and with a distraught expression try to recover 'Outlander';I said firmly: 'Oh no, Madam, I'll read that.'. Just enough time left for her to make up with a tome of controversial French literature on the genocide in Ruanda...
But as I...more Contains SPOILERS ---
I was lying in a hospital bed with my leg broken, and once the library trolley came for a round of 'books, anyone?', my hand was in the air in no time.
Too late did the librarian notice the foreign literature on my bedside table and with a distraught expression try to recover 'Outlander';I said firmly: 'Oh no, Madam, I'll read that.'. Just enough time left for her to make up with a tome of controversial French literature on the genocide in Ruanda...
But as I'd said: my first mission was 'Outlander'.
Anyway, it could not be that bad, since I'd seen it sold by the local bookclub before.
Ah yes, it could. After some forty pages, my jaw dropped in disbelief, after some hundred pages the case was as good as closed. But then, to tell the truth, Ms Gabaldon's warped morals kept me going.
Because this brave woman has achieved what I never thought could be done: she has fabricated some catholically correct porn.
Let me point that out:
Claire, pretty much a Mary Jane (on the first few pages her lovely -we know it is, curly and unruly, though she claims it is 'not'- hair is described at length, and - did you know she can heal people? Oh yes, and - Did you know she has a spitfire personality, but everybody likes her in spite of that, well not the women, but then, they're either jealous or uptight or both...?) is by some zing of the time-space continuum catapulted back to the Scotland of yore, without her husband (goodlooking, sensitive, a savant), but never mind, she finds some replacement in her husband's *evil* ancestor (looks just like him), who's just as much into Claire, but unfortunately lacks the morals to please and guts to take it up with Ms. Spitfire.
This proves to be helpful in forgetting husband#1, handy, since soon Claire arouses the ardour of a young, proud and good-looking Scotsman, Jamie, who, if a bit on the simple side, is as true as gold, not to mention built like....well yes... and just one twist of fate later, they find themselves exchanging vows.
Note: The *good* never have extra-marital sex in this book, that's for the evil and sluggish.
Surprise upon surprise, actually Jamie is a virgin on their wedding night, but with a few leads, quickly gets into his role: 'Matrimony turns into a sacrament what would otherwise be a sin', or so it goes.
In the following, this sacrament is bestowed upon darling Claire with unnerving frequency, about every two pages, but it only gets really colourful if preceded by conjugal beating - Claire did something bad, Claire has to be punished, yes, she herself aknowledges this in the end, or attempts of strangers (or *evil* husband) to rape her.
Yes, and of course, after Jamie has de facto been raped and tortured by *evil* husband. He's so desolate. Evil husband forced Jamie into actually enjoying the experience. This is not right, Jamie is straight, Jamie is disgusted by himself. But Claire does some sexual healing and re-enactment and 'pouf'! To top this off, in the end Claire learns from a monk that de facto both her marriages are considered valid by the church, since the one with Jamie precedes the one back in the 20th century.
Most distasteful because of the 'wifebeating' episode and the fact that homosexuality is shown as an evil trait adherent to the *evil* guy (some young kid with a bible hung himself because of this, strange enough, female victims of rape are not half as suicidal in this book).
So we repeat:
-No sex without marriage.
-Woman has to obey man. Otherwise she gets into trouble, and he has to punish her.
-Homosexuals among the evil only.
Any questions? had there been the possibility to bestow 0 stars on this concoction..., ah well.(less)

Like this review? yes (29 people liked it)

11 comments

02/09/08

Julie (Mom2lnb) rated it:

(review of isbn 0385302304)

bookshelves: desert-island-keepers, historical-fiction, historical-romance, read-2007, time-travel-romance

recommends it for: Fans of Scottish History, Romance or Time Travel

Reviewed for www.thcreviews.com

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. 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 tim...more Reviewed for www.thcreviews.com

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. 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.(less)

Like this review? yes (26 people liked it)

20 comments

05/29/07

Kelly rated it:

bookshelves: favorites, fiction, romantical

Read in June, 2002

recommends it for: all women, historical fiction lovers

Yes! I read this. I admit it! You caught me! Not only that... I loved it. It is a double sin I will likely have to one day repent for by reading piles of Doysteyvsky while I tear out my hair. In any case. Right, once again into the breach to defend myself!

This book is incredibly long. It's just a fact. All of them are. But they go by so incredibly fast. By the time I got to the third one? I read it in three days. The pages just keep turning. I read at double speed I was so engrossed ...more

Like this review? yes (22 people liked it)

2 comments

06/08/07

Chelsea rated it:

bookshelves: 2007, cheesyromance, fiction, historicalfiction, own, timetravel, toswap

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in May, 2007

Man, after the pitch I've heard about this book from basically every (female) reader I've ever met, I was expecting something that was NOT THIS. Fairly offensive, needlessly graphic, and smutty in that skeevy way, rather than the hot way. At one point, Jamie punishes Claire for disobeying him by literally spanking her - which was treated as perfectly understandable, and was quickly dismissed. I know that I cringed throughout the entire thing, and found it hard to believe that any relatively m...more

Like this review? yes (14 people liked it)

7 comments

01/24/08

Claire rated it:

Read in January, 2000

recommends it for: ANYONE

I'm not going to give a synopsis or anything, but I will say that this is one of the best series I have EVER read. And I read a lot. Tons. So to say that really means something. Don't let the romance label put you off, this series is difficult to define. The historical content is accurate and amazing, the characters are amazingly real and complicated, the storylines interesting and unexpected - really, I just can't say enough great things about this series. I have re-read the whole series ...more

Like this review? yes (11 people liked it)

1 comment

06/01/08

Kirk rated it:

bookshelves: sentimental-faves

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

OK, kids, as long promised, having just finished Outlander---and already having had the Mrs. snatch it from me to reread (she read it years ago)---here is my long-promised review.

I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars (UPDATE: Already I'm being forced to point out that that is 1/2 more than RA gave it! OK: NEW UPDATE: J has convinced me that 3 stars is too lukewarm, so I'm kicking up to 4 because--well, I'm a people pleaser. And I have no problem saying I "really" liked it as opposed to...more OK, kids, as long promised, having just finished Outlander---and already having had the Mrs. snatch it from me to reread (she read it years ago)---here is my long-promised review.

I'm giving it 3 1/2 stars (UPDATE: Already I'm being forced to point out that that is 1/2 more than RA gave it! OK: NEW UPDATE: J has convinced me that 3 stars is too lukewarm, so I'm kicking up to 4 because--well, I'm a people pleaser. And I have no problem saying I "really" liked it as opposed to just "liked it"). I enjoyed it a lot---I won't say far more than I thought I would because I really tried to go into it without preconceptions. Honestly, genre is meaningless---romance, historical romance ... these categories build more prejudices than they do expectations, and, at the end of the day, they're simply categories for folks at Barnes and Nobles to arrange shelves. Literary fiction is every bit as formulaic as we tend to accuse these more "popular" forms of being---if you don't believe me, read eighty consecutive coming-of-age novels like I had to last year.

So, that said: I found Claire a great character. The action was fun, and many of the twists and turns---from the arsenic poisoning and the witch interlude to the various encounters with Lord Randall---were lively and dramatic. The dialogue has a lot of wit to it, and I can see why the ladies swoon over Jamie. As with all time travel literature, there is the great every-small-action-changes-the-future irrevocably theme. I thought the ending was quite beautiful, too. I also got a kick out of being reminded that my first name---kirk---means church in Scottish. (Too bad my last name is German for "of the Poison Mind").

There were a few things I didn't like. For starters, the book is too long. I mean, for the love of Franklin H. Roosevelt, I've had marriages that didn't last 850 pages, so if you're going this epic you really need a tight canvas. I personally found the last section that introduces Jamie's sister Jenny a bit slow-going. After a while, the sex scenes also started to blur together (sort of like they did in my thirties). Two other sexual issues also got me thinking: there is a mild strain of homophobia here. I was grateful when the foppish Duke was introduced that the author didn't go Braveheart and have a mincer in a kilt---quite happily she avoided that. Then (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT) when Jamie turns out to have been boofed by Lord Randall while in prison ... hmmm ... I don't know. We have to be careful when it comes to same-sex stuff being used as an index of perfidity; it just plays into too many agendas. I also was a bit odded out by the submission/domination theme in some of Jamie and Claire's more athletic tumbles---especially when he spanks her derriere black and blue and then ramrods her with the --- well, see for yourself. It would be an interesting discussion indeed to talk about the sexual dynamics. Not sure we could do it on GR without getting silly, though---which is okay. We live for silly!

Oh, and the problems some had with the religious conversation toward the end ... that didn't bother me at all. It seemed to fit Claire's character as far as I was concerned.

In the end, those are minor quibbles. My main point here is that many people love this book, but I think from my conversations, they're sometimes embarrassed a bit bc it's romance or bc it's a time-travel book. To which I say: there are many many "literary" time-travel love stories that aren't this interesting, entertaining, or consistently readable. That makes this a good book!!!! I can totally see why readers like Outlander and the ensuing series: the book is fun, sexy, historically smart and interesting, vivid and has really dynamic characters who speak great dialogue. It certainly doesn't perpetuate the stereotypes that come to mind when people mention the words "romance fiction." I appreciate RA's challenge to read the book with him, and to all the GR friends---J, Kim, Kelly---who not only encouraged us but really seemed interested by our "manly" [sic] reactions.

Now I must go yassle me lasse. Just please God, don't leave me saying Je suis prematuro.(less)

Like this review? yes (10 people liked it)

22 comments

02/17/08

Holly rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, stuff-only-women-will-read

How To Commit Adultery Without Being a Cheap Slutty Whore: A Q&A by Diana Gabaldon

Q: I love my husband but I'm feeling kind of restless. But adultery is wrong. So what do I do?
A: Easy! Go back in time!

Q: What do you mean, Ms. Gabaldon?
A: If you go back in time, your husband hasn't been born yet. So you can have wild and crazy S&M sex with impunity.

Q: But won't I still be married to him?
A: Aren't you listening? He hasn't been BORN yet. So you ...more

Like this review? yes (14 people liked it)

16 comments

07/18/07

Carrie rated it:

bookshelves: favorites

Read in May, 2004

recommends it for: someone who likes anything from historical fiction to romance to time travel to adventure.

I first read this book 3 years ago, and have devoured the 6 books in the series (so far) since. Since it's been a year since the last one came out, and I had recently OD'ed on YA lit, I decided to go back to the first book. I remembered why this is my favorite series. Even though I remembered the larger plot points, and know all the future plot points, I still couldn't put this down on it's second reading. I found myself falling in love with the characters all over again, and since Gabaldon writ...more I first read this book 3 years ago, and have devoured the 6 books in the series (so far) since. Since it's been a year since the last one came out, and I had recently OD'ed on YA lit, I decided to go back to the first book. I remembered why this is my favorite series. Even though I remembered the larger plot points, and know all the future plot points, I still couldn't put this down on it's second reading. I found myself falling in love with the characters all over again, and since Gabaldon writes such detailed stories, I had forgotten the details and was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. I shed tears again and laugh out loud again.

Claire is an English woman in her late 20's, on a vacation in Scotland with her husband after WWII. Both had been involved in the war and were getting reacquainted after years apart. During the trip, Claire stumples into a mystical stone circle that carries her away to the same spot in Scotland, only it's 1743. She immediatly stumbles into a fight brewing between some English soldiers and some Scottish Highlanders. Claire gets involved, and is immediatly a suspect to both sides, being English and wearing clothing a lot less modest than what was worn in the 1700s. The Scottish men take her for now, and she helps nurse one of them - Jamie - after he's injured in the fight with the English.

The book goes on from there, detailing life in Scotland at that period, and the many adventures Jamie and Claire find themselves in. While some chain bookstores tend to shelve this in the Romance section, it is far from your regular bodice-ripper. Yes, there are some sex scenes, but they usually leave much to the imagination, and tend ot be more intellectual and emotional than graphic. Yes, there is the time-travel, which causes some to lump this with Sci-fi, but it's not a huge part of the book, with the exception of Claire's travels. I would most likely label it historical fiction, if I had to label it anything. Gabaldon does a LOT of research on every book she writes. Each book in the series tends to take her about 3 years to write, she says. Part of it is her writing - she's very verbose. (At one point, I believe she planned this series to be 5 books, then 7, and recently she stated on her website that she's currently writing book 7 and might have to stretch it to 8!) But part of the 3 years is due tot he extensive research she puts in to make sure what she is writing is true to the time period.

Simply put, I love these books.(less)

Like this review? yes (10 people liked it)

1 comment

09/27/07

Shannon rated it:

bookshelves: 2007, historical-fiction, time-travel

Read in October, 2007

It is 1945 and Claire Randall (nee Beauchamp) is enjoying her second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband Frank, a historian interested in tracing his family tree back to Jonathan Wolverton Randall, a Captain in the English army during the Jacobite period. They've been apart for almost all their 8 years of marriage, she working as a nurse, he working for MI5, during the war.

While exploring the countryside around Inverness she revisits a circle of stones on a hill and is transported...more It is 1945 and Claire Randall (nee Beauchamp) is enjoying her second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband Frank, a historian interested in tracing his family tree back to Jonathan Wolverton Randall, a Captain in the English army during the Jacobite period. They've been apart for almost all their 8 years of marriage, she working as a nurse, he working for MI5, during the war.

While exploring the countryside around Inverness she revisits a circle of stones on a hill and is transported back in time to 1743, smack bang in the middle of a fight between some Scottish clansmen stealing cattle and some dragoons - under the command of one Captain Randall. Who instantly proves his blackguard reputation by trying to rape her.

Rescued by one of the clansmen but still very much a prisoner - and having trouble convincing them she isn't a whore because of her "skimpy" 40s dress and bare legs - she soon shows her worth by fixingone of the men's dislocated shoulder and accompanies them back to the castle of the MacKenzies, the clan she has fallen in with.

It takes her some time to accept that she hasn't wandered onto a movie set or some kind of costumed re-enactment, simply because it time-travel is the last thing you would think of, or believe possible. But Claire, though fiesty and full of colourful swear-words learnt from the soldiers she nursed, is also very steady and determined to get back to the henge. This goal is hampered by being constrained to the castle, though she is treated with respect and works as a physician for the clan, and by the threat of Captain Randall, who thinks she is a spy. Actually, almost everyone thinks she's a spy for someone.

In order to protect her from the Captain, she is married to the young and attractive clansman, James Fraser (using her maiden name), to make her a Scot. The marriage, though one of convenience, was far from unwanted - the attraction they felt for each other soon becomes an overwhelming, intense love.

I won't give away any more than that in regards to the plot. It's a fantastic book, dense, vivid, well-researched it seems, though even though I have a degree in European history I know bugger all about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites and the Battle at Culloden, all of which is an important framework for this somewhat tragic love story. It's even more interesting when your heroine is from the 1940s, and all in all Gabaldon has pulled it off with aplomb. I think the only thing that jarred with me was the use of the words "car crash" in reference to how Claire's parents died - it's not that it's wrong, I think the word "car" was in use then, but it just sounded so modern. Maybe someone who knows can reassure me?

I love authors who don't hold back, and Gabaldon certainly isn't squeamish. She also knows how to combine visually graphic scenes with human emotional response - wow that sounds clinical! - to really make you connect. It reminds me a little of Ken Follat's Pillars of the Earth, which I read way too young (I was about 14) for all the rape etc. This wasn't anything as bad like that, and much better in the way it handled certain situations, but both books are so all-encompassing that they own you even after you've finished them.

This book had the same effect on me, if not worse, as New Moon did: by the time I finished it on Sunday morning, I felt wrung-out, frayed, stressed, tense, anxious, drained. Don't get me wrong, I love books that get their claws into me that deep, but it sure did make me feel in need of another weekend just to recover! And then I picked up the sequel, Dragonfly in Amber, and remembered what's so awful about time-travel books: the beginning is often the ending and the foreknowledge never does you any good. I read two chapters and wanted to cry. I haven't felt that sad in a long time, and thought maybe it wasn't such a good idea to read it now. But, once started, I can't stop.

If it makes me cry, though, the third can go stuff itself in a corner!

It also makes me want to watch Hamish MacBeth again ... See, I'm having a real bout of nostalgia thanks to this bloody book! But I absolutely recommend it.(less)

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11/10/07

Alysha rated it:

Read in January, 2007

recommends it for: reader's of Harlequinn Romances

Too bad here isn't a rating stronger than "didn't like" because I hated this book. In fact, I read the entire thing just so that someone couldn't talk me out of hating it by saying "Oh, it gets better at the end" or "you really needed to read the whole thing to appreciate it".

This book isn't about Scotland or time travel, it's about Jamie and Claire having sex in different locations and positions. Throw in a little wife beating, rape and repeated tortur...more

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05/25/08

Kym rated it:

bookshelves: aar-top-100-romances--2007-, historical-romance

Read in May, 2008

I'm always intimidated by books that are more than 600 pages. At that point, I start to think to myself that I could read TWO books in the time it would take me to finish this one. But Outlander is one of those books that you really can't call yourself a romance lover unless you've tackled, so I decided to go there over the holiday weekend. And it was a pleasant endeavor. The thing I liked most about Outlander is that I didn't feel that a word in the 850 pages was wasted. It's one thing to read ...more

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8 comments

08/28/07

Lynn rated it:

bookshelves: all-time-favorites, british-history, completely-original-fiction, fantasy, historical-fiction, war

Read in August, 2003

People kept telling me how good the Outlander series was, and I kept putting off reading them because they're time travel romances. Time travel romances are always completely cheesy aren't they?

Well, I finally broke down and read "Outlander," and quickly discovered it's one of the most original novels out there. I was happy to see that Barnes & Noble recently moved them out of the "romance" section because they are way more involved than your typical girl-meets-b...more

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08/26/07

Latharia rated it:

Read in November, 2007

I read the first 300 or so pages of the book. The first 200 had me hooked...and then the sex scenes started. I've got nothing against a sex scene or two ... but the main characters were having sex all the freaking time. And when it escalated to include violence, including a scene that I can only describe as rape (she says no, he forces her to have sex anyway), I closed the book & decided not to read anymore. I enjoy historical fiction ... just not this type of it, I suppose.

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03/21/08

Werner rated it:

bookshelves: supernatural-fiction

Read in January, 1998

recommends it for: Fans of time travel, historical fiction, or of romance with some substance

The description of the book above is inaccurate and misleading, in two respects: Claire's time travel isn't caused by touching a natural "boulder," but rather a magic-endued standing stone; and more importantly, Jamie isn't her illicit "lover," but her lawfully-wed husband. True, the fact that she has another husband in the 20th century raises the question of bigamy, and poses interesting time travel paradoxes; but I think Gabaldon, and her characters, take the position that...more

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02/25/08

Eastofoz rated it:

(review of isbn 0770428797)

bookshelves: books-with-cooties

recommended to Eastofoz by: Everybody and their cousin!
recommends it for: People who enjoy general 1st person fiction, epics, very very light romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Well it seems that I’m in the minority because I didn’t like this book from a romance reader’s point of view. It’s not a romance in my opinion—it’s romance “lite” or basically, general fiction. Now it’s very well-written and if you’re interested in Scottish history and like to read about beautiful descriptions of scenery and the ho-hum that’s everyday living then this is for you. It could easily have been cut down to 350 pages too. The 627 trade size format pages were d...more Well it seems that I’m in the minority because I didn’t like this book from a romance reader’s point of view. It’s not a romance in my opinion—it’s romance “lite” or basically, general fiction. Now it’s very well-written and if you’re interested in Scottish history and like to read about beautiful descriptions of scenery and the ho-hum that’s everyday living then this is for you. It could easily have been cut down to 350 pages too. The 627 trade size format pages were daunting and half way through they started to weigh heavily.

Something else that the avid romance reader may want to know is that there is absolutely no sex worth mentioning in the story and I think a lot of romance readers expect something. The sex scenes are written almost like Katherine Woodiwiss’—they’re glossed over with pretty words in a few short paragraphs. Sure you know what happened –they wake up together in bed the next morning--but it’s the passion that’s missing. I didn’t think there was enough of that “insane love” between Jamie and Claire and I think that it being written in the first person adds to that lack of feeling. Claire’s wry humor throughout the novel makes her seem like an emotionless cold fish at times and that connection between the couple is missing. Jamie, the archetype of the alpha male according to so many, was anything but for me. I felt his youth compared to Claire’s. She seemed mature almost like a sister or mother to him at times while he seemed like he was still a dumb kid just out of puberty. He was cute and all but nothing to earn all the accolades his character’s often given.

One scene that really bothered me was when he beat Claire and he said he enjoyed it. She scratched him up a bit for it but it was disturbing. Given the time period I’d imagine that this was pretty common to beat on the wife when she steps out of line but it didn’t work for me. Jamie explained why he had to do it but it was horrible nonetheless. It didn’t fit with his good guy character.

A lot of people say in reviews that this is a very sad story for a romance. I didn’t think it was sad at all—it’s got an HEA! Sure there are some tragic and horrific parts, like Jamie’s rape by the evil Captain Randall, Jamie telling Claire she has to leave him because he’s totally messed up psychologically after escaping from prison but that’s not rip out your soul sad in terms of the two as a couple because you know she’s going to stay.

There are some good things though in terms of the general story: the weird stones that allow for Claire’s time travel (makes you wonder—especially the introduction talking about disappearances), Geillis Duncan was one creepy woman, the witch trial, the bizarre brothers Colum and Duncan, and when Jamie describes what happened to him in prison.

Essentially the story is missing the roller coaster ride that makes a great romance. So for pure romance it rates 2 sorry stars but for general epic fiction it’s a 4. (less)

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07/27/07

Kate McLaughlin rated it:

(review of isbn 0099911701)

bookshelves: alltimefavourites, reviewed

The genius here is that historical fiction merges with science fiction, to produce a kind of double whammy of the historical.

The novel is set, initially, in 1946 Scotland, where a couple take a second honeymoon after the Second World War. Whilst not a huge presence in the piece, WW2 is something that feeds into the motivations of Claire, the protagonist, and informs the story. Through magic, science, coma, act of God or who knows what else, Claire Randall finds herself in mid eightee...more The genius here is that historical fiction merges with science fiction, to produce a kind of double whammy of the historical.

The novel is set, initially, in 1946 Scotland, where a couple take a second honeymoon after the Second World War. Whilst not a huge presence in the piece, WW2 is something that feeds into the motivations of Claire, the protagonist, and informs the story. Through magic, science, coma, act of God or who knows what else, Claire Randall finds herself in mid eighteenth century Scotland. She meets the fearsome ancestor of her husband, English officer, Jack Randall, and finds herself put in danger through his suspicions that she is a spy. Given refuge by the MacKenzie clan, she embarks upon numerous journeys of self discovery, and a journey of impossible love.

The romantic lead of the piece is Jamie Fraser. Strong, young, witty, and a little innocent, he is everything that Claire's husband in 1946 is not. The love between Jamie and Claire is beautifully paced, and the main focus of the novel. It is different to most romantic fiction I have read in that throughout their affair, they face the world together, growing as a couple. When the time comes for one to turn the other away, it doesn't feel like it is simply a necessary part of the formula, or a plot device, but rather an organic development of character.

It is the characters that make this novel what it is. Each with their own personality, story to tell and multiple motivations, they are crafted with precision. It is, of course, Jamie and Claire who shine through. I recently wrote an essay on George Orwell, and read a piece of criticism which quoted him as saying that first person novels do not work, because they focus too much on the individual and not on a greater span of humanity. Rather than going into how Orwell failed to achieve an avoidance of focus on the individual, I will simply say that Gabaldon proves him wrong in Cross Stitch. Claire is the first person narrator, and so we see a world unfamiliar to us through her equally unfamiliar eyes. This grants us easier access to the more alien aspects of the society she finds herself in. But we are not restricted to Claire's perspective. Multiple times throughout the novel, stories are recounted to Claire by other characters, part told in dialogue, part by Claire's narrative, switching almost imperceptibly into a third person narrator.

Something that shows Gabaldon's skill as a storyteller particularly well is the way that history is integrated. I feel that the sign of a weak historical author is one who says 'this is how this was in this particular century, and this is how that was' (which is how I felt when I tried to read novels by Robert Harris and Phillippa Gregory, but that's a matter for another day). Gabaldon does not tell her reader about history, she shows them. Rather than history ruling the story, it becomes a texture of the setting, making the novel even more of a joy to read.

Something I love about this novel is Gabaldon's treatment of what may be seen as taboo subjects. If not so much now in some cases, certainly in 1991 when this novel was originally published. There are issues of rape, husbands beating wives, hysteria, mental illness, abortion, homosexuality. Some are explored in depth, some skimmed over. But all are treated as part of life: they are treated honestly, and not made to look any better for the sake of the reader. In some respects, this is extremely brave of Gabaldon. There are points where readers could be lost for it, but there is a truth in these scenes that cannot ever really be presented in any medium other than the novel, and it is scenes like this that we sorely need, if we are ever going to gain anything from reading novels.

Cross Stitch is by no means great literature, nor will it ever find its way into the canon, but it is entertaining storytelling at its best.(less)

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03/04/08

Sean rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy, historical, romance

Read in March, 2008

I picked this up expecting a fluffy, light read, maybe with some hot sex scenes between muscular Scotsmen and lissome English lasses. I guess the fact that the paperback is the size of a brick should have clued me in to the fact that THIS IS NOT A LIGHT READ. The initial premise is interesting, but it drags on and on and on and on (with, it must be admitted, the occasional steamy, bekilted interlude). Readers should also be prepared for: stomach-turning violence and torture; vicious homoerotic s...more

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08/06/08

Kathleen rated it:

(review of isbn 0385319959)

Read in August, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I think this is one of those books that people really, really love, or really really despise. I found myself rather ambivalent about the book which is why I chose two stars. "It was okay" seems to sum it up for me.

Some of the things I liked were the beautifully detailed characters, the settings, and the bits of history which show that the author did her homework to make the story feel authentic. It isn't a predictable plot either, and it was suspenseful enough to keep me...more

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"The rest of the journey passed uneventfully, if you consider it uneventful to ride fifteen miles on horseback through rough country at night, frequently without benefit of roads, in company with kilted men armed to the teeth, and sharing a horse with a wounded man. At least we were not set upon by highwaymen, we encountered no wild beasts, and it didn't rain. By the standards I was becoming used to, it was quite dull." More quotes...