Do I continue?

[Dee]

I think a lot of those side stories are ones that had been previously released over the years in other anthologies - but she is now getting the rights back to them and re-releasing...they might also be ones that may influence some of MOBY but not enough that she can fit them in the book itself

[Eileen]

gertt wrote: "Outlander is one of my favorite series and I'm looking forward to Book 8.

However, I agree, you shouldn't have to read side stories, most of which are ebooks, or the Lord John series, to 'fill in ..."

You don't have to read the side stories, but they can help to deal with the withdrawal from the Jamie & Claire main stories!

I saw Diana Gabaldon speak a week or so ago and she promised to finish book 8 by the end of the year. Amazon has the book listed as being released on December 10th, but she said they are just making that up. Or maybe there's a Jamie & Claire fan at Amazon who's into wishful thinking!

[Gypsi Babii]

Just finish book one and all I can say is OMG.. with a lot of TMI. I am liking the series so far but I heard it gets better. It did start off a bit slow. This book makes you want to go scottland and finish you a Highlander.. I love red heads.

[Sandra]

I read the books as most were published after I started reading Outlander. I am re-reading Dragonfly in Amber now just to refresh my memory. I can't imagine reading all 8 books back to bsck. I would have to read a few and then take a break. definitely worth reading all 8. they are so good

[Eileen]

Sandra wrote: "I read the books as most were published after I started reading Outlander. I am re-reading Dragonfly in Amber now just to refresh my memory. I can't imagine reading all 8 books back to bsck. I wou..."

I listened to the audio books version. The first 7 books, followed by the Lord John books, and then The Scottish Prisoner was released and I listened to that. It took about a year. I listened to one or two more books (I have a really long commute each day), then I decided the best use of my time was to listen to the Outlander series again. So I did.

I don't know why I find them as enjoyable and as satisfying as I do, but I do. I've even gotten my husband to read Outlander, as well as watching the series.

At this point, I don't really care. I just keep watching the shows.

[Thera]

I'm in the middle of book 3, and I'm seriously just done with it. I'll finish this book and not go any further. I just can't stand the constant crap sandwich Claire and Jamie have to eat, for one. Anytime something good seems to happen, WHAM, they get kicked in the sack. Seriously, how much crap can people take? If I were Claire, I would have said "I love you, Jamie. But I'm going back to my own time, where everything and everyone aren't trying to KILL ME".
Another thing that bothers the heck out of me are the constant fights Claire seems to pick with Jaime. Seriously, chick! Lay off! Do you, or do you not, love him? If you do, then just go with the flow. Stop the picking and bickering, seriously, you spoiled COW. He obviously worships the ground you walk on, so how about you reciprocate? Would that be too much to ask?
And while the sex scenes are pretty hot, don't they ever get chafed? The wind blows and Jamie is at full mast and ready to pounce. The man is on the verge of death and he still has a little "SUM-SUM" for the lady. Get real. Seriously. No, really...just stop already.
This is the reason I don't read romance novels, as a rule. But everyone said these were more than romance novels. They said there was political intrigue, and adventure and excitement. They didn't tell me it would be this disaster. I just can't stomach much more. Actually, I can't stomach another minute. I'm done with the series after this book, only because I can't leave a book unfinished.

[Jeanine]

Gretchen wrote: "I have loved them so much! I read them one after another and found that I was thinking about Jamie and Claire all the time, as if they were my friends. When I finished #7, I missed them! I can't..."

I agree. In the last book In my hearts own blood, I was happy for the events. Now I have some questions about Bri's family and can hardly wait for the next book. Im hoping there is a next book

[Thera]

I'm not saying they have to live happily ever after right away. But one thing after another after another. And it's not minor stuff either. It's major life and death stuff.
And the sex ALL THE TIME.
And you're right, everyone has different tastes. This just isn't my cuppa tea. I'm more of a Jo Nesbø, Stephen King kind of girl. This is the second time friends swear by a series that is different from the usual 'romance'series. The first was Black Dagger Brotherhood. I couldn't get past book 1 in that series. So Outlander was definitely a step up.

[Eileen]

Thera wrote: "I'm not saying they have to live happily ever after right away. But one thing after another after another. And it's not minor stuff either. It's major life and death stuff.
And the sex ALL THE..."

Well, kudos for persisting as long as you have. I've not read any of Jo Nesbo or Stephen King, so if those are your favorites, the fact you've gotten so far is quite the tribute to Diana Gabaldon's writing.

[Sherry]

Chantal wrote: "I stopped reading the series after the 4th book - not because the quality wasn't there, but because I had had enough of all those bad things happening to Jamie & Claire!

Otherwise, taking a break..."

I agree. I just could not continue with the continuous disasters and misfortune in such LONG books, it was exhausting. I left them somewhere on the path to the American Revolution figuring I definitely didn't need to go through another war with them.

Having said that, I absolutely LOVE the series on STARZ!!!

[Liv]

I loved the first book - even though it was really long and sometimes exhausting because everything was described into the tiniest detail. Sure enough I wanted to know what happend to the characters and also read the 2nd and 3rd book.
It's been so long ago now that I wonder if I should continue with the 4th book. I remember that I just didn't want to anymore but I don't really know why. It was just too long a story and too much of details sometimes. Maybe now after some distance I will pick up the next one - which I have already since years on my shelf at home looking at me. =)

[Terri]

I have read all the books. The first 4 were great !! After that the quality of the writing decreases. This last book is awful. Boring. I had to get an audio and listen to it while I was at the gym to get through it. I felt like I was having a vocabulary lesson through the whole book. There is a lot about a battle I never heard of. A lot of rambling about Willie. Fragmented It finally held a little spark after the first 100 chapters.

[Victoria]

Well, after a year long break I have just started book five and am enjoying being part of Jamie and Claire's lives again! Some if the characters are testing my memory after such a long break (thank goodness for Wiki!) but I'm loving the shear escapism that Diana has crafted.

Thanks to everyone that encouraged me to read on...I can already see that there's going to be so much more to their story. The thought of going through another war with them makes me a little nervous but I think the family dynamic that B,R & J have added will make up for it!!!

[Victoria]

Well, after a year long break I have just started book five and am enjoying being part of Jamie and Claire's lives again! Some if the characters are testing my memory after such a long break (thank goodness for Wiki!) but I'm loving the shear escapism that Diana has crafted.

Thanks to everyone that encouraged me to read on...I can already see that there's going to be so much more to their story. The thought of going through another war with them makes me a little nervous but I think the family dynamic that B,R & J have added will make up for it!!!

[Jeanine]

gertt wrote: "Outlander is one of my favorite series and I'm looking forward to Book 8.

However, I agree, you shouldn't have to read side stories, most of which are ebooks, or the Lord John series, to 'fill in ..."

Correct I found the side stories to be dull

[Tim]

HEY yeah you read more. It took me five months to read all 8 and I couldn't get enough.

[Mochaspresso]

Natalie wrote: "I loved the first 4 books but have been struggling to read the 5th. I thought I may have been losing interest because I do not have as much interest in American history. I don't feel the story is a..."

I lost steam with the series at this point, too. I think it was a combination of not having as much interest in American history as I did with Scottish and British history and a desire to branch out of series books for a while. I'd spent months reading one series by one author and nothing else. I felt like book 5 was probably a good time for me to take a break from the series for a while and read other things.

[Sandra]

i just finished Voyager for the second time. I am re-reading just to keep up with the TV show. I am surprised HOW MUCH I forgot

[Erin]

I just finished the second season of the tv show and then blazed through the 3rd book. Loveddd it. Started the fourth one, but put it down a few weeks ago and haven't picked it back up yet. I love the characters and the story, but I think I might've overwhelmed my brain with all things Outlander. Maybe I'll get the mojo back by the time the 3rd season gets here. Whoops.

[Victoria]

Keep going Erin! I had a rest and then continued with the rest of the series and I'm so glad I did! I admit that as much as I loved the characters, for a while I found the size of the books overwhelming and would feel frustrated when other things came on my reading list whilst I was plodding through so many pages. Now though, I wish I could find another series so meaty and enjoyable. I felt the series got a little flat at the midway point but the storyline gets a new lease of life and things get really interesting from book four onwards. My favourite reads of the whole series have been the last two books and I didn't think anything could top book one! I'm now eagerly awaiting book nine.

[Gillian]

I listened to all of the books on Audible. I found them thoroughly addictive and was sad to have finished such a rich collection of storylines. I spend a lot of time driving and outside they really passed the time but in an informative historical way. I have not read any historical novels before but really enjoy si-fi and fantasy. These combined the two brilliantly and I released how much research would have gone into making these books as accurate and interesting as they were. 5* all the way