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Outlander
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Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - 2 stars
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I would have been very surprised if you loved this. I read it 30 years ago and bodice rippers were exactly what I was reading then. I was entranced by it. I continued reading the series until I tired of them.
You know I didn't love book one. I felt like I could be one and done. But then the TV series came out and everyone was so into it. One of my patients started describing what was going to happen in book two, and I got interested. But was uninterested in the sheer length. Then, my best friend said i should try the audio, and that's what hooked me. First, Book Two delighted me so thoroughly, but hearing Lavinia/Davinia Porter, the voices make the story so much more enjoyable. But its slow..... I'm giving up this first quarter of the year to this audio. But hey - at least you get the point and vote for the Favorite Author Challenge.
I agree with you, Joy. I'm not bothered by sex scenes in general, but there were so many rapes and attempted rapes, and an extended scene of creepy sadistic homoeroticism from Jamie's enemy who had captured him (forgot his name). I think I gave 3 stars because of all the work she had done, but I wasn't tempted to read any more. The audio was excellent and kept me going (though I started to think to myself in a Scottish accent!) I looked at some summaries of the succeeding books and found that what I most wanted to see never happens - Jamie going into modern times. He would be like Crocodile Dundee - "That's not a knife, this is a knife!"Many readers fall in love with Jamie, but he just isn't my type for a literary crush. I like someone subtle and sophisticated.
I have many friends in GR and real life who love the series, and I am happy for them, and kind of happy that this is one less group of books to add to my huge TBR.
Booknblues wrote: "I would have been very surprised if you loved this. I read it 30 years ago and bodice rippers were exactly what I was reading then. I was entranced by it. I continued reading the series until I tir..."Yes, I could have just skipped it but then I always feel I am missing out on something so many people enjoy. Most people who know me will not be surprised that I didn't care much for this one.
Amy wrote: "You know I didn't love book one. I felt like I could be one and done. But then the TV series came out and everyone was so into it. One of my patients started describing what was going to happen in ..."It's going to be "one and done" for me. Books that rely on a sexual relationship just do not appeal to me. I guess I feel like there needs to be more to a relationship than just sexual attraction.
I did listen to the audio and forgot to mention in my review that it is extremely well done. I think I would have DNF'd it if not for the audio, though I did have to skim through a number of the sex scenes. I also had a copy of the paperback, so I knew where to pick it back up.
Robin P wrote: "I agree with you, Joy. I'm not bothered by sex scenes in general, but there were so many rapes and attempted rapes, and an extended scene of creepy sadistic homoeroticism from Jamie's enemy who had..."Yes, I don't want to come across as not being able to handle sexual content, but a few nicely done sex scenes are way more effective (for me) than one after another in every position, every location, naming body parts, etc. Too much graphic detail just ruins it for me.
I agree with how you put it: "Many readers fall in love with Jamie, but he just isn't my type for a literary crush. I like someone subtle and sophisticated."
I agree that the audio is fantastic! During the first 25% or so I thought I was going to love this book, but then she "has to marry" Jamie and it all went south.
I love your Croc Dundee analogy. :-)
Strangely your review makes me want to read this more! I am a casual romance reader, sometimes I like sex scenes, I don't particularly want to read about rape (puke) but something about your description makes me want to read it more.
Alas, this will have to wait on the want-to-read list for a while longer.
Since it fits literally EVERY tag someday it may be my only option and I'll be forced to read it!
Meli wrote: "Strangely your review makes me want to read this more! I am a casual romance reader, sometimes I like sex scenes, I don't particularly want to read about rape (puke) but something about your descr..."
I am glad my review makes you want to read it! I always love to compare reviews and see who likes what. I figured the WPF challenge was a good enough reason to read it since I've been putting it off for years. And sure enough, it's tagged "science." I didn't post it as science because it is not really "about" science. It's more about sex, lol.
Amy wrote: "You know I didn't love book one. I felt like I could be one and done. But then the TV series came out and everyone was so into it. One of my patients started describing what was going to happen in ..."It was the audio that I love too. I had a time I read bodice rippers but not for many, many years. But I do love the audios of this series and I adore the TV series. There's lots of history in this and I really think that's what I like best.
Barbara M wrote: "It was the audio that I love too. I had a time I read bodice rippers but not for many, many years. But I do love the audios of this series and I adore the TV series. There's lots of history in this and I really think that's what I like best...."I do enjoy the history. I especially liked the emphasis on the Jacobites, and the various animosities between the French/English/Scottish. I wish it didn't have anachronisms, though. I've read many books about wolves, and they had disappeared from Scotland before this time.
Sweeping time travel and adventure saga that takes place in the Scottish Highlands. Protagonist Claire Beauchamp starts off on a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank, just after WWII, when she is mysteriously transported back to the mid-eighteenth century. I am late to the party on this one, so I will spare an unnecessary plot summary.
I put off reading Outlander for years because I am not a fan of romance and thought I would not like it. But my sister-in-law loves the entire series and highly recommended it. Plus, it is the type of book that has captured the public’s imagination, and I generally get around to reading them sooner or later.
It turns out that my reservations were well-founded. It is basically a very long and repetitive boddice ripper. I do not care for books that rely heavily on sexual content, especially sexual violence, as entertainment. This book has so many sex scenes, rapes, and attempted rapes, that I started to skim over them. I did not feel the attraction between the main characters, other than lust, and if you do not buy into the idea that these two are “meant to be” lovers, it just does not work. The fact that she is already married seems not to matter. Some of the scenes are so gruesome, I felt sick reading them.
I did like a few elements. I enjoyed the first quarter of the book, where we are meeting the characters and learning the setting. There are vivid scenes describing the landscape, the castles, the manner of living, which portray the environment that Claire must navigate. I particularly liked the scene of Claire, a nurse from the 20th century, sifting through the contents of a healer's herbs and remedies. She goes through such lovely items as “mouse ear” (which is exactly what it sounds like), “ground human skull” (yikes!), and the like. She discards the grotesque and keeps the herbs, which may actually prove useful. This scene is vividly rendered and provides the reader with a good idea of the state of “medicine” in the 1740s.
I know this author is much loved, but no book is for everyone and this one was not for me.