Outlander
discussion
Can it possibly get better than the 1st and 2nd books?
Well no he isnt. Let's see how I get on with The Fiery Cross. It's not like there isn't enough to read!
Brenda wrote: "The only one of the Lord John Grey series that features Jamie is "...and the Scottish Prisoner". I haven't ventured there yet, as John, well, John isn't Jamie now, is he?"No, John is not Jamie. No one compares to Jamie. But I like LJG a lot. I think he has his own charm. I also like him because he's no competition for Jamie being bi and all. I hate Frank. Don't know why and have never understood it but I hate him even more than I dislike BJR. With BJR you know he's a villian and you know you have to hate him. But with Frank its different.
Alicia wrote: "Yes, it definitely gets better than books 1 & 2. My personal favorite is An Echo In the Bone because I love what Diana is doing with William's character. Then, Voyager is a very close second. I can..."Oh PLEASE finish the series is awesome and you will be glad you went on with it.
Leyoh wrote: "These book are a lifetime commitment. I'm on the Fiery Cross now and will be so sad to get to the end of the Outlander Series. There is The Lord John Grey series though - has anyone tried those?"I just didn't care so much for the Lord John series even A Scottish Prisoner was not as good as the Original series in my opinion. I do like some of the short stories she has written(A Leaf in the Wind of All Hallows Eve) or the excerpt of what she is currently writing. Maybe it is because I am not expecting the eipc that Outlander is.
Keep going they are my favorite books. I've read them all but it was a little easier as they were released over a number of years. I am anxiously awaiting her next book and somewhat hoping it is not the end of the series. Also, after all these years of hearing about tha Outlander series my husband is jealous of Jamie !!
Oh I say yes they can & yes they do imo! ABOSAA is my favorite after Outlander. I also love the Lord John series. I have the feeling that the people that don't like the LJ series are expecting them to be like Outlander & I don't think they are meant to be. There is a whole list of things I love about LJ & the characters around him. As some one else said above the audio books are really great too listen to on all of the books especially the Lord John series. I highly recommend Davina Porter for the Outlander series and Jeff Woodman for the Lord John series. I am also a fan of Diana Gabaldon's short stories & novellas too. The Outlander series is my absolute favorite though. Happy reading!
Fawn, I agree Davina Porter is excellent. The problem I have with the Scottish Prisioner on audio was, I was so used to Porter's voice as Jamie's, the guy that did him in Scottish Prisoner was not as good. IMO.
I like the short stories and A Leaf in the Wind of All Hallows was so good and gives a great glimps into the next book.
I like the short stories and A Leaf in the Wind of All Hallows was so good and gives a great glimps into the next book.
Jerelyn, I think the person who did Jamie's voice is Rick Holmes. I thought his regular talking voice was good, but it seemed like when he did Jamie's accent he raised his voice a little and I always had it stuck in my head that Jamie would have a deep voice. Love Jeff Woodman as Lord John though. And Divina Porter is just so good. It sounds like she really does her home work and becomes the characters.
Fawn, I do like Jeff Woodman, I was almost certain that there were two people doing the narration. But I downloaded it from my library and their information on narrators is not very complete. As for Davina Porter, she is amazing voice actress, so many characters and you can tell the difference between each one. I saw an interview with her, and her husband is Scottish so I think with her ear for accents she just pegs the regional Scots accent so well.
Mary wrote: "I love all of them except "The Fiery Cross." It was OK, but Brianna gets on my nerves a little."I agree, but you need it for the back ground info. Read them all back to back and felt like my friends were gone when I finished the last one.
Yes, Scottish Prisoner has lots of Jamie. I didn't mind the other Lord John books but they aren't as good as Claire and Jamie books. Oddly though lots of people love Voyager it's probably my least favourite, mainly the last parts with the voodoo and Geillis Duncan on the Island. I did enjoy reading the first half about Jamie and Claire's lives through the time they were apart. Outlander is still my favourite but Echo in the Bone was really really good too.
I'm reading this series right now, I've gotten about a quarter of the way through the 3rd book and am very much looking forward to reading the rest. I think I'll be sad when I'm done with the books.
Mandy you will be sad for sure and looking for your next Outlander fix! I blew through all the books and then was like wow when is book 8 comming out? I couldn't even wait a month before I started retreading Outlander. Now I decided to wait for the rereads here instead of blowing through the entire series again. At least it is paced better for the next installment and it forces me to read some of the other good books on my to be read list. Enjoy the journey!
I read the first 3 books and really enjoyed them, but after that they just got too fantastic and I found them impossible to read.
Part of the reason I love them is the historical detail. When I'm not reading paranormal romance, I'm reading historicals. What you guys are describing as a drawback is probably something I will find to be a bonus!
In the last books I enjoyed the different view of history, from the point of view from those people being required to give everything up again. They had lost everything in Scotland sworn an oath to the King and had to go against everything they valued to support the revolution. Not what I had thought through all those history classes. I continue to see things differently in her books. Enjoyment with history all in one
Sara and Bethlil, EXACTLY! I'm not a romance novelist, but putting the human element into history actually teaches me so much more than simple rote memorization. And of course, one can be inspired to further study that period in history, especially in a biographical fashion...
I couldn't agree more Bethlil and Brenda.
Brenda that is very true! I have researched more things after reading Diana Gabaldon books. On a side note: Something I discovered researching something in one of her books. That Here in the USA we're not so good at preserving things. When we're done with a building we implode it and start over. Which I think could one day take away some of our History. While places like England and Scotland, there there are places there that are still in use that were there in the 1700's and earlier. One day it is hard for our great gr gr gr gr gr grandchildren to study our History if we live in the states. (forgive my blathering it is just something that I've thought of more since reading these books)
I was reading The Fiery Cross. I got to about page 250 and nothing was happening. WTH Sadly I am taking a break from Jamie and Claire. In a while I will resume with A Breath of Snow and Ashes. Hopefully that one is finishable.
It's better, magicboop. Fiery Cross kind of stuttered my interest, too, but being a bit bullheaded I pushed on. Fawn, that's part of the charm of Europe, I believe. America is such a young country, boldly forging ahead with complete disregard for the past. Whilst in Scotland I did see dilapidated castles, some under various stages of preservation, some simply being kept 'as is', such as St Andrews. Driving down long country roads I saw footings, bits of homes barely rising from the ground, now used as sheep pens. From what I understand, those stones don't go to waste; should that building not be needed any more, the stones are used for something else.
And Adrians Wall...has sunk. Now more a curb..
Brenda,I should very much like to visit Europe someday. I hope I get the chance before I get too old. : )
I love Outlander and Dragonfly. I loved the first half of Voyager but the bits in the Islands and all that left me a bit flat. Books 4 and 5 and some of 6 also weren't as good for me but still good enough to keep me coming back for more but I really enjoyed the seventh book a lot. Overall, though it's still a wonderful series. The Lord John books were all right but Scottish Prisoner is quite good because Jamie is in it! I've just reread Outlander for the first time in quite awhile and I think i'm going to work my way through the series to get in the frame of mind for when the next book comes out.
i think TFC does a good job of highlight just the daily life in those period, how it was the same stuff over and over again...one of the comments I hear from people who didn't necessarily like the books is that they were too on the go and high-paced and I find the TFC is a good counter to that
Some people don't like the Lord John books, but I found them quite entertaining and an easy read.I just wish I had read the stories earlier, at about the time that they would have happened in relation to the Jamie and Claire stories.
I think they give you a bit more understanding of Lord John as a character.
Keep reading. Voyager, #3 is my favorite in the series. I admit that the beginning of The Fiery Cross is a bit much, but if you can plow through that first day, it picks up steam as it goes. I will admit to a bit of annoyance with the last one, when a plot device from #3 was re-used (kidnapped by the British Navy AGAIN???) but they're good reads.
I personally loved every book of the Outlander series... although I have been reading An Echo in the Bone for quite a while. That's the only title I have struggled with! I can't seem to get through it. I haven't read any of the Lord John books: I'm too much of a fan of Jamie to read about John!
My suggestion for anyone having trouble with one of the books, see if your library has it in audio format. Davina Porter's narration is wonderful, but be warned they are about 40 hours each. When I skimmed through parts of Fiery Cross I didn't realize how much I missed because of it.
Heather wrote: "Sandi wrote: "I personally think the first four books were the best. I still enjoyed the rest but Outlander and Voyager are by favs by far. I'm so in love with Jamie {sigh}"me too!"
I just finished Outlander and have just started Dragonfly in Amber. I too am head over heels in love with Jamie! Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Bridget it will be quite a ride. As in life there will probabaly be areas you find less interesting but the "highs" will keep you going and with me surprisingly some of the less interesting threads end up turning into great moments in the series if you stick withj it. I was in love with the series from the time she fell through the stones :) Enjoy the journey!
When I started reading these I didn't realize they were a series so I didn't read them in order. I get mine at 1/2 Price Books, so I just got what ever one the had at the time. I'm on the last book now (I think it was probably #2 in the series) but reading them out of order did not diminish my enjoyment of the books. I'm looking forward to the Lord John Grey series.
Kyla wrote: "Hey all,I just started the Outlander series and cant take my eyes out of the book!! I am just about to finish Dragonfly in Amber and cant imagine there to be 6 more b :)ook to read in the series!!..."
It just keeps gettin' better
I have read all her books, including the Lord John Grey series. The novels with Jamie and Claire are much better. I saw her at a book signing in Bowling Green, Kentucky and she made a grand entrance with a man dressed in Scottish kilt with flaming red hair. She spoke for about an hour and signed books.
Janice wrote: "Kyla wrote: "Hey all,I just started the Outlander series and cant take my eyes out of the book!! I am just about to finish Dragonfly in Amber and cant imagine there to be 6 more b :)ook to read i..."
I am in the same spot! Jamie and Claire have been through so much that I can't imagine what else could happen!
Annie wrote: "Karen wrote: "I read "Outlander' several years and, while I found it a decent read, certainly not good enough to keep me going to the sequel(s). There are so many better books in the both the hist..."I Agree! They get better and better and YOU WILL NOT REGRET reading the other 6. It was the BEST series I have ever read!!!
Sara wrote: "Yes it can and yes it does...each book brings new people, as well as old friends, and another adventure. My favorites were Voyager and Breath of Snow and Ashes. right behind Outland and Dragonfly,..."ABSOLUTE TRUTH It was fantastic!!!!
magicboop wrote: "I was reading The Fiery Cross. I got to about page 250 and nothing was happening. WTH Sadly I am taking a break from Jamie and Claire. In a while I will resume with A Breath of Snow and Ashes. ..."Oh DO finish Fiery Cross..The beginning was a little slow but push on through it gets better and better and leads in to A Breath of Snow and Ashes...
Sara wrote: "Bethlil wrote: "after all these years of hearing about tha Outlander series my husband is jealous of Jamie !! ..."
As he and all men should be."
I read all 7 on my Kindle in 3 1/2 Months..My Poor Husband was just plain out Abandoned!!! Can't Wait for the next one! Now I want a trip to "The Outlander Experience" in Scotland!!!
The Scottish Prisioner I thought was good - it gave some insight as to what Jamie was doing when he was at Helwater. It also showed more of his relationship with Willie. I like Lord John and he is a good friend to Jamie throughout the series. I plan to re-read the series over the summer - I have not done that in a while. It will be a change from my last series (Fifty Shades of Grey) lol but my husband will still like it...hee hee
This whole series is fantastic. There are a couple of them that didn't leave me in awe like Outlander did. I haven't read anyone really mention anything about Drums of Autumn, but I loved that one. It really added that extra dynamic with Bri and Roger (and I LOVE Bri and Roger). Outlander, Drums of Autumn, and Echo in the Bone ftw!
Outlander is on my keeper shelf, one of my favorite books. And yet, I've never read the rest of the series. I think because I'm content letting Jamie and Claire's love story end there; I like a little bit of ambiguity.
I started the series last year and so far I adored the first 3 novels, and even though the 4th one was also good, I'm scared it will get old. How is the fiery cross? I wanna buy it, but I'm afraid at the same time!
Joana wrote: "I started the series last year and so far I adored the first 3 novels, and even though the 4th one was also good, I'm scared it will get old. How is the fiery cross? I wanna buy it, but I'm afraid ..."The Firey cross starts out a little slow but let me tell you..it is outstanding! Get through the first couple chapters and it will pick up and lead into A Breath of Snow and Ashes...You HAVE to read them all..and when you are finished with #7 you will miss them all so much!!! Another one is coming out in Jan 2013 so don't fret..MORE TO COME!!!! This is such a fantastic Series I can't say enough about it!!! Let me know what you think of Firey Cross when you finish it....:-)
I have loved them all though some do grab me more than others. I think all have brought me to tears at one point or another. You have nothing to loose by going on with the series and if you truely do get bored with the series you can stop. I don't believe you will though. I started this series spring of 2011 and have gone through the first three again. I plan to gladly reread them all by the time #8 comes out.
Morgan wrote: "I read Outlander a few months ago and have been a little hesitant to read the rest of the series. Dont get me wrong, I absolutely loved the first one, but I dont see how it could get better. Part o..."If you stopped at the first book, you only have a vague sampling of this series. The author weaves an incredible story that spans time and space amazingly! I cannot fathom how she keeps the timeline and characters in alignment. I like :)
Janice wrote: "Morgan wrote: "I read Outlander a few months ago and have been a little hesitant to read the rest of the series. Dont get me wrong, I absolutely loved the first one, but I dont see how it could get..."Janice wrote: "Morgan wrote: "I read Outlander a few months ago and have been a little hesitant to read the rest of the series. Dont get me wrong, I absolutely loved the first one, but I dont see how it could get..."
I Know what you mean Janice! So far she has kept it all straight! She must have a reference file the size of Texas!! LOL And you are right about a vague Sampling. Outlander is just the introduction to the fantastic journey that this series takes the reader on! Read the ALL Morgan! You will not regret it. :-P
I have read the series twice and once listened to the audiobook version (the reader on the audiobooks was awesome to be able to handle all the languages and make each character "speak" differently enough to follow the conversations). I thoroughly enjoyed those, and recommend them. Diana writes like no other author and some think she takes too many pages to express a thought or a scene, but I enjoy her details and the herb information was well researched. I am looking forward to the next book.
I have to agree with the others read it you won't be sorry, and if you can get one or two on audio from the library, (the unabridged editions) with Divina Porter narrating she is amazing!
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I have read them all and didn't love them, the Scottish Prisioner was better than the rest. But that's because it had Jamie in it. :)