Outlander Series discussion
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Does anyone else hesitate to start the next book?
Yes. I have felt that. Not for the Outlander series, but for a couple of fantasy series I'm following - and since it's fantasy, a HEA is not guaranteed. :\
I totally do this! If a book really emotionally affects me, it'll take me days or weeks to get over it and I'll spend that time either not reading in extreme cases or just reading fluff while I mentally rearrange myself to move past it. And if there is a book, like the one I'm reading now The Bronze Horseman, that I know in advance is a big emotional read, I'll like put it on a pedestal for a while (sometime even weeks or months) trying to find the PERFECT time to start reading it
I read Outlander without knowing it was part of a series. When I finished and got online to see if any groups were discussing it I found out there were 5 more of them to read (through ABOSAA). I debated...I knew that if I read #2 I wouldn't stop :) Then the next second I drove to the bookstore! I read them all as one giant book and then I had to wait 4 WHOLE MONTHS for Echo to come out. I thought that was torture...and here I am waiting since Echo for Moby!!! I do try to remember to feed my family when a new books comes out or I prepare easy to freeze meals for such occasions :)
I read Outlander and loved it, but I wasn't really "hooked" until the first chapter of dragonfly. Then, I just HAD to find out, so I kind of devoured the books. The people who recommended it did not tell me that it takes 3-4 years for a new book to come out. I read the series originally in 2009, and the withdrawals from the series were pretty severe. I would recommend taking your time. Read something in between, because you can only read something for the first time once.
I discovered the Outlander Series right about the time that EITB was coming out. & Once I read the first book, I went through the entire series including Echo back-to-back. No hesitation whatsoever but now the wait is torturing me. :-)
Aestas wrote: "I totally do this! If a book really emotionally affects me, it'll take me days or weeks to get over it and I'll spend that time either not reading in extreme cases or just reading fluff while I men..."TBH is definitely the series I have had this happen with. That one was one of the most emotional books I have ever read. I read it in the December group read, and I do not think I will get to the other two until this summer when I have more time for it.
I'm 35% through and going CRAZY!!! But I love it. I think it's the sign of a really great author when she can make something as simple as the first time the hero calls the heroine 'babe' set your heart all a flutter and start pounding. I'm going to read all 3 back to back. I'm a glutton for emotional books and Ive really hit the jackpot with these ones. They are even worse than Outlander.
I coulnd't wait to go to the bookstore and get the next book. This series is like an addictive drug! I couldn't get enough of it.
I started the series last summer (June 2011), as a book club read with friends. Once I finished "Outlander", I looked the series up and saw that there were 7 books. Somehow, I thought that the series had ended, and everything wrapped in the 7th book (Echo). I think because I saw that the copyright of Outlander was in the 90s, so I figured the series had to be finished by now. Which, frankly, is the only reason that I continued in the series so quickly; I hate waiting for the next book in a series, and I figured if all 7 books encompassed the series, I was in good shape. (Ha!)I was so hooked on the series, that I quickly read through all 7 books - couldn't stop! I think I read the whole series within 3 weeks or so. When I got to the end of Echo, I almost threw my Kindle against the wall on the other side of the room! I was so upset that not only didn't the story end at the 7th book, but there were major cliffhangers!
Since discovering that there really was an 8th book coming out and then discovering the Lord John series, I was somewhat appeased, although at the time LJ wasn't my favorite person at all. I've since come to appreciate him and his stories, even those outside Outlander proper.
All I can say is that from time to time, I've gone back and re-read the entire set of Outlander books again. Once I get started, I can't stop. I do try to pace myself, though, and have read the books much more thoroughly than the 1st time through. I can't believe I never heard of this series before last summer! And I almost didn't want to join the group read with my face-to-face book club, because the story sounded just too fantastic. Wow - what I would've missed!
Anyway... being a voracious reader, I keep a respectable number of books on my TBR shelf and try to invest in other books, authors, and series. It's tough, though, because I keep finding myself pulled back to Jamie & Claire.
I'm so glad that I discovered this group at Goodreads! What a godsend!
I am a bit... cautious... about MOBY (book 8). I'm almost afraid of what the book will contain and (view spoiler). Since Diana G has said she thinks the series will end around 1800, I figure we've probably got at least one more - if not several more - books to go. We're only in 1777-ish or so; and while Voyager probably covered the biggest span of time so far, there's too much action in the time-frame that they're currently in for me to think MOBY will be the last book.
Will I pre-order it? Heck yeah! Will I devour it? For sure! Will I be completely tortured and obsessed upon finishing it with 24-36 hours? You bet! And I'll try not to curse DG as I wait the next 3-4 years for the next book to come out.
Sometimes I have a little apprehension about starting the next book in the Outlander series. Not because I know the series will end (Booo) but because it's such an emotional ride and i'm usually worn out from the last book. ha! It never disappoints :)
Since I read Outlander as a stand alone, wwaaayyyy back in the early 90's...I didn't have a problem at all. Sweet ending....then in 1994 I was laid up for several months and got Dragonfly from the library. I hadn't yet made the connection. About the end of the first chapter I realized this story found familiar...so I gimped up to the attic and dug in my boxes of books and found Outlander! From then on, I've been hooked. I pre-order when available. On Sept 27, 2005 I was in California just north of L.A. (I remember the date because it was my 50th birthday, and 6 days after my father died) I left my hotel, walked to Barnnes and Noble, got ABOSAA and a venti Chai Tea Latte and had a private celebration of two momentous events. To graceful aging, a la Claire and to my wonderful dad, sadly missed.Never a moment of hesitation. And yes, the waiting is torture. Hence re-reading and re-reading and re-reading......
I would say I have the most apprehension with I get about 75% of the way through. I want to finish but I don't want it to end.
I was so comforted that there were 8 books but now that I am almost done with book 6--I have really apprehension about finishing the whole series.
Brunhilde, do the audiobooks next, Davina Porter is great and it felt like there were a ton of stuff I missed when reading them. They're huge too, unabridged cassettes I think one book at 35 cassettes. I promise Brunhilde, you'll love it.
Thank you, Carolyn. I will. I can feel myself slowing down in my reading wanting to prolong it.
Brunhilde wrote: "I was so comforted that there were 8 books but now that I am almost done with book 6--I have really apprehension about finishing the whole series."I also recommend reading the Lord John series before Echo In the Bone. 1. It slows ya down a bit and 2. There are characters that you meet in the Lord John series that show up in Echo and it makes it so much more easy to understand if you have read the Lord John series first.
That's true about Echo, Fawn. You really need to read Lord John's books to know why characters in Echo are important.
I not much of a Lord John fan, so i've decided not to read the series but i may need to rethink that.
Again the audiobooks were great - not as good as Davina Porter's but good and they are about 1/4 of the size maybe even less.
Leea, I wasn't much of a Lord John fan either, but I think he's grown on me. Let's put it this way, I don't automatically roll my eyes or wince every time he's in the story anymore - LOL! Actually, I kinda like the guy now.My recommendation is to at least read "Brotherhood of the Blade" and then "The Scottish Prisoner" before "Echo in the Bone". You have a much better appreciation of Lord John and the characters he interacts with in "Echo" if you do. (That's my two-cents worth, anyway.)
Thanks! I've already read Echo, almost 2 years ago now. Maybe on our reread i'll try to read the lord john series before Echo.
It's not necessary, but it was very helpful to me. The more I read about Lord John the more I like him. I can relate to his dry sense of humor and I actually see a lot of parallels between Lord John and Jamie.But different people like different folks. I just thought I would make the suggestion.
Carolyn- I love Jeff Woodman as Lord John you really hear Johns personality in his voice.
well, at the beginning I didn't want to continue with the other books of the serie, because I was, and I'm, totally in love with the first one, so I was afraid that the others would have ruined the book I loved so much. and also Outlander was ended with a perfect ending, with Jamie and Claire together, together in love.
Did I need another book, if the first one was ended so well?!
But... Then, I found the third book of the saga in my house (I don't know why, considering that I don't have the first!) and I was really curiose to find out how it was.
So, I googled info about the saga and all I found was really entusiastic; all the people told me to begin it, I wouldn't have regretted it!
So, I bought the second book and I started to read it, with a little anxiety and a little bit of curiosity... and I've devoured it! It was epic, fantastic, as the first one.
After that, I took the third and began it..
Now, I'm in the middle of Voyager and I really enjoy it!
After all, I'm really glad that I have continued the saga, because it's really amazing!
My advice is: buy all the series and enjoy it, I will do it!
sorry, if I made mistakes in english (:
bye bye.
Elizabeth wrote: "well, at the beginning I didn't want to continue with the other books of the serie, because I was, and I'm, totally in love with the first one, so I was afraid that the others would have ruined the..."Elizabeth,
Glad that you're enjoying the first books in the Outlander series. In my opinion, the books get better as the series continues :)
Peggy Z wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "well, at the beginning I didn't want to continue with the other books of the serie, because I was, and I'm, totally in love with the first one, so I was afraid that the others wou..."I totally agree! I think that is one of the things that makes this series so wonderful. You get to live, grow, learn with these characters. You watch them mature and develop. It is so wonderful. I am almost done with ABOSAA and also have been listening to the Outlander on CD at the same time. It is so amazing to see him so young after seeing him old and mature and I know where he going and how he is going to get there. I don't think I ever enjoyed re-reading any books as much as these.
I totally agree with you Brunhilde! You know I also think your own age makes a difference when you first read these books. I remember having a conversation with someone that was 23 and she didn't like the way the characters went from her age to being "old". She couldn't relate. I didn't find these books until I was 49 so for me seeing them in their 20's then seeing them age was totally relatable to me. (I do remember my 20's but now I am 50 so the aging makes perfect sense to me!)
Fawn wrote: "I totally agree with you Brunhilde! You know I also think your own age makes a difference when you first read these books. I remember having a conversation with someone that was 23 and she didn't l..."Me, too, Fawn. What other romance series takes a relationship like Jamie and Claire's and shows how romance and passion can endure and grow throughout the years and not become stale and taken for granted. Love is not just for young people.
totally agree guys. at the beginning, I didn't like so much that in the third book they were 44-50, because I think that they could become boring..compared to the first book.
I'm 17, you see, and I asked myself: aren't they too old for you, girl?
But then.. I got that I didn't understand anything :)
Claire e Jamie, adults, maybe are even better than the youngs.
They are mature, they love each others with the same passion, maybe even stronger! After 20 years of separation, they meet again and the passion isn't never gone.
I totally love them <3
what i like most about this series is you can't take anything for granted, the 1st book has the perfect ending that, if it was a stand alone you would've been satified, then you start the 2nd with a layed back attitude but DG knocks you over the head and demands your attention and, you know that with each book you are getting a real life experience.The books are so intense so i leave space between readings i usually start a book at the begining of every month, this is my 1st time reading them i'm in the middle of Voyager now and loving it, it's so heartbreakingly intense and emotional.
Elizabeth wrote: "totally agree guys. at the beginning, I didn't like so much that in the third book they were 44-50, because I think that they could become boring..compared to the first book.
I'm 17, you see, and ..."
Elizabeth, You are showing knowledge beyond your years. (like our Jamie) I think you can read these books again at 27, then at 37 and they will have totally different meaning to you as you have your own life experiences. But I think you get it already, bravo!
Fawn wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "totally agree guys. at the beginning, I didn't like so much that in the third book they were 44-50, because I think that they could become boring..compared to the first book.
I..."
oh, thank you Fawn.
I don't know if I get it already, but I hope so.
Did you read all the saga?
because.. I'm at the 3 book and I really love it!
but I'm afraid that after a while, it could become boring, maybe at the 6 o 7 book.
get what I mean? :D
Elizabeth,Yes, I have read the whole series up to date, plus The Lord John series including The Scottish Prisoner, and every short story or novella that have characters from the Outlander Series. I am a bit obsessed with this series and have not gotten bored with them at all! In Fact, I am reading the series again along with listening to the audio (which I LOVE)I am almost done listening/reading Dragonfly In Amber. I have always been a reader, but I have never in my life been so obsessed with a series or an author like I am with Outlander and Diana Gabaldon. (btw besides book 1 book 6 was my favorite)
Elizabeth, I don't think you'll ever get bored of these books... I can't imagine ever being bored with them!I've been reading a lot of books in similar genres, although, admittedly the Outlander series doesn't fit easily into any genre. But honestly, I haven't found any other book or series yet since starting the Outlander series last June that has so completely captured me. Everything else pales in comparison; some might come close, and many are simply different. But when I consider the depth of characters, richness of plot, completeness of emotions that I experience with the characters and the plots... well, nothing else comes close.
I loved the young Jamie and Claire. But I think that because they're only 2 books of the whole, I now yearn for the older Jamie - the one we got to know even better in Book 3 (Voyager).
Then again, I'm not in the 20s or 30s group anymore, myself - LOL!
fine, you two convinced me. When Im able to buy the other books, I surely do! :)
i'm looking forward!
however, another saga that totally captured me is about Tatiana and Shura. the first book is named "The Bronze Horseman", do you know it?
thei love story is...epic!the saga is really small, considering the one about Jamie and Claire.
It's composed of 3 books.
the first book is set on World II war.. and I think I'm no able to do a summery, a good summery for the book. there are too many emotions. :'(
I read the saga about ten times!!
it's really really fantastic! Give it a chance! :)
Fawn wrote: "It's not necessary, but it was very helpful to me. The more I read about Lord John the more I like him. I can relate to his dry sense of humor and I actually see a lot of parallels between Lord Joh..."You're right Fawn, he gives him just enough humor, I don't know, he just does a fantastic job. And when he saw Jamie on the horse after he was out of prison, he really portrayed the attraction/passion John felt really well. He's just great.
I'm with Elizabeth. I am also obessed with this series. My husband thinks I'm crazy. I have reread the first 3 books again, inbetween the Game of Throne books that I have been getting from the Library. I can't start work without reading my daily lines every morning. I can't wait to read the next book. I haven't been this obessed since Lord of the Rings when I was like 13 years old and I'm 50 now.
I really, really, really did not like Lord John in Adsmuir. And was not going to read the books about him. But I got wore down through FC and ABOSAA. So I start reading the Lord John books and he was wormed his way into my heart.
I liked John from the start. I would like to think when this series is complete John and Jamie can sit down to a game of chess. I really loved it when they would call the moves when there was no chess board. I also enjoy reading LJ when not in the Outlander series and I really really enjoyed the Scottish Prisoner. I can't wait to read the story between Jamie and Ian. So exciting. Maybe my husband is right, I am a little crazy. BUT it is a good crazy :)
I just found out about this book series this winter. My sister and I read Outlander and we couldn't stop talking about it. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I LOVED it. I couldn't wait to jump into book two. My sister got there before me and a little while later I asked her how it was going and she said "ok". I knew then I wasn't going to be happy. So I relucantly started Dragonfly in Amber. I am so bummed. I really get attached emotionally to the characters as well and my heart sank when I started reading. I even checked with my sister to see if I was reading the wrong book.
20 years!!!! OMG, how can you make love wait that long? Claire was no teenager when the series started. I would have been ok with 5 years because Claire and Jamie could have found each other and maybe she could have given him a son. I might have forced my self to be ok with 10 years knowing there was plenty of time left for them to have their happy ever after. But I am so torn about this 20 year thing. I read 3 chapters and I can't pick it up.
I had a post on my FB from my goodreads and I read part of it before I realized it was a spoiler for a book I haven't read. I was not happy with what it was saying either.
I just don't know if my heart can take it.
Keep reading your heart will be strong enough. Yes 20 years is a lot but this series is still going strong and we are anxiously awaiting book 8. DIA was not my favorite book in the series but there is still sooooo much to love about it.
Thank you Diane. I will keep reading. My co-worker, who introduced me to the series, told me that she was a little upset too at first but got over it and she has read them all now more than once
I will keep reading also, Melina. :) In fact I read a chapter today after you told me what the author said! Here we go!! ;)
I loved Outlander. I loved Jamie, Claire and their relationship. "Dragonfly in Amber" was okay for me. I didnt like the scene change to France. Personally I loved the setting to be in Scotland. "Voyager" was a little better. I found some things just defy common sense - plot wise. Then I picked up "Drums of Autumn" and it just went down hill from there. I think I am going to wait a VERY long time before I work up the nerve to start the next Outlander book. I just don't like how the story turned out with the characters and the choices they make. Im thinking about throwing in the towel!
Oh wow, you know I have kinda been thinking the same thing. I have not been able to start ready Dragonfly in Amber past chapter 3 since the reveal of how many years they have been separated. My sister is struggling too but has read far more then I love scotland to be the scene to.
That was something that bothered me too! I don't understand how if she loved him so much why would you wait 20 years to see if he was alive. Even if you thought he was doomed just for closure I would have checked. That was something that logistically did not add up to me. I understand it is a time-travel fantasy series but if you do not follow human emotions then it stops being a fun read and starts becoming stupid.
Just starting
for the first time I have loved all the books so far I did not care that it had been 20 years so glad they found each other again
I read the books. I wish I didn't...Claire*
She also said that looking to see how he died would be too painful.It wouldn't have been impossible, because they did find him, but she was positive that he died at Culloden because that's what he set out to do. It was too hard for her to look and see the exact way he died, so she avoided it.
Plus, you have to remember, she had a very young child now. It wasn't so easy to just pop back without leaving her baby or causing her baby pain. Plus, she made the promise to Frank that she wouldn't say anything to Bree until he was gone. She kept that promise. These are also reasons why she didn't look.
Also, I think it's unfair to say that 'it justifies human emotion', because the tricky thing about human emotion is that we all might feel differently. We all might handle pain and loss differently. I think the fact that one's thoughts or reactions would be different from anothers is exactly 'following human emotion'.
Melina wrote: "Oh wow, you know I have kinda been thinking the same thing. I have not been able to start ready Dragonfly in Amber past chapter 3 since the reveal of how many years they have been separated. My sis..."I think once to read DIA you will understand why Claire never looked back. Plus you need to get through this book to get to Voyager ...
Of course I WILL read the rest of the books. I am just wondering if I am the only one that feels this contrasting pull to read the next book right away but also to wait a while.
I'm not even sure I am explaining this right.