Outlander
discussion
Getting through it
I found this really tough going too. Lots of people seem to have found the pay off worthwhile. Unfortunately it really wasn't for me. I found the level of detail wearying and often unnecessary.Once I had finished, I wondered why I had done it? Probably because it's not in my nature to leave a book. I read very much for pleasure though, so the amount of effort I had to put in, forcing myself to continue, and the skim reading that I had to do to get through it, doesn't add up to pleasure for me. It makes me feel a bit sad!
That's why I didn't continue with the series. Clearly, it floats plenty of people's boats though, as the series has continued with huge success. Each to their own!
Bridget wrote: "It gets better when you take it out back to a small fire and burn it."
Oh Bridget Please, please, please dont burn a book. If I dont like a book I donate it. By the way I like this series.
Oh Bridget Please, please, please dont burn a book. If I dont like a book I donate it. By the way I like this series.
At first I was getting really nervous because it started off so slowly to me but it didn't take long to get hooked! I can't believe I never read this before now, and am disappointed in myself for not being able to have savored this in my heart years ago! It is now my favorite book to date. I laughed, cried, and hold a love in my heart for Jamie. DG's writing is amazing & the detail was so awesome that I would have to shake myself out of the Outlander "Coma" when putting it down(putting it down was rare). I finished it last night and cried like a big baby. I wanted the next one at my fingertips immediately! However, I am waiting for book 2 to get here :( I hope it comes soon bc I'm already having withdraws lol. So...I should definitely follow them in order right??
I had heard to go to Voyager next but was awaiting Dragonfly In Amber
Allison - I'd say MOST definitely read them in order. Also suggest stopping after "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" until such time as the 8th book is released. "An Echo in the Bone" is such a severe cliffhanger (I might almost call it simply unfinished) that I wish I hadn't read it when it first came out. Two cents worth from someone who's read the whole set 3 times already... :)
Madbabs wrote: "Allison - I'd say MOST definitely read them in order. Also suggest stopping after "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" until such time as the 8th book is released. "An Echo in the Bone" is such a severe ..."Thank you so much for the reply! I will be reading them in order!! Her new book is coming out soon though right??
gertt wrote: "This isn't a romance. It's a epic of time travel, history, family, and life long passion and love.I enjoyed every page of every book and look forward to reading more.
Ms Gabaldon is a wonderful..."
Gertt - You nailed it. I've read the entire series twice over the past decade and am looking forward to my next go around. I will never tire of Jamie and Claire and their story.
Actually the second time you read them...they are even better than the first. Diana has a way of story telling AND a vocabulary and sentence structure that makes you have to think. So, if you are interested in an easy read...this series isn't it! She is absolutely the best story teller I have ever read, you finish reading them and feel like you are part of the "story" family! Can't wait for the new one next fall!
Madbabs wrote: "While I can agree with a lot of the criticisms I read of these books, I found them absolutely can't-put-them-down gripping. Devoured each one in a matter of 2-3 days. Then went back and did it al..."Thank goodness!!! I am not nuts. I am on the second book and I find myself thinking about the characters too. I got misty a couple of time during the story. As usual my attachment is not the sex but the loyalty and love and the fact that she belongs to him. I am 200 years to late.
Wanda wrote: "I "read" this book on audio cd's driving to and from work... For me, listening really works for a book that I might otherwise have trouble getting into. I have a 6-cd changer in my car and really ..."I do the same thing. Currently listening to teh Game of Thrones series :)
As for Outlander, it took me a little longer to read than a book that length would normally, but I did get through it and I did enjoy it. I read something else at the same time - I usually have 2 or 3 on the go at any one time - so maybe that does help with more wordy descriptive books - offset them with something easy to read.
This is my favorite series. Hands-down. If I could only read one series for the rest of my life, it would be this one.
How could you think of Jamie has brutal??? In the story you cannot measure him to today's standards as the place and time was 200 years ago. At that time men were brutal and so was life.
Whitnie wrote: "So I have tried to read this book three times. My mother-in-law says it is one of the best series she has ever read and we have very similar tastes in books, music, movies, you name it. However I..."This is one of my favorite series, but I listen to them and the reader has the perfect accent. Try listening.
The Outlander series, as a whole, is a fantastic historical journey! Stick with it. I was not able to put them down until the last book was read. Jamie Fraser (my literary husband) is so worth it...;-)
Allison wrote: "At first I was getting really nervous because it started off so slowly to me but it didn't take long to get hooked! I can't believe I never read this before now, and am disappointed in myself for n..."definately read DFiA before you read Voyager - when I first read it, it was my least favorite, but over re-reads, I came to realize how significant it was to the story line
gertt wrote: "Jamie brutal??? He is sensitive, nurturing, loving, strong, well educated, understanding, and for a 1749 warrior, that's pretty great! As for the romance, the story is based on Jamie and Clair'..."
most people seem to think the spanking scene ruins the book for them - many of the 1 star reviews on amazon touch on it and often refer to it as marital abuse, and equate it to beating a woman on a daily basis...
Anyone who loves the Outlander series - there is an Outlander group here on goodreads, if you would like to come and join us - we are currently doing re-reads of the series, in lead-up to the release of book 8 - We are at The Fiery Cross right nowAlso if you are on twitter - check out DG's twitter feed - she is posting daily lines from book 8 - its torture I tell you
Dee wrote: "Anyone who loves the Outlander series - there is an Outlander group here on goodreads, if you would like to come and join us - we are currently doing re-reads of the series, in lead-up to the relea..."Very cool. I loved that book.
gertt wrote: "Dee wrote: "most people seem to think the spanking scene ruins the book for them - many of the 1 star reviews on amazon touch on it and often refer to it as marital abuse, and equate it to beating ..."Jack Randall was a sadistic character . However, think the spanking was a very necessary scene. Women of that time were supposed to be docile. She was jeopardizing her own safety!
oh I completely agree, but just saying that is the common gripe i hear about the books
Dee wrote: "oh I completely agree, but just saying that is the common gripe i hear about the books"I chose Outlander for my book choice when our book club was meeting regularly and my girlfriends couldn't get beyond the scene between Randall and Jamie!
Outlander....one of the best books I ever read. The first few pages didn't do it for me and was beginning to wonder why my friend ever recommend this book. So I just kept reading until my husband came in the the living room to tell me it's 3am. And I should put the book down. It really just hooks you in. I love this series...it is epic. The only series to make me laugh and cry out loud in public. (Thank god I live near NYC where this is common).
my mom handed me cross-stitch (the british version) when I was 15 - she got sick of me whining about having nothing to read...15 years later, i'm still addicted
the audiobooks are brillent - even after re-reading the books several times, I found so much new stuff when I listened to them
I loved this series! I have to admit to a fondness for big books and long series but this tops my list. I agree with Terri - Jamie is thoughtful, smart, caring (and sexy) but I also think he can be brutal. The times and events would force almost anyone to be brutal at times. I am looking forward to the next book which I believe is #8 and will be released in 2013.
I follow her website and others about her (Outlandish Observations) and the Computer Forums on all.com.
Bridget wrote: "It gets better when you take it out back to a small fire and burn it."I have to totally agree with you Bridget. My bonfire is ready. I hated this novel.
Maybe try the audio book? The narrator does a fantastic job, switching effortlessly between a Scottish and British accent, drawing you into the story! Hope you give it another try....;-)
Dystopian wrote: "I doubt she was serious, and has most likely never burned a book in her life. She's been booed enough, don't you think? :)"
Totally agree.
i reme,ber reading it thinking "well, it's not as good as everyone says..." then soemwhere about the middle of the book, with nothing in particular changing, i realized i was completely smitten.
This was a great book though I didnt really enjoy the moments between Claire and Frank in the beginning...I was just anxious for her to time travel, and once she did that I was good! Having said that, after book 4 I was done, I can't even get thru on audiobook, its just too much! And that is so sad because I was really enjoying the journey between Claire and Jaime up until then.
Amen gertt! This is a carefree site for folks to talk about books and authors, nothing more nothing less! It's all fun between us folks!!! Let's just enjoy reading how other folks feel about books and not take it personal!! I wouldnt mind seeing the tv production that is supposedly in the works for this book. I wonder who the actors would be playing Claire and Jaime??
agree gertt and darla. vent on FB or twitter. happy reading!
I couldn't agree with you more! As for the actors, I think Chris Hemsworth (Snow White and the Huntsman, Thor) would make a great Jamie (dyed hair, of course) and Emily Blunt (Looper, The Young Victoria) would be a perfect Claire!
YES, they would definitely fit the bill!!! When I first read the books, my initial thought was Kevin McKidd (amazing actor) and Rachel Weisz but I think they may be too old for the roles now. :(
Favorite book of all time, favorite series, favorite hero/heroine of all time. But that's just me and this book is definitely not for everyone. If you love historical details, read it. If you want lighter fare, move on, simple as that.
Rachel Weisz? Oh no!! But maybe Jennifer Connelly. How about Colin Farrell for Jaimie?
I had a hard time getting into this series as well, and I only finished the first book. I do intend to finish the rest eventually. I think these are books that are best to save for a day when you are feeling ambitious and have hours and hours to devote to it, so you can lose yourself in the book.
I love love love the entire series, and have also read the companion novellas. I have to agree with some others here to say that is isn't just about Claire and Jamie - the other characters that Diana Gabaldon creates are amazing (whether you love or hate them)!
I loved book one and two, but kind of gave up on book 3. I do think I'll go back and give it another chance. Those who don't like it, no worries !! Just because others loved it doesn't mean you will and that's just fine ;) I've gotten halfway through some very "popular" books and gave up. Just didn't do it for me...it's ok..everyone is different..
I'm usually a stickler to reading every single word of a novel... but in the case of the Outlander series, I completely threw it out the window. I absolutely love this series, but too often she goes off on a tangent in an attempt to make her stories more poetic. The only one where she got a little ambitious and mixed too much of her plot with prose was book 5... and I had to step away from it for about 6 months. Spending several pages on the same afternoon where NOTHING happens was ridiculous. However, that is my only complaint of the entire 7 (almost 8.... eeeeeee!!!) books.
In short: There's no reason to suffer through the wordiness of how their clothes are unwashed, or how Claire frequently contemplates life (which is largely irrelevant to the plot). Just enjoy yourself, and suffer through the one horrible section in book 5. It's well worth it.
I had a very difficult time trying to read these books and gave up. Then I discovered the series on Audible. I loved listening to them. Davina Porter, the narrator, made the characters live.
Eileen wrote: "I had a very difficult time trying to read these books and gave up. Then I discovered the series on Audible. I loved listening to them. Davina Porter, the narrator, made the characters live."Different Eileen here. But I agree with the other one, Davina Porter's narrations of the Outlander series is spectacular. I never tried to actually read the paper books before listening to them, but after listening to them I went out and bought all of them.
I listen to audio books all the time due to a lengthy commute and Davina Porter is, hands down, the best female narrator out there.
My sister-in-law gave me Outlander for Christmas about 15 years ago, and I read the first 30 pages or so and put it down for six months. I thought it was boring. Then for some reason I picked it up again, read to where Claire goes through the stones, and I was hooked. It's a slow start, but for me once I got past that, the whole rest of the series was pretty riveting.
I agree with Gert -- this is an epic tale covering time travel, which fascinates me, the history of Scotland, and a love which overcomes immense obstacles. I loved the whole series. When I tried to get my book club into Outlander, most of them didn't like it. I was totally unprepared for that since I loved it all. Gabaldon is amazing with her attention to detail.
I am super late to the party, but I am glad I found this discussion. I read the first five books several years ago and have not read the most recent books (2 of them, I believe). I really loved the books when I originally read them and decided to do a re-read to familiarize myself with all of the characters.However, on my re-read of Outlander, I just simply could NOT get into it. By mid-book, I had lost complete and total interest. I do not know why, since these types of books are right up my alley (historical fiction, lots of characters, very descriptive). I am very sad, because I have no desire to go on and finish the series now. I am kind of puzzled by my lack of interest.
I guess I will just move on to the other zillion books I plan to read in my lifetime. :) I am not sure if I will ever come back to the Outlander series.
I never went back and did any rereading, so I'm not sure if I'd LOVE them like I did the first time. The last book was the most disappointing, though. It focuses on the American Revolution and just doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I felt like it was just marking time until the daughter comes back through the stones with her kids. Originally I thought this was going to be the last book, but from the ending you can tell Diana is hooking you into another book. Are Jamie and Claire ever going to die? I thought they were on the verge three books ago!By the way, I have loved the STARZ production. I had forgotten a lot of the details, so it has been fun remembering. The scene with the flogging was very difficult to watch! That Jonathan Randall is really a beast!
Lucy wrote: "I never went back and did any rereading, so I'm not sure if I'd LOVE them like I did the first time. The last book was the most disappointing, though. It focuses on the American Revolution and ju..."The series on Starz is what started me on the re-read. I caught the first episode and asked myself "Why haven't I continued on with this series?"
Maybe some part of me found it lackluster because I know that there are several books to go, and I too want a "happy ending" for Jamie and Claire. I would like to see them settle somewhere quiet without drama and the threat of death every minute, and live out their lives in bliss. Yes, I'm a romantic.
I will continue to watch the Starz series (and yes - that flogging scene was brutal. I actually covered my eyes a few times, like I do when watching a scary movie).
To me, it does seem like Diana Gabaldon is dragging the series out.
I guess I have lost track of time. How old are they anyway?
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
I also have 3 copies of the whole series to date, hardbound, trade paperback, and on Nook, and vol one audio. Am on 3d time re-reading them. DG imparts such research into these books, historical, natural medicine, local color, I find the detail enlightening. And add to these the Lord John Grey volumes that compliment the Outlander books, I can be happy reading and re-reading for years to come - at least until volume 8 comes some time in 2013!