Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker > Status Update

OH, Im nervous for you. I'm one who loved this though. It's so nerve racking watching friends read books you love.

I have a few people who have been trying to get me to read this one for a while, since they know I love Outlander. I figure I'll go into it with an open mind because Outlander has just as many low ratings as it does high ratings. This is the type of book that you either feel in your soul, or you don't.

Stacia ~ platonic wrote: "I have a few people who have been trying to get me to read this one for a while, since they know I love Outlander. I figure I'll go into it with an open mind because Outlander has just as many low ..."

I agree. I'm always amazed by people who hated Outlander. But yeah, you definitely have a point.

I'm one of the people who liked both Outlander and TBH. I don't think they're similar in any way(story-wise, style of writing), but they're both powerful stories that either absorb you...or they don't. If they don't you're just going to find and see things that bother you, if they do then you won't even notice them. Does that make sense?

I hope you like this, Michelle!

I loved The Bronze Horseman and couldn't get through Outlander. Maybe I should give it another shot some time.

I look forward to you review or rating Michelle. I was nervous about this too, b/c I typically agree with my GR friends that have rated it high and low. I read the first two pages and it didn't pull me in but I know that was not a fair test at all!

Stephanie (The Night Bookmobile) wrote: "I loved The Bronze Horseman and couldn't get through Outlander. Maybe I should give it another shot some time."

Well, since I constantly recommend that book to people, my response is, of course, you should!

I think the biggest problem with Outlander is the beginning. The first 100 pages or so in the 1940s. Then it picks up :).

Some of the difference between the two series, IMO, are that Outlander has way more historical events, clan politics, world politics, people relations,... TBH is more focused on all the drama and the angst, the ups and downs of Tatiana and Shura's relationship.

I actually prefer Outlander, b/c I thought all of the characters were written better and more...realistic, the events are better laid out. Plus Jamie is so extremely real and tangible to me, I can't help but love him.

With TBH I'm absorbed in the story whether or not I like what's going on, but when I think about it rationally I find wholes in the story/characters. That said, I still feel powerfully toward them (proof, I cried non-stop while reading TSG).

So, I have no idea what my point is after all that, but I hope you understood/found my rambling helpful...

i loved both...but yeah i gues with both you have to get past the first 100 or so pages then it really picks up!!!

Mimi wrote: "I think the biggest problem with Outlander is the beginning. The first 100 pages or so in the 1940s. Then it picks up :)...."

Now, when I recommend Outlander, I make the person promise me NO MATTER WHAT, they must read past page 100 before they give up.

Tennille wrote: "i loved both...but yeah i gues with both you have to get past the first 100 or so pages then it really picks up!!!"

I'm at 33% now with this book and I'm definitely liking it. Still not loving it but it is a very good book.

Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalking wrote: "Tennille wrote: "i loved both...but yeah i gues with both you have to get past the first 100 or so pages then it really picks up!!!"

I'm at 33% now with this book and I'm definitely liking it. Sti..."

That's good :). I hope you end up loving it...

Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker & wrote: "Mimi wrote: "I think the biggest problem with Outlander is the beginning. The first 100 pages or so in the 1940s. Then it picks up :)...."

Now, when I recommend Outlander, I make the person promis..."

I made it over 200 pages in before I gave up ;) I wasn't hating it but it just wasn't capturing my attention. I certainly love the idea. I think ultimately I decided to give it up because I wasn't completely captured by it after 200 pages but also because I heard that the lead male ends up knocking the girl around a bit later because she runs away or something...?

its set in a different era, he doesnt really knock her around its a little spanking and back in their time it is what is done and it fits well with the book :)

i think Tania put the bodies on her before the broken bones, she only got the broken bones because of the bodies being on top of her otherwise she would of been crushed :)

Stephanie (The Night Bookmobile) wrote: "Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker & wrote: "Mimi wrote: "I think the biggest problem with Outlander is the beginning. The first 100 pages or so in the 1940s. Then it picks up :)...."

Now, when I rec..."

That's why I hate finding out something like that from the series. I almost didn't read Outlander because someone told me(view spoiler)[ the hero beats the heroine and then he gets raped (hide spoiler)] and another friend is hesitating because of it. I guess taken out of context, it causes severe unwillingness.

It's quite possible the book isn't for you, but don't give up only because of what you heard. There are so many wonderful things in that book to enjoy and you could miss out...

I remember reading Outlandish companion when DG answered all questions about some controversial things in Outlander and she explained the situation and why she wrote it. She also wondered why when so many wrote to her about it, when no one complained about, by our standards, rampant child abuse, about Jamie's father and the spankings... It's an interesting question. I wasn't bothered by his recollections either.