Outlander

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Summary: History, time travel and romance without being hokey!
Review: Ms Gabaldon has achieved a superb blend of genres into this book (as well as the entire series). They are in a class by themselves. I am currently rereading all of them. The comments about the violence and wife beating scenes amazed me. This was a violent era and Ms Gabaldon shows how corporal punishment was part of people's everyday lives. For those that cannot accept that reality, you will probably not enjoy this book; however, if you can keep an open mind, you will soon discover one of the most wonderful books of all time. Jamie's character is particularly appealing and complex. We are allowed to see his vulnerable side as well as his strengths. I am anticipating the next installment and hope it's published soon.

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Summary: OUT-Standing!!!!
Review: I am a VORACIOUS reader and consider myself a Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Patricia Cornwell, John Sandford, John Grisham, (etc, etc) fan. I've never liked "romance" or "historical" fiction in the past, but Diana Gabaldon has turned my head and won my heart! I absolutely LOVED all four books in the Outlandish series. I couldn't put them down! My sister-in-law (Thanks, Janine!) recommended Outlander to me after she read it and I surpassed her reading the others! Although there are a few unflattering reviews listed here, the vast majority are not just favorable, but raving! Trust these! Diana Gabaldon writes with such detail and passion that you will be drawn into the story (and if you don't fall in love with Jamie and Claire, you need to check your pulse!) Buy it...read it...love it. I did!

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Summary: FANTASTIC
Review: This is one of the best books i have ever read, its dramatic, violent but above all it has an intense passion at its core that took my breath away. Why can't we all find a Jamie???? I had to go out and buy the second installment straight away and am now happily ensconed in the adventure all over again. I have but one question does anyone know when the 5th and 6th books are coming out if ever???? Email me if you know anything.

Rating:
Summary: A great storyteller
Review: Having read with interest a number of the 300 plus reviews on this series, I would like to add some clarity to the subject. I keep seeing reviews in which people state that this is the greatest book they have ever read. Compared to what? A quick glance at one shelf of my bookcase, which is filled with books by Austen, Woolf, Steinbeck, Salinger, Fitzgerald, and Ann Tyler, to name a few, and I can tell you that this isn't on my "greatest books" list. It is, however, on my "most fun" list! Gabaldon is a good, solid writer and she is a great storyteller. For those of you who enjoy an escapist novel from time to time, this is well written, and a lot of fun.

Rating:
Summary: Not as great as the reviews suggest
Review: I too read this book because of the number of excellent reviews. It was a quick read (for 850 pages!), but it was not one of the greatest books I've ever read. I could go with the story up until the last 150 pages - the torture/redemption bit was just too much. It was disturbing and not what I expected from an escapism novel.

Rating:
Summary: fabulous
Review: Outlander was one of the best books I have read for a long time. The travel back in time to Scotland of the late 1700's was fascinating. As someone who spent many summer holidays in the Highlands and who has visited Culloden and the surrounding area, it made me realise how little I knew. It has renewed my interest in the area and I am impatient to return and visit the sites of so much history. In the meantime, I have now emabrked on "Dragonfly in Amber" having been hooked into the Outlander series.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Story -Violent Scenes Unsettling,Thought Provoking
Review: A co-worker at the bookstore I work at recommended Outlander to me. I read it and throughly enjoyed it. The prose is lush, the characters are excellent and I love Claire's sense of self and strength. It's a good solid read. It is however very violent in spots. BE WARNED: there is a very contriversal scene in which Jamie, angered at the fact that Claire has disobeyed him and in doing so threatened the llives of his clan, beats her violently. She fights him back and it escelates into an all out brawl between the two. Several interviews with Diana Gabaldon find her explaining that scene, saying that it served to illustrate the character and time differences between the two. I can see her point (the idea that women were not property in 18th century Scotland was radical at best) and can see where Jamie and Claire would find themselves at an impasse. However, I wondered if it wouldn't send a subtle message to women that abuse is "romantic" when seen in this lavish contest. Beating is still beating if it happens in 18th century or in the 20th. Claire does tell him that it's not like that in the 20th century and if he ever beats her again she's "disembowel him with his sword". THAT I liked. True to their understanding, he never does again. After reading that scene I was amazed at the fact that I repected Gabaldon as a writer because she deals with an abusive situation, works through it and expells it. How many other "romance" novels are there where the woman is abducted, raped and abused by the man and then "surrenders her heart" or some other nonsense? In those books, a romanticized abuse IS the plotline. In this scene, Gabaldon bravely and disturbingly presents a conceivable situation between a man raised in the 18th century and a modern, liberated woman. If you can swallow that scene, it IS an excellent story with some wonderfully realistic and romantic scenes. Love it or hate it, you won't remain untouched by Outlander.

Rating:
Summary: INTENSE!
Review: "Outlander" is incredible. I loved it and didn't realize that it was a series until the last page and now I'm going to go crazy until I can get my hands on a copy of the second book.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Fantasy
Review: Beware, this is not a book for the weak stomached. This book is engrossing and one of the most unique novels ever. I've noticed some of the reviews talk about the level of violence, and yes it is a violent book. It is set in a violent time period. You'll not find any posh drawing rooms with people playing cards. For those who were misled by the violence, I think it is because it was and still is shelved in the Romance section of so many bookstores. It is not your typical romance where nothing bad ever happens. But, oh what a wonderful adventure awaits you if you give it a try!!! One of my all time favorite books.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I read all four books in about a week. Yes- all 4,000 pages. I could do nothing else. The characters are so real! Diana Gabaldon wrote a wonderful, historically accurate book. And now I know what a Scotsman wears under his kilt! I want to know when the next two books will be out.