I have been sucked completely and headlong into a new book series: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I stumbled across the first one - Outlander - on Amazon through a series of "if you like ___ then you might like ____" links, and was impressed with the 4.5 stars averaged over 1,200 readers, not to mention what the rave reviews actually said. I got it from the library and then got busy and almost returned it without reading, then changed my mind and renewed it. Nice choice.Holy cannoli, talk about a gripping story!!! We are talking time travel/adventure/romance all set in Scotland's highlands and spun by a natural storyteller. I'm sorry, I am not an experienced book reviewer so nothing I say can do it justice, but wow!
Quick summary: While on her post WWII second honeymoon in the British Isles, strong-willed Claire touches a boulder that hurls her two centuries back in time to the formidable Castle Leoch with the MacKenzie clan. Not understanding the forces that brought her there, she becomes ensnared in life-threatening situations with a Scots warrior named James Fraser. But it isn't all spies and drudgery that she must endure. For amid her new surroundings and the terrors she faces, she is lured into love and passion like she's never known before. Torn between fidelity and desire, she struggles to understand the pure intent of her heart. But don't let the number of pages and the Scottish dialect scare you. It's one of the fastest reads you'll have in your library.
Here's another nice and more detailed plot synopsis.
I am a slow reader, and I did speed through it; I was totally hooked. I got the second book, Dragonfly in Amber, as soon as I could, and just finished it today. I was going to post a 5-disco-ball review after finishing Outlander, but hesitated because of one point. Being a romance, a fair amount of the first book is spent on love scenes that would have made me blush and cringe before I was married. But now that I am, and the love is between a husband and wife, it all added to the intensity of the story for me. Love the Scottish accents, love the characters (especially Jamie, what a gem of fiction), love the setting (I can just smell the misty pines and see the craggy hills), and love the adventure!
I just ordered Voyager and cannot wait to start it, right where Dragonfly left off. If you're looking for a new book or series, and don't mind the paradoxes that time travel can imply, I humbly here submit my recommendation.
This book (and series, so far) receives:
(5 out of 5 disco balls)
9 comments:
Love the Scottish accents? How does that work? Are you just imagining the accents in your mind, or does the author try to write the accents out phonetically or something? (I hate it when authors do that.)
Your next one has arrived. I'll probably refrain from reading it before you get here since I have a thick book to finish.
xfiyi - oh, yes, the accents are written out, it's incredibly charming and makes you hear it in your head. But of course if you hate it, you will not like these books. Your loss. There's a touch of Gaelic thrown in here and there, too.
Maren, you wouldn't want to jump in at the third book anyway - that's three years (well, like 220 yrs depending on how you do the math) into the story. Gotta start with the first one, no obligation to continue.
this was a good post and i enjoyed reading it, but i thought it was going to be the unveiling of the great parenthood fallacy when my google reader informed me you had made a new post.
so this comment is just to let you know this reader is still looking forward to that one...
I want you to get hooked on all things British so you will come visit us after we move next summer? Did I mention we will only be 2 hours from Scotland???
Yes, I knew how close you would be but I did not know the news was public knowledge...
I had much to say to Dave on the phone one night about how into Scotland I am right now because of this stuff, this is all very good timing!
I love the disco balls. Is this book ok for 14-yer olds?
Sorry, not ok for 14-yr olds, especially boys. Way too many descriptive love scenes. Like I said, it would have made me blush and more as a grown single woman. Too bad because the adventure part is awesome and he would love it, but he'll just have to wait.
Hi! I found your blog through Mia (and you crack me up, by the way). I just wanted to say I took your advice and started this series and I am LOVING it! I love the Scottish accents and the whole dern thing. Thanks for posting about it!
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