Book Review: Outlander (Outlander #1) by Diana Gabaldon

September 28, 2014


Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Series: Outlander
Genre: Historical Romance, Fantasy, Highlands
Synopsis
The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.
Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives. (Goodreads)

Review

Let's just put it out there. I started this book because the TV show was just too good and I can't stand a week of torment not knowing what's going to happen next; plus that mid-season break will be the death of me. That's probably the reason of 90% of those who started the series around the same time I did.

Despite what bad things I hear about the author, the book was written quite well. When I dislike an author, I tend to dislike their books along with it. But Outlander seems pretty good not to like.

Claire Randall (Beauchamp) finds herself accidentally transported 200 years back in time, and was smart enough to blend in. 200 years is a long time and if I were her, I'd be beheaded by the fortnight. But it is these kind of books that gives us a reason to study our history. Just in case we accidentally get transported back in time.

Outlander was so intriguing because I would want to know what would happen next for Claire. Will she be able to get back to her own time? Will they think she's crazy or a witch if she told someone? All these questions were swarming in my head that tried to predict the ending. Fortunately, as I gradually went through the book, all my questions were answered. As for me trying to predict the ending, it wasn't what I thought would happen. I expected more adventure, more bang!

This book would make me squeel, gasp, cringe, and panic every time something bad was about to happen, or something so weird and shocking would be revealed. I would just pause, and try to process what just happened because it would sometimes be too much. Like Jonathan Randall. His issues are hella weird and screwed up to the point that makes me cringe.

But the love and attraction between Jamie and Claire made me blush and melt with every sweet, romantic, innocent, protective and hilarious scene with the two. Whenever Jamie would call Claire, Sassenach and mo nighean doon just makes me shiver,  stirs up butterflies in my belly and bring heat to my cheeks. Phew...

Outlander is entertaining, engrossing, adventurous, and romantic enough to get you smiling until the very end of the book.

After reading the summary of book two, I am slightly hesitant to read it, but I will in time.

A recommended book who enjoys reading highlander novels and doesn't mind the cringe worthy descriptive scenes of flogging and sexual harassment.

 

  

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