Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Completion Date: July 10, 2011
Reason for Reading: Received a review copy of the 20th Anniversary Edition.
In Outlander, a 600-page time-travel romance, strong-willed and sensual Claire Randall leads a double life with a husband in one century, and a lover in another. 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.
While on her second honeymoon in the British Isles, Claire touches a boulder that hurls her back in time to the forbidden 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.
I was lame and sore in every muscle when I woke next morning. I shuffled to the privy closet, then to the wash basin. My innards felt like churned butter. It felt as though I had been beaten with a blunt object, I reflected, then thought that that was very near the truth. The blunt object in question was visible as I came back to bed, looking now relatively harmless. Its possessor [Jamie] woke as I sat next to him, and examined me with something that looked very much like male smugness."
Gabaldon creates characters that you'll remember, laugh with, cry with, and cheer for long after you've finished the book.
Another reread! I don't reread a lot, so this is impressive. I had the chance to get the 20th Anniversary edition of this book from Random House Canada, so I decided now was the perfect time to revisit the book. I originally read the book back in 2006 and posted a review. That means it has been just over 5 years since I read the book last. I enjoyed my experience with it once again. It is not my normal sort of read to begin with, but there is enough other elements that I enjoy. I still have never read on in the series. I thought maybe after finishing the book for the second time I would feel compelled to; but I still think the first book ends satisfactory and have no burning desire to read on.

I am not even sure if there is much point saying much about this book. It has been around for 20 years and I have heard my fair share about it. I was happy to discover through my reread that while I remembered the basics of the story, there were still things that I felt like I was reading for the first time. I also had a different experience with the book this time. The first time I read it, I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into. I am not a big fan of romance novels and that is pretty much what this is. I was a bit intrigued by the historical aspect, though, and the idea that there was time travel. This time, I knew that I loved it before and I was a bit worried it wouldn't hold true this time around. I am happy to report that I loved this book all over again and am excited I will have the 20th Anniversary Edition to read again in the future.

If you are one of the about 10 people that haven't read this book, you really should give it a try. It makes me wish I reread more often, but I know that will only last until I see a new book and my attention is drawn off into that direction. I still might read on in the series one day, but I am happy to have just read this book and loved it as much as I did.

My thanks to Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this book!

You can read an excerpt from this book here.

This review was cross-posted at The Written World.

10 comments:

  1. I really want to read this. It has been on my to-read list for years and on my shelf for at least 10. I just wish there was more time to read in my day.

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  2. I will admit to being on of the 10 people who haven't read it. Maybe it's the hype that's put me off or maybe the time travel aspect. Maybe I'll give it a try one day...

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  3. This book, which I've read perhaps fives times, was the definitive work in my becoming a historical fiction writer.

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  4. I haven't had the chance to read this novel - I have had it on my shelf for a few months now tho.

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  5. I too have recently reread this. And it was brilliant. I'm up to book four, but have taken a break. Still one more reread to go and then I'll be on to new books. They do however tend to get thicker and thicker and I'm sure the print is smaller too!

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  6. This is such a wonderful book and series. So glad you enjoyed your reread.

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  7. I think I may be one of those 10 people as well. I think I may have misunderstood the series, thinking it was just a Scottish highlander book. I adore time-travel, time slip historical fiction books so I guess this is going to be added to the ever-growing wish list.

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  8. I can't believe this novel is 20 years old. Outlander and Pillars of the Earth were the two novels that first fueled my historical fiction addiction!!!

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  9. This book is amazing. It kept me spellbound and intrigued every minute. I don't typically like romance novels and I wouldn't consider this a typical romance. It is more historical than anything and I am glad I read it because I needed a history lesson. I can't believe I was swept up in that part of it. This is a very graphic novel in every way possible. I fell in love with both Claire and Jamie as the main characters. This book definitely inspires passion. It is funny, educational, astonishing, and even a little bit horrifying (especially the end).

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  10. This has convinced me to go ahead and read Outlander. I have not read it and I love historical fiction, but like others thought that being a romance novel would not be for me. I have been looking for Scottish historical fiction to read and would love any recommendations.

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