Thursday, September 30, 2010

Blog Tour: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Amazon.com:
The year is 1945 and Claire Beauchamp Randall, a former British combat nurse, is on holiday in Scotland with her husband, looking forward to becoming reacquainted after the war's long separation. Like most practical women, Claire hardly expects her curiosity to get the better of her. But an ancient stone circle near her lodgings holds an eerie fascination, and when she innocently touches one of the giant boulders, she's hurtled backward in time more than two hundred years, to 1743.

Alone where no lady should be alone, and far from the familiar comforts of her other life, Claire's usual resourcefulness is tested to the limit. The merciless garrison captain so feared by others bears an uncanny resemblance to the husband she has just left behind. Her own odd circumstances expose her to accusations of witchcraft. And the strands of a political intrigue she doesn't understand threaten to ensnare her at every turn.

But of all the perils her new life holds, none is more disquieting than her growing feelings for James Fraser, the gallant young Scot she is forced to marry for her own protection. Sworn by his wedding vows to keep her from harm, Jamie's passion for Claire goes beyond duty. As she struggles with the memories of another lifetime, she is forced to make an agonizing and fateful choice, and learns ultimately that a man's instinct to protect the woman he loves is as old as time. 

Let me start off by saying this is not a review, because I couldn't finish the book. While I enjoyed parts of it because of it's length I couldn't convince myself to see it through like I would other books (but other books aren't 800+ pages usually), I got about 330ish pages into it, it's an estimation because most of the part of the book I did read I actually listened to as an audio book.

So I'm going to talk a bit about my thoughts on the part of the book I did read and I know this book is beloved by many so please feel free to share your thoughts on it in the comments, love it or hate it!

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, Claire reunited with her husband after the war and getting to know each other again. I really enjoyed the dialogue specifically. But once Claire goes back in time to 1743 the plot really became to slow even more than it had been to begin with. I think I was under the impression that this story was heavy on the romance and honestly I really didn't want all the historical stuff, all the rough and tumble men grunting, really didn't care.

Of the men I was glad to learn it was Jamie that Claire would begin a relationship with, but when that relationship began I for some reason felt uncomfortable with it. I loved Jamie and Claire's friendship but when there was more to it, it just felt strange, the chemistry they had before was missing.

And that is pretty much where I stopped. I've heard from numerous people this is a love it or hate it book. So feel free to share your thoughts. Are the other books in the series better, do you like where the story goes. Share away!

11 comments:

  1. I've never really been tempted to read this book, partly because of its length and partly because I've heard it described as a soap opera. At least you gave it a shot.

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  2. I read this book years ago and I remember liking it. Though I really can't tell you why as most of it has faded away for me. And even though I liked Outlander I have never liked it enough to go out and read any of the bagillion sequels. I also wouldn't classify this as your typical romance. I would say that its more of an Epic Historical Fiction since each book tends to stick with the Jamie and Claire story.

    Sorry it didn't work for you though I know how much you hate giving up on a book. Hopefully your next read goes down better!

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  3. Anonymous11:04 AM

    thanks for sharing,will add to my list.

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  4. I've had this in my TBR pile for ever. One day I'll get around to it, I'm not big on romance stories but I do like historical fiction.

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  5. This series has such rabid fans that it's one of those I feel I need to read at some point, but the size puts me off. The tour has been really interesting though and has made me very excited to read it. Thanks for giving it a shot!

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  6. I just loved this book and its immediate sequels. I kind of petered out after a while - they really are so very long.

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  7. I have not read it, the size is the issue...I Have read some good reviews on this one too! I might someday pick it up just to see, if I like it.

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  8. I own this book but haven’t actually read it. I admit the size scares me off plus a few less than stellar reviews from people I trust. I might pick it up one day when my TBR pile isn’t so large.

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  9. I wish I had not read the whole book. This is one of those books that everyone seems to love, but I just hated.

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  10. I'm sorry you couldnt finish it. I do have it in my TBR.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  11. I will probably read it at some point if I can find a copy used, cheap. It's not one that I'm going to knock down doors to access, though, because the length of it and its sequels is just redunkulous, and you really need to be able to invest a LOT of time and interest in them for it to be worth it. Epic fiction is tiring.

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