Note, the format of my Short and Sweet reviews differs in that they simply comprise the book blurb and a short response (hence, the short and sweet).
I know the Outlander series has been around for a long time, but since I’m not a big fan of fantasy and time travel, I never gave the series much thought. When the TV series came out, my FB newsfeed was full of women sighing “Jamie, Jamie, Jamie”, so I figured it was time to give the series a go. I was lucky to score a Netgalley version of Outlander aka Cross Stitch owing to new TV tie-ins of the series. Here’s the blurb:
In 1945, Claire Randall is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon in Scotland. Innocently she walks through a stone circle in the Highlands, and finds herself in a violent skirmish taking place in 1743. Suddenly she is a Sassenach, an Outlander, in a country torn by war and by clan feuds.
A wartime nurse, Claire can deal with the bloody wounds that face her. But it is harder to deal with the knowledge that she is in Jacobite Scotland and the carnage of Culloden is looming. Marooned amid the passion and violence, the superstition, the shifting allegiances and the fervent loyalties, Claire is in danger from Jacobites and Redcoats – and from the shock of her own desire for James Fraser, a gallant and courageous young Scots warrior. Jamie shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire, and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
For a sample, click here.
Once I started reading this, I asked myself, “Why haven’t you picked this up before?” I was immediately drawn into Claire’s double life and her emotional dilemma as she juggled her feelings for two men in two separate times. The novel is rich in historical detail, peppered with engaging and not-so-nice characters and events, wry (and bawdy) humour, and plenty of sword-fighting, kilt-raising and musket-shooting action. And of course, there’s the romance element, which makes the heart flutter and pulses race as Claire and Jamie discover each other in more ways than one. When the novel finished, I wanted to keep reading.
One criticism I’ve heard of the books is that they are long. That doesn’t bother me if the story flows well, but I do have difficulty sustaining interest in long series. I am going to seek out the next few books and see how far I get. PS. I haven’t seen the TV series, but judging from his written characterisation, the “Jamie, Jamie, Jamie” sighs are completely justified. Sigh. Here’s a trailer (if you haven’t already seen it).
My e-copy was courtesy of Random House Australia via Netgalley.
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0 Responses
Oh Jamie… *sigh*
I haven’t read the book but my wife is reading it. I did skim-read the second book at the second hand bookstore 😉
We have watched the series and can’t wait for the second half of it in April.
I have a problem with long books as well…
I think I’ll end up getting the TV series from the library … I don’t mind long books, just series. I often end up getting bored after a few books.
The show is amazing. Of course I can’t compare to the books because I haven’t read them but the guy they picked to play Jamie. #nomnomnom
I’m guessing you sigh a lot, watching the show 🙂
I perve a lot. 😉
I’ll bet you do!
^_^
Time travel and fantasy are usually elements of fiction I steer clear of… but I was addicted to Outlander from page #1 and didn’t mind those elements!
I did start reading the book after seeing the first half of season 1 of the tv show, and I have to admit that is the reason I finally went ahead and read the book. My mum is a huge fan of the series, has been for years, and for the past ten years or so she has been trying to get me to read the series; I always said no because of the fantasy & time travel. I guess seeing the story first (so to speak) helped me to get into the right mindset to actually go ahead and read the first book in the series.
It’s funny how we can be put off a particular book because the genre isn’t one we generally relate to … sometimes it’s good to step out of the comfort zone.
Yes! I am really bad for sticking to specific types of books and not giving other genres a chance. I have another book I’m reading at the moment that I almost didn’t buy because it’s written in prose and I find it hard to follow prose… but I’m so glad I got it because the book is awesome.
Outlander is one of my favorite books and series of all times. I came to them pretty late — I read Outlander about 4 years ago, and have since read all of the books. So I’m a bit biased, but I’d say stick with them! At least read another one or two, since the 1st three form one story arc, and then the next three really go together. Sigh. Jamie…
I will take your advice, Lisa!
Is it like any other series in this genre? It doesn’t grab me but so many people have loved it I’m wondering if I should give it a try. Thanks
I can’t really answer that Laura as I’m not a regular reader of series OR this genre. I’ve passed over the book many times, but finally decided to give it a go and I liked it.
Thanks… might move it up my list!