Outlander (original 1991; edition 1992)

October 2011
I loved this book! I just can't believe that it took me so long to pick it up. I am now officially hooked. Oh well, on to the next book, Dragonfly in Amber. I'm starting to get obsessed with Scotsmen and kilts :-)
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Just as good the SECOND time around :-D
3/8/2012 to 3/22/2012
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Third read of this one.
I'm fizzled out again on Fiery Cross, but not with Jamie :-D so I thought I'd read their first story again...
It's a little eerie that it was this exact time last year that I decided to re-read this book.
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My Audible.com Review

-Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If this was an audiobook on tape or CD it would be worn out by now. Thank goodness that digital media is obsessive proof. I have read (listened to) this book three times now.
The first time, Iw anted to kick myself for waiting so long to meet Claire and Jamie. I have since recommended this book to EVERYONE I talk to about books. I warn them that no man will ever be enough once they've met Jamie Fraser, and that they will soon become obsessed with kilt-wearing scotsmen. I thank my sister (Jenny) and my good friend (Cathy) for making me aware of this Outlandish Outlander world. This Sassenach is officially obsessed with this series.
1st Read - 10/2011
2nd Read - 3/2012
3rd Read - 3/2013
(Sassenach - The Gaelic term for a Saxon. Survives in modern day Ireland and Scotland as a derogatory term for an English person. ALSO, a term of endearment that Jamie uses for Claire)

-Who was your favorite character and why?

Um, really? James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser!
and Claire and Murtagh.
Why?
Because he's the perfect Alpha Male.
And because she's Claire and Murtagh is just very Scottish and loyal.

-Have you listened to any of Davina Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Davina Porter is AWESOME - That's not even a strong enough word.
She narrates these books and you get lost in them. She is Claire. She is Jamie.
She ceases being a voice reading a book and becomes the characters of the books.
Thank you Davina Porter! Thank You!!!!!!!

-Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed, I cried, I had quite a few WTF moments.
Life in Scotland in the 18th century was harsh.
Jack Randall is an EVIL character thats evokes so much anger for what he does (for no good reason) to ruin Jamie and Claire. Black Hearted Black Jack Randall!

-Any additional comments?

You MUST read this book. If anyone you know has recommended this book to you because they think you may like it, then you probably will LOVE it!
Give it a try - give it at least until Jamie and Claire meet. ( )

Outlander is one of my favorite novels of all time. I happened to find it by chance a few years ago when I was browsing amazon for good books about time travel. (I love a good time travel story.)

Outlander is unusual though, in that it is not just a time travel story, but so much more. It is an amazing historical fiction tale about Scotland in the 1740's prior to the uprising, but even more than that, it is a timeless love story. Outlander tells the story of two lovers who were destined to be together: Claire and Jamie.

When I first picked up the a few years ago I was drawn in by the time travel, loved the historical fiction, and was a little bit shocked by the sex scenes. I don't normally read romance books, especially not those with explicit sex scenes, but I was willing to make an exception for this fantastic novel.

I will say though, that if you're not used to reading books with a lot of explicit sex scenes, you might be surprised by the content. I have read this book (and the series) multiple times, and there are still scenes that make me giggle, smirk, and roll my eyes. I do think that some of the scenes are unnecessary, but the chemistry between Claire and Jamie plays an important role in the book, and it wouldn't be the same without it.

I'm not sure, but I think that this is my fifth reading of Outlander. This is a book that holds up well to re-reading. I am completely captivated and get lost in the story of Claire and Jamie every time I read this book.

If you like historical fiction and you haven't read this book, then you are in for a huge treat! Just be prepared to put everything else in your life on hold for a few weeks. There are six books in the series (the seventh comes out September 22, 2009) and once you start reading the series you will probably want to read through all of them without stopping. ( )

just started, and enjoying already

I'm reading the books out of order. That did not stop my full enjoyment of this book. A wonderful read!! ( )

This is the first book to an amazing historical fiction series. It is a perfect mix of adventure, passion, mystery, romance, and action mixed with time travel and history. I never thought history could be so entertaining! Because of this series, I have eagerly done more research on historical events than I ever thought I would do in my whole life. This series is a serious page turner that you won't be able to put down. Middle school-aged children would probably be able to keep up with the story line; however, the plot can get pretty tangled and some scenes may be a little too steamy. I would recommend this series for high school-aged children. ( )