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A review by mrsbooknerd
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
5.0
'Outlander' has to be one of the more intimidating novels that I have picked up in recent times. It is over 800 pages long, and has a reputation among the book-reading folk as being somewhat of a 'legend'. This legendary status had long piqued my interest, but at the same time I wondered how such a large book could sustain good pacing, likable characters and hold my interest. Yet, I was more desperate to read it than I was scared of reading it and hating it, so I delved in and started…
I didn't read 'Outlander', I devoured it.
I fell into the story immediately, and once submerged, I couldn't get back out again. Nor did I want to. Heck, I even found myself accidentally speaking with a Scottish burr and kept saying, 'Ye ken?'. The only reason that it took me days to complete is because it was Christmas, and I had other events/visits/people interrupting my reading time. I was absorbed from page 1 and my interest didn't wane once in over 800 pages.
The writing style was warm, welcoming and lively. The humour was a constant and offset the dark events and the constant fear of pain, rape and death. The pacing was wonderful and it didn't slacken or slow for a moment. There were highly dramatic events, but there was a constant building of tension that was balanced by the slower, more emotional relationship building. It read like a Tarrantino film, constant foreshadowing so that my gut was in despair as I read, wondering when the next blow would come.
That was the fantastic part. Gabaldon wasn't afraid to deal a blow to Claire, Jamie or the supporting characters. The tension was real because pain, rape or death was a genuine possibility. Claire and Jamie survived to the end of the novel, but it was by no means unscathed. It was so unlike other novels where the 'good guy' always triumphs. There is no pain or bloodshed because there is always a hero to save them, a coincidence to rescue them from a situation… Yes, there were instances of this in 'Outlander' but it was never without some loss.
It was actually quite a harrowing read, and the brutality of the era was captured wonderfully. Brutal, medieval and grotesque, and yet tender, emotional and warming as well.
How could anyone not love Claire and Jamie? How could you not revile Randall? Feel sympathy for Dougal but hate him as well? It was such an evocative book, with each of the characters having their own history, present story and vivid personality. The fact that each supporting character also had a past and present kept the main plot from becoming stagnant, giving me diversions to keep my interest.
Whether it was love or hate, you felt something for each of the characters. More so, there was evidence of their motivations and drive. Randall wasn't just a bad guy hellbent on destroying Jamie, there was something black driving him, nuances to his character. Even with biased narrators telling his story, it was evident that Randall was haunted by his past.
Neither Claire nor Jamie were perfect, and it was in their imperfections that their 'perfect' romance blossomed - perfect for the reader that it. They got things wrong, they screamed and shouted. There wasn't insta-love. It was a developed romance full of attraction but also obstacles and mistakes.
I genuinely thought that I would get bored during this novel, that good pacing couldn't be maintained, but I was sorely wrong. Not only did I devour it, but I cannot wait to start the next novel.
I didn't read 'Outlander', I devoured it.
I fell into the story immediately, and once submerged, I couldn't get back out again. Nor did I want to. Heck, I even found myself accidentally speaking with a Scottish burr and kept saying, 'Ye ken?'. The only reason that it took me days to complete is because it was Christmas, and I had other events/visits/people interrupting my reading time. I was absorbed from page 1 and my interest didn't wane once in over 800 pages.
The writing style was warm, welcoming and lively. The humour was a constant and offset the dark events and the constant fear of pain, rape and death. The pacing was wonderful and it didn't slacken or slow for a moment. There were highly dramatic events, but there was a constant building of tension that was balanced by the slower, more emotional relationship building. It read like a Tarrantino film, constant foreshadowing so that my gut was in despair as I read, wondering when the next blow would come.
That was the fantastic part. Gabaldon wasn't afraid to deal a blow to Claire, Jamie or the supporting characters. The tension was real because pain, rape or death was a genuine possibility. Claire and Jamie survived to the end of the novel, but it was by no means unscathed. It was so unlike other novels where the 'good guy' always triumphs. There is no pain or bloodshed because there is always a hero to save them, a coincidence to rescue them from a situation… Yes, there were instances of this in 'Outlander' but it was never without some loss.
It was actually quite a harrowing read, and the brutality of the era was captured wonderfully. Brutal, medieval and grotesque, and yet tender, emotional and warming as well.
How could anyone not love Claire and Jamie? How could you not revile Randall? Feel sympathy for Dougal but hate him as well? It was such an evocative book, with each of the characters having their own history, present story and vivid personality. The fact that each supporting character also had a past and present kept the main plot from becoming stagnant, giving me diversions to keep my interest.
Whether it was love or hate, you felt something for each of the characters. More so, there was evidence of their motivations and drive. Randall wasn't just a bad guy hellbent on destroying Jamie, there was something black driving him, nuances to his character. Even with biased narrators telling his story, it was evident that Randall was haunted by his past.
Neither Claire nor Jamie were perfect, and it was in their imperfections that their 'perfect' romance blossomed - perfect for the reader that it. They got things wrong, they screamed and shouted. There wasn't insta-love. It was a developed romance full of attraction but also obstacles and mistakes.
I genuinely thought that I would get bored during this novel, that good pacing couldn't be maintained, but I was sorely wrong. Not only did I devour it, but I cannot wait to start the next novel.