Outlander series

[diamondlil]

I credit this author with getting me back into reading after a complete break of about 7 years. Yes, it's hard to believe but at one stage I barely read a book every few months!

Anyway, on her blog today, Diana Gabaldon has said that she is hoping to have finished writing the 7th but not the last book in the Outlander series by the end of the year with a view to having the book published in Fall of 2009.


She has also provided an excerpt (http://voyagesoftheartemis.blogspot.com/2008/09/excerpt-1-echo-in-bone.html) if anyone is interested!

[Misfit]

Thanks for sharing -- what a great excerpt. As much as I'm looking forward to more of Jamie and Claire that little teaser from the end of ABOSAA has me hankering for more of Roger and Bree and their journey back. I'm going to have to keep a close watch on the book listing - if I put in a purchase request at the library I'll be first on the hold list :)

Isn't it something when you can find an author who takes your life in a whole different direction? I was stuck reading true crime for years until I finally decided to break the mold and I found Joan Wolf's Born of the Sun buried amongst my older paperbacks. After that and The Other Boleyn Girl I never looked back, my books have to be in another century.

[Vanessa]

That's good news!

[Misfit]

Found it listed (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echo-Bone-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0752898477/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220615733&sr=8-1) on Amazon UK with a 2010 publication date. No listing on .com or .ca

I'll be interested to see if my purchase request at the library gets me at the top of the heap when it finally comes in :D

[Spitfire]

I have yet to read ABOSAA, but I think I am going to wait a little while to read it. Although I am dying to dig in to it, I dont want to wait such a long time imbetween that book and her new one An Echo in the Bone. I can hardly wait!!!!:D

[Lady of the Forest]

I saw her books at a book sale and decided to pick them up becasue they were cheap and sounded interesting, but I haven't yet started reading them, I was waiting untill I get get the others I did not have yet first. I think have like 4 or 5 of the books

[Misfit]

People either love 'em or hate em' but be warned, if you love it they will take over your life. Can't remember the last time I was reading books whilst cooking dinner :p

[JaneConsumer]

I thought the new one was scheduled for 2009. Wa-aaa!

[xiaotien]

i have this on my to read pile!

gosh golly what next? i've got like 12 books
from my bday. i was so spoiled. i'm leaning toward
lavinia by leguin or brideshead revisited.

i'm excited to read OUTLANDER, tho.

i picked it up because there was an article
on her recently in writer magazine.

[Spitfire]

People either love 'em or hate em' but be warned, if you love it they will take over your life. Can't remember the last time I was reading books whilst cooking dinner :p

Thank God I am not the only one who has these books take over their life. I have finished reading The Fiery Cross now for two weeks and am still thinking about Jaimy and Claire, Roger and Bree every day. I don't know how long I can wait before running out and getting A Breath of Snow and Ashes! I am wanting to savour them, you know like really good chocolates. Sigh!!!

[xiaotien]

okay, how many books in the series
planned and how many out?

i hate waiting. should i wait till all
the books have come out before i begin
reading?? =OOOO

[Spitfire]

okay, how many books in the series
planned and how many out?

i hate waiting. should i wait till all
the books have come out before i begin
reading?? =OOOO

I wouldn't wait! There are 7 in the outlander series, including the last one to be released in March of 2010. They are as listed...
1. Cross Stitch (1991)
aka Outlander
2. Dragonfly in Amber (1991)
3. Voyager (1993)
4. The Drums of Autumn (1996)
5. The Fiery Cross (2001)
6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005)
7. An Echo in the Bone (2009)
All of these books are around 700 pagers...definitely something to sink your teeth into. But what a ride while it lasts!

[xiaotien]

oh, man. someone hold me.

maybe i won't like it so much. =p

i've got revisions to do. am not
picking this up right now. will read
lavinia instead.

ps. thanks spitfire!!

[diamondlil]

I haven't read an Outlander book for over a year, and I still think about the characters!

After I read the first couple, I ended up having to restrict my buying of the next books until Fridays because I knew that if I bought it on a weekday that all I would want to do would be to read, to the detriment of my sleep, feeding my child (lots of sandwiches for meals on the weekends when I was reading.). At the time he was about 4, so he did well to make his own sandwiches at the time!

[Spitfire]

My poor husband has been so neglected this past month as I read two books back to back. He threatened me to not pick up another Gabbaldon until we were moved into our new house. (Probably not until end of October) :eek: These aren't the kind of books you can hide imbetween the box spring and matress eh? Ha, Ha!

[xiaotien]

all right. i'm duly warned.
i'm thinking i may not pick this
book up until i finish the rough
draft of my sequel.

then it may be a reward to self? 8)

wOOt!

[JMJacobsen]

While I'm not a huge romance fan (no ripping bodices for me, thank you), I absolutely loved these books. So much so, in fact, that even after I had read them through twice, I still purchased the unabridged audio recordings just to have. 'Outlander' was my favorite, but the entire series falls into the "I could read again and again" category.

[diamondlil]

I have the unabridged audiobook of ABOSAA - 48 CDs! It's a whopper!

[JMJacobsen]

I have the unabridged audiobook of ABOSAA - 48 CDs! It's a whopper!

You know, I can only find a few of the books unabridged on audio...others just don't seem to be available. Not sure why that is.

[diamondlil]

Whatever you do, hold out for the abridged. I am trying to remember where they are sold. I'll get back to you on that one.

[diamondlil]

You know, I can only find a few of the books unabridged on audio...others just don't seem to be available. Not sure why that is.

Do you want downloads or actual CDs?

[LCW]

:DPeople either love 'em or hate em' but be warned, if you love it they will take over your life.

Ain't that the truth!! I was so obssessed with these novels. I wish I could erase them from my mind and go reread them all new again!

And Jamie!! Sigh!! Can you cheat on your man with a fictional character?? :D

[Lady of the Forest]

Right now I have

Outlander
Dragonfly in Amber
Voyager
The Drums of Autumn

I have been looking for The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Snow and Ashes, but I cannot find them at the same place where I picked up the others

[Spitfire]

:D

Ain't that the truth!! I was so obssessed with these novels. I wish I could erase them from my mind and go reread them all new again!

And Jamie!! Sigh!! Can you cheat on your man with a fictional character?? :D
Oh yeah, I am definitely in love with Jaimy, Roger is a close second after reading The Fiery Cross. Oooh, those men in plaid!;)

[LCW]

Yes, Roger went through quite a transformation, didn't he? I thought he was sort of boring and geeky (although in real life I'd probably find that sexy!!) but he turned all hunky in the last two novels!

[JMJacobsen]

Do you want downloads or actual CDs?


I prefer downloads, since they just go right on the ol' I-Pod, but CDs work in a pinch because I can covert those over to MP4, which then go on the I-Pod. (Convoluted, I know).

[diamondlil]

Okay....Audible.com has the first four books available for download in the unabridged versions.

Audiobooks.com has A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Recordedbooks.com has The Fiery Cross but I think only to buy and they seem expensive compared to some of the other places.

It's weird that you can't get them all from one place.

[JMJacobsen]

Okay....Audible.com has the first four books available for download in the unabridged versions.

Audiobooks.com has A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Recordedbooks.com has The Fiery Cross but I think only to buy and they seem expensive compared to some of the other places.

It's weird that you can't get them all from one place.

Thanks for looking....I appreciate that. I'm a member of Audible, so that takes care of the next 3 in the series. I'll check out the other two sites, as well. It would be so nice to have them all, unabridged, on audio. I have to take one of our cars from LA out to Houston later this month and I can't think of a better way to pass the time than listening this series. :)

[diamondlil]

That would certainly make the journey better in my books as well!

[Spitfire]

Yes, Roger went through quite a transformation, didn't he? I thought he was sort of boring and geeky (although in real life I'd probably find that sexy!!) but he turned all hunky in the last two novels!

Isn't that the truth. It's so funny that you find the boring geeky guys sexy in real life. I find that to be true, especially if they are really passionate about what they do. When I was first dating my husband he sent me this geeky picture of himself and I was all over it. He laughs about it now! But isn't it interresting that what we appreciate and enjoy in real life is not necessarily what turns us on in literature. For me, reading is an escape, so I like to read and fantasize about situations that I normally wouldn't do or see myself doing.

[diamondlil]

Love Jamie, love Ian and Young Ian is coming into his own too!

[Spitfire]

Love Jamie, love Ian and Young Ian is coming into his own too!
Yes, there is something compelling about the Ian's isn't there! This is me, but I have always been turned on by someone with a prosthesis or a limp. I also like bald men too...sexy!

[diamondlil]

Actually I meant Roger, but Ian is such a good man that it is hard not to be drawn into his character as well.

[Madeleine]

I have all 6 books on my tbr piles, and hope to read Cross Stitch soon, but am worried I will have to read all of them one after the other, thereby abandoning all the others waiting to be read!

[Misfit]

I have all 6 books on my tbr piles, and hope to read Cross Stitch soon, but am worried I will have to read all of them one after the other, thereby abandoning all the others waiting to be read!

That's what happened with me, as soon as one book was finished I was running to start the next one.

Just found this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcWqSL3EVF8&feature=related) video on you tube but perhaps a bit spoilerish for those who haven't read read Voyager.

[diamondlil]

That is one of my favourite scenes in the whole series. Great find Misfit!

[Misfit]

That was one of my favorites as well. These Outlander you tube videos are major time suck. Here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ_k79W4Eks&NR=1) another one. Interesting casting ideas.

[diamondlil]

This is one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytKlUwyu14) that a friend of mine has done and is lots of fun (and a bit tongue in cheek!)

[Margaret]

Guest reviewer Susan Gillmor has written a fun review of <i>Outlander</i> for my website: http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Outlander.html.

Plus, there's a link at the end of the review to a Diana-Gabaldon-approved picture of what Jamie Fraser looks like. Cuuute!

[Misfit]

I don't think the link to this latest excerpt (http://www.its.caltech.edu/~gatti/gabaldon/excerpts/bone/bone_excerpt5.html) from Echo has been posted here yet.

As for casting Jamie if any one wants to suck a lot of time search them on you tube -- it's a cottage industry over there picking out who they want to play whom.

[diamondlil]

Guest reviewer Susan Gillmor has written a fun review of <i>Outlander</i> for my website: http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Outlander.html.

Plus, there's a link at the end of the review to a Diana-Gabaldon-approved picture of what Jamie Fraser looks like. Cuuute!

I have moved the discussion around Jamie's picture to this thread (http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401), where the link had previously been posted, and there was already discussion.

[diamondlil]

DG has just posted the proposed UK cover on her blog (http://voyagesoftheartemis.blogspot.com/2008/12/uk-cover-proof-for-echo.html). The release date is on Amazon UK as 1 March 2010.

[LCW]

That's an absolutely gorgeous cover!! Now someone please please tell me it's going to be released sooner here in the US! I've had my heart set on Sept. or Oct. '09 this whole time!!!

[ellenjane]

New excerpt from An Echo in the Bone!

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~gatti/gabaldon/excerpts/bone/bone_excerpt6.html

[amyb]

People either love 'em or hate em' but be warned, if you love it they will take over your life. Can't remember the last time I was reading books whilst cooking dinner :p

I have a bad habit of doing that - the last time was with re-reading Time and Chance by Penman and I dropped in a sink full of dish water! Learned my lesson with that one! So, now I've just quit cooking! Hahaha!:p

[Maggie]

I've been recommended her series, so may try it in the future.

[emr]

Hi
I'm around page 200 of the second book but I am still thinking about the first one.
IMO the first book in general looks like a story in itself. Nothing like lets say the Inda books where you get to the last page and keep turning it one side and the other desperately looking for the rest of the story. It's obvious on Outlander the end isnt definitive but open for more adventure. Still you could read that book and stop going on without regret except...
In the first part of the novel there is a scene where Frank is coming back home and sees a big highlander in the middle of the street looking at Claire's window. Obviously Jamie, obviously a ghost. But Why doesnt that scene get explained in the first book? Its like a loose thread there.
And.. when Claire faces the possibility of crossing again the stones, how on earth she doesnt even consider that maybe the stones only work in one direction and she might end up in 1546? Wonder if she'd marry again.
Just wondering if it ever gets explained.
Emi

[LCW]

The beauty of these novels is there are so many loose ends and so many answers that you find as you read on. It's actually good as it helps tie all the books together. I found that in the first two books I couldnt' wait to get past the scenes in the present (or sort of in the present) to get to the good parts back in the 1700's but that changes as you read on. These are the greatest set of books and you will live, sleep, eat, and dream them. I love them! Voyager, the third, was one of my fav's! Oh, and wait until you get to the end of Dragonfly in Amber!!! That's all I'm goona say! Enjoy! :D

[diamondlil]

Hi

In the first part of the novel there is a scene where Frank is coming back home and sees a big highlander in the middle of the street looking at Claire's window. Obviously Jamie, obviously a ghost. But Why doesnt that scene get explained in the first book? Its like a loose thread there.

Emi

Diana Gabaldon has said that that scene will be the very last thing explained in the last book. The only question is how far away is the last book? It's definitely not the next book.

[Misfit]

She does leave a lot of lose threads lying around throughout the books. Many (but not all) were tied up in ABOSAA. Can't wait for Echo in the Bone.

BTW, according to Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Echo-Bone-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0385342454/ref=pd_ybh_24?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1WV1WMWSYDT3NZJZT3YQ) the release date for Echo is September 29, 2009.

[emr]

Diana Gabaldon has said that that scene will be the very last thing explained in the last book.

That sounds as if she's writing the story in a big circle and intends to go back to the beginning.
K back to the book :)

[diamondlil]

She does leave a lot of lose threads lying around throughout the books. Many (but not all) were tied up in ABOSAA. Can't wait for Echo in the Bone.

BTW, according to Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Echo-Bone-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0385342454/ref=pd_ybh_24?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1WV1WMWSYDT3NZJZT3YQ) the release date for Echo is September 29, 2009.

It did feel as though a lot of the loose ends were tidied up didn't it, and that there was some very swift unraveling at the very end.

[Misfit]

It did feel as though a lot of the loose ends were tidied up didn't it, and that there was some very swift unraveling at the very end.

Funny how an author finally realizes its getting time to finish the book and get all those loose ends wrapped up isn't it? I want more though, how did Bree and Roger end up with Lallybroch??

[LCW]

BTW, according to Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Echo-Bone-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0385342454/ref=pd_ybh_24?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1WV1WMWSYDT3NZJZT3YQ) the release date for Echo is September 29, 2009.

Oh, thank goodness! I was devastated at the thought of waiting even longer! Eight months and counting now......:D

[diamondlil]

DG has made it to the cartoons (http://www.jewishworldreview.com/strips/mallard/2000/mallard1.asp)! She mentioned this cartoon on her blog (http://voyagesoftheartemis.blogspot.com/2009/02/diana-makes-funnies.html) a couple of days ago!

[Misfit]

Found this cover on Goodreads,

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JVLxQkvvL.jpg

Also found these two gorgeous covers but my French is sorely lacking so I can't quite tell which books they are.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511IJ7QAr7L.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513JNNqk3aL.jpg

[Vanessa]

Seems a bit strange - looks like they're parts 12 and 13!! Do they know something we don't?

[Misfit]

Hopefully someone will come along and enlighten us :):o

[diamondlil]

I can't comment for sure but I know in some European countries some bigger books are divided in two and sold separately.

[tsjmom]

I finally got 'Outlander' - my library's copy is 'MIA' so I bought the very small paperback. Just started today after I put down another book after 50 pgs that I just couldn't get into (and that's after another book that was so-so but I forced myself to finish b/c it was short :S)

[diamondlil]

I hope you enjoy it!


There is an official release date now for An Echo in the Bone. September 22 is the big day!

[Vanessa]

Hurray - looking forward to it!:D

[tsjmom]

I'm on p. 300+! I must say I'm pleasantly surprised!! Normally I like the hedonistic and opulent settings of France, but I like the intensity and passion between Claire and Jaime. I'm mostly Scottish by heritage, but I don't know anything about them.

I thought it interesting that the Scots, so far, have more honor than the "Lobsterbacks". I think this is a book that would appeal to both men and women.

[ellenjane]

I am re-reading "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" in preparation for the new book later this month, and I have a question that's driving me nuts. The troublesome lawyer - is he Gerald Forbes or Neil Forbes? Both names appear in my copy. Are there two separate characters that I've missed somehow? Does he go by both names?

I've searched around online for an answer to this, but couldn't find anything. It's driving me batty, though. Has anyone here noticed this as well?

[Vanessa]

Are they father and son? Embarrassingly, I read this book at the beginning of July and I can't remember!

[ellenjane]

Are they father and son? Embarrassingly, I read this book at the beginning of July and I can't remember!

I'm thinking they must be, and I just missed the exposition telling me so. Either that or brothers. Or Neil some sort of nickname for Gerald. :) I'm not even done reading the book, and I've been flipping back and forth, and still can't figure it out!

[Vanessa]

I did try looking at my book for you. Unfortunately, it's a little sun damaged as I took it on holiday with me - some of the pages have come adrift! So I have to be very gentle with it so I couldn't look too hard! I'll have to get another copy, I think, as it's a series I like on my keeper's shelves.

[JaneConsumer]

It's been too long since I read the book. I don't recall picking up on there being two Forbes.

Gerald Forbes is the lawyer that tries to take Clare in for ... argh! something, I can't remember. Jamie barricades them in the house to protect her.

Neil Forbes has the old mother Jamie tricked (sweetly) into having a picnic lunch with him. In essence, he was holding her ransom. But she never knew it. Neil has something to do with Brianna's kidnapping.

Forgot to mention that I looked at references to the 2 names by doing a search in Google Books. Here are the results (http://books.google.com/books?id=LKDAs-Hrea0C&pg=PA851&dq=gabaldon+%22neil+forbes%22#v=onepage&q=forbes&f=false).

[diamondlil]

Are they brothers?

[JaneConsumer]

I did a little more research. I think the use Neil Forbes may be a mistake.

The name Forbes first appears in Drums of Autumn, if you can rely on the book search features at Amazon and Google.

Gerald Forbes appears as the lawyer Jocasta uses. I think I remember a scene where he pushes her a bit too hard to marry him. She gives him the boot.

When Gabaldon uses his first name, it is always Gerald. But she often refers to him as Lawyer Forbes.

This holds true in The Fiery Cross as well.

The name Neil appears once in Drums, but not in context with Forbes. It does not appear at all in Fiery Cross.

In the Amazon online version of Breath of Snow and Ashes, page 1243 includes the sentence, "Gerald Forbes sat in the parlor of the King's Inn..."

In the version available through Google Books, page 851 begins, "Neil Forbes sat in the parlor of the King's Inn..."

So, I think it was a misprint - probably in earlier editions. I can check mine at home since I have a first edition. Later printings may have corrected this mistake.

I'm just amazed you noticed. :)

[ellenjane]

Wow - thanks for looking into it! It just seems like such a weird printing error. It looks like that may be what it is, though.

My copy of the book has the same pagination as the one in Google Books, but in a couple of spots that say "Gerald Forbes" online, my copy says "Neil Forbes." It's the Delta trade paperback edition, dated September 2007, while the one in Google is dated September 2006. It seems very strange that the errors would multiply in later editions, but it seems to be what's happened. :confused:

ETA: I happened to be at Border's later in the day and checked out the smaller mass-market paperback. It looked like it said "Gerald" in all cases. Oddly enough, my husband was impatient because we were on our way to dinner and didn't seem to care at all about this extremely pressing issue! I guess it's just one of those little things that grabbed me.

[zsigandr]

I just started to read this series and am enjoying it so far. I had not read any works by DG before this, but am impressed so far and looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Margaret]

Book #7, An Echo in the Bone, is finally out (as most of you probably know!), and Moseyer has contributed a nice review for HistoricalNovels.info (http://www.HistoricalNovels.info/Echo-in-the-Bone.html). She says it was worth the wait!

[annis]

I'm looking forward to reading "Echo in the Bone" (such an evocative title), but currently the library waiting list stands at 50, so it might be a while!

[Frigate]

I guess I'll just jump in here - I read Outlander when it first came out and thought - wow - what a cool book! And the story just keeps going, and going, and going - like the energizer bunny (which is all good of course). I guess my big complaint (and this is entirely my fault) is that I can't keep all the people straight or all the itty bitty details she starts in one book then continues or finishes in the next. There is too much time in between volumes for me to keep it all straight in my head! I kind of wish now I hadn't started the whole thing until she was done - if she ever will be! I know I'm missing important details because the first reference to whatever is lost in the recesses of my mind. :(

I also have to wonder when and how she's going to end this story as it conceivably could go on forever! Do you ever get the feeling from this author (or others that write novels like this) that they get so wrapped up in their characters and their story that they just can't bring themselves to end it? And by the way, I'm finding myself far more interested in Bree and Roger now than Claire and Jamie after reading AEITB. Yes, this truly could go on a long time once we get the kids and grandkids involved... :D

[Muse in the Fog]

I have just finished reading Outlander last month, which you can read my review for here: Outlander Review (http://muse-in-the-fog.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-review-outlander-by-diana-gabaldon.html).
It was such a captivating story that I hardly noticed it was 800+ pages! I think its wonderful to hear such great things about the most recent books in the series; usually when a series continues it tends to loose its pizazz. Hopefully I will get to the next book soon. I don't want to zoom through the series but at the same time I dont want to forget everything by waiting to long. Looking forward to talking about the series here!

[Vanessa]

It has quite a following, Muse, one of them being me!:D I've read them all apart from Echo in the Bone and loved them all.

[Misfit]

I loved this series, although Echo was quite a disappointment. The first three are the best and if you don't want to commit to all of them you'd want to read at least those.

[Muse in the Fog]

I loved this series, although Echo was quite a disappointment. The first three are the best and if you don't want to commit to all of them you'd want to read at least those.

That is good to know about the first three. I'm sure I'll read through the whole series soon but I will definitely pass this information on to some of my friends who like the series but don't want to go crazy over it. Thanks!

[Misfit]

Everyone must read as far as Voyager, there's a BIG something that should not be missed by any J&C fan.

[Lady of the Forest]

I have recently started reading the book Outlander, which I had been looking forward to for some time, for one because of my general interest in Historical Fiction and because I have heard a lot of good things about it, but upon reading it, I found myself quite disappointed early on into the book. There were a few things that I really did not care for in the book and now I am considering if I should just give up on it because I question my ability to truly enjoy it with the problems I am having with it.

One of the primary things that bothers me about the book, and of which it seems I am just about the only person who finds it the least bit off-putting, is the fact that the heroine of the story, a character whom presumably is supposed to be sympathetic and likable is an adultness. The main premises of the story revolves around a woman cheating on her husband.

Some people might I suppose justify it because of the time travel factor, but personally for me that just really is not an acceptable excuse for her to cheat on her husband since she is completely conscious of her actions and knows that he is married to another man.

On top of her being an adulteress, not a trait I find the least bit admirable or appealing, her overall personality grates on my nerves, which is another negative factor in my trying to read this book, is the fact that I wish someone would throw the narrator over the side of cliff.

If the story was not done in 1st person narration I think I could like it a little more because Claire is grating upon my nerves.

[Madeleine]

yes I must agree with you that Claire is pretty irritating, and for someone who's lived through WW2, she acts pretty recklessly in a war situation, putting herself and everyone in danger.

I must admit I hadn't thought of the adultery angle, you do have a point but I suppose in her defence I would say that she's very scared, and doesn't know if she'll ever get back to her own time and, despite the obvious attraction between her and Jamie, some developments in their relationship aren't totally their own choice - I don't want to say too much in case I give anything away as I don't know how far you are into the story. I'd be interested to know how you get on with the book if you decide to carry on with it.

[Misfit]

I've seen this issue discussed at thread over at Amazon's romance boards as well as Goodreads (there is an Outlander group there if that helps). It wasn't an issue for me and as Madeline said some things are beyond their control. Don't press yourself too hard, not all books work for every person and if it's not for you, I'd just move on when you've had enough.

[Lady of the Forest]

yes I must agree with you that Claire is pretty irritating, and for someone who's lived through WW2, she acts pretty recklessly in a war situation, putting herself and everyone in danger.

I must admit I hadn't thought of the adultery angle, you do have a point but I suppose in her defence I would say that she's very scared, and doesn't know if she'll ever get back to her own time and, despite the obvious attraction between her and Jamie, some developments in their relationship aren't totally their own choice - I don't want to say too much in case I give anything away as I don't know how far you are into the story. I'd be interested to know how you get on with the book if you decide to carry on with it.

I had considered the angle of her initially not knowing if she would be able to return back, but then for me the issue is, if she does indeed find out that she is able to return back to her time, but continues to bounce back and forth between men, she is a hussy as far as I am concerned.

But someone else who has read the book assured me that she does come to finally actually make a choice between men.

So as long as the book just does not have the feeling of glamorizing her adultery I think I will be able to come to terms with it and carry on and enjoy the other elements of the story.

Though I don't fathom I will ever actually come around to liking her.

[Vanessa]

I don't think I saw it like that. When Claire married Jamie, Frank wasn't actually born if you think about it - Frank didn't exist in 1745 (nor did Claire but she had time-travelled) so technically Claire wasn't actually married when she married Jamie. It's a bit of a grey area really! Apart from that I just read it as a bit of a romp - not to be taken seriously. Personally, I wish I was Claire!!!! That Jamie is a bit of a hunk! LOL.

[MLE]

As the plot worked it out, the marriage was more one of necessity, to keep her from being raped by Frank's ancestor. Under the circumstances, it was less about adultery than survival.

[Lady of the Forest]

I don't think I saw it like that. When Claire married Jamie, Frank wasn't actually born if you think about it - Frank didn't exist in 1745 (nor did Claire but she had time-travelled) so technically Claire wasn't actually married when she married Jamie. It's a bit of a grey area really! Apart from that I just read it as a bit of a romp - not to be taken seriously. Personally, I wish I was Claire!!!! That Jamie is a bit of a hunk! LOL.

The thing about the whole Frank wasn't born yet, does not work for me, because though Clarie did time travel, she is an intruder in that period of time, and she is fully conscious and aware of the fact that she is married to Frank, so even if on the technicality of him not being born yet, she is still knowingly breaking her vows because she knows she does have a husband.

So even if you can claim that theatrically she is not psychically being unfaithful, since Frank does not yet exist, in mind and heart she is still betraying him.

Though if there were extenuating circumstances, and she was put in a compromising position in which she was placed in danger as indicated in the post by MLE and she was let unknowing if she would ever even see her own time period again, that would be a different case than if she simply gave into her own personal desire, and acted for the sake of her own self-gratification.

[Vanessa]

If I remember rightly, didn't Claire try to escape? Originally escaping was part of her plan. She was in a rather strange situation.

[Lady of the Forest]

If I remember rightly, didn't Claire try to escape? Originally escaping was part of her plan. She was in a rather strange situation.

Yes in the early stages of the book she does try and think of some way to esape and return back to the stones.

[Madeleine]

I think she and Jamie also marry partly for Jamie's protection too.

the book does have some rather fantastical elements to it - again I don't want to give anything away, but she does have a bizarre encounter in Scotland! - so I think I'm with Vanessa and would perhaps try not to take it too seriously and just treat it as escapism, there are way too many plot holes with time travel anyway.

[Lady of the Forest]

Clarie seems incapable of having mature, adult, rational discussions/conversations. It seems to me whenever anyone says anything to her or asks her a question which I personally think is perfectly legitimate her response is childish yelling.

She appears to be hell bent upon insulting, offending, and making angry the people who took her in, gave her shelter, and our protecting when as far as they know she could be an enemy spy.

She knows her own story is flimsy and that she has not told the truth, and while it is understandable that she would not attempt to explain time travel, she ought to be more understanding, under the circumstances of the Mackenzie's suspicions and not take it as some sort of personal affront against her.

And I really don't think that being defensive about everything is all that an effective way to get people to trust you and believe you.

[CindyInOz]

To be honest, I didn't really consider the fact that Claire was an adulteress - I was far too consumed by Jamie (my ultimate fictional hero) to worry about Claire... I don't think time travel stories can ever really be taken all that seriously. The Outlander series, for me, is pure escapism. Was Claire irritating, immature? Probably, but who cares! Jamie was awwwesome.

[Lady of the Forest]

To be honest, I didn't really consider the fact that Claire was an adulteress - I was far too consumed by Jamie (my ultimate fictional hero) to worry about Claire... I don't think time travel stories can ever really be taken all that seriously. The Outlander series, for me, is pure escapism. Was Claire irritating, immature? Probably, but who cares! Jamie was awwwesome.

I think I am the only woman in the world who is not infatuated with Jamie. I have to say that I don't dislike him, but I am not in love with him, though perhaps that is because in my opinion Gabaldon's character development is not that good.

Her characters are not that "believable" to me, they don't really draw me into the story or captivate me. Sometimes her characters feel a bit too forced like she is trying too hard.

Maybe he will grow on me more as the book prograssess.

[Vanessa]

Jamie was quite real for me!:D I don't think I worried too much about Claire either. I've got the first two or three books on CD, too. I like the narrator (Davina Porter, I think she's called) - I think she reads them very well. I listen to them whilst I'm gardening!!! Takes the monotony away from weeding! LOL.

Perhaps it's not your sort of book, though, LotF? I think some people would find the time travelling thing a little bit bizarre and definitely 'unreal'. I never know what to class these books as. Are they fantasy, sci-fi, historical romance.....? I think I'd class them as historical fantasy.

[Lady of the Forest]

Jamie was quite real for me!:D I don't think I worried too much about Claire either. I've got the first two or three books on CD, too. I like the narrator (Davina Porter, I think she's called) - I think she reads them very well. I listen to them whilst I'm gardening!!! Takes the monotony away from weeding! LOL.

Perhaps it's not your sort of book, though, LotF? I think some people would find the time travelling thing a little bit bizarre and definitely 'unreal'. I never know what to class these books as. Are they fantasy, sci-fi, historical romance.....? I think I'd class them as historical fantasy.

I think it is the romance part of it that bothers me more than the time travel. I read a lot of surreal and bizarre books with stranger things than time travel, as well I love fantasy books, but I generally do not read romance.

I picked this one up because of my interest in HF and I heard a lot of people whom enjoy HF talk about this book and how good they thought it was and people claimed that it was not a typical romance.

But I do not generally read Historical Romance

I also personally think that the author's writing is mediocre at best with some really bad prose work, and weak character development.

[Susan]

I'm currently working my way through the Outlander books. I'm in the third book currently, so I don't know if any of the information in this post plays into the future books.

I often delve into the genealogy of real people (usually royals or those related to royals) when I read historical fiction. Although Jamie Fraser is a fictional creation, his paternal grandfather and uncle were real people. His grandfather was Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Fraser,_11th_Lord_Lovat ) and he has the dubious honor of being the last person beheaded (for treason) on Tower Hill outside of the Tower of London. He was 80 at the time of his death. It appears he liked to change sides as indicated for his support at times for William II and Mary III, the Hanovers, and the Jacobites. Here's an engraving of him.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Simon_Fraser%2C_11th_Lord_Lovat_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_20947.jpg/200px-Simon_Fraser%2C_11th_Lord_Lovat_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_20947.jpg

Lord Lovat's son and Jamie's uncle was Simon Fraser of Lovat, 19th MacShimidh (19th Chief of the Clan Fraser) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Simon_Fraser_of_Lovat ). After fighting on the Scots side and surviving the Battle of Culloden, he turned out to be a general in the British Army. Below is an engraving of him. Hugh Fraser, the first husband of the biographer Lady Antonia Fraser, was a younger son of Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat.

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/highlands/images/fraser2.jpg

[Susan]

I think I've been spending too much time with Jamie lately. Someone is playing bagpipes in my neighborhood and it's 10 PM!

[M'lady]

These books are long but there's so much action going on that I find myself flying through. However, I'm only on book three and they get even bigger from there. :p

I agree though, I liked Claire's character at first and even found her funny but now she's just annoying. Her hissy fits and "witty" comments no matter what situation make me want to slap her sometimes. Also I'm getting fed up of her and Jaime having physically violent rows that just turns into the inevitable.