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| Outlander | 
| Author: Diana Gabaldon
Publisher: Delta
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $3.10
You Save: $11.90 (79%)
New (41) Collectible (5) from $8.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  1356 reviews
Sales Rank: 1227
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 640
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6
ISBN: 0385319959
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780385319959
ASIN: 0385319959
Publication Date: August 10, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 4-1/2 stars for a novel that created its own genre October 7, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Outlander is a title that I've had several people tell me I need to read, but I just put it in the back of my mind as a dated historical romance until this tag. I wish that I had read this book when it first came out (granted, I would have been nine years old), because then the novelty of time travel would have been fresh, and I wouldn't have felt the weight of every other romance I've read over the years with that theme that have cribbed from Outlander. Claire is a wonderful, absolutely non-stereotypical, character. Her dilemma of loving and marrying two men in two different times makes her fascinating as well. There was only one time I wanted to smack her: In Wentworth Prison, instead of watching Jamie and the brute fighting each other, she should have had the forthwith to smack Randall and take care of him before he woke up!! That made me want to tear my hair out a bit. The middle did drag a bit, and for awhile it felt like the book would never end. I enjoyed it, but it was loooong! I have already added Dragonfly in Amber, the sequel, to my wish list. It's got romantic sex without being pornographic. Lots of amazing historical detail. Jamie is awesome! How cool is it that for once the MAN is the virgin! Gabaldon turns so many romance stereotypes on their head. Even in a book that 26 years old, she makes the genre new again.
 Och! October 6, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am a big fan of historical fiction, but this was my first (and last) foray into the romance novel. I bought the book after reading a couple of the glowing reviews on this site. I was looking forward to the promised "sweeping," "meticulously researched," "historical romance." Instead I got a disturbing, shallow, historically and culturally inaccurate disappointment. Typically, I can find the merit in anything and will compulsively force myself to finish a book regardless of my opinions. But with Outlander, I just couldna do it.
Claire, the heroine, is dim witted, over sexed and totally unlikable. The hero, Jamie Fraser, is a one dimensional super hunk who is just too dreamy to be true. Oh, well, aside from the fact that he beats the heroine "half to death" in a creepy, sadistic scene that reeks of what must be the author's British school girl fantasy. This is not history (some reviewers have excused this scene as "what they did back then"). To make matters worse, the supposedly strong-willed heroine turns around and decides that not only did she deserve the beating, but that she truly loves her attacker. Yuck. I felt embarrassed for the characters and myself after that chapter!
It goes on from there. I put the book down for good around page 600 or so. I have no problem with sex or violence in a book, but not when it's as poorly written and contrived as Outlander. Don't be swept away by the positive reviews. If you're looking for intelligent, captivating historical fiction (with or without romance) this isn't it.
 Outlander Book Review October 6, 2008
This book is the type of book that always makes me think, "what if?" If you could travel back in time would you want to, do you feel you could survive without your family, friends and everyday conveniences? Would you use your knowledge of history to help people at the possible detriment to your own life or would you just live in the date and time and get by?
Claire has been rocketed back through time after a ritual at an ancient stone circle in Scotland. She lived in 1944 with her husband, Frank and now finds herself in 1744, 200 years earlier. She decides to tell the truth as much as possible without telling her actual circumstance. She is accepted by some, hated by others and questioned by many. Who is she, why is she there and where did she come from. She is thrown into Scotland during the time when England was battling for control. She ends up meeting an ancestor of her husband, Frank and learning what a bad person he was. In order to keep her freedom she is forced to marry a man she barely knows, Jamie Frasier. As time goes by, she falls for Jamie and he for her. When the time comes and she tells Jamie of her true set of circumstances and how she came to be there, he takes her back to the stone circle and tells her that he loves her enough to let her go. She realizes she can't leave him and decides to stay. They then begin a life on the run from Franks Ancestor, who has put a price on Jamie's head and would love to hurt Claire just because she is with Jamie.
Surprised to love it October 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I came late to the party on this one. I had to overcome my own stupid prejudices, my lack of desire to read an 850 page paperback, and the book being packed in a box in the garage for three years. But wow...it was worth the wait.
This never happens: I read the entire 850 pages cover to cover without taking a break. Usually, with a book that size I have to stop at least twice and read other books. It's generally not a reflection of the quality of the book (if it stinks, I won't bother finishing) but more a case of fatigue. Yet I never once tired of this book.
In fact, I loved the main characters, Jamie and Claire, so much that I looked forward to hanging out with them day-to-day. Although I was happy to finish the book, I was sorry not to be able to spend time with them anymore. I can't give any higher tribute to a book then that.
The story is part time travel, part magic, large doses of historical adventure, and romance--but not soppy romance. Jamie and Claire are both smart, resourceful people who remain true to themselves and their respective cultures, but change each other as their association grows. Claire was a nurse in World War II, Jamie a Highland clansmen from 18th century Scotland running from English justice. Claire is swept through some kind of time warp from her time to his and struggles against a very alien culture, war between the Scots and the English, accusations of witchcraft, and her own conflicted feelings. It's epic, sweeping, and a whole lot of fun.
I suppose I'll have to read the many sequels now.
Just the beginning of the adventure.... September 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Not many books can make time travel plausible to a non "sci-fi," reader let alone, relevant in interest. So when I heard the premise of the book -I admit I was skeptical. But as other fans have found, this story was very interesting, intriguing and had me completley hooked chapter to chapter.
Following the past and present of the Scottish and British characters in this book is a real treat, delving into the cultures, language and raw description of their way of life. There is a bit of historical fiction blurring, action, adventure, mystery, romance... in fact, it's a little bit of everything!!
As I'm sure others have stated - this book makes you want to read the rest of the series (no matter HOW thick the books are) and believe me, although an arduous task, it is worth while once you are invested in these characters. Beware of the 4th book though.... things tend to slow down and wander - but pick back up again in book 5. I can only wish that someone would make a movie out of at least this book, Outlander, for it is by far the BEST of the lot!!
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