Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Goodreads Summary:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

My Thoughts:

Months ago my bestie asked me to DVR the new Starz show Outlander as it was based on one of her favorite book series. I was not at all interested in watching the show but I figured I could crochet or read while she watched it. As it turned out, I was immediately a fan of the show and decided to read the books. Who could blame me, have you seen Sam Heughan? The first time I saw him I wanted to find some screaming rocks to fall through. (Note: I told my husband this and he rolled his eyes and told me to take a flashlight in case it got dark looking for screaming rocks, yep that is marriage to the right guy, he gets me)

I read the first book not quite as fast as I thought I would but that had more to do with a hectic work schedule than the book. I really enjoyed getting a deeper insight to the characters I already liked from the show. After having read the book the series is in my opinion doing the story justice. I really think fans will like the show so long as they don't get too hung up on details, which is hard for super fans.

I am not normally a fan of historical fiction. I suppose I am actually understating that a bit. I often hate hate hate historical fiction. This book was definitely an exception to that. I wasn't a fan of the sheer number of rape, almost rape scenes in the book. I know that it happened all the time back in the day (still does) but it was hard for me to read. If you have an extra hard time with rape you may want to skip this book, well let's say skip the series.

I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans and romance fans. There is a fair bit of sex which I suspect is why the books are so popular. I recently read an article that described both the show and the books lady porn. I feel this is accurate in a lot of ways. 

While writing this review I was listening to that horrible Aston Kutcher movie Valentine's Day.