Outlander: A Novel (Outlander, #1)

by Diana Gabaldon

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The first book in Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander saga, the basis for the Starz original series.

One of the top ten best-loved novels in America, as seen on PBS’s The Great American Read!
 
Unrivaled storytelling. Unforgettable characters. Rich historical detail. These are the hallmarks of Diana Gabaldon’s work. Her New York Times bestselling Outlander novels have earned the praise of critics and captured the hearts of millions of fans. Here is the story that started it all, introducing two remarkable characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.

Scottish Highlands, 1945. Claire Randall, a former British 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 clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.
 
Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of a world that threatens her life, and may shatter her heart. Marooned amid danger, passion, and violence, Claire learns her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. What begins in compulsion becomes urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives.

• ISBN10: 0440212561
• ISBN13: 9780440212560
• Publish Date: 2 June 1992 (first published 1 June 1991)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
• Edition: Revised edition
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 896
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780440212560

Reviews

[Angie]

The page count on this seems intimidating, but I enjoyed every word of Outlander. I was expecting to hit a few parts which would just drag on and bore me, but that wasn't then case at all. Even though every page didn't have action or romance, it was always interesting. The pacing was just right, and I felt like the story unfolded very naturally. Nothing was forced or rushed, or added gratuitously.

The romance between Claire and Jamie was not at all what I was expecting. In fact, at a few points it made me a bit uncomfortable. But I did enjoy how different it was; it kept it from being just another novel romance.

If I had to sum this book up in a single word, it would be epic. There was so much going on, a lot of detail, and could easily inspire its own HBO mini-series!

[Linda]

I feel like I should change all of my other five stars to four stars, if only to give the proper review for this book! I was amazed from the start, even if I felt that the beginning was slow. It set the proper pace in order to get the real an full back story for Claire, so that it would be possible to see who she was once she passed the cleaved stone to come to Scotland 200 years ago.

Claire is an extraordinary heroine, both strong and stubborn, but full of love and common sense anyway. The people she first encountered on her new adventure helped her understand what was happening, even at the very beginning, when she couldn't really believe what was happening to her.

Both Randall, Dougal and Jamie showed her a very different way of life from what she was used to, and all she thought she already knew had to be questioned for her to be able to continue and still be sane!

Jamie, young as he was, was the epitome of a strong, and full hero. A worthy man for the heroine of the story, and he showed this, time and time again, even during the times when I really didn't agree with him. Their wedding, taking place in the very same church where Claire married Frank, was heart-breaking both with tenderness, and wishes for another time... But Claire still thought her wovs were very much vaild both for God and for man.

Her new life gave her a lot of things, both good and bad, and I was crying when she finally chose Jamie once he brought her back to the mystic fairy hill, and she (maybe) had the possibility to go back to her known life with Frank.

I loved the gentle, tentative way she made friends with Jenny, and the way she settled into life with Jamie's family at his manor. And also the way she showed that her love was really true when he disappeared after being taken by the Watch.

The most spectactular part was after she really understood that Geilie was from the future as well, even a future farther away than her own, and that she still felt that Jamie was the one for her. She was willing to risk everything and anything for him, and the way she nursed Jamie back to life was simply incredible.

I was so happy when they were able to meet again as equals towards the end of the book, after Claire had her pardon from one of the Fathers of the monastry, and the way she helped Jamie cope with his own demons.

Now, the only thing I question is why I didnt' gather my own courage and read this huge book (850 pages o.O) before now! I can't wait to read more!

Diana Gabaldon really knows the way of story-telling, I felt like I was a part of the story from the very beginning, and I cried so hard when I though Jamie might not make it in the monastry. So many different twists and turns, and I still feel so amazed of being so immersed in this universe for so many pages.

I am so happy, though, to know that there are many more books to this series, and I truly look forward to sharing more of this amazing adventures!

[Stephanie]

Originally posted at Once Upon a Chapter

It's 1945 and Claire Randall is glad that this war is over. Now she and her husband can start to relax and get to know each other again. The war prevented them from doing that at the start of their marriage. Frank and Claire are vacationing in Scotland before moving on to Frank's new position. Frank is researching his family tree and Claire keeps herself busy exploring.

Then one day Claire is exploring a stone circle when she tumbles 200 years into the past. 1743 Scotland is full of everything you'd expect: chivalry, battle, clans, betrayal, family dysfunction, friendship, love and rivalry. It's also a dangerous place for a woman who has lived in a civilization 200 years in the future where women are just as important as men.

My Thoughts:
I know that summary doesn't do Outlander justice but I really am worried about giving away too much. This book messed me up! I was literally Outlander-focused for six days. Dishes were ignored shamelessly, laundry was done at a minimum and the hubs was ruthlessly ignored.

Diana Gabaldon creates such a beautiful world with her words you almost feel like you're there. The book is a tome but the story is so fast paced (after the first hundred pages or so) that you'll barely notice the length once you've dug in! I was so immersed in the book that I picked up some of the vocabulary by the end! I was dropping the "t" off of "not" and shortened did not to "dinna" with ease.

Claire and Jamie. I get it now. This couple make the top of so many top ten lists and I understand now. If ever there were two people meant to be together it's these two. They're put to the test over and over and over again and not only do they come through it, they come through it with a little bit more love and respect between them. Even with the odds stacked against them. It's almost inspirational. It's definitely swoon-worthy. Did ya see the quote? If a man talked to you like that you'd swoon too.

The secondary characters are amazing! I loved them, I hated them, and I never felt like they overcrowded the romance. If it weren't for Murtagh, Outlander would never have happened. Mrs. Fritz, Jenny and Rupert all warmed my heart and put a smile on my face.

I could go on and on about how much I loved Outlander. I could probably fill the length of this blog. I won't but I'll leave you with this: Outlander is a great way to slip back 200 years and enjoy watching two people fall in love. It's an epic romance that made me realize all over again why romance is a largely loved genre. I can't wait to read the next one but I think I'll wait until I have a bunch of time on my hands. If you haven't read this book yet, it needs to be on your list!

[Cocktails and Books]

Holy smokes! There was a lot going on.

[rakesandrogues]

I really wasn't sure if I was ever going to get through reading this book because it was just too long and I didn't see where it was going. Contrary to some people say, I thought the plot moved really slow to the point that I was almost tempted to skip around a bit until things picked up again. The author writes the story in a way that I almost feel like I've been going about the daily routine of these people's lives. It sure did a good insight on what it was like back then (though I'm no historian, so I have no idea how accurate it really is...), but I wasn't sure just how much was necessary towards the plot.

Despite the fact that the book does have endless amount of faults, I do have to admit that I enjoyed reading it and will continue on with the series. As much as there were things that I didn't like about it, I liked just as much things about the book.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Frank and Claire Randell have been married for eight years but have been separated by WWII. At the war's end the two take a second honeymoon to Scotland. During an early morning walk Claire gets time warped to the 1700s. There she runs into Frank's Great-great-great Grandfather Jonathon Randell. The two do not strike it off very well leaving Claire to play hide and go seek. During their game she runs into Jamie member of the Mackenzie clan. More out of convince than love the two marry like an Alien trying to stay in the United States. Of course the two fall madly in love after their vows and go on crazy adventures throughout Scotland and make love in their spare time.

I'm going to make this short and sweet. I did not like this book. At times it felt more like a harlequin romance rather than historical fiction or fantasy. Hype can be a good thing but in this case it set my expectations too high so I think that was part of my dislike toward Outlander. To be perfectly honest, I couldn't wait for her to go back to 1945.

[amandine08]

The Walden Books in my mall is closing this weekend, and everything is currently 40% off. This is bad, very bad. I don't normally buy books, only the ones I really love. And so, I finished purchasing this series. Probably one of my all time favorites. Can't say enough good things about this book and this series. Could (and have) read this over...and over...and over.

[ibeforem]

I can’t say enough about this book. I was in love with it by the time I’d read 100 pages. In fact, it’s an 800+ page book and I read it in about 4 days. And I’ve *already* reread parts. I think I’ve read the final chapter 4 times now. I’m not sure what makes it affect me so. It’s very passionate, and the suspense in parts is so much that I think I stopped breathing. I mean, you’re pretty sure that certain people aren’t going to die, but you’re not *quite* sure. And at one point there’s a decision that has to be made, and there’s no foreshadowing of what that decision might be. Sometimes you can tell by the number of pages left in the book, but this could have gone either way. I almost stopped reading because I didn’t want her to make the choice I didn’t want!

Anyway, I am hooked. I went out on Monday and bought the next 4 books in the series, and I can’t tell you the last time I paid full price for paperbacks. I started the second book last night, and already my mind is racing!