Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Hi there, guys!
I'm back with another obsession review!


BASICS

Title: Outlander
Series: Outlander, #1
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Release Date: June 1st 1991
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385302304
Number of Pages: 627
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance



MY OPINION

“Oh, aye, Sassenach. I am your master . . . and you're mine.
Seems I canna possess your soul without losing my own.” 

I have to admit: at the beginning I felt very intimidated. Really, I actually did not want to start this book/series.
Reason 1) Have you seen this book? It has nearly 900 pages! And the whole series consists of eight books and a spin-off series.

Reason 2) It's taking place in 18th century Scotland. You guys know English is not my first language and I was afraid I wouldn't understand a word of Outlander. (Thank god, I was proven wrong.)

I've started reading Outlander back in June but stopped and waited for my vacation in Spain (back then I just couldn't be bothered with reading that hunk of a book. Call me lazy if you want.)

But suddelny, back in Spain, the story sucked me in and did not let me go yet.
I'm completely obsessed with it.
Currently I'm watching the TV Show and I am in love with the Scottish accent and Claire and Jamie's relationship. And Jamie as well.

This book is the result of an unbelieveable amount of research, not only on the 18th century Scotland but also Great Britain during and post war, mainly 1945, Claire's actual time.
It never felt like info-dumping but I learned a lot about Scotland and England's history!

Outlander's definitely not part of the Young Adult genre, it contains a lot of "sex, violence and violent sex" as my favourite blogger wrote in her review.
Yes, this book contains a lot of sex, but it never turned the book into porn.

The strength of Outlander is definitely the relationship of Jamie and Claire. It's really hard not to fall in love the two of them. Jamie may be a bit idolized but I won't start complaining.

I really loved Claire as a character and the narrator of the story. She's 27 years old, an adult and she has seen her share of blood and terror. She appears as a logical and sensible person. I loved the way Gabaldon wrote her!
Claire has a great sense of humour and oh, her curses.
Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ.
The side characters were written very well, too. I really loved Jenny and Mrs. Fitz! They were both hilarious!
But I don't want to talk about the likeable characters only. Geillis and Black Jack were extremely thought-out and complex characters with depth. Maybe too much depth, come to think about it. Randall's cruel fetish and obsession with Jamie still gives me chills.

Sometimes it was quite difficult for me to follow, well not the plot of the story, but the political and social background. I would have liked some kind of genealogy or family tree at the back, to understand relations or clan politics.

The second half of the book really kept me on the edge of my seat. Claire's accused of being a witch, Jamie is imprisoned and Claire turns into a ruthless badass!
This book got me in the mood for everything Scottish!


Can I have my own Jamie now?


My favourite quotes:

“I had one last try.
"Does it bother you that I'm not a virgin?" He hesitated a moment before answering.
"Well, no," he said slowly, "so long as it doesna bother you that I am." He grinned at my drop-jawed expression, and backed toward the door.
"Reckon one of us should know what they're doing," he said. The door closed softly behind him; clearly the courtship was over.”
“Ye werena the first lass I kissed," he said softly. "But I swear you'll be the last.”


RATING
5 out of 5 stars


P.S.:Whoo! This is my 100st post!