OUTLANDER, by author, DIANA GABALDON, recommended by writer, Kerry Ann Morgan

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?      

KAM ~ Book lover since birth (or pretty close to it), writer since high school, and author since Spring 2014 when my non-fiction piece was included in the book THREE MINUS ONE. Someday women's fiction author.

Title and year published     OUTLANDER, 1991

Author       Diana Gabaldon

Type of book   

   

KAM ~ That's tricky. How about historical fiction/romance/adventure/fantasy?  It did win the RITA for Best Romance of  1991, but at 650+ pages, it's FAR from your typical category romance. (Some bodices may have been ripped though.)

What is it about this book that pulled you in?  

KAM ~ The book has been out forever, but for some reason, I only picked it up this September.  I was instantly hooked by this swashbuckling adventure of a kilted hero and a spirited heroine who defy time to be together. When English nurse Claire touches a strange cleft stone on a Scottish hilltop she's swept through time into the dangerous world of 1743. Just as she's about to be captured by an evil English captain, she's (literally) swept away by Scotts warrior Jamie Fraser. The epic is the perfect blend of  history and intrigue—and then there's that fiery love story. Despite the long page count, there's no purple prose; instead the story is infused with vivid characters, wry wit, and a plot that races at a breakneck speed. Who could ask for more?

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

KAM ~ I was totally team Claire and Jamie. Though Claire is actually married back in her real time, I never connected with her husband. Jamie is far more her match, and both characters possess a ruggedness, intelligence, and sense of humor that make them a perfect match, even when sparks fly. I just had to keep reading to find out when those sparks would ignite.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

KAM ~ Women across the globe have fallen in love with Jamie, so it's no surprise Claire succumbs to his wild Scottish ways. She's a pretty tough cookie herself—a WWII combat nurse and far more liberated than the typical 1940's woman. She doesn't have a problem standing up for herself or speaking her mind, even when amongst a pack of wild warriors. Jamie is practically the prototype for the alpha male, but he has some rather brutish behaviors that today's women would find...unacceptable. Claire's reactions as a 20^th century woman occasionally gave me pause, but then I remembered not only where she was, but when, and how she put him properly in his place.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot?

I'd read amazing things about this book and the entire series for years, but I was scared off by the “romance” and “fantasy” categorization. I was not a big reader of either genre. The amount of fantasy is ridiculously nominal and the story is set enough in reality that I wouldn't even consider it fantasy or sci-fy. And the romance is, well, swoon-worthy. There are some “uncomfortable” topics included that I thought were taboo in a romance, so once again this novel defies genre norms. Don't let the length scare you away either. The story so completely seduced me that I finished the book in a few nights, preferring to linger in 18^th century Scotland than to drift into my own dreamworld.  I haven't watched the new TV series yet, but I'll be getting my highlander on as I watch the adaptation.  Oh, and if you do read it, it's okay to cheat a little and google the correct pronunciation of “Sassenach.” You'll be glad you did.

If author or writer, your social media links:    

Website:		http://kerryannmorgan.com
Twitter:	@vinobaby1
Facebook:			https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vinobabys-Voice/161003207282858

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Kerry Ann, for recommending this mega-hit book. I've heard so much about it, and the very popular TV series! I am probably one of the few who hasn't been watching it, but I will definitely be reading this book!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

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