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Book Review of Outlander (Outlander, Bk 1)

Outlander (Outlander, Bk 1)
Outlander (Outlander, Bk 1)
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
kkowert avatar reviewed on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


What a great story! This is the first book in the Outlander series and I will definitely be reading more. I dont typically go for a time travel book, so I will say this was a pleasant surprise. The book is about Claire, a nurse during World War II who travels back in time 200 years through the rocks of a stone henge in the highlands of Scotland. Here she meets a bonny Scot named Jamie Fraser in the year 1743.

With Claires knowledge of modern medicine and Jamies outlaw status with the English occupiers of the land, the two have many adventures in Scotland. The story is marvelously told and you will be engrossed with all of the characters, particularly the hero Jamie. Even though the book is 600 pages long, you wont want to leave all these Scottish characters behind. Fortunately there are more books in the series.

This book is more historical fiction than it is fantasy/time travel and there is great detail about life in the Scottish highlands in the 18th century. Life in these times was not all pleasant and easy and there is extreme and graphic violence and cruelty in this story, but there is also love and beauty and an uplifting story. My only complaint with the book was the focus on romance and sex scenes. I am biased because I do not like any drivel that is reminiscent of a Harlequin romance novel and this book went there enough to be detraction from an otherwise fantastic tale.