I'm almost finished with the first book in this series. I don't know much about the Jacobite rebellion, so I'm really enjoying it. :)

I was a bit disappointed when the book kinda took a detour from the history and started leaning more towards the main characters' sex life........but it's still a good read.

Anyone else enjoy this series?

I don't know if I've heard of this book....who's the author?

I've read the first one (and honestly, I skimmed a lot of the sex scenes) and have the second in my "to read" pile. 

Outlander is one of those books that is very hard to categorize.  It is romance/time-travel fantasy/historical fiction.  How's that for a category.   It has far more history in it  than the usual historical romance novel.

So ... if you are historical fiction reader, you might find it has too much romance.   If you read just romance, you might find it has too much history, etc.

The sex scenes in Outlander are nothing compared to many romance novels these days.  The violence can be a little hard to take for many, though.   I know more than a few people who skipped a certain scene at the end of Outlander because it is too hard for them to read.  Personally, I just skimmed that scene.

But taken as a whole, the Outlander series is still one of my favorite series.  It's an epic romance and adventure series.

Oh wait, is this Diana Gabaldon?  I bought 4 books of this series at the FOL sale and they are awaiting to be read.

I remember buying the first book because it was a special reissue in a rack next to the checkout ($.399!) and after reading the back cover thought it sounded interesting with the time-travel aspect. When I wanted the next one I scoured the book store before finally asking if it was in stock. It was in the Romance section. Personally, I feel it is less romance, more historical fiction considering the amount of pages devoted to "love scenes" vs the overall page count.

One of my all time favorite series.

I have enjoyed this whole series so much that I have re-read all the books 3 times! I love the history in them, like the romance part too. The sex scenes are very mild compared to some books I've read, and though the violence really got to me the first time, I knew to skip over the next times I read it. I know Diana Gabaldon is planning at least one and probably two more books in the series, so I will have to start over again as each one comes out! ;) It seems every time I read them I read something I missed before!

I have heard Sara Donati writes in much the same style as Diana Gabaldon, and so I have her series on my TBR mountain.

I finally finished the first book, and I can't wait to start the 2nd one......I want to read something light first to get my brain all relaxed and ready to delve into book 2 (they are pretty thick books).

I've never heard of Sara Donati -- what are some good books that she has written???

This series is my all time fav.  I've read it 4 or 5 times now.  I was addicted by the first few pages.  I had stumbled upon them at a BJ's wholesale club, not realizing what I was buying.  Book 7 is being worked on; unfortunately (as we wait) the books take 2-3 to come out; but boy are they worth the wait.

And Sara Donati's series is the next best series for me. Sara's book are (in order) Into The Wilderness, Dawn on a Distant Shore, Lake in the Clouds and Fire Along the Sky.  The Queen of Swords comes out in pb Sept 25th. And book 6 is being worked on!!

Brenda sez:

<<I have heard Sara Donati writes in much the same style as Diana Gabaldon>>

Sara Donati not only writes in the same genre, but she (with Gabaldon's permission) made reference to Claire and Jamie (from the Outlander series) in her first book, "Into the Wilderness".  (although I heard later that it became such a legal and personal headache, Gabaldon said she'd never do it again).  The two authors' book series are NOT at all related, other than taking place in a similar time period, and that one reference.

That said, while Donati's books are detailed historical fiction/romance, I don't like them quite as well as Gabaldon's.  I'm not sure why; I think Gabaldon's writing style allows you much better insight into Claire's head ("Get a grip, Beachamp"), where Donati is generally all 3rd person.  This is strictly a personal opinion, and should be taken with large grains of salt :-)

Cheers,

Catt

Outlander is my favorite book ever.  I have read the whole series mulitple times.  I always read the whole thing all over again every time a new book comes out.  Some people have said that Fiery Cross is very slow,  but I've always enjoyed it too.  At least she has 2 Lord John books coming out this year to tide us over.

I am on the wish list for "A Breath of Snow and Ashes". I have read all the others, but I did make one mistake...I read them all back to back!

I discovered the series right after the fifth one came out, and read books 1 thru 5 without reading anything else in between. I enjoyed them very much, but I think I "O-D'ed" on them a bit. I am just now feeling ready to dive back in when I get a copy of the sixth one by swap.

Love, love, love the Outlander series!!! I've read the first 3 but have the whole series and am in the process of getting them all in HB so I'll them in a more permanent form. I've heard many times from others, as I also read here, that many read her books over & over. One doesn't read her books. One falls into her books and comes up for air to be yanked back into reality.

As mentioned here, I see I need to look into trying Sara Donati's books. Oh dear.....

Love this series!  There is one book that was harder to get through than the others (either the 2nd or 3rd, don't remember), but worth it in the long run.  The character development is wonderful, and the historical aspect is fantastic as well.  The sex dies down a bit once the series progresses, as does the violence, to a certain extent.  You really come to know and love the characters and eagerly, if not patiently await the next book.  She also writes a parallel series featuring one of the lesser "Outlander" characters as its main character, starting with "Lord John and the Private Matter".  These are a little thinner (not 1000 pages!)

From what I have read and heard from those who know her (she is from Paradise Valley, AZ where I used to live) Diana Gabaldon is really peeved at being placed in the Romance section, and has boycotted book signings at one of the big boxes in the past for their categorization of her novels.

Awaiting the next (last?) one in the series...

I really love this series too. I was lucky, I guess, in that I waited until a couple of months ago to (finally!) start Outlander, and now I can't put them down. Right now I am on Voyager, and have the next here waiting for me. The Fiery Cross I am nearly number 1 in line for but I will have to buy A Breath of Snow and Ashes as I am 93 in line and can't wait that long. I have always loved Scottish history so I drown in these books. I was a bit put off by the sex in Outlander midway through, but you are right, Laura, that does die down as the series moves on. I have heard The Fiery Cross moves slowly and not as good as the others, but I will read it as soon as I get it.

I read Diana Gabaldon will have two more books in the series, so there is something to look forward to. I also have the three Lord John books (well two are ARC's) , but they will have to wait until I am finished with the Outlander series.

Off to Voyager now. Claire has just returned to Scotland and will find Jamie in five pages. (I HAD to skip ahead a little!)

I'm always so jealous of someone reading these for the first time; kinda like your first love.....I'm due for a re-read....Jennifer, you'll love the part where they are re-united.....