Reviews - Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone

1.76k reviews for:

Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone

Diana Gabaldon

4.2 AVERAGE

missaann15's review against another edition

4.0

medium-paced

aclapes's review against another edition

4.25

emotional relaxing tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

kelseahamm4's review against another edition

1.0

I Have Finally Finished The Outlander Series And Well This Last Book Wasn´t The Greatest And Certainly Not The Best
This Book Became Super-Boring At Times And It Was Too Slow As Well
While I Still Love The Characters And All
This Book Wasn´t The Best Way To End A Series And I´m Kinda Sad About It
Here Are My Rankings For My Favorite Outlander Books
10 - The Latest One - Kind Of A Drag And Very Repetitive And Not Original Anymore And Way Too Boring With Little To No Plot
9: Dragonfly In Amber - This Book Geninuely Pissed Me Off And I Had Problems With It
8: A Breath Of Snow And Ashes - This Book Kinda Lost Me At Times And Wasn´t The Best Reading Experience
7 - An Echo In The Bone - A Meh Book But A Solid One
6 - The Fiery Cross - Too Long And Boring
5. Drums Of Autumn - This Book Was Solid
4. Written In My Own Heart´s Blood - I Liked It But Not Really
3. The Novellas - Love A Good Short Novella 4,5 Stars
2. The Outlander Companion Novels - Solid 2.3 Stars They Were Okay But Not Enjoyable
1 . Outlander Book One - This Book Was What Made Me Read The Rest Of The Series After Putting It Off For 2 Whole Years And Jamie Fraser Is Bae And Can Have My Babies I Do Not Careb And I Dream Of Scotland Everyday

This Series Overall Is Getting A 6/10 For Being Entertaining And Very Intriguing But There Are Some Problems With It And They Were Too Fucking Long ) Like Almost 800-900 Pages Like FR Cmon Now
Thank God This Series Is Over For Now!!! But I Like The Series
I Will Be Checking Out The Show ( For All Y´all Asking)
Anywho That´s All

msbookbestie's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lawofcraft_reads's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Having been a devoted fan of the Outlander series for years, I eagerly anticipated the release of "Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone." After a long wait of over seven years, I was thrilled to dive back into the world of Claire, Jamie, and their family. However, what I found was a mixed bag that left me with a love-hate relationship with this hefty 888-page tome.

The heart of the book lies in the familiar characters and their relationships, showcasing the love that permeates Fraser's Ridge and Savannah with the Greys. For dedicated fans, the interactions and the emotional connection with Claire and Jamie can be utterly delightful. Gabaldon’s characters have always resonated deeply, and spending time with them again felt like greeting old friends.

Yet, despite my fondness for these characters, I struggled with the lack of a cohesive plot. The narrative feels more like a lyrical exploration of love rather than a structured story with tension or clear direction. At times, it almost feels like a recitation, which made it challenging to stay engaged. The pacing can be slow, and with the sheer length of the book, I found it to be a more taxing read than I had anticipated.

While "Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone" undoubtedly offers moments of beauty and warmth for those who cherish this saga, it demands a level of patience and commitment from the reader. It’s a book that seems tailored for super fans who have a deep connection to the story and characters, as it is a journey through intimate moments rather than an action-packed adventure.

In conclusion, if you’re a long-time Outlander aficionado, you may find joy in these pages, but be prepared for a treasure hunt through a narrative that values character over plot. For new readers or those looking for a fast-paced story, this may not be the best entry into Gabaldon's world. Overall, I appreciate the depth of emotion in the novel, but it’s a challenging read that requires dedication to fully appreciate.

amandat1416's review against another edition

1.0

Buyer beware: this book does not have a plot. Diana’s self indulgence is at an all time high. She fails to deliver a cohesive narrative or a well-established timeline. The pace is jumpy and nonsensical. She knows we are on this journey with Jamie and Claire but fails to deliver much at all as concerns their life. She has spent multiple books creating characters that she has since abandoned with little to no mention of. The Beardsley twins and Lizzie, Fergus and Marsali, and the established residents of the Ridge are nowhere to be found. The first 700 pages do not concern Jamie and Claire or do much to advance the plot so would recommend skipping to the last 1/4 of the book. However, even the plot at the end is frustrating, unnecessary, and self indulgent.

k5tog's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful informative tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I forgot how much I love the Outlander series. It's been quite a while since I read the last book, but it wasn't difficult to get back into it. The family seems to get into a lot of trouble, but that's what makes the books so enjoyable I think. In this volume, Jamie and Claire rebuild their house on Fraser's Ridge, while William tries to come to terms with the understanding that he is Jamie's bastard son. Undergirding everything is the revolutionary war and all the tensions between loyalists and rebels. I love the historical aspects of the novel as well as the ongoing development of the various characters.