Scan barcode
katmystery's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book barely passes the Bechdel test. For something literally narrated by a woman, that is pretty bad.
For the first 40%, this was an engaging historical fic, albeit a bit slow, about a witty former WWII army nurse who finds herself brought back in time to 1740s Scotland. Then, when the romance plot started, suddenly it was all about her 18th century love interest, a character who Gabaldon endlessly romanticized despite his highly abusive and controlling behavior. When I wasn’t horrified by Jamie, I was bored by hundreds upon hundreds of pages of conversations and events that added nothing to the plot or character development, and I quickly grew to be so irritated by the narrator that I just wanted it to end. In addition to all of this, all the women who are sexually assaulted in this book (and there are a lot) are blamed for the assault, and the so-called “feminist” narrator does this, too. She’s barely more progressive than people from the 1700s; for half the book, she doesn’t care about anything but the abusive love interest. Also, the two gay characters are a rapist and a pedophile. This book was written in the '90s. That's so homophobic.
I only finished this because of the sunk cost fallacy. 2 stars for the historical aspects, which were well done.
For the first 40%, this was an engaging historical fic, albeit a bit slow, about a witty former WWII army nurse who finds herself brought back in time to 1740s Scotland. Then, when the romance plot started, suddenly it was all about her 18th century love interest, a character who Gabaldon endlessly romanticized despite his highly abusive and controlling behavior. When I wasn’t horrified by Jamie, I was bored by hundreds upon hundreds of pages of conversations and events that added nothing to the plot or character development, and I quickly grew to be so irritated by the narrator that I just wanted it to end. In addition to all of this, all the women who are sexually assaulted in this book (and there are a lot) are blamed for the assault, and the so-called “feminist” narrator does this, too. She’s barely more progressive than people from the 1700s; for half the book, she doesn’t care about anything but the abusive love interest. Also, the two gay characters are a rapist and a pedophile. This book was written in the '90s. That's so homophobic.
I only finished this because of the sunk cost fallacy. 2 stars for the historical aspects, which were well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Pedophilia
fredele's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.0
auntkat86's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. It is slightly different to the TV series which was nice. It was easy to read and easy to get lost in the story. I can't wait to read the rest of the series
bdunks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so much fun to read, and even better to listen to. I did both. The audio book is such a treat.
This is not a book I would have picked out for myself. Thank goodness my book club selected it, because I really liked it.
When the book ended I cried out "No!" because I was reading on my Kindle, in a place with no Wi-Fi, and I hadn't yet purchased the 2nd book. Withdrawal! I wanted to stay in that world longer, and that's the mark of a good book, in my opinion.
This is not a book I would have picked out for myself. Thank goodness my book club selected it, because I really liked it.
When the book ended I cried out "No!" because I was reading on my Kindle, in a place with no Wi-Fi, and I hadn't yet purchased the 2nd book. Withdrawal! I wanted to stay in that world longer, and that's the mark of a good book, in my opinion.
mbpartlow's review against another edition
5.0
Best. Book. EVER.
Except, of course, for the other books in the series.
I once gave this book to a (male) writing mentor who was having a hard time understanding the minds of women. I told him, "Women know that men aren't really like Jamie. But Jamie is what we all WISH men were like."
I know some folks have a hard time with the initial time-travel aspect, but it becomes a truly integral and seamless part of the book. You grow so much with these characters, watching them through the good and the bad, experience their joys and pains.
And the depth of detail is so flawlessly portrayed! Gabaldon certainly did her research, but she doesn't slam you over the head with it, or throw it at the reader in great gouts. She's an amazing author.
Except, of course, for the other books in the series.
I once gave this book to a (male) writing mentor who was having a hard time understanding the minds of women. I told him, "Women know that men aren't really like Jamie. But Jamie is what we all WISH men were like."
I know some folks have a hard time with the initial time-travel aspect, but it becomes a truly integral and seamless part of the book. You grow so much with these characters, watching them through the good and the bad, experience their joys and pains.
And the depth of detail is so flawlessly portrayed! Gabaldon certainly did her research, but she doesn't slam you over the head with it, or throw it at the reader in great gouts. She's an amazing author.
emmy80g's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0