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standandsway's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Torture, Colonisation, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
graciejlc's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Really long winded, the audiobook was almost 45 hours long
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Violence, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Death of parent, Car accident, Abandonment, Slavery, and Sexual harassment
evtoh's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is my favorite book in the series to date- it feels like every character is clearly driven by a goal this time, that doesn't feel arbitrary. Recurring side characters popping up feels like a lovely surprise, not like a shoehorned plot device. Excellent novel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, and Medical content
valleylily's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
At several points throughout, The Drums of Autumn, by Diana Gabaldon, the novel struck me as Gabaldon's most descriptively-written and most frustrating novel so far in the Outlander series. There is so much complexity in Gabaldon's novels that I will not be able to address all concepts thoroughly.
As I mentioned previously, Drums of Autumn, seemed thus far to be the most vividly-written novel in the series and the descriptions of the characters' surroundings were very compelling at many times. I could often envision the scenes taking place and I was moved to tears on several occasions.
One of the frustrating aspects of the the novel I will address is Gabaldon's descriptions of Indigenous peoples and societies. I think there is a misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and this was one of the major struggles I faced when trying to get through the novel. I struggled with the characters saying "Indian" but most strongly with the consistent use of the word "savage" to describe Indigenous people, even by Claire. I do understand these were words commonly used during the time period and afterward, but I found myself surprised by Claire's use of the word "savage." Because these words were commonly used, I understand the importance of including them in the novel by characters who do not know differently, though it was still difficult to read them. To a certain extent, I understand Jamie's apprehension of Indigenous peoples because heinous propaganda was printed against Native people during the time to stir colonists to violence against them, like in the pamphlets Jamie printed in his Edinburgh printshop in Voyager. I hoped the characters would interact with Native people and there would be a realization that they were not so different from one another, which happened so some degree. Another aspect that bothered me was Jamie's descriptions of Indigenous land as a "wilderness," while Scotland had seen thousands of years of "civilization." This was very irritating to me because Indigenous people have extensively cultivated these lands for thousands of years and the land was in no way a virgin wilderness as it is often depicted. However, as mentioned in the novel, war and disease ravaged Indigenous communities so many Nations were forced to leave their homelands and many areas became overgrown, leaving colonists to think these abandoned places were untouched before European arrival.
I think historical accuracy was lacking in regard to Indigenous communities and society. Though this is not a novel about Indigenous people, I think accurate representation is important. There is also very little the colonists themselves could know in some respects. There is so much history to think about and study in this novel and exploring different areas of the past in the series can be fascinating.
As I mentioned previously, Drums of Autumn, seemed thus far to be the most vividly-written novel in the series and the descriptions of the characters' surroundings were very compelling at many times. I could often envision the scenes taking place and I was moved to tears on several occasions.
One of the frustrating aspects of the the novel I will address is Gabaldon's descriptions of Indigenous peoples and societies. I think there is a misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and this was one of the major struggles I faced when trying to get through the novel. I struggled with the characters saying "Indian" but most strongly with the consistent use of the word "savage" to describe Indigenous people, even by Claire. I do understand these were words commonly used during the time period and afterward, but I found myself surprised by Claire's use of the word "savage." Because these words were commonly used, I understand the importance of including them in the novel by characters who do not know differently, though it was still difficult to read them. To a certain extent, I understand Jamie's apprehension of Indigenous peoples because heinous propaganda was printed against Native people during the time to stir colonists to violence against them, like in the pamphlets Jamie printed in his Edinburgh printshop in Voyager. I hoped the characters would interact with Native people and there would be a realization that they were not so different from one another, which happened so some degree. Another aspect that bothered me was Jamie's descriptions of Indigenous land as a "wilderness," while Scotland had seen thousands of years of "civilization." This was very irritating to me because Indigenous people have extensively cultivated these lands for thousands of years and the land was in no way a virgin wilderness as it is often depicted. However, as mentioned in the novel, war and disease ravaged Indigenous communities so many Nations were forced to leave their homelands and many areas became overgrown, leaving colonists to think these abandoned places were untouched before European arrival.
I think historical accuracy was lacking in regard to Indigenous communities and society. Though this is not a novel about Indigenous people, I think accurate representation is important. There is also very little the colonists themselves could know in some respects. There is so much history to think about and study in this novel and exploring different areas of the past in the series can be fascinating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Abortion, Colonisation, Alcohol, Rape, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, and Slavery
aheinicke27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my favorite of the series so far — I enjoyed the dynamics between each of the characters the most. Despite having seen this season of the show, I was still on the edge of my seat to find out who would be reunited and how that would exactly play out. It was so interesting to view the past from Brie and Rodger’s point of view even though I often felt frustrated with some of the choices they made. True to the series, there was as much tension and heartbreak as there was joy and love in this book. I’m looking forward to seeing how the characters continue developing their relationships in the next book and meet the challenges of life in the past.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Slavery, and Torture
ereilly151's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Gore, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, Blood, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Slavery
littlefoot10's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I'm having a hard time being not critical of this book after finishing it at 3:30 this morning.
I loved books one and two. Even book three was decent. This one just pissed me off.
I felt like NOTHING happened....the ENTIRE NOVEL !!!
How can this be OVER 1000 pages....and I feel like nothing happened. It's freaking wild.
Honestly my favourite part of this book was when Bree and Roger were in Boston; which was maybe 2 chapters ?
Lizzie was such a prominent character towards Bree after her going through the stones and the second half of the book she is gone until the second last chapter. And the reason was she just went to Fergus' house to help out with his baby.
Fergus was barely around, other than his trial which was just an excuse to get Jamie into town for Bree to hopefully meet her father.
Claire and Jamie didn't even feel the same spark with their characters.
Rollo and Ian were probably the best part of this book and then his character gets shipped off and traded.
I just feel like if you're going to write a world of almost 30 books; they should at the very least have more than two plot points...and each book should actually be good? And enjoyable? I feel like I'm being so mean but I feel like I wasted my time.
SOOOO many chapters were just building and taking care of the land. That's great. But not why I started reading these books. It's not even in a setting that I want to honestly really be reading about.
All the conflicts within this book could have been solved with simple conversation. Or if you felt the need to write this book it could have been 200-300 pages max and we would have accomplished the same thing.
I think it also pisses me off that the 'go to plot pusher' is rape. I understood and felt the reasoning in the previous books made sense to where the characters were and their traits. This just felt forced and as a way to try and keep the book "interesting" because now there will be an ongoing mystery as well as bringing Bonnet into each of the main characters lives. It's unnecessary.
I will probably eventually read the next book; but honestly I would rather read every other book on my TBR plus all the other books I want to buy before I jump back into this world.
I loved books one and two. Even book three was decent. This one just pissed me off.
I felt like NOTHING happened....the ENTIRE NOVEL !!!
How can this be OVER 1000 pages....and I feel like nothing happened. It's freaking wild.
Honestly my favourite part of this book was when Bree and Roger were in Boston; which was maybe 2 chapters ?
Lizzie was such a prominent character towards Bree after her going through the stones and the second half of the book she is gone until the second last chapter. And the reason was she just went to Fergus' house to help out with his baby.
Fergus was barely around, other than his trial which was just an excuse to get Jamie into town for Bree to hopefully meet her father.
Claire and Jamie didn't even feel the same spark with their characters.
Rollo and Ian were probably the best part of this book and then his character gets shipped off and traded.
I just feel like if you're going to write a world of almost 30 books; they should at the very least have more than two plot points...and each book should actually be good? And enjoyable? I feel like I'm being so mean but I feel like I wasted my time.
SOOOO many chapters were just building and taking care of the land. That's great. But not why I started reading these books. It's not even in a setting that I want to honestly really be reading about.
All the conflicts within this book could have been solved with simple conversation. Or if you felt the need to write this book it could have been 200-300 pages max and we would have accomplished the same thing.
I think it also pisses me off that the 'go to plot pusher' is rape. I understood and felt the reasoning in the previous books made sense to where the characters were and their traits. This just felt forced and as a way to try and keep the book "interesting" because now there will be an ongoing mystery as well as bringing Bonnet into each of the main characters lives. It's unnecessary.
I will probably eventually read the next book; but honestly I would rather read every other book on my TBR plus all the other books I want to buy before I jump back into this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
maggie1875's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? No
5.0
This book was very jam packed with plot but also lots of characters and character growth you see Young Ian grow up as well as Brianna and Roger.
You get the pleasure of seeing Jamie be a father to Brianna and how that changes his personality to the reader. This with Claire and Brianna’s relationship playing a large role in the novel, makes you feel closer to Jamie and Claire than you did before. This book induced lots of tears but also lots of perspective and growth. It was one of the best books in the later half of the series I believe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Torture, Blood, Slavery, Death, Grief, and Physical abuse
chaptersofchase's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Drums of Autumn 🍂
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆☆
Pub Date: 12.30.1996
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
"Forgiveness is not a single act, but a matter of constant practice."
Four books of Outlander down!
For those keeping track, I'm buddy-reading the Outlander series with my friend Sarah! Every other month, we attempt to tackle another book in the series on audiobook. It took me a while to get into Outlander (book one). I enjoyed Dragonfly in Amber (that ending!), and Voyager (book 3) was my favorite! But, book 4? Oh gosh, it was not fun at all.
I struggled to find a connection point within the story. So many different things were occurring, and characters added that I couldn't quite figure out what was happening for a good chunk of the book. My favorite storyline for Drums of Autumn was Bree and Roger - they added another dimension to the story, and I was excited to see more from them.
I hope The Fiery Cross will quickly get me back into the Outlander universe! We'll be starting that in October.
___
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend.diner/
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookenddiner
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Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆☆
Pub Date: 12.30.1996
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
"Forgiveness is not a single act, but a matter of constant practice."
Four books of Outlander down!
For those keeping track, I'm buddy-reading the Outlander series with my friend Sarah! Every other month, we attempt to tackle another book in the series on audiobook. It took me a while to get into Outlander (book one). I enjoyed Dragonfly in Amber (that ending!), and Voyager (book 3) was my favorite! But, book 4? Oh gosh, it was not fun at all.
I struggled to find a connection point within the story. So many different things were occurring, and characters added that I couldn't quite figure out what was happening for a good chunk of the book. My favorite storyline for Drums of Autumn was Bree and Roger - they added another dimension to the story, and I was excited to see more from them.
I hope The Fiery Cross will quickly get me back into the Outlander universe! We'll be starting that in October.
___
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookend.diner/
Follow me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/thebookenddiner
Follow me on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/thebookenddiner
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape