Reviews

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

annenichols's review against another edition

So slow and boring. The characters didn't draw me in. I really don't enjoy period writing styles - makes it harder to connect. You might like this if you enjoy wandering around whatever century she's supposed to have landed in, but there wasn't enough happening for me. The magic was also pretty minimal, so it wasn't very fun as fantasy. The romantic interest was pretty round, though - she did a good job showing that there were reasons to fall in love with the person

irisjune's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

hkan's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

yerawizardlexi's review against another edition

3.0

It took me a good while to get into the book, and the ending got really weird really quick. Overall, pretty good, though.

zaza_bdp's review against another edition

4.0

Outlander est une fresque romanesque qui nous plonge au coeur de l’Écosse du 18ème siècle. A travers le récit de Claire, mystérieusement arrachée à son siècle et brutalement débarquée 200 ans en arrière, on découvre la vie rude des campagnes écossaises, le quotidien parfois dangereux, les frémissements politiques d'un combat dont l'héroine connaît l'issue fatale. Si au départ, Claire semble être un jouet entre les mains du chef de clan qui l'a "recueillie", on s'aperçoit vite que c'est une femme forte, qui ne se laisse pas faire, n’hésitant pas à s’affirmer. J’ai apprécié son personnage mais je suis quand même surprise qu’il n’y ait pas plus d’introspection quant à sa « condition ». Je trouve qu’elle s’adapte étonnamment bien, sans doute parce qu’elle sort de la Guerre, qu’elle s’est endurcie et habituée aux conditions rudes et chaotiques, mais quand même ... Le choc des cultures n’est pas aussi fracassant qu’on pourrait l’imaginer, et mis à part un certain décalage dans les paroles ou les pratiques médicales, l’écart culturo-temporel n’est pas suffisamment exploité à mon goût, même si je sais pas que ce n’est pas de ça dont il s’agit.

Et Jamie dans tout ça ? Hé bien c’est pour moi un très beau personnage, nuancé et assez fin, bien loin du Highlander mal dégrossi qu’on pourrait imaginer. Il est courageux, fougueux, buté, mais aussi attentionné et sensible. Il est parfois désarmant de franchise et c’est quelqu’un de très terre à terre.

La romance entre les deux est belle, le fait qu’elle mette du temps à s’installer rend les choses plus touchantes. Plus on avance dans le livre et plus leur amour devient sérieux et fort, parfois poignant. Ils forment un beau couple et je pense qu’ils nous réservent encore de sacrés moments !

Quant aux personnages secondaires, ils sont tous très bien développés, certains sont un peu trop caricaturaux à mon goût (comme Randall par exemple), j’ai bien aimé le côté trouble des frères MacKenzie, mais aussi le discret Murtagh, Ian et Janie, ainsi que Mme Fitzgibbons, mère poule version Highlands.

Une belle histoire donc, qui souffre parfois de quelques longueurs (sans doute dues au découpage de mon édition, celle de J’ai Lu qui vient de sortir), bien écrite, avec des personnages attachants et intéressants, et des descriptions de paysages qui font voyager !

daphelba's review against another edition

2.0

Maybe it's because I have less time these days and the older I'm getting the longer it takes for me to process what I'm reading and therefore longer to finish a book...I just cannot get through this book. This is the second time I have tried to read it and I'm over halfway this time, but I have to put it down now.

The only thing I've noticed that I do not like outright is how proud the character is of her own boldness while in some scenes seeming completely obedient, downright subservient. I suppose being thrust into unfamiliar territories will make a person act out of character. Maybe I'm being too hard on her. Obviously the book speaks to many people with a 4 star rating, but it's just not for me.

morgainlafeye's review against another edition

4.0

The first 51 pages are rough to get through, especially knowing that the book involves time travel; I so badly wanted to move past the set up and to the exciting bits. But it is all worth it. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing read.

megsbri34's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

mnwakeford's review against another edition

3.0

This was an entertaining read, very gripping at times, with swashbuckling romance aplenty. And yet... Firstly, the book was way too long. And after slogging through 900+ pages, I felt I deserved a proper conclusion. Instead, it was quite clear that the author meant to carry on the saga beyond this already epic read, and - checking the length of the next novel in the series - make us slog through another 900+ pages for the next one too, something I don't have the time or inclination to do. This means I am left slightly unsatisfied with the ambiguous ending of this first novel. I feel a bit cheated, if I'm honest, considering the number of hours I invested reading this (over the course of one whole weekend).

Apparently, there are 9 very long books in this saga. I can't think that any story can be sustained for that length without becoming either repetitive or boring. What a pity the author has given in to such self-indulgence.

kjgeiger's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0