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boonehirth's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed the first three Outlander books, but it's going downhill quickly. This book was absolutely pointless. Nothing happens to move the story along. It didn't get interesting until the very end. Hoping the series has a stronger finish.
amberweinberg's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book would never end. It was way too long with nothing really important happening.
daniiiileighhhh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
My god this book was long and for what
mellied1975's review against another edition
4.0
How is it possible for a 1400+ page novel to feel too short? These books go by so quickly - every time I hate to see them end. I feel like I could write something almost as long as the book itself, gushing about all the things I loved. I'll just mention a few highlights, though.
- The theme of parenthood and what really makes you someone's parent and them your child was lovely and so well done, with Roger and Jemmy being the most obvious example, of course. As much as Roger would love to be sure that Jemmy is his biological son, I truly believe that it doesn't matter to him and that's beautiful to see. He has a good example in Jamie, who is so willing to take on and love bairns other than his own natural born children and grandchildren. "It's blood of the heart, ken, not only the body" - loved that whole bit with him explaining the meaning of "a chuisle" to Claire. I also loved Jamie's willingness to adopt the abandoned Beardsley baby, as a way of giving Claire another child had she wished it. That exchange between him and Claire was touching.
- I finally grew to really like and even love Roger in this book, after feeling fairly neutral about him in the others. Poor wee Roger! Even though I thought the odds were low that he'd actually die, I was still so distraught during the hanging scene. It was horrifying. And even though he didn't die, what did happen to him was terrible enough. His beautiful voice! I feel like Roger really grew as a man and as a character in TFC, and it was interesting -- if painful -- to see that all play out.
- I liked all the doctoring Claire did in this book. It's fascinating to me to see how she manages to blend her 20th century medical knowledge with the limited resources she has in the 1700s. That she's managed to put penicillin to work, even in a limited way, is such a relief to me, and the injection method Bree came up with was so clever. Snakes are good for something, I guess.
- Speaking of snakes, Jamie's snakebite ordeal left me completely wrung out and terrified, even knowing that there was no way he was going to die at this point. Jamie's right -- he can't die yet, they need him. All the visitors who came to see him on his sickbed, the Bugs searching all the homesteads to gather mold for Claire's penicillin - so moving to see how much "himself" is loved by the people of Fraser's Ridge.
- Jocasta is really something, isn't she? Like Jamie, I would only trust her as far as I could throw her. The story of how her daughters died was totally heart-wrenching, though. I don't know how she didn't just murder Hector Cameron, to be honest. The temptation had to have been there. He seemed so heartless.
- I enjoyed all the "frontier life" stuff in the book. Visiting the Indians for the bear hunt, getting stuck outside in that terrifying lightning storm, all the dangers from buffalo and wild boar. Pioneer life is fascinating to me.
- Seeing the relationship between Jamie and Roger grow into real respect, friendship, and affection was one of my favorite things in TFC. The time they spent together and the things they went through really bonded them.
- Thank God Jenny forgave Jamie. Her letter made me cry. "Mother loved you always, Jamie, and when she kent she was dying, she called for me, and bade me care for you. As though I could ever stop."
- IAN IS BACK! Something else that made me cry, but such happy, happy tears. Dear Ian. I can't wait for more of his story, and to find out what happened to his Indian wife and their baby. Plus I kind of want sweet Lizzie to get to marry him, instead of her marrying that random guy she doesn't love.
- Jamie and Claire. As much as I'm enjoying the sweeping family saga the books have become, and as fond as I am of so many of the characters, Jamie and Claire are still the heart and soul of the story and the main reason why I care. Their relationship has to be one of the most beautiful and fully-realized fictional relationships ever created. "When the day shall come that we do part," he said softly, and turned to look at me, "if my last words are not 'I love you'-ye'll ken it was because I didna have time." ::sobs for ten minutes:: Seriously, I couldna love them more. Especially him.
- The theme of parenthood and what really makes you someone's parent and them your child was lovely and so well done, with Roger and Jemmy being the most obvious example, of course. As much as Roger would love to be sure that Jemmy is his biological son, I truly believe that it doesn't matter to him and that's beautiful to see. He has a good example in Jamie, who is so willing to take on and love bairns other than his own natural born children and grandchildren. "It's blood of the heart, ken, not only the body" - loved that whole bit with him explaining the meaning of "a chuisle" to Claire. I also loved Jamie's willingness to adopt the abandoned Beardsley baby, as a way of giving Claire another child had she wished it. That exchange between him and Claire was touching.
- I finally grew to really like and even love Roger in this book, after feeling fairly neutral about him in the others. Poor wee Roger! Even though I thought the odds were low that he'd actually die, I was still so distraught during the hanging scene. It was horrifying. And even though he didn't die, what did happen to him was terrible enough. His beautiful voice! I feel like Roger really grew as a man and as a character in TFC, and it was interesting -- if painful -- to see that all play out.
- I liked all the doctoring Claire did in this book. It's fascinating to me to see how she manages to blend her 20th century medical knowledge with the limited resources she has in the 1700s. That she's managed to put penicillin to work, even in a limited way, is such a relief to me, and the injection method Bree came up with was so clever. Snakes are good for something, I guess.
- Speaking of snakes, Jamie's snakebite ordeal left me completely wrung out and terrified, even knowing that there was no way he was going to die at this point. Jamie's right -- he can't die yet, they need him. All the visitors who came to see him on his sickbed, the Bugs searching all the homesteads to gather mold for Claire's penicillin - so moving to see how much "himself" is loved by the people of Fraser's Ridge.
- Jocasta is really something, isn't she? Like Jamie, I would only trust her as far as I could throw her. The story of how her daughters died was totally heart-wrenching, though. I don't know how she didn't just murder Hector Cameron, to be honest. The temptation had to have been there. He seemed so heartless.
- I enjoyed all the "frontier life" stuff in the book. Visiting the Indians for the bear hunt, getting stuck outside in that terrifying lightning storm, all the dangers from buffalo and wild boar. Pioneer life is fascinating to me.
- Seeing the relationship between Jamie and Roger grow into real respect, friendship, and affection was one of my favorite things in TFC. The time they spent together and the things they went through really bonded them.
- Thank God Jenny forgave Jamie. Her letter made me cry. "Mother loved you always, Jamie, and when she kent she was dying, she called for me, and bade me care for you. As though I could ever stop."
- IAN IS BACK! Something else that made me cry, but such happy, happy tears. Dear Ian. I can't wait for more of his story, and to find out what happened to his Indian wife and their baby. Plus I kind of want sweet Lizzie to get to marry him, instead of her marrying that random guy she doesn't love.
- Jamie and Claire. As much as I'm enjoying the sweeping family saga the books have become, and as fond as I am of so many of the characters, Jamie and Claire are still the heart and soul of the story and the main reason why I care. Their relationship has to be one of the most beautiful and fully-realized fictional relationships ever created. "When the day shall come that we do part," he said softly, and turned to look at me, "if my last words are not 'I love you'-ye'll ken it was because I didna have time." ::sobs for ten minutes:: Seriously, I couldna love them more. Especially him.
the_ukrainian_one's review against another edition
2.5
…nothing…happened…over the span of over 55 hours of audiobook. How????
The immersive-ness was fun as always. But the pacing was literal molasses.
Hoping the next one is better 😵💫
The immersive-ness was fun as always. But the pacing was literal molasses.
Hoping the next one is better 😵💫
shannoninnis's review against another edition
5.0
Loving the entire series. Some of it has been a re-read for me, but Book 5 is new to me. It's a slog, but I look at it as a comfort, a warm quilt to cuddle up with; and don't take issue with the length or detail. I embrace it. Finding out that the "Fiery Cross" call to clan was the origin for the KKK, as well as the Klan of the KKK was an ewww moment, but as Roger said in the book, everything has it's origin, good and bad. I'm just ashamed to see that pop up from a piece of my heritage (the Scot part, not the KKK part) I also think my rating has gotten kinder in my "old age" as I use a "school grading" system of A=5, B=4, etc. I had to giggle when relating this to my college-aged daughter who said she notices this "kinder grading" in her older professors! I guess with age comes the equanimity of realizing what's important in life; kindness being one of those things. Yet, truly, if I were grading the book, I'd give it an A.
t3downey's review against another edition
4.0
***SPOILERS***
My least favorite so far. Lots of militia stuff, lots of focus on finding and chasing Bonnet & Roger and his voice after the attempted hanging.
My favorite parts, however, are when Claire does an autopsy, and when they find out the fate of the Dr. Rawlings, who Claire inherited a medical kit from.
I also loved that Brianna invents a syringe of sorts with snake fangs in order to give Jamie penicillin for his snake bite.
Ian returns to the Ridge!
My least favorite so far. Lots of militia stuff, lots of focus on finding and chasing Bonnet & Roger and his voice after the attempted hanging.
My favorite parts, however, are when Claire does an autopsy, and when they find out the fate of the Dr. Rawlings, who Claire inherited a medical kit from.
I also loved that Brianna invents a syringe of sorts with snake fangs in order to give Jamie penicillin for his snake bite.
Ian returns to the Ridge!
cpeske050's review against another edition
2.0
I do feel like Diana Gabaldon is a genuinely great writer but for me this book lacked any real plot or direction. It meanders without moving the story forward in a meaningful way.
karlaoliveira's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
5.0