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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So conflicted on this book.
The first... half? I was pretty game for the journey Gabaldon was taking me through. I actually am not super attracted to the buff, hot, super masculine men in the style of Jamie (or the modern shadow daddy archetype for that matter lol but this isn't that) but I will stick along for even a moderately interesting plot. I was getting pretty into the family drama and peeks into political intrigue when we were at Castle Leod! Claire is showing her modern medical skills two centuries in the past!
But then we get into a ton of stuff surrounding masochism and sexual violence that I don't think were treated with the appropriate attitudes. Got a massive ick against Jamie for some things he does to Claire and when he first reunites with his sister, and when he endures some pretty horrible abuse, I thought the resolution for that was also pretty absurd! Several things did not sit right with me, and they were enough to drop the book in my esteem.
Gabaldon, to me, is a very talented writer, but I find myself no longer wanting to continue in engaging with her main characters for the reasons stated above. Other reviews go into this with much more detail.
The first... half? I was pretty game for the journey Gabaldon was taking me through. I actually am not super attracted to the buff, hot, super masculine men in the style of Jamie (or the modern shadow daddy archetype for that matter lol but this isn't that) but I will stick along for even a moderately interesting plot. I was getting pretty into the family drama and peeks into political intrigue when we were at Castle Leod! Claire is showing her modern medical skills two centuries in the past!
But then we get into a ton of stuff surrounding masochism and sexual violence that I don't think were treated with the appropriate attitudes. Got a massive ick against Jamie for some things he does to Claire and when he first reunites with his sister, and when he endures some pretty horrible abuse, I thought the resolution for that was also pretty absurd! Several things did not sit right with me, and they were enough to drop the book in my esteem.
Gabaldon, to me, is a very talented writer, but I find myself no longer wanting to continue in engaging with her main characters for the reasons stated above. Other reviews go into this with much more detail.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
I quite liked the book other than a few nitpicking points. I wasn't a fan of Jaime's beating of Claire. Yes, I get that it's a different time but as a staunch feminist it was entirely distasteful and almost kept me from finishing.
I kept on and glad I did, because despite a few failings it was a good book. My other irritation was Claire. For the most part I liked her but goddamn if that woman wasn't utterly HELPLESS. I found myself on several occasions saying out loud "oh my god". And being totally exasperated with her.
But despite the those few failings I found it as a thoroughly engaging book and am eagerly awaiting the time to start book two. This coming from someone who hates fiction and romance.
I kept on and glad I did, because despite a few failings it was a good book. My other irritation was Claire. For the most part I liked her but goddamn if that woman wasn't utterly HELPLESS. I found myself on several occasions saying out loud "oh my god". And being totally exasperated with her.
But despite the those few failings I found it as a thoroughly engaging book and am eagerly awaiting the time to start book two. This coming from someone who hates fiction and romance.
medium-paced
If you want to read chapter after chapter of almost no plot other than a couple bickering, making up, then having sex, this book is for you!
My history with this story is somewhat convoluted.
I’d seen the first episode of the Starz dramatization years before I ever contemplated reading the book. It was offered as a free preview in order to tempt me to subscribe.
I have to say, I found some of the plot points problematic and I was not compelled to seek out the rest of the series even when a friend offered to share her subscription login. And while I’d heard many fans of the series rave about it, I was apprised of a few more plot points I’d argue were unsavory at best and disturbing at worst.
A few years later I borrowed the book from said friend but again it sat untouched gathering dust for months if not an entire year.
The series is so beloved though. And there it is on Netflix, a streaming service I do subscribe to. It came up in conversation recently and I found myself compelled to give it a second look. So, during my week-long Thanksgiving break I binged the first two seasons.
Then I dusted off the cover of that wickedly small (though wickedly thick) with equally small typeface, mass market paperback and indulged myself.
What can I say? I fell victim to all the bodice-ripper-charm of the mass market paperbacks I cut my teeth on in my youth circa 1980-something.
It’s not fine literature but it was definitely an interesting romp of historical fiction equally dispersed with romance, sex and high adventure. A small part of its appeal was challenging myself to finish an 850-page tome although I must confess I downloaded my library’s ebook edition soon after beginning my foray as mass market paperbacks are just too cumbersome for my liking these days.
I don’t typically read book series’ so I doubt I’ll continue reading the remaining installments but I’ll be treating myself to subsequent seasons of the adaptation now that I’ve earned continued cheap thrills by completing this read.
I’d seen the first episode of the Starz dramatization years before I ever contemplated reading the book. It was offered as a free preview in order to tempt me to subscribe.
I have to say, I found some of the plot points problematic and I was not compelled to seek out the rest of the series even when a friend offered to share her subscription login. And while I’d heard many fans of the series rave about it, I was apprised of a few more plot points I’d argue were unsavory at best and disturbing at worst.
A few years later I borrowed the book from said friend but again it sat untouched gathering dust for months if not an entire year.
The series is so beloved though. And there it is on Netflix, a streaming service I do subscribe to. It came up in conversation recently and I found myself compelled to give it a second look. So, during my week-long Thanksgiving break I binged the first two seasons.
Then I dusted off the cover of that wickedly small (though wickedly thick) with equally small typeface, mass market paperback and indulged myself.
What can I say? I fell victim to all the bodice-ripper-charm of the mass market paperbacks I cut my teeth on in my youth circa 1980-something.
It’s not fine literature but it was definitely an interesting romp of historical fiction equally dispersed with romance, sex and high adventure. A small part of its appeal was challenging myself to finish an 850-page tome although I must confess I downloaded my library’s ebook edition soon after beginning my foray as mass market paperbacks are just too cumbersome for my liking these days.
I don’t typically read book series’ so I doubt I’ll continue reading the remaining installments but I’ll be treating myself to subsequent seasons of the adaptation now that I’ve earned continued cheap thrills by completing this read.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Too much description for my taste. I wanted more character interaction than scenery building
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment, War