ilaria91 's review for:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
5.0
adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
I just finished Outlander—again. It turns out this was actually my third time reading it, even though I only realised that recently while going through my old reading lists. I first read it back in 2011 (I think?), then again in 2015, both times in Italian. This time, I read it in English—and honestly, it felt like discovering the story for the first time.

Maybe it’s because so many years have passed. Maybe it's because I read it in a different language. Or maybe it's simply because I’ve changed. I'm not the same person I was ten years ago—and somehow, reading this now hit me in a completely different way.

I started rewatching the Outlander series recently, almost by chance. I’d seen it when it first came out in 2014 and loved it, but I stopped somewhere during season four and never went back. This summer, I had the time, and on a whim, I started again from the beginning. I absolutely fell back in love with it. The production quality is outstanding—the direction, the writing, the costumes, the landscapes, and especially the performances. The actors truly breathe life into these characters in such a powerful, emotional, and nuanced way. I honestly can’t say enough about how good they are.

Once I finished the seven seasons (in less than a month…), I knew I had to return to the books. And I’m so glad I did.

Reading Outlander after watching the series brought a new kind of appreciation. The show is incredibly faithful and well done, but what struck me in the book was the humour. Claire’s voice is so sharp, witty, and full of sarcasm—her internal monologue made me laugh out loud more than once. Jamie, too, has this dry, self-deprecating humour that makes him feel even more real and endearing. The show definitely captures some of that, and it is genuinely funny at times, but the tone leans a bit more into drama overall. That’s not a flaw—just a different storytelling format. In the book, especially being inside Claire’s mind, you really feel that lively, clever spark, and it adds such warmth to the reading experience.

The writing flows beautifully, and I found myself reading for hours without even noticing. It’s one of those books that grabs you and keeps you in its world, and I was more than happy to stay there.

I think this story came back into my life at just the right time. It’s been a bit of an odd, quiet summer for me, and diving into this world—both through the show and now the books—has been a form of comfort and escape. I’ve loved every second of it.

So yes, five stars. Easily. I’m looking forward to continuing the book series, watching the eighth and final season of the show, and seeing the upcoming prequel Blood of My Blood, which will explore the lives of Jamie and Claire’s parents. I’ll also be waiting for the release of the tenth book in the main series.

Before jumping into book two, I think I’ll take a quick detour and read Virgins, the novella about Jamie and Ian as teenagers. Since Jamie is still just 23 in Outlander, and Virgins takes place a few years earlier when he’s 16, I think it’ll be a good way to circle back and fill in some of the emotional and personal context that’s still fresh in my mind.

It feels like I’ve rejoined a journey I didn’t know I needed, and I’m glad to be here again.
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