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A review by emmabeckman
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
4.0
Ended up listening to the audiobook for nearly all of this one, and I actually really enjoyed it! I'm going to dive right into the next book with part audio part physical as well.
As for the story itself, my favorite parts were pretty much everything to do with Brianna and Roger. I like that they could be a new young couple. I also liked Ian's story arc a lot in this one (Ian in general is a fab character). As many have said before me, it is a bit "ugh" that 95% of the plot hinged on one major miscommunication that could have been easily avoided. It also felt a bit like Brianna and Roger got used to being in the past too easily--there didn't seem to be that much culture shock for them (though I do recognize that they had a bit more ability to prepare).
The one aspect that felt a bit ick to me was the depiction of Native peoples throughout this story. I don't think it was necessarily all horrifically bad, but I also wouldn't say it's the most sensitive, unstereotypical portrayal that it could have been. I think this is is one of those books where it's okay to read it as a story, but you absolutely should NOT base your perception of Native peoples (in the 1770s or today) on what you read in this story. That aspect probably felt the most dated to me and I hope that as the series continues (since new sequels are still being released) Diana Gabaldon takes things into account if she continues to write about Native peoples to such an extent.
As for the story itself, my favorite parts were pretty much everything to do with Brianna and Roger. I like that they could be a new young couple. I also liked Ian's story arc a lot in this one (Ian in general is a fab character). As many have said before me, it is a bit "ugh" that 95% of the plot hinged on one major miscommunication that could have been easily avoided. It also felt a bit like Brianna and Roger got used to being in the past too easily--there didn't seem to be that much culture shock for them (though I do recognize that they had a bit more ability to prepare).
The one aspect that felt a bit ick to me was the depiction of Native peoples throughout this story. I don't think it was necessarily all horrifically bad, but I also wouldn't say it's the most sensitive, unstereotypical portrayal that it could have been. I think this is is one of those books where it's okay to read it as a story, but you absolutely should NOT base your perception of Native peoples (in the 1770s or today) on what you read in this story. That aspect probably felt the most dated to me and I hope that as the series continues (since new sequels are still being released) Diana Gabaldon takes things into account if she continues to write about Native peoples to such an extent.