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A review by htracy0884
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
One of the reasons I like seeing the show/movie before the book (though I always shift into “I have to read the book before I can see the show/movie” whenever something new is announced) is the investment of time and the undeniable fact that no matter how good a show is, the book is nearly always better. The Outlander books, save for the first, are like 850-1100ish pages each…1. That’s a lot of reading to commit to if I can determine interest in a series more quickly, and 2. There’s always way more context in books, things that either don’t translate to film to are cut for time but nevertheless interesting details, sometimes (as is the case with Outlander) entire plot lines…so it’s like getting a whole bunch of great bonus content. I never would have picked up Outlander, not in a million years, if I hadn’t been bored out of my head and it was the last show on earth I hadn’t seen during quarantine. I didn’t even like the show that much, but kept watching because there was literally nothing else left, then grew to love it and appreciate it for what it was. I was still hesitant to buy the books and while they get more complicated and dense as time goes on, the show isn’t getting more episodes for that.
Which leads me to…this book was super slow to start and I have had it on my nightstand for ages, reading 50 pages here and there but never excited to pick it back up. In true Outlander fashion (I feel), once it picks up, it rolls. It’s not a fast story by any means, and think it may have been the author who said this is a story about a long marriage, not a story about the Jacobites or time travel or WWII or any of the things that happen…it’s the very messy and tumultuous creation of a family. In short, a marathon, not a sprint. Even she doesn’t know when or how it will end and she’s been writing these books for 30 years. And that’s all I have to say about that…as much to myself as anyone else. Her writing style remains the same, reliable, witty and intelligent way it’s always been. The story weaves in some really mundane and equally intense themes, some sweet and concise, others graphic and violent. They are what they are, no more, no less.
Which leads me to…this book was super slow to start and I have had it on my nightstand for ages, reading 50 pages here and there but never excited to pick it back up. In true Outlander fashion (I feel), once it picks up, it rolls. It’s not a fast story by any means, and think it may have been the author who said this is a story about a long marriage, not a story about the Jacobites or time travel or WWII or any of the things that happen…it’s the very messy and tumultuous creation of a family. In short, a marathon, not a sprint. Even she doesn’t know when or how it will end and she’s been writing these books for 30 years. And that’s all I have to say about that…as much to myself as anyone else. Her writing style remains the same, reliable, witty and intelligent way it’s always been. The story weaves in some really mundane and equally intense themes, some sweet and concise, others graphic and violent. They are what they are, no more, no less.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Slavery