| Outlander | 
 enlarge | Author: Diana Gabaldon
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Category: Book
List Price: CDN$ 42.00
Buy New: CDN$ 26.46
You Save: CDN$ 15.54 (37%)
New (10) Used (7) Collectible (1) from CDN$ 23.26
Avg. Customer Rating:  814 reviews
Sales Rank: 83482
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 640
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.2
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.7
ISBN: 0385302304
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780385302302
ASIN: 0385302304
Publication Date: June 1, 1991
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Fantastically Written Historical Novel! November 6, 2008
It's been ten years ago since I first read this book as a teenager. I read and re-read it many times during the years; so often in fact that I had to re-order it because my copy fell apart.
The writing is impeccable; detailed, precise and fast moving. The novel contains a truly great story, and one of the best love stories I have ever read in my life. Gabaldon has an astonishing gift of bringing these great characters and their historical period to life. All I have to say that I learned more about Scottish customs and the battle of Culloden from her books than I ever learned about any other battles in history from school. And I learned it in a very entertaining way. And yes, I realize it's fiction, but her historic account is pretty accurate.
Claire and Jamie are great main characters. I loved how they interacted together and I loved them separately as well-rounded people with their own accomplishments, faults and vulnerabilities. And Gabaldon, thank goodness, gives a lot of strength, intelligence, courage and gumption to Claire and shows that her inner qualities is what Jamie truly loves about her (though the outer qualities don't hurt), and vice versa. I also love the fact that Claire has a career as a healer (nurse, doctor, etc), both in the 20th century, as well as in the 18th century.
They are very well fleshed out characters, and one complaint I have always had about historic novels is that the characters always come up short, because there is not enough description about their inner qualities. There is no such problem in Outlander.
Well Written, Highly Recommended! April 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
One of the best novels I have had the pleasure to read! The story draws you in from that very first blip about disaparances being the bread and butter to journalists till the point where Jamie and Claire look up at the moon with all lifes possibilities before them! I love it!
I first read this book five years ago and now have all the females in my family hooked as well as all my girlfriends! We eagerly await the next installment, in fact I've already been to Diana's offical wesite to read excerpts from it! It looks wonderful! I can hardly wait.
A book that will be a real pleasure to all those who enjoy a novel that has some depth, not everthing goes right but when does real life ever go easily?!
 Filled with Romance and Passion March 1, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Also known as Cross Stitch to the UK market
The year is 1945, Claire Randall a WW11 combat nurse is reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon. On a solitary walk she innocently touches a boulder and finds herself transported back in time to the middle of a violent skirmish in the year 1743.
Claire is befriended by a group of Scottish outlaws who are suspicious of her dress and speech; they assume she is a British spy. She gains their trust when she takes care of their wounded and saves the life of some of their comrades. The Scots decide in order to protect her from the other clans she must marry James Fraser, although not thrilled, she eventually marries him. James shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between two vastly different men in two vastly different worlds.
This is a novel with a lot of twists taking us deep into the highlands during a time when Scotland was at war with the British and dealing with raiding border clans. The story is filled with romance and passion told with a touch of humor. The author tackles the themes of violence and of sexual nature tastefully and in a realistic way. The characters Claire and James are definitely likable and the villain Jonathan Randall is very well described as ruthless and a masochistic scoundrel. Although Outlander is a historical fiction I would categorize it better as a book of romance with an overabundance of graphic sex. I found this novel way too long and I struggled to finish the last 200 pages. At this point I am uncertain if I will continue with the series.
Intense, but Great Book! December 7, 2007
This is one of the most intense and romantic books I have ever read. This is not a cheesy romantic book. Claire and Jamie Fraser have a connection that leave you breathless. I highly recommend this book. But, you must prepare yourself for the violence and detailed sex. If this makes you squeemesh, don't read it. It is guilty pleasure to read, and I have read it at least 4 times. Highly recommended!
 Fun Filled Adventure in 17th Century Scotland December 2, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
When I first heard of this book and all the positive hype, I was skeptical. It's a book that is hard to classify as just one genre. It's part historical novel, romance, suspense, action, and science fiction. I right away wonder how much romance was in it, you see, I don't mind some, but I don't like true chick lit or Harlequin romance. However, the more I heard about it the more I wanted to at least give it a fair try.
It did end up having a lot of sex and some romance, but it was also an excellent historical adventure in 17th century Scotland. I thoroughly enjoy this romp threw time. Diana Gabaldon writes with near perfect pitch and prose. The only thing I found a bit annoying in parts was that it was a bit repetitive in parts. I think a little more careful editing was needed.
Though the book is over 800 pages, it reads very fast and be for warned, it is very hard to put down! I spent some wee hours in the morning with this book! Don't suffer from sleep depravation like I did. Learn from my mistakes. Don't read it right before sleep time!
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