| Dragonfly in Amber | 
 enlarge | Author: Diana Gabaldon
Publisher: Delta
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $6.00
You Save: $9.00 (60%)
New (39) Used (17) Collectible (4) from $6.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  258 reviews
Sales Rank: 2011
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 752
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3
ISBN: 0385335970
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780385335973
ASIN: 0385335970
Publication Date: August 7, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: 1993mm paperback.coverwear.spinewear.COMPLETE & UNABRIDGED.clean/tight.
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| Customer Reviews:
 A LOVE THAT TRANSCENDS TIME CONTINUES TO RIVET THE READER... April 2, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the second in a series of time travel, adventure/romance books by the author. There are six such novels published to date in the series. These novels have engaged readers everywhere, because of the author's masterful storytelling, as well as for the superlative use of historical detail which is woven into the tapestry in this most intriguing of stories.
While the core of the story is about a love that transcends time, it would be a disservice to label it a romance, as it is much more than that. It is a wonderful adventure story interspersed with actual historical events and authentic period detail. It is this attention to such matters by the skillful pen of the author that renders these books three dimensional and so enjoyable. They are positively addictive!
The love of the ages that binds these books is the love that twentieth century Claire Randall has for the eighteenth century Scottish highland warrior, James Fraser. Those of you who read the first book in the series, "Outlander", know that in 1945, Claire, an Englishwoman and combat nurse during World War II, is reunited with her husband, Frank, after the war. While on a second honeymoon in Scotland, she visits a strange, flat topped hill in the highlands of Scotland, where a forbidding stone circle draws her. Touching one of the stones, she is hurled through a vortex in time and finds herself in eighteenth century Scotland, where she meets a brave and brawny, red headed Scot, James Fraser, with whom she falls completely in love, body and soul. Finding herself thrust into the midst of clan warfare and intrigue, she and her beloved 'Jamie' have enough adventures to last a lifetime, which makes for a riveting story.
This book is a continuation of that story. It is told from the perspective of the twentieth century where Claire, who is now a doctor, has lived for the past twenty years. Upon the death of her twentieth century husband, Frank, Claire returns to Scotland with her grown, red headed daughter, Brianna. There, she discloses to Brianna the events of her secret past, as well as the truth of whom Brianna's biological father actually is and of the love that Claire bore him.
While in Scotland, however, Claire discovers something that will forever change her future, as well as her past. You see, for the past twenty years, Claire has believed that her beloved 'Jamie' died in the historic battle of Culloden. It was there that the Scottish highlanders bravely fought the English in a misguided attempt to restore Charles Stuart, their bonny Prince Charlie, to the English throne, only to be decimated and branded as Jacobite traitors. It was this very event that she and James Fraser had conspired to change only to fail. It was this failure that brought Claire and 'Jamie' to a crossroad that would force them to part and have Brianna become a denizen of the twentieth century.
This book continues the saga so deftly begun in "Outlander". It tells the story of what happened in the eighteenth century that ultimately caused Claire to leave the love of her life and return to the twentieth century. It recounts the plight of two star crossed lovers who make a desperate and valiant attempt to change the course of history. It regales the reader with the adventures they encounter along the way. It is a story that transports the reader from the turmoil of the Scottish highlands to the intrigue of the French Court.
Readers will be captivated by this amazing and compelling time travel saga.
 #2 In the OUTLANDER SERIES March 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Outlander is a series of 6 books, quite large in volume. When I first read Outlander, I loved this story, and I loved the characters. But by the time I finished this book I wasn't sure I wanted to read the next one and find out what happened to Jamie and Claire. But as I said, I was now engrossed with the people and the story and so I continued. I am now half way through the 4th novel (Drums of Autumn) and already own the last two (pre-purchased A Breath of Snow and Ashes). And I STILL wonder WHY I am continueing to read these! And here is why, Diana Gabaldon writes in DETAIL right down to the dirt on someones shoes. And she says so and so got chills and not because the room was cold; so many times you want to wretch. She writes pages and pages and pages of things that have nothing to do with the story. You really begin to wonder where she is headed and you start to feel that she is either wasting your time or she just likes the sound of her own voice. OR she enjoys BEING this character right down to the last thought and shiver. I find myself speed reading through some passages looking for when we are going to get back on track. Don't get me wrong, she is BRILLIANT!! If you love historical fiction, you WILL love her writing and you will LEARN alot about living in the time she writes about as well as the Scots. She does her homework, her research is impeccable and she has a cult following with this series. It is a great story and I will read all of them, I just think she could have written the SAME story in half the time. So forewarned is forearmed with Diana Gabaldon. If you have tons of time to kill, this is your book!
 Dragonfly in Amber February 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It has been a year since I read the first book in the series, so I was worried about "catching up". Gabaldon does an excellent job of moving you from the first episode to the next. I am not a romance novel buff and tried her first book on the reccomendation of a friend. It starts well and keeps your interest to the end. I found myself putting myself in the heroine's place and wondering just what I would do. Also the idea of changing the past and just maybe not interfering with the future is a thought to work on. A thought. "How many people have vanished through time warps among old ruins?"
Romance via violent history. Time-travel fans keep away. February 9, 2008
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
I like historical novels and time-travel or alternate history in fiction. My mistake in picking up the first three volumes of this historical romance in one purchase, is not realizing that it is a ravishing romance first and foremost.
I'm not sure why this series got 186 five-star reviews, even given my mistake. While the author is actually quite good at the invention of situations which result in rough or abusive sexual encounters and at revealing to the reader why these encounters appeal to some of those persons involved in them, it is the only depth or quality I found. Though she does include a nice variety of characters and much historical information on the Scottish of that time, I don't think it was well woven into the romantic adventures of the main characters.
The time-travel aspect was not a big factor. I don't know why she even bothered as it does not come into play very much. If you are a historical fiction fan or a time-travel-fantasy fan looking for adventure in your books, I don't think these books will be much more than a two star for you. I'll leave it the the fans of romance to judge this one's quality against others of it's genre.
Good continuation of the Outlander series January 2, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I recently discovered the Outlander series; after some initial trouble getting into the story, I wound up absolutely loving the first book. As most readers probably know, the first Outlander book featured Clare Randall, a post-WWII nurse who is transported 200 years back in time, where she meets and falls in love with a young Scot, Jamie Fraser. As in the previous novel, the current installment, Dragonfly in Amber, begins in the present day--in this case 1968, 20 years after Clare's return from the past. Again, I felt that the book dragged a bit during the beginning, but once the setting shifts back to Claire and Jamie, the action definitely picks up.
The historical portion of the novel opens with Claire and Jamie in France, where they have gone to try to prevent "Bonnie Prince Charlie" from leading the Scottish people in a battle that will end in their slaughter. There is a greater emphasis on history in the sequel, and so author Gabaldon sometimes spends several pages at a time detailing relevant historical facts. To me, this weighed the book down somewhat, as Gabaldon's true strength in these Outlander novels is her portrayal of the relationship between Claire and Jamie--for me, this is the main attraction of these books. To be sure, I will be reading the next installment, as I can't wait to see where Claire and Jamie will go from here.
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