Outlander Series

[robin.goodfellow]

Here are the Outlander books in order, as several people have asked about them.  Also, gertie said she'd continue to book klub for at least two more books.  If we put them all here, maybe she'll stay on beyond those.  It'll be our little secret, k?

1.  Outlander: 
2.  Dragonfly in Amber: 
3.  Voyager: 
4.  Drums of Autumn: 
5.  The Fiery Cross: 
6.  A Breath of Snow and Ashes: 

Can anyone tell that I have a ton of work I'm avoiding today?

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Don't worry, I didn't read your evil plan. 

[Ann in Arlington]

Oh, look!  a bunny!



Ann

[bkworm8it]

What a cute little bunny!  Must have bunny.......


theresam

[robin.goodfellow]

Oh, look!  a bunny!

Cool!  That took less time than I ever would have believed.  I'm going to see if I can make "Who's on First" break out in the buy sell or barter forum!

[Toby]

I'm in!! Thanks Robin!!! 3 cheers for Gertie!! Cute baby in bunny hat.

[Anju No. 469]

My personal opinion is that Amazon has raised the kindle prices because of so many kindle purchases!  I have the DTB but would much much much rather read on the kindle.  Had to hold my Outlander book and have a sore shoulder now (awwwwwww)    The cost is more than my budget - maybe if I order the next fast fast I'll get them before the prices go up?? 


Maybe if we put HP references in our answers Gertie will hang in there?  She has such terrific questions!

[Anju No. 469]

Gertie - Isn't Hogwarts in Scotland ? 

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Gertie - Isn't Hogwarts in Scotland ?   

Yes, it is.  I see you are putting Robin's evil plan into action.  Oh, look, there's a .......

[robin.goodfellow]

Oh, now, that is funny.

Disturbing, but funny.

[Anju No. 469]

Where's the tooth fairy ?

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

[Anju No. 469]

LOL LOL

Did you use Vampyre for the first one?

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

LOL LOL

Did you use Vampyre for the first one?

It was murder getting him to pose.   

[katbird1]

That is about the funniest thing I've seen in a while!

Kathy

[Anju No. 469]

It was murder getting him to pose.   

You mean you had to use a stake?  Oh NOOOOOO! 

[Betsy the Quilter]

That is seriously disturbing.  I'm beginning to worry about you, Gertie.

Betsy

[Arkhan]

I was going to ask a question but that disturbing picture made me forget...

Oh yeah, I was wondering how good this series really is. I noticed there are plenty of people that have read this multiple times. I almost got the audio book a couple of months ago because it popped up as a really popular Sci-Fi pick. Then I started reading some reviews and people complained about it being borderling trashy romance novel that spent way too much describing intimate scenes. I can see where some people may have been upset and even uncomfortable reading that type of story. I can't say I really want to sit back and read page after page of it myself. Some were probable even more angry because it was listed as Sci-Fi and people may not have been expecting what they heard. Yet, I also saw plenty of other male readers that loved the story and even admitted it was something they would have never read if it hadn't showed up as Sci-Fi.

Now, I am not exactly the trashy romance novel kind of guy, but I do love a really good story which this book apparently has. I can even overlook\forgive quite a bit too if the story is really worth it. I guess I was wondering if I would be disappointed reading it because these reviews were true and the story really just a story tied together with a bunch of sex scenes or have these types of reviews been exaggerated by people? Do we have any other guys here reading it to throw in an opinion? I haven't really read the messages to see, obviously because I would hate to ruin the story.

[bosslady402]

Well, it is not a Sci-Fi novel. If that was what the reviewers you saw were expecting, I can see why they might be disappointed. It was probably included in that genre because time travel is an important part of the story.

It is more of an historial fiction, with a love story that is central to the plot. It is very well-written, and one reason that everyone loves it is that the characterization development is excellent.

The love scenes can be a little explicit (and the adults are not always consenting) but they are important to the story and the characters, and no, they don't take up that much of the bulk of the story. So if story is what you are looking for, I think it's worth your while to give the first book a chance. There are 6 in total, with 1 (maybe 2?) more on the way.

If you are looking for a male perspective, here is what our guy Harvey had to say about the 'romance' parts...

- I guess I have led a sheltered reading life, but I haven't read many books with as many love scenes as those between Claire and Jamie. I found those tastefully done, and interesting to read them from a woman's perspective. I think the fact that Jamie was inexperienced made those scenes more important to the story line and to understanding his relationship with Claire. I didn't think the raciness was there just for cheap tittilation; it was pretty central to the arc of the story.

Hope this helps.

[sdrmartin]

7. An echo in the bone Hardcover September 22, 2009

Lets start requesting for kindle book format now.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Oh yeah, I was wondering how good this series really is. I noticed there are plenty of people that have read this multiple times. I almost got the audio book a couple of months ago because it popped up as a really popular Sci-Fi pick. Then I started reading some reviews and people complained about it being borderling trashy romance novel that spent way too much describing intimate scenes. I can see where some people may have been upset and even uncomfortable reading that type of story. I can't say I really want to sit back and read page after page of it myself. Some were probable even more angry because it was listed as Sci-Fi and people may not have been expecting what they heard. Yet, I also saw plenty of other male readers that loved the story and even admitted it was something they would have never read if it hadn't showed up as Sci-Fi.

Sci-Fi is one place I have never seen Outlander listed.  It's been listed in romance, historical romance, general fiction.  It's a hard book to classify.  Time travel is a trigger, but it is not a major element. 

Now, I am not exactly the trashy romance novel kind of guy, but I do love a really good story which this book apparently has. I can even overlook\forgive quite a bit too if the story is really worth it. I guess I was wondering if I would be disappointed reading it because these reviews were true and the story really just a story tied together with a bunch of sex scenes or have these types of reviews been exaggerated by people? Do we have any other guys here reading it to throw in an opinion? I haven't really read the messages to see, obviously because I would hate to ruin the story.

I don't know where you saw those reviews, but it is absolutely not just a story tied together with a bunch of sex scenes.  Bosslady posted Harvey's take on that above, and he put it very well.  The so-called "romance" is a mature, adult relationship, which takes time and effort to evolve and maintain.  There is nothing at all trashy about it.  There's also a lot of humor. 

Before you spend the money on an expensive audio book (there's a thread in here about the audio book being $4.95 at audible.com for memebers; maybe still is), you might want to check it out of the library.  I recommend you read the first five chapters. 

[Arkhan]

Thanks for the insight on this. When I read the description I knew the reason it had been tagged with Sci-Fi is because of the time travel. I wanted to check with people that would give honest answers because, as I said, some of the reviews I read were definitely by people that felt duped into the book. I am sure some of them were REALLY angry and that is why the review basically turned into a rant. I can understand that to a point but there were so many good reviews I find it hard to believe there is not more to the story.

Thanks Bosslady, I think you basically addressed all of my points and Harvey's quote seems to tell me exactly what I thought to begin with. Most of the men that reviewed the book were either really mad about being duped into the book, or just are not comfortable with reading about adult relationships. At the same time there were plenty that said things similar to Harvey.

Gertie, I appreciate you clarifying the "trashy" aspect. I don't offend very easily and I doubt that there is anything in the whole Outlander series combined that can top the sick debauchery I was exposed to in the Mission Earth series where I believe the goal was not only to laugh, but cringe at some of the things he would come up with.

For some reason I have not been able to forget about this series for long ever since I first heard of the book a few months ago. I love really good stories but this is one of those books that all of the bad reviews mention the story sinking into love scene after love scene with the story taking a back seat until they are separated. I have seen several people refer to Dorothy Dunnett for a much better story. Maybe I will just have to download a sample and give it a read to see how much it hooks me into the story. Not that I really need another multi-book series to start reading.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

For some reason I have not been able to forget about this series for long ever since I first heard of the book a few months ago. I love really good stories but this is one of those books that all of the bad reviews mention the story sinking into love scene after love scene with the story taking a back seat until they are separated.

I frequently skip over love scenes unless they advance the story.  I read  a book once that was so bad, I actually skipped over 3/4 of the book.  Even though the Outlander love scenes are descriptive, they are more about growing intimacy than sex and I always read them.  There is plenty of "story" and lots of humor, too. 

I have seen several people refer to Dorothy Dunnett for a much better story.

I don't know Dorothy Dunnett, but based on people that trash Outlander, I wouldn't take that recommendation.  Could be Dorothy Dunnett's friends and families are posting the bad reviews.    

Maybe I will just have to download a sample and give it a read to see how much it hooks me into the story. Not that I really need another multi-book series to start reading.

Unfortunately, the sample stops too soon.  For some people, the story grabs them immediately.  For others, it takes a bit more than is in the sample.  If you get the book from the library, at least read all of Part One (5 chapters).  You can always get the Kindle version in 60 seconds if you're hooked like the rest of us.   

[k_reader]

I just started reading this series...  I was initially put off by the "time travel" thing because I really dislike the science fiction and fantasy genre.  I LOVE THIS SERIES.  It is excellent, thought provoking, wonderful.  I find myself thinking about the characters all the time.  I am right now waiting for my K2 to arrive so I can read Voyager.

I must say though, that I love ROMANCE novels and the romantic love angle to the story is excellent in the Outlander series.  It is not a typical romance novel because its not formulatic (boy meets girl, conflict/misunderstanding, followed by happy ending)... but I would have to say there is romance in the story.  You feel the mature love between these 2 characters throughout the books.  In my opinion, the book could certainly stand to have more romantic encounters (not just sex scenes, but conversations etc...) not less!  I found the constant fighting/action/battles and violence  in Outlander to be a bit much when I read it, but after reading dragonfly in amber, I can see that those are necessary to set up the story.  Plus, non-romance fans like this aspect of the book.  In summary, the Outlander book is not a romance novel, but Jamie and Claire romance is part of the story.

Give the first book a try... I agree with previous posters, the first few chapters won't do it for you.  The depth of characters happens throughout the first book.
Enjoy!