The Exile by Diana Gabaldon

Title: The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel

Author: Diana Gabaldon, Hoang Nguyen

Publisher: Del Rey 2011

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 224

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel

Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.

A bit of a disappointing read for me. I loved the first Outlander book and hoped this prequel comic would add to the series. Unfortunately I wasn’t a huge fan of the art style or how they portrayed some of the characters. I read it, but wasn’t really a favorite.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Voyager (Outlander #3)

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Publisher: Dell 2001

Genre: Historical Romance/Fantasy

Pages: 912

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - More than 800 Pages

Sweeping us from the battlefields of eighteenth-century Scotland to the exotic West Indies, Diana Gabaldon weaves magic once again in an exhilarating and utterly unforgettable novel....Their love affair happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her ... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.When she discovers that Jamie may have survived, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face what awaits her ... the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland ... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that lies beyond the standing stones.

I am not kidding when I say that it has taken me almost a year to get through this one. I started reading it way back in March (??? I think) and just finished it. I just got stuck in the middle for the longest time. I really enjoyed the first about 200 pages detailing Jamie's time after Culloden and Claire traveling back to Scotland. Once they were reunited, I just lost a bit of interest. The pace really slowed down and I just didn't have the burning desire to keep reading. Once I passed page 600 or so, everything starting moving a lot faster and I sped to the finish. There were so many twists and turns in that last 1/3 of the book. I was right along for the ride. Definitely a good read, just took me a year to finish. Here's hoping it doesn't take me all of 2018 to finish The Drums of the Autumn.

Outlander

#0.5 Virgins
#1 Outlander
#2 Dragonfly in Amber
#3 Voyager
#4 The Drums of Autumn
#5 The Fiery Cross
#6 A Breath of Snow and Ashes
#7 An Echo in the Bone
#7.5 The Space Between
#8 Written in My Own Heart's Blood
#8.5 A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows
#9 Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2)

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Publisher: Dell 2001

Genre: Historical Romance/Fantasy

Pages: 947

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - NPR Scifi/Fan; Read My Own Damn Books; Popsugar - Over 600 pages

With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters — Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful follow-up to Outlander....For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his....Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

Confession time: I have been reading this book off and on for about 4 months now. And I have no idea why I kept putting it down because I loved it! Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed Outlander and this is just more of the same. This volume we get to follow Claire and Jaime as they try to thwart Charles Stuart's ill-fated attempt to regain his crown. My favorite section of the book was the part set in Paris. I loved meeting some new interesting characters (Fergus! Mother Hildegard and Bouton! Master Raymond!) and seeing Claire and Jaime in a different environment. And of course we all knew that Jack Randall would reappear at some point. Really loved where the story went in this volume. Makes me more excited about reading the third book sometime soon. (Although I might need a break from the 600+ page behemoths in this series. Maybe in March?)

Outlander

#0.5 Virgins
#1 Outlander
#2 Dragonfly in Amber
#3 Voyager
#4 The Drums of Autumn
#5 The Fiery Cross
#6 A Breath of Snow and Ashes
#7 An Echo in the Bone
#7.5 The Space Between
#8 Written in My Own Heart's Blood
#8 A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Outlander (Outlander #1)

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Publisher: Dell 1998

Genre: Historical Romance/Fantasy

Pages: 850

Rating: 5/5 stars TV Show: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; NPR Scifi and Fantasy; TBR Reduction; A to Z -- O; Book to Movie; Outlander

Unrivaled storytelling ... unforgettable characters ... rich historical detail ... these are the hallmarks of Diana Gabaldon's work. Her New York Times bestselling Outlander novels have earned the praise of critics and captured millions of readers.Here is the story that started it all, introducing two remarkable characters, Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages....The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon — when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach — an "outlander" — in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord ... 1743.Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life ... and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire ... and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

My reread of this novel was slow going. I have no idea why it took me this long to read, because I really really enjoyed this book. Whatever the reason, I loved getting back into the story of Claire and Jamie. I originally read this a few years back at history reenactment events. Fitting as we were reenacting French and Indian War set just a few decades after Outlander. I never continued the series, yet have wanted to in the intervening years. One of my goals this year to finish the series.

Within the first chapter I dove head first back into the story. I love the character of Claire. She is such a well-rounded character I can imagine meeting her on the street. I love that her reactions to falling back in time are realistic. She is confused, angry, sad, but understands that she needs to figure this new situation out to survive. I love it! And meeting Jamie Fraser is just the beginning of a great romance. I love their little conversations here and there even before the wedding. I can't wait to see where their story leads in the rest of the series.

TV Show:

I was wary of the television series. Would it hold up to such an amazing book? Thankfully it does! Most of this is due to such great casting. They found the perfect people for Claire and Jamie, but the best casting is Tobias Menzies as Black Jack/Frank Randall. I've never been a huge fan of Frank, but to finally see him, I am more sympathetic to his situation. And then we get the flip side of Black Jack. Truly a villain for the ages. Beyond the main characters, I really enjoyed Dougal and especially Angus. And the scenery is just absolutely gorgeous. I want to go to Scotland right now! The only problem I have with the series was the horrible cliffhanger the creators left us with at the end of the first run. I guess I know what happens, but my goodness that was evil.

Outlander

#0.5 Virgins
#1 Outlander
#2 Dragonfly in Amber
#3 Voyager
#4 The Drums of Autumn
#5 The Fiery Cross
#6 A Breath of Snow and Ashes
#7 An Echo in the Bone
#7.5 The Space Between
#8 Written in My Own Heart's Blood
#8 A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows

2012 Outlander Reading Challenge

From Literary Escapism:

I am a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER series and I keep hearing how people want to read this series, but never do. Sadly, I haven’t read any of the Outlander novels since A Breath of Snow and Ashes came out in 2005. The seventh novel, An Echo in the Bone, has already been out for a year and the eighth novel, Written in My Heart’s Own Blood, will be coming out soon (although not soon enough). So I’m thinking I really need to get reacquainted with Jamie, Claire and all the other wonderful characters in the Outlander novels by starting from the beginning. I’m also thinking this is the perfect time for all everyone who keeps saying they want to read it, to finally picking them up. Plus, for those who have read Outlander, but haven’t picked up the Lord John novels – yea, I’m including those too. *grin*

So for 2012, I’m hosting the Outlander Reading Challenge. Here are the details:

The challenge will run from January 1st through December 31st.

The goal is to read all 7 Outlander novels as well as all 4 Lord John novels, listed below, or as many as you can or want to do.

Once a month, we’ll get together and chat about where and what we’ve read (more details about this to come).

After reading one of the novels, write your review and then come back to the main challenge page and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and which title you’ve read.

I tried to complete the Outlander series last year failed miserably. I didn't even read one. So, I thought I would challenge myself yet again. Hope this year goes better! I'm only setting a goal of the first 5 novels.

Outlander (1991)
Dragonfly in Amber (1992)
Voyager (1994)
Drums of Autumn (1997)
The Fiery Cross (2001)

2011 Outlander Series Reading Challenge

From The Lit Bitch:

Welcome to The Outlander Series Reading Challenge 2011! I know I am about two days late on this posting but let’s just say it took a fair amount of trial and error to figure out how to make a button and link everything back so my apologies for the late info and post!!

My sister and my mom have been reading the Outlander Series and raving about it for the last few months and I have yet to read the series! My biggest fear is that I will love it so much I will probably not do anything else once I start reading them–so I figured why not have some fun and involve others in my reading journey–and what better way than through a reading challenge. So here you have it, after some painstaking HTML research and a crash course in programming here you have it–the Outlander Series Reading Challenge 2011!

I had to, I just had to join one more reading challenge. I read the first book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series and have been meaning to read the rest. I started Drums of Autumn a few months ago, but put it down, then lost it in the jumble, and have found it again, but should really start over. So I am committing myself to reading the entire series this year. A friend has joined me in the challenge on an unofficial basis. Now to re-find all my books...