Susan (sophiespencermom) reviewed on 12/22/2013 + 9 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I'm probably the umpteenth million person to say how wonderful Outlander and all things Diana Gabaldon are, so I won't go into any long summaries of the story. Instead, I'll just share some of the many things I love about Diana and the Outlander (and Lord John) series: First, I love her sparkling wit. Diana will come out with these one-liners that have me literally gasping for air, I'm laughing so hard. Sometimes they are snarky or sarcastic (but not in a mean way) and sometimes they are just plain FUNNY. She always does it in a way that is character-appropriate. Second, I love how she sets the stage brilliantly...I always have a clear mental picture. But at the same time, even though the books are close to 1,000 pages, I never feel like she's just droning on about each little detail. It's as if she just transports me there. I love living in Claire & Jamie's world. Third, I just love that her characters are PEOPLE. Flaws, quirks and all. Ok, well, Jamie is a bit larger than life, and a man I'd like to have (wouldn't all Diana's female readers want a Jamie for themselves???) but other than that, you feel like these are real people, with real emotions & real problems. At the same time, Diana never psychoanalyzes or psychobabbles. She just lets you get to know the characters for who they are. Fourth, following from this, is that the romance is romantic without descending into one steamy sex scene after another. Yes, the sex scenes that are in Outlander (book and series) are there, and they are HOT, but the books are so much more than the sex. Fifth, I love how the books defy description: is it historical fiction? romance? adventure? fantasy/SF/time travel? Mystery? Well...all of the above. Diana is just so skilled at telling stories of all types. She refuses to be bound by conventions that say "this type of book should be this so I am going to be safe and follow the formula." Nope, not Diana. And so the result is a truly unique book that has you staying up till all hours turning the pages. I've literally read Outlander about 6 times, and each time I find something new, unique and different. She's truly a master author. Take a chance - you won't be sorry. There's a reason so many millions of readers adore Diana.

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