Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Almost a disappointment January 20, 2008
Annith (UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The first book in this series ("Cross-Stitch" or "Outlander", depending which side of the Atlantic you're on) was rather sheepishly recommended by a friend when I said I needed a "light but intelligent read". I lapped it up, with half my brain telling me it was tosh, but the rest loving every sentence. And the fact is, the book got well under my skin. I even found myself playing around on the internet to see if there were any film versions due (there so should be!!) and, biggest accolade of all, I actually had to discipline myself to read a few other books first, before moving on to "Dragonfly in Amber".
I could hardly wait. Was it a disappointment? Well, curate's egg. In places, yes. But only by Diana Gabaldon's own amazingly high standards.
In this book, we find our heroine, the spunky, brave, outspoken and utterly believable Claire, back in the 20th century. We're not told how or why.. All we know is that she was found wandering and pregnant.. She now has a beautiful 20-year-old daughter, Brianna. Brianna is tall, willowy and has red hair, high cheekbones and blue cat-like eyes.. Ring any bells?? For yes, Brianna is the daughter of the wondrous Jamie Fraser, the hero of the first book, and of this one.
Then, very quickly, we go into flashback. And that, for me, is where the problems start. Claire is once more with Jamie, trying to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie's revolutionary attempts to take the throne of England and Scotland... Because she knows, and has convinced Jamie, that hundreds of his friends and relatives will die in the fateful Battle of Culloden, in 1746. Alas, it's as if the author was so pleased with this idea that she sort of stopped focusing, for a while, on how to achieve it. We have Claire and Jamie in Paris in the mid 1740s, passing the time as successful merchant (a role Jamie handily takes over from a cousin) and his wife, and vaguely trying to influence decisions made by Bonnie Prince C, then also living in Paris. Neat idea. The trouble is, this section drifts on interminably, with details about the minutiae of everyday life (which would normally enthral me), and the inrtoduction of endless characters, some of whom are terrific creations and vital to the plot, but many turn out to be completely irrelevant..
But then, it was as if the author draws a deep breath.. And the old pace picks up and works towards a climax which I found absolutely shattering. For me, it wasn't at the very end, but in the immediate approach to Culloden. For about 50 pages I bawled my eyes out.. But I'm not in the Spoiler business, so I'll leave it at that. Except to say, I don't cry easily!
My other reservation about "Dragonfly in Amber" was simply that the author seems to have fallen too much in love with her hero! I would defy any red-blooded female not to be totally smitten with Jamie Fraser in the first book. But in this, we feel too often like uncomfortable voyeurs as the (rather good!) sex scenes give way to endless descriptions of Jamie's beauty.. I got to the point where I was ready to lob the book across the room if I hit one more adoring description of the sunlight on his fabulous red head -- or body! -- hair.
But these are quibbles. Diana Gabaldon can write, and then some. She sucks us into her stories until we're actually dreaming about them. I started a sneering cynic, and ended a devoted fan. And now I'm back to forcing myself to read other things before starting on the next in the series..
 Wish I could give it more stars September 17, 2007
M. Lugg (Helston, Cornwall United Kingdom)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have just recently re-read this book, the second in the series, and what a delight it is to join up with Jamie and Claire Fraser again, like meeting old friends! Diana Gabaldon's books in this series are just so amazing I cannot begin to describe how incredible and compulsive these books are.
If you haven't read any before, start with the first in the series which is Cross Stitch and I'm sure you won't be disappointed and you'll feel the need to buy the rest in the series because you just have to join Claire and Jamies on their amazing adventures.
book two in the best series ever August 13, 2007
Jamie fan (Wales)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
You have to read Cross stitch first to make sense of this book. The book follows the relationship between Jamie and Clare and their quest to stop the battle of Culloden. Be prepared to cry at the end - I have read it three times now and I howl each time!!!! Honestly!!! I really loved this book - the relationship between Jamie and Clare is so real and believeable - you can`t put the book down! The only other books that come close for me are the Marsha Canham books The Pride of Lions and The Blood Of Roses - again about the battle of Culloden.
I cried! September 14, 2006
Ms. S. E. George (Wiltshire, UK)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I am not joking, this book actually got me all teared up. It's amazing, Gabaldon is a true artist. Back with characters from CrossStitch (Outlander in the U.S.) you're once again taken back in time with Claire, and this book truly will break your heart. You get swept into the magnificent story, and I think I'm understating this when I say that the Outlander series is the best around. Read it and I know you'll love it too.
great story, historical fantasy March 15, 2006
L. mckay (scotland)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I am truly loving this series of books. You just get swept along with them. A real page turner.
Although complete fantasy, I love the historical aspects of the story, my one HUGE issue with this book, is the fantasy attached to the geography, this may sound weird, but Gabaldon has been a little lazy in researching this aspect of the book, She states the English army is considering marching North from Perth, when Edinburgh is due south of Perth!, and she seems to be confused with Prestonpans in Scotland (the site of the first battle) and Preston in North England, interchanging the names (i live in central Scotland so know the places she mentions, and it is annoying), I can cope with the liberties taken in history, Gaelic and the Scottish Dialect, but the geography bit annoys me.
Sorry for moaning on, all in all a good story and I cannot wait to read the next instalment in Jamie and Claires saga.
|
