Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

I just finished the first book in this series. I think every woman that's read this that I know has loved it. I liked it, but was distrubed by it also. I liked it as entertainment, but am torn on the characters, and in some ways, do not like them. I despised how quickly claire got over jaime "punishing" her. it made me hate her for awhile. I hated him after that, too, though I get it--different time, different place, the way he grew up. But I could not get how she would be so ok with that so quickly. and their relationship just seemed so sex-based. i felt like she gave up on frank and never looked back for the sex with jamie. I don't know...I'm torn on this one. still a good book. kept me interested, even if i disagree or disliked the characters. still evoked emotion from me, even if it was negative emotion.

Re: Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

I am an Outlander JUNKIE... I've read the entire series several times.

When I first read that "abuse" scene, when Jamie beats Claire for leaving, it freaked me out a bit. But, Diana Gabaldon was writing him as a product of his time. He said he would beat her if she left where he told her to stay. She left, because she was a product of her time. He followed through, because his men got killed, he put himself in extreme danger, and that was the consequence to her action.

It was a literary device as well, because it's a mechanism for them to get to a more mature place in their relationship. I don't like beating women, LOL, but you have to look at it through the glasses of 1743 and not 2012.

As far as her leaving Frank so flippantly, I think Claire's character is really no-nonsense.... She's like, "This is the situation I'm in, I'm going to look forward and not back." In the second book, that becomes really apparent as well.

The relationship between her and Jamie definitely grows and develops over time. I think it is very sexual at first. Having read allt he books and knowing what their relationship becomes, it's very hard for me to remember having first read the first book!! But as the world falls apart around them, they both mature a great deal.

Keep reading

Message edited 1/17/2012 1:58:11 PM.

Re: Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

Posted by OffWithHerHead23

I am an Outlander JUNKIE... I've read the entire series several times.

When I first read that "abuse" scene, when Jamie beats Claire for leaving, it freaked me out a bit. But, Diana Gabaldon was writing him as a product of his time. He said he would beat her if she left where he told her to stay. She left, because she was a product of her time. He followed through, because his men got killed, he put himself in extreme danger, and that was the consequence to her action.

It was a literary device as well, because it's a mechanism for them to get to a more mature place in their relationship. I don't like beating women, LOL, but you have to look at it through the glasses of 1743 and not 2012.

As far as her leaving Frank so flippantly, I think Claire's character is really no-nonsense.... She's like, "This is the situation I'm in, I'm going to look forward and not back." In the second book, that becomes really apparent as well.

The relationship between her and Jamie definitely grows and develops over time. I think it is very sexual at first. Having read allt he books and knowing what their relationship becomes, it's very hard for me to remember having first read the first book!! But as the world falls apart around them, they both mature a great deal.

Kepp reading

Re: Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

Re: Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

I just started the third book. I do feel like the book is racy then it needs to be and some of the scenes drag on. But I am finding it is holding my attention as I love to pick up little clues that will be important later.

That scene really bothered me and it bugged me that she got over it so quickly. It just doesn't seem true.

Message edited 1/17/2012 3:58:36 PM.

Re: Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

It's funny - I finished the first book a few weeks ago & while I loved it, I honestly still didn't like Claire as a person when I finished it. Her character does seem to be changing, though, so I can't wait to start the second book to see how she grows & progresses.

Re: Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

I actually found it annoying that he swore it would be the last time. The whole "sensitive male" movement doesn't ring true to me for the time. . . some things are necessary to remind the reader of the time period. . .

I don't remember what happened in what book but I also hated how they suddenly needed privacy to have sex, when they started out being so public about it due to necessity of sleeping arrangements of the time etc.

I honestly never thought about Frank. . . one of my friends brought that up when she started reading it and I felt like a horrible wife. . . she is in this new LAND, new TIME, with no way to go home - with Jamie. . . I didn't even give a second thought to her vows.

Re: Outlander. Opinions? **contains spoilers

I so love this series!