Where has this book been in my life, and why has no one demanded I read it until this year? Seriously, I was absolutely stunned by the deliciousness of this book. Even though it came very highly recommended to me by others - I believe many mentioned it was their favorite book of all time - I remained dubious and tried to keep my expectations low. That may or may not have played in my favor. All I know is that this book left me an emotional and mental wreck; my heart raced, my stomach churned, and I could not get Claire and Jamie out of my mind the entire time I was reading the book.

Speaking of Claire, I love the fact she is such a strong female main character. She is not afraid to make the tough decisions, even though she knows how much trouble it may cause. However, I was left wondering if this were more her character itself or the generation into which she was born. Another question that kept running through my mind is whether she truly loves Frank. She doubts his fidelity during the War; she mocked his interests/passions and did everything possible to ignore them. To me, I did not see the love there, especially when compared to her love for Jamie.

As to Jamie, all I can say is "Hot Damn!" He has a childlike abandon to life that is very endearing, but the reader is never left with any doubt that he is ALL male. One can't help but fall in love with him and weep over his plight. His pragmatism is both frustrating and yet one of his best characteristics. And let me just say how nice it is to read about a major male lead who has chest hair. I get tired of reading about all these smooth chests and arms. Granted, that may be my personal preference, but it also seems more realistic to me.

Captain Randall is the villain we love to hate, isn't he? I also liked how Frank's research of him differed from the true man. If that isn't a not-so-gentle reminder that history can easily be distorted through the years and that we should not believe everything we read in history books, then I don't know what is. It also serves as a reminder not to romanticize the past. Unfortunately, because of the romanticization of Black Jack, his appearance, in my opinion, makes it impossible for Claire to choose any other path than the one she chose. If she had gone back through the stone circle, she would have never been able to forget either Captain Randall, and subsequently Jamie. Because of their physical likenesses, her attraction/love for Frank would always be tainted by her experiences with Jack. It is an interesting conundrum but adds great tension to the book.

One can't discuss the book without mentioning the backdrop, as they are very much another character. The Scottish Highlands are charming but tough, beautiful but extremely dangerous, mystical but yet realistic. They reflect the characters of the Scots themselves. The dialect was easy to understand and made me feel like I was really in Scotland. I would get a rude awakening each time I finished reading, and someone would speak to me without using a Scottish lilt. I was completely immersed in the book, and I feel it is due in large part to the realistic portrayal of life in the Scottish Highlands in 1743.

Overall, if you can't tell by now, I feel that this was one of the best books I have read all year, if not the very top of my list. I will gladly put this in my top ten favorite books of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Thank you to all my friends who recommended this to me. You all were absolutely correct in your estimations of it. This is the last book for my Fall Into Reading Challenge. I definitely saved the best for last. ( )

I found this book while just browsing one day at the local book store and decided to give it a try, very glad I did. Although it is very long, it reads incredibly fast leaving you wanting for more. Luckily I started the series after five of the books were written and was able to keep reading and reading. This series is not just a typical romance but includes some history, mystery and even a bit of magic. The characters are well developed and very interesting. Each book leaves you wanting to know more about them and what’s going to happen next. A great read! ( )

I have to admit the idea of reading a historical fiction novel didn't set well with me. However after a bit of arm twisting from my mother I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and read the book. One of the best decision I've made in my 22 years of living. The books are so large and intimidating and they only get bigger...thank goodness!
Diana Gabaldon's talent for writing is astounding! I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the series. ( )

i am about to drive to b&n to buy the next one, dragonfly in amber. that last happened with robert goolrick. good sign! i'm excited! ( )

It took me about 4 months to finish this book... once I was convinced to start it! Not being a real fan of "bodice-rippers" I was concerned about some of the reviews that I had read, and yet at the same time I was intrigued by the idea and the setting of the book.

Well, I was right to be concerned. This is truly a historical romance with plenty of love scenes (fairly explicit) and incessant "I love you, no I love you more..." dialogue. But for all that I still enjoyed the story, and fully intend to continue reading the series. The settings and characterizations are very strong and Ms. Gabaldon has hooked me into her world so that I want to find out what happens to the protagonists. Recommended for those interested in 1700's Scottish/English history. ( )