I didn’t fall asleep until 6:00 am.� I blame this bout of insomnia on a late afternoon coffee and wrote about it on the Inland Empire Family blog.� On the bright side, at least I got to finish An Echo in the Bone, the latest Diana Gabaldon book in the Outlander series.
832 pages of American Revolution, people.
I almost stopped reading the series after the second book.� I just couldn’t get into it because Gabaldon spares no detail when it comes to plot and historical accuracy.� Interested in the Jacobite War of the 18th century?� THIS IS YOUR BOOK.� Still, everyone kept telling me to plow through because the end would reward me.� Sure enough, it did.� I finished book two at 2:00am and was at the bookstore the next morning at 9:00 to buy book three.� Galbadon wrote book two so she could get to book three.� Consider it a 752 page bridge.
Likewise, I feel An Echo in the Bone is an 832 page bridge.� The caltrop on the cover represents the four storylines in the book (developed over seven books and roughly 6,000 pages) and let me tell you–not one is resolved by the last page.� In fact, they are all cliff hangers.� Cliff hangers, and this woman takes three or more years to write each novel because, hello, they are each over 700 pages long published.
Don’t let my moaning turn you off.� It’s a great series, as Frances, Kendra, and Tony will quickly jump in and tell you.� (All three ladies were instrumental in getting me through book two.)� It’s not a historical romance, but it is about a great love story.� It’s not a war novel, but darn it if we aren’t dropped in the middle of a revolution every time.� It’s in the literature section in the bookstore if that matters to some of you.� (Um, it kind of matters to me–when I’m not on a cheap romance bender.)� Good stuff, but now I am done and it’s time to move on to one of the twenty five books I have waiting in piles all around the house.
I’m kind of sad about it, actually.� It’s a bit like saying goodbye to a group of people you know you won’t see for a while.
I didn’t make it through book 2. Now I’m up at 2am watching some stupid Tori Spelling made-for-TV movie, wondering why someone cast her in anything and thinking that a return to Ms. Gabaldon is not such a bad idea.
Jules, I discovered the Outlander series over the summer and spent the last six months reading all seven books. You beat me to it as I was planning on writing a review of the series on my blog. I couldn’t let go and now I am almost done with the three of the Lord John books as well.
Kelly–book 2 is the killer. I was so furious with it right off the bat (you know why) that I was pouting the whole time. I will tell you what everyone told me: plow through it. When you get to the last few pages you will run out and by book 3. Book 3 was the best. I was reading it at a crucial moment when it was time for us to eat dinner. I got everyone situated, took one bite of food and told The Mister, NOPE. Can’t eat. Have to get through this one part. So I left the table and went back to reading. He was laughing hysterically.
Interesting! I read like crazy and have always been intrigued by the Outlander series, but every time I pick up one of the books and flip to a random middle page, I get a little disappointed – like they’re not what I want them to be. Still worth it though, you say?
Jenni–What do you want them to be? They aren’t for everyone. For example, my mother-in-law loves to relax with easy romances and predictable storylines. For her, romance novels are ultimate stress relievers so she doesn’t want anything too complicated or stressful/sad/depressing. It’s her version of tawdry reality T.V. If she wants something complicated or thought-provoking, then she’ll read memoirs, literature, etc. Romances should be lighthearted, fun, and easy to burn through in a day or two. They are for relaxation purposes only. :)
She liked Outlander (she only read the first one) but there was just too much plot and character development for her to move to book 2. It just wasn’t the light and easy romance novel she uses to unwind after a grueling day at work. The series doesn’t really fit her needs that way.
I’m pretty sure I just muddied the waters.
These have seemed daunting but I love me some accurate history, is that oxymoronic? Isn’t history all just someone’s memory and that’s a slippery slope. Anyways, I have wanted to read this since you mentioned it prior. Please get some rest, I need you healthy!
I love the Outlander series. It’s long and full of information, but worth it to follow Jamie and Claire (and Ian, Brianna, Roger, Jem, and everyone else…)
I read (and re-read) this series awhile ago. Picked up Snow and Ashes, and An Echo in the Bone, but for the life of me I’m having trouble getting into Snow and Ashes.
I loved the first three with wild abandon. I developed a lilting Brogue and damn, died my hair red…but now,
nothing. These are a hard read, and I think you really have to be focused and “in the mood” to capture all the tiny little details that Diana weaves into every single nuance.
So, the gist…did you like it? Long and drawn out as it was? Does Jamie die in this one?
It’s worth it if you value the storyline between Jamie and Claire, which I do. So, yes, I did like it. Still, I am both sad to see it end (for the time being) and relieved to move on to something easier and shorter. You nailed it, Jackee–you must be focused and “in the mood” to appreciate a writing style like Gabaldon’s.
I love this series more than I’ve ever loved a book. But I have to admit that it took me two years to get through A Breath of Snow and Ashes. And now, I barely even remember what it was about.
Any book that can make me ruin it with tears gets my vote.
And it is always worth plowing through the boring bits (wars, herbal remedies, intricacies of making matches) to get the stories of these people that are now so real and dear to me.
I love this series in a way that is perhaps unhealthy. The way some people feel about Twilight (which I liked fine except all the whining Bella did). When my mom and I were in Scotland, we went to Culloden and then drove up into the hills and found the standing stones that were the inspiration for the ones in the book. Please don’t judge…
I hadn’t realized the last book was out, so I’m off to the bookstore to pick up a copy! I’m a bit of a history nerd, so I didn’t find any of the parts boring (I think its that kind of detail that makes the characters come alive), and got through the second one with out problems. And I’ve read them all several times. Like you Jules, I’m always a bit sad when I come to the end of which ever book is the current final. End of confession.
Oh man, I just found your site from Making It Lovely and was puttering along, enjoying you posts but this…this!
I’ve been a huge Outlander fan for about 7 years and this latest one is totally exactly like that. A bridge. Book two was SO hard to survive the first time, but I really enjoy it now on my rereads.
I met Mrs. Gabaldon when she came into Portland for this book tour and she was so fantastic. Loved her to death, especially the poem she recited:
“In days of old
When nights were cold
Before condoms were invented.
They wrapped wool socks
Around their cocks
And that�s how babies were prevented”
Fantastically hilarious. I adore her and cannot wait for the next one.
Wow! I just finished An Echo in the Bone & absolutely loved it! I’m a big fan ever since these 1st came out. I reread the whole series again last summer in anticipation of this book. Actually, I love the cliff-hangers, but do hate to go thru the wait to find out what happens.
As for what many of you said about the trivial details, I love all that stuff. My daughter is just starting an herbal cream business & she found lots of neat stuff in the books that she was able to look up elsewhere that were all very accurate. But I do think it takes a certain type of person to like this series. I just adore huge books that I can spend some time with & I’m a trivia nerd. I hate regular romances, but the Jamie/Claire romance (relationship actually) is something else entirely.
For those of you who don’t like huge books, I’d suggest trying the Lord John mysteries. They are good also & much shorter.
Mrs Soup–a while back I was on Diana Gabaldon’s site (I thought someone who wrote such detailed books would be an interesting person to learn more about, and I was right!) and watched a few videos. She has a video of that visit, or at least I think it is. She recited the same poem, which I thought was hilarious. Also, if you watch some artist videos, you’ll see that she interviews just like she writes…lots of detailed answers! I thought that was great, since most authors seem shy and don’t divulge much during interviews.
Bev–I liked Echo in the Bone, but HOLY MOLY the cliff hangers. Cliff hangers are great if you don’t have to wait three years to resolve them! :) I really enjoyed all the history and detail she put in the books, but I think I would appreciate them even more the second time around when I am not so desperate to know what is going to happen next.