Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Books: Voyager (Outlander Series)

I first read Outlander a year ago. Angie went to the British church here in our city where they sell second hand books for $1 and brought me back a book she thought might interest me. She had no idea at the time exactly how much it would interest me.

From the first moment I started reading I was instantly transported into a fantastic world of time travel, Scottish history, love and adventure. I couldn't put the book down. I couldn't stop reading. The author, Diana Gabaldon, creates the most amazing characters, the most interesting story lines, and above all a most intelligent read. She writes beautifully - which is so important otherwise it gets a bit distracting - and unfolds the story in a way that the reader almost feels like he's inside the pages of the book. When the characters get upset, the reader gets upset too. When there is injustice or malice done to one of the characters, you feel very strongly about it and share in the pain along with them.

And so it was that I fell in love. To my joy I found out that this is a 6 part series and that I would be able to "time travel" along with Claire (the main character) and participate of hers and Jamie's (the other main character) life for 5 more books. That's when my beloved sister sent me the second book, Dragonfly in Amber. The book was everything I'd hoped for. When I finished it I didn't know what to do. There was no up, no down, nothing. That's when Our Lady of Perpetual Kindness (aka Angie) gifted me with the third book, Voyager, for Christmas. I was almost afraid to read it for fear that it would't be as good as the others. I was insane. It's amazing.

I just finished it and I don't know which of the three that I've read so far are better. This last one is a crazy, wonderful journey and I loved every single minute of it. Not only did it not disappoint, it amazed me.


I'm told the 4th book is a wash, so I'm going to skip it and go straight on to the 5th. If you can get your hands on these books, I highly recommend it. Bear in mind that the first one has a shocking scene towards the end of the book (about 150-200 of the last pages of the book). It's not for the faint-hearted and there is question as to whether it was necessary to include it in the book at all. You've been warned.

The image I included is what I think Jamie Fraser looks like. If I were casting him it would be Halle Berry's baby daddy, Gabriel Aubry. I didn't come up with this on my own, by the way, this was the author's idea (see photoshopped image here). I'm still looking for my Claire. I'll let you know when I find her. People are throwing out names like Rachel Weiz and Kate Beckinsale, but I'm not feeling it. I think she might be a bit more Keri Russell.

1 comment:

angie said...

Yes, it's all thanks to me :)

You can put that on my tombstone:

"Here lies Angie, THE ONE who introduced Flor to James Fraser.
May she rest in peace."

Hehehehehehe :P