#claire&jamieforever

Eeeeeek! As a huge fan of this series' adapted TV show, it was such a treat to find that the book is indeed even better! I definitely think that reading about some of the more mature parts of this book's storyline (sexual assault and trauma being at the forefront of my mind) was tougher than watching it on a screen, though. Gabaldon's writing style across the board is so intrinsically detailed without being unnecessarily confusing, which I give her a huge round of applause for. Sure, I got lost a few times because writing dialogue in a Scottish dialect, accurately depicting the names of ancient places and customs, and remaining historically accurate as well as entertaining is no easy task. Like, seriously, the sheer amount of research it must've taken to make all the moving pieces of this narrative fit together has my jaw near the floor. 
There's simply too much to cover in one review, and I have the rest of the series to read and comment on along the way, so I won't really be doing that here. It occurred to me that a 600-something page book is bound to trudge up and then coast down a whole series of rising and falling actions, if we're to place its plot on the metaphorical rollercoaster of traditional story structure that most any story can fit. There seems to be at least six or seven different high stakes climaxes that end up leveling out to a period of peace, or general stagnancy, before some other terrible thing befalls Claire, or Jamie, or, once joined in holy matrimony, both parties. The time travel struck me as clever and believable (and described in such a cool way when Claire is at the stones multiple times), the chemistry and slow burn between Sassenach Claire and Scotsman Jamie just impeccable, and the absolutely terrifying Captain Jack Randall's connection to Claire's first husband diabolical in the best way. I also love the last hundred pages of the book's detailing of Jamie's mental anguish and Claire's somewhat divine methods of seeking ways to sustain his will to live. Pitting Randall as a villain figure against them both is splendid.
My only real qualm with the way this book handles Claire and Jamie's initial romance is the inclusion of Claire's beating for "propriety's" sake. I understand that Jamie's insistence comes from his upbringing and all he's ever know culturally, but I just don't believe that Claire, being the strong-minded and modern woman she is, would allow any man, let alone husband, lay hands on her in such a way. The series of events and Claire's internal dialogue/rationale almost convinces me this whole part isn't wildly uncomfortable and demeaning to her character, but not quite. Thoughts on that put aside, there's not much else I have to complain about the sweeping epic this book turned out to be. I already have the second book sitting atop my very tall "to be read" pile. :)


One of my favorite quotes from Outlander:

"'I'll thank ye,' said a cool, level voice, 'to take your hands off my wife.'"

---