Mrs. Blankenship's Book Blog

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Rating:
5 Stars! ☆☆☆☆☆

This book is full of adventure and romance. Gabaldon does a great job of using historically accurate references. The characters are very dynamic and you learn a lot about them. Some books seem to take forever to get to the 'good stuff', but Outlander doesn't waste your time!

Setting:
This book takes place in Scotland during both the 1940's and the late 1800's. Don't let it freak you out, but there is TIME TRAVEL involved. During the book the main characters spend most of their time living in the 1800's, traveling around Scotland during wartime. Some of the other characters are living in the 1940's, unaware of the time travel that has taken place.

Main Characters:

• Claire: a nurse who served during World War II. She is living in Scotland with her husband. She visits an ancient Scottish relic and ends up being transported in time to 1800's Scotland where she must fight to survive, learn how to love again, and decide where and when her real home is.
• Jamie: A young Scottish Lord. He meets Claire while she is staying in his families lands. Jamie is often at odds with his family. His and Claire's relationship grows in ways they do not expect. He must find a way to come to terms with the realities of her complicated life. His own past is filled with dark secrets.
• Frank: Claire's husband in the 1940's. He has no idea where his wife has gone. From his perspective and the perspective of their friends, she has likely run off with another man. Little do they know she is stuck in another time.
• Black Jack Randall: A former enemy of Jamie's who seems hell bent on destroying his life and Claire's.

Main Plot Events:

1. Claire and Frank visit various historical sites in Scotland. Claire decides to return to Craig na Dun to pick some plants she saw for medicinal purposes. When she touches the sacred stones she is ripped out of her current place in time.
2. Claire meets Jamie after he rescues her from someone.
3. Claire and Jamie's relationship grows in ways they don't expect.
4. The war between the Jacobites and the rest of Scotland becomes more and more imminent. The battles being waged threaten to separate Claire and Jamie.

Conflicts:

• Internal Conflict: Claire must decide where her true home is: with Frank or with Jamie. Which love is the love of her life?
• External Conflict: Jamie and Claire are on the run from Jack Black Randall; they are also at odds with Jamie's family's politics.

Recommendation:

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance, fantasy, war, or historical fiction. There is a little something for everyone. It is a classic book that many have fallen in love with. Read it now!