Voyager (Outlander) by Diana Gabaldon
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Book Reviews of Voyager (Outlander)
Book Review: Voyager
Summary: 5 Stars
This, like Dragonfly in Amber the second book, was fantastic. It continued a great storyline and provided plenty of action and adventure, and that ever steady romance between Jamie and Claire.
A larger book, it covers quite a bit of ground in the story of Jamie and Claire's relationship. It starts where Dragonfly in Amber leaves off, with Claire still in the 20th century with her daughter Brianna. They are searching through the history books to see what became of Jamie Fraser, Claire's husband from the 18th century. When at last they find him, Claire must make the decision on whether she will go back in time to seek him out, or stay in the present with her daughter.
Persuaded by her daughter to go to him. She prepares for her journey back in time and once again steps through the stones. Back in the past, she rather quickly finds Jamie and starts on a whole series of misfortunes and adventures starting with the burning down of Jamie's print shop and an unsuccessful smuggling attempt to bring in alcohol. Forced to flee the city, they return to Jamie's home in Lallybroch.
Lallybroch isn't too peaceful however, as Claire learns that in her 20 year absence, Jamie has married again. And not only has he married, but it was to a woman who tried to kill her in the first book. A settlement is reached and Jamie, not having the funds to pay off Laoghaire (the 2nd wife) takes his young nephew to obtain some jewels that are buried off the coast. However, before his nephew Ian can get back to them, he is abducted by pirates.
Because of this, and a promise to Jamie's sister to keep her son safe, they head for the Caribbean. Beset by the British Navy and many other foes, reaching the Caribbean is not easy for them and they are separated numerous times along the way. When they finally reach the islands it still stays dangerous in their quest to save Ian.
Like the other books, this one is mainly written from Claire's point of view. It retains the rich descriptions and wordiness that Gabaldon is known for but the length of the book does not detract from the enjoyability of it.
My only complaint would be that we are reintroduced to a character that was presumably dead in the first novel, but has come back and changed drastically. While Gabaldon gives a plausible explanation to this change, it still seems out of place and a bit unbelievable.
The 3rd book in the series, Voyager, is a great read. However, the first two books should be read before it; this is not a stand-alone read.
Voyager
Copyright 1994
870 pages
Book Review: The best one thus far -- Jamie and Claire are captivating!
Summary: 5 Stars
Diana Gabaldon has regaled her readers with the passionate story of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser in this (thus far) memorable series. In Outlander, former WWII combat nurse and married woman Claire Randall is transported to Eighteenth Century Scotland where she meets highlander warrior Jamie Fraser and embarks upon a beautiful love affair that transcends time and boundaries. In Dragonfly in Amber, twenty years had passed from her unique time-travel experience and she is now with Jamie's daughter, Brianna. After her twentieth century husband dies, she goes back in time and tries to save Jamie from being killed in the battle of Culloden, which she fails to do -- or so she thinks. In this third offering, Claire returns to the eighteenth century to recapture her romance with Jamie after discovering that he had survived the battle of Culloden. While this happens, the reader gets a glimpse into what their lives had been like during the twenty years they were apart. There are many twists throughout the novel.
Voyager, like the previous two novels, is richly historical and beautifully narrated with precise details and romantic prose. There are a number of new colorful characters in this one that I enjoyed very much. I also got to read more insightful tales of Scottish and other European history. The historical references fascinated me, especially the ones centered on the Scottish Highlands. I also found the storylines centered on voodoo to be quite compelling and intriguing. And of course I enjoyed reading about what are now one of my all-time favorite fictional couples in literature. This love story that transcends time is truly captivating. These two characters speak to me in a whole unique way. I like the scenes that some readers deem disturbing and dark, like the ones centered on corporal punishment. This is one of the areas in which the author is keeping true to the times, for corporal punishment was quite common in those times. Also, there are complaints that the book is sometimes boring because of its large length. This novel did not feel long to me at all. After reading almost nine-hundred pages (trade paperback) I felt as though the book hadn't been long enough. I hated to see it end. Voyager is my favorite novel of this series thus far. I cannot wait to give Drums of Autumn a whirl. Outlander fans must simply read this third offering. And for others who are new to the series, I recommend that you read these books in order. Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber precede this one. Enjoy!
Book Review: 3rd in Series - A Moving Scottish Historical!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the 3rd in the unique and wonderful Scottish historical (and time travel) series that grabs you by the throat and won't let you go. At over 1000 pages, this installment is an all day sucker of historical romance and well worth your time. The saga of Claire and Jamie continues in Voyager as Claire, who by 1968 has become an MD and is now chief of staff of a prominent Boston hospital, having discovered that Jamie did not die at Culloden in 1746, learns more about Jamie's hard life since they were forced apart 20 years ago. She is assisted in her research in Scotland by Roger Wakefield, an Oxford scholar and a Scot who is attracted to Claire's beautiful daughter, Brianna, who is the physical image of her father, Jamie. As the three conduct their research into the past, we become a part of Jamie's life during the years he did not have Claire. As life throws him one difficult challenge after another (living as an outlaw in a cave, prison, a servant in a rich man's house, manipulation and abuse by others, etc.), he remains a man of honor and integrity with a heart to serve and provide for those he loves all the while longing for his lost love and the child she bore him he has never seen. Claire longs to rejoin Jamie in the past though she knows another passage through the standing stones to go back 200 years in time carries great risk. It is a risk she is willing to take because he is her heart. This is a well told tale of a deep love that spans centuries and of the two lives deeply woven into the tapestry of Scotland's history. This is the only romance series I know of where the same romance flourishes in each book...it is a tribute to Gabaldon's outstanding talent as a storyteller and one who sees into the hearts of people that she can make it captivating. You want Jamie and Claire's love to go on forever. This book had me both laughing out loud and crying tears as it ripped at my own heart. I highly recommend it. And, should you need it, here's the list of the whole series in order:
Outlander (1991)
Dragonfly in Amber '(1992)
Voyager' (1993)
Drums of Autumn' (1996)
The Fiery Cross '(2001)
A Breath of Snow and Ashes '(2005)'
An Echo in the Bone '(2009)
Book eight ('No Publication Date yet)
Book Review: A roller coaster ride!
Summary: 5 Stars
What a roller coaster ride! The book left me breathless and smiling. It was one adventure after another with a few calm points in between. From what I gather from the other reviews, Voyager was supposed to be the final book in a trilogy. I'm SO glad it isn't. I can't seem to get enough of Claire and Jamie and want to know: "What happens next?" We meet old friends, new friends and old enemys.
As well as being a romance and adventure, it is a mystery novel. Bones were found in a cave in the Caribbean in the 20th Century and I THOUGHT I'd figured out who they belonged to but I was WAY off course. And a person I THOUGHT was dead, escaped it and was very much alive.
The books remind me of a couple of my favorite novels I read as a child: Treasure Island and Kidnapped. Gabaldon is a superb story teller and makes you feel as if your are living in the 18th century right along with Claire. There are memorable scenes in the book, ones that I found particularly amusing: was where Claire arrives in Edinburgh and discards the wrapping of her sandwich and where Jamie sees her for the first time after 20 years. His reaction to her sudden appearance after so long is simply pricless! And as to the wrapping that covered her sandwich...I wonder if any one ever found it?
At over a 1000 pages the book is long but well worth it. As always I love the historical detail that DG puts into the book. The daily life that people lived and experienced, while it might be boring to some, it helps put you in the time period. Most authors simply skim over what life was like, whereas Gabaldon delves into it and gives you a sense of how people might have lived back then. As I said in a previous review, I admire the research and time that must have went into the book to bring it to life AND make you stay glued to the pages.
I can't wait to start the next one!
Book Review: What a Ride!
Summary: 5 Stars
So much has already been said about this series of books, but I can't help it, I have to add my two cents just in case there are still people out there who have put off reading this series because of the time-travel aspect, (which is why I didn't read them for so long as a big fan of historical fiction). Stop resisting, start at the beginning, go out and pick up a copy of Outlander and I promise you will not stop until you have read all of the books in the series!
The first part of Voyager covers the time Jamie and Claire spent apart and we learn what has been going on in Jamie's life. This is the first time we get to go inside Jamie's thoughts and feelings as chunks of the story are told from his point of view. I had to fight so hard not to skip ahead to their reunion, but it was worth the wait. This book has so many twists and turns and I thoroughly enjoyed their adventures in this book. Never a dull moment!
One of the things I love best about Ms. Gabaldon's series is the beautifully written dialogue. This book in particular features many excellent scenes involving heartfelt conversations between Claire and Jamie, and their words to each other are always so true, so real, their voices are always consistent.
Outlander is still my favorite in the series, because I love reading about the beginning of their relationship, the trials they go through and watching their feelings for each other develop, but Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager are both wonderful, too. All of the books in the series are excellent, but the first three are the best.