Outlander

Outlander, Book 1

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 32 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

This stunning blend of historical romance and time traveling adventure has captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world and catapulted author Diana Gabaldon to the top of the New York Times best seller list. Outlander introduces an exhilarating world of heroism and breathtaking thrills as one woman is torn between past and present, passion and love.

In 1945, former combat nurse Claire Randall returns from World War II and joins her husband for a second honeymoon. Their blissful reunion is shattered when she touches a boulder in an ancient stone ruin and is instantly transported to 1743 Scotland, a place torn by war and raiding border clans. Will Claire find her way back to her own time, or is her destiny forever linked with Clan MacKenzie and the gallant James Fraser?

©1991 Diana Gabaldon (P)1997 Recorded Books, LLC.

Critic reviews

"Davina Porter maintains the distinct voices she creates for each character throughout the lengthy narration. Her delivery of 18th-century language sounds authentic and is easily understandable." (AudioFile)

Very Gripping!!!!

Thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. I loved all the trifle details, dialogues, and character developments. Unlike the game of thrones your favorite characters aren't systematically annihilated. I did feel like the leading man grew far to emotionally unstable at the end. I think some of his issues should of remained hidden from the reader.

Excellent In All Aspects!!

I truly can't see what the most recent viewers can possibly have to complain about with this book. It has the perfect balance: Well researched, accurate history . . . extremely well developed characters . . . interesting plots that move quickly and aren't predictable. This book (and those which follow) is not for the faint of heart. It takes place in 18th century Scotland and England, these weren't peaceable times, folks! They were violent at times, and the violence and sex in the story is appropriate for the period. If you want a quick, easy and mindless read, try Harlequin. If you enjoy well researched historical fiction, this is a great book for you! The narrator is quite gifted, and brings the characters to life.

Wonderful

Despite the length of this story it is so good you don't want it to end. I will be starting the 2nd book the same day I finish the first! LOVE THE NARRATOR!!!!

Gabaldon & Porter: a fantastic combination

Would you consider the audio edition of Outlander to be better than the print version?

I fell in love with the series first through the audio. I've listened to this twice from a library copy and just bought my own copy for kindle and listened again. Davina Porter does a fabulous job reading all the different characters but after all, it is Diana's book and the characters are Diana's. I've also read the book three times and own the hard copy. I promote this series to all that will listen!!

What did you like best about this story?

The characters, the humor, Claire & Jaimie are not just interesting heroic and romantic but fun. I feel a full range of emotions going through this series.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

All the different voices for the different individuals. I can't help wonder, how does she do it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

of course not

Any additional comments?

Love it, Love it. Book and audio. Recommend to all.

Outlander, The Best Series Ever!!!!

What made the experience of listening to Outlander the most enjoyable?

The Narrated by Davina Porter is the best made the listening the best experience yet.

What did you like best about this story?

Jamie and Claire

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Best ever.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Jamie and Claire.

Any additional comments?

I am SOOOO glad and very happy that this story is now a TV Series on Starz absolutely wonderful!!!!

2nd time around

Where does Outlander rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I read this book when it first came out and love it then. It's so much better in audio.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Great performance!

My first audio book

This was my first audio book. I have now read (heard) all of this series and am totally addicted to my audio books. I first got them as I drive a lot for my job and I promise you the km's just fly by when I have a good book. I actually look forward to long drives now! I even got my book club to read the paper version of this book 2 months ago and they also loved it. It can be a little racy if you are a conservative reader, but what a great story with fantastic characters!

I felt vaguely dirty reading this book

The book has an interesting premise. What would happen to a World War II era nurse who stepped through a time warp into 1743 Scotland? Fortunately she is well schooled in her history and her husband's genealogy, so she has amazing insight into her new time's impending future. All good and promising.

But her structure speedily devolves into alternating passages of soft core porn between our protagonist and her new, virile, hunky young Scottish husband and sadistic ones between the two lovers and the wicked English captain with the uncanny resemblance to her modern-day husband Frank. Captain Randall pursues them both, leaving us for a time uncertain who he actually wants sexually.

I appreciate that modern novels need a bit of sex to make them sell, but I wasn't prepared for so much or so graphic a depiction. It always seemed that my husband or son would walk in on me when I was listening without headphones to a particularly salacious bit. I could only wonder what they thought I was listening to. I was frankly rather mortified.

All that said, the author has a way with words and an engaging style. She is clearly prepping for a long run of novels and I regret that I won't be reading them because I like a historical novel and the period has a lot of dramatic possibilities. So if you're prepared to wade through the unrelenting graphic depictions, or perhaps because of them, go to. Not me I fear.

I only got this book because it was on sale

Idon't care for sci-fi, fantasy, wizards, demons or the like. There's nothing wrong with that sort of thing but I just don't happen to care for it myself. You aren't going to tumble through a portal in time just because you touch a certain stone in a certain way, the idea is utter nonsense it can't happen. Diana Gabaldon, however made me believe it could happen. She has brilliantly woven a sequence of events into a completely captivating story. Still you can not tumble through a portal in time because portals in time do not exist so I only gave this selection a 3 star rating, but because I like `em long I added 1 more star for length to give it a total of four stars. This particular selection demonstrates to me that sometimes it might be a good idea to look at something you wouldn't normally consider.

If You're Here Because of the TV Show...

It took me 4 tries to make it through this book. I Love Love the TV show. Like obsessively love. So I thought I would instantly fall in love with the book, because everyone knows the books are better. Yeah, that didn't happen. I have never encountered a book so alike yet still so vastly different from the TV show/Movie. Factually they are practically mirror images which is great. The difference is the personalities of the characters. They are night and day. And it took me forever to like any of them. (Like I said 4 tries) Finally I had to reside myself into believing they were completely unrelated with each other at all, as in they were two separate stories. It took me longer to like the book versions of them, but eventually I did. But just in case you are stubborn like me I feel I must add the book was almost over before I gave in. By book 4 (finally passed three seasons I've watched) I am completely in love with this series and quite irritated with myself for not buying it sooner.