topic Re: Question About The Outlander Series in Community Chat

Question About The Outlander Series

Cali Bag Lady — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 02:44:00 GMT

For those of you who have read the Outlander series, did you find it hard to "get into it"? I have been wanting a good book to sink my teeth into and I have heard so many positive things about this series I thought I would give it a try.

I have made three attempts to read the first book, Outlander, and I am finally at about page 60 and have zero interest in continuing. First... I am not a big fan of historical novels... but do like good books with good strong characters and I thought this one might fill that bill.

Did anyone else have issues getting into this book? Will it get better pretty soon or should I just throw in the towel and pull the book mark?

thanks

Joy

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

ennui1 — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 03:57:38 GMT

Life is short. Pull the bookmark.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

Marsha2003 — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:34:39 GMT

I read the first two books in the series and I remember thinking several times that the narrative was painfully slow and that I wished the author would move the story along faster. While I was interested in the characters, I didn't care to trudge through more of the author's prose, so I never picked up any of the other books. If you're bored with it, either skim a few chapters to see if you can get more interested in the story or pull the bookmark and donate the book. You can always look up the summary of the books if you want to know the general story.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

ennui1 — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:40:27 GMT

On 6/20/2014 Marsha2003 said:
You can always look up the summary of the books if you want to know the general story.

Where do you find summaries? I usually read the Wikipedia articles which contain plot summaries and spoilers, but some books aren't there.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

Marsha2003 — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 01:12:38 GMT

On 6/20/2014 ennui1 said:
On 6/20/2014 Marsha2003 said:
You can always look up the summary of the books if you want to know the general story.

Where do you find summaries? I usually read the Wikipedia articles which contain plot summaries and spoilers, but some books aren't there.

Wikipedia is my go-to source, too.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

esmerelda — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 14:28:00 GMT

JoyJ...I tried the first book...audio download. The reader was wonderful with the accents. I stayed for better than half the book (because I was gardening, cleaning, cooking, driving, etc.) and realized...I didn't care! About any of it!

A book that I read and loved and would read again is Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts). It's a long book (900+ pages). I learned about it here.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

ennui1 — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 17:30:34 GMT

On 6/23/2014 esmerelda said:
JoyJ...I tried the first book...audio download. The reader was wonderful with the accents. I stayed for better than half the book (because I was gardening, cleaning, cooking, driving, etc.) and realized...I didn't care! About any of it!

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

PhatCat — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 19:20:41 GMT

When we went to Scotland the people we traveled with insisted I read this series so I purchased the first book for beach reading. Well that was many summers ago and I think I made it to page 100 and something. It is still in my beach bag, "just in case" I finish the other book I brought with me. I just couldn't get into it either, not my style of writing.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

jaxs mom — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 01:50:29 GMT

I tried reading the first book a couple times and couldn't get into it. I personally don't find Claire's relationship with Frank interesting. I don't think Frank is very likable in the beginning of the first book. Once she went through the stones and got to Castle Leoch I was hooked though. I've read the whole series numerous times now. I actually like Jamie much more than Claire.

I love historical fiction and history and read a lot of non fiction history books though. I also really find the details about daily life compelling reading in itself.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

ennui_too — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 05:35:15 GMT

The first episode of the mini series is available Comcast On Demand, even though the premier isn't until this weekend.

It was OK; I'll probably watch a couple more episodes before I decide.

Mostly, I kept thinking, great, another scrawny heroine with a bony chest.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

shamalamadingdong4 — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:49:06 GMT

I read the first two books of the series many years ago. They were okay. I tried to continue with the third book but just couldn't get into it. I don't waste my time finishing books that bore me. There are a lot of other books out there. Anyway, I dumped number 3 and didn't look back. I did see the advance airing of the Showtime series and liked it. It's more exciting than the books.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

Remee — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 06:31:37 GMT

Its actually a tine-travel book so if you don't love that just stop reading. Life is too short to fight a book and there are too many wonderful books waiting to be read !

Have you read the following: Absolutely fantastic, guaranteed great reads !!

Pillars of the Earth- Ken Follett (worth the beginning once you get into it. You shouldn't miss this epic read!)

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand ( this will surprise you when you get deep into it. Has an element you aren't expecting when you peruse it. It has remained on the best-seller list since 2010!)

These two are MUST reads for anyone who ever held a book !

Did you only want "big, thick books " to read, or are you game for just great reads ? I can suggest many if you are.

Have you read Clan of the Cave Bear-Jean Auel, the first in the Earth Children's series? Fabulous and catching !

Divergent-Veronica Roth- If this is your style of reading.

The Help-Katherine Stockett

The Shack-Wm. Paul Young

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

I almost pray you haven't read the last three because I want you to read them so badly. Each is so very different from the other, but all are sincerely worthy best-seller reads.

Memoirs of a Geisha you can't put down once you get into it, don't fight getting into it, take your time and just do it ! Wow, what a read !!!!!

Same with The Shack, it will leave you thinking long after you close the book !

There are so many more if you need help, will gladly make suggestions if you ever need them.

Good luck selecting a great book, and happy reading !

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

jaxs mom — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 16:44:33 GMT

See, I could never finish Pillars of the Earth.

Re: Question About The Outlander Series

beckyb1012 — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:11:46 GMT

I just started the first book, Outlander myself on Friday night and I will probably finish it tonight. I did have to go back and re-read the first 10 or 15 pages since my mind wondered off. But boy did it get interesting by Saturday for me. I cannot wait to get back to it this evening since I had to stop reading this morning to come to work. Keep going.

But if not I understand I still cannot get through Unbroken. I have tried three times.