What do readers think of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon? Write your own review.

When I saw the size of Outlander, I worried that I wouldn’t get it finished in time. I read this 800 page novel in two nights. Now I am reading the second novel in the series. I don’t know how I missed this when it first came out twenty years ago, but I am hooked now. History, adventure, time travel, romance, eroticism, etc., all the things promised by Diana Gabaldon on the cover are delivered in spades. The author spins a web of suspense and adventure and handles every thread in the web with a deft touch. Don’t miss this reissue.

Outlander, by Diane Gabaldon, is one of those rare books that immediately pulls you in and doesn't let go. From the first page, you are drawn into another world, and you don't want to leave. I found myself torn between wanting to read it every moment I could, and wanting to put it away so it wouldn't end too quickly. Even though it is a very long book, don't be put off by the size. It is very quick reading and will appeal to all sorts of readers. Fans of historical fiction, time travel and adventure will all find something to like in this book. I will advise you not to finish this book until you have the next of the series in hand so you won't have to wait before continuing the story. Truly one of the best books I have read .

Probably the best love story ever written! Gabaldon is a genius! Yes the book is violent and the premise seems unplausable, but it is amazingly well done. The characters are so full of life and dimension. They come to life in your head, and you can almost hear them speaking, with the lovely Scottish expressions and dialect. Great, great book!

Diana Gabaldon does a wonderful job developing her main character as she travels through time from 1940 Scotland back 200 years. With great historical accuracy we find out what it would have been like to live as part of a Scottish clan in a time when a lack of education caused fear and suspicion of anyone who appeared to have unusual healing powers. The book could easily have ended 200 pages sooner and it would have been even more enjoyable as the plot becomes tangled and things happen to the characters that seem completely unnecessary to the story. That having been said, I am sure I will read the follow-up to Outlander.

Let me start by saying normally I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, romance novels nor stories about time travel, (which is why I wanted to read this recommended book). Certainly Gabaldon is an excellent writer who has done her homework regarding historical 18th century heroics. I would recommend this book to those who like an ambitious read (800 pages!), a strong heroine, and an interesting love story. I can't say I enjoyed it enough myself to commit to the ongoing stories in the series right away nor recommend it to my book club (too long), but for a vacation read where one may want to get lost in a saga -and learn something about 18th century Scottish life, I think the author accomplishes this - with strong, memorable characters and a good, ambitious tale to tell!

I have wanted to read this book for a long time and was excited to receive a copy to review. This time travel adventure has enough history, old Scottish dialect and culture, romance, sex, war, and violence for just about anybody. It might be too long for many book clubs. The sympathetic characters and their adventures make me want to read the next book in the series, even though the plot is at times a little unbelievable. A little too long but it's worth reading.

Outlander is a good story with a lot of action, love, and sex that I usually skipped over. The book was written with great talent: the sentences read smoothly and full of information and great flow. I'm not sure I will search out sequels as I had to question the cool and dignified Claire's out-of-character hissy fits, along side the unbelievable goodness of Jamie. If she continues in the next book, I'm outta there! Hopefully Diana Gabaldon will produce a book that eliminates the grating personalities of some of the characters—eg., the sweet, sweet inhabitants of the abbey. I feel that there was much to question regarding reality of the times.

Don't let the size of this book scare you off. If you are looking for a good read that is filled with many different elements this is the book for you. You have time travel, history, war and witchcraft just to name a few. I wanted to read every single solitary word because I was afraid of missing something if I read it too fast. Really looking forward to seeing where the rest of this series takes me.