Good grief it’s long

Overall an enjoyable book and audiobook, and an interesting concept.

But there are definitely points where it just feels like filler. The post-wedding ten chapter shagfest, for one. Sometimes the key characters seem to spend 40 straight minutes talking about childhood beatings. Frankly incredible detail on what spices and herbs Claire is grinding in a mortar and pestle. But I guess it’s a ten book series, so maybe some of this will turn out to be important context in a later book?

There are a LOT of different characters and the narrator mostly does a good job of accents and differentiating everyone. Then occasionally a character is inexplicably West Country or Dutch when they’re supposed to be Scots.

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A historical novel with something extra!

It is an understatement to say that I love this story! I have previously read this book (and the remaining series) and seen the television series, however, it was a real treat to have someone read it to you! Davina Porter's voice is lovely to listen to and the whole book is beautifully read. Occasionally I felt that she slipped in to a Scottish accent for the character of Claire (who is English) but otherwise I would say that the reading is faultless.
I had a few long drives across England and Wales to do and found that this made 5-7hour drives fly by! I would say, however, that if you do not know the story that the complexity of the story and amount of goings-on does mean it warrants a consistent listen as opposed to one you could dip in and out of over the course of several weeks. If you love a historical novel with something a little extra this is the listen for you!

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wow

wow what a wonderful story so many times in the depths of despair and then to be lifted to the highest hights of love x

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Outlander

Loved this book, the story, the characters and the narater. well worth the 40hrs listening.

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Best of the Outlander series

People I know seem to be somewhat disparaging about Diana Gabaldon. I was until I listened, then listened again -very carefully. As someone who taught English for years it’s easy to over analyse all writing and dismiss it. Think again.
How she managed to bring these complicated characters and a story that spanned several centuries to life in a period of tumultuous Scottish history is astonishing.
I am a Scot. I am intensely interested in Scottish history and language. I am amazed that she has managed to write a series of books that span time and place and don’t leave me writing in embarrassment.
I have read her biography. Apparently she wrote most of the books before she even set foot in Scotland. I find her ability to capture some of the essence of this beautiful and turbulent country quite amazing. Perhaps she came through the stones. I just don’t understand how she gained the insight she has to conjure what she has with no experience of the Scottish character or how it has been formed.

I try hard to criticise the narrator. When I stop being over critical and just allow myself enjoy it I don’t find her voice a problem. Let’s face it she is trying to bring so many disparate characters to life. She makes a good job of juggling male/ female Scots and English voices.

My biggest problem is with Jamie’s voice. Just when I am really getting into his character vowels seem to go to pot and the voice really jars.

Jamie must be a nightmare to narrate. How would you begin to translate this huge character into an audio book? Claire would have proved less of a challenge- bland Home Counties.

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good idea but overly long

This is long and wordy and I say this as a reader of Dickens and Austen! But, you do get a long narration for your money.

The premis of the plot is interesting and I think well researched. However some divergences from the text are irritating and sometimes erroneous.

The narration is well done, with various voices male and female, well distinguished.

But overall my download was spoiled by an intrusive echo or "voices off". Very feint but once heard always there.

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