. . . and I'm about two-thirds of the way through. Truth? I'm not sure what I think at this point, guys. I like Claire and Jamie quite a lot. Who wouldn't? They're sort of adorable in a practical British nurse meets highland Scottish rogue way. And I love all the history and bloodlines and details of daily life and ambiance. But I kind of feel like for a book that's gone on this long, I should be feeling a bit more depth to my two leads. You know? Also. A bit less of Claire in MORTAL PERIL every time Jamie turns his back. Seriously. If I were her I'd be a basket case by now. So. I know quite a few of you have read it and I want to know why you love it. Basically, tell me why I should continue on and if this relationship gains a little more depth in between the multitude of daring rescues and swoonworthy encounters.
This book has made the rounds and no mistake. I started seeing early reviews awhile back and read a few delightful interviews with Leanna Renee Hieber and found myself intrigued to read her first novel-- The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker . I was, therefore, tickled to receive a copy for review from Ms. Hieber and quickly set about settling in. I knew it was a Gothic paranormal mystery of sorts, featuring (among other things) a group of loyal comrades, a private London academy, a bit of magic, an albino, and a swoon-worthy broody professor a la Richard Armitage in North & South . *moment of silence for the awesomeness of The Armitage* And that was the extent of my pre-reading knowledge. That and the fact that I loved the cover with its simple yet moody, midnight blue and its slightly off-kilter, scripty title. Miss Percy Parker is about to embark on an adventure, albeit a much larger one than she imagines. Leaving the convent--the only home she's ever known--a...
It gets better...
ReplyDeleteUm...Seriously, though, it does. Get better, that is. I was seriously annoyed with her inability to keep out of trouble for more than 5 minutes at a time. But there's a point where some really pretty kool stuff happens! I don't want to spoil it if you haven't gotten there yet...but it does get better!!
ReplyDeleteAlthough in all fairness, I read this awhile back and haven't yet picked up the 2nd book, although I intend to - someday.
Just wait until all the hot sexxorin Jamie and Claire do. OCH Jamie!! sigh.
ReplyDeletei recently got the free version being offered on my nook and have tried, for the third time, to read it (twice in the past based on friend recommendations). i really want to like it, i do, especially since i lovelovelove all things scottish (well, except for haggis), but my eyesight sort of blurs during it. i'm thinking i may have to give up trying.
ReplyDeleteI've never read it but I heard so many good things...I will definitely keeping my eyes open for your review
ReplyDeleteOh don't give up! :) There is definitely some interesting stuff that happens by the end of the book, which doesn't involve Claire in mortal peril :) Sorta. But I don't want to give anything away either. I can see why some people wouldn't like the book (and series), I truly do. But my feelings of "like" won out and I really enjoy this series, even if I didn't read the most recent book because it had been years since I read the last one and couldn't remember what happened so now I want to reread them all....one day.
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I will read Outlander....one day.
ReplyDeleteGabaldon puts her characters through the wringer for sure. If you stick with it, as others have mentioned, there are quite a few surprising events that lead to what you might consider more depth.
ReplyDeleteI hope you stick with it! (And enjoy it!)
I'll be interested to know what you think of it-personally when I got to a certain scene involving Jaime, a leather belt, and a helpless Claire, I encountered the first time ever where I wanted to throw a book across the room (don't worry, I didn't). I've been wondering lately if I should give it a second try.
ReplyDeleteThis book seems to divide readers like no other I have seen before and I loved it from the first page. It sounds like you're already leaning the other way, Angie, at two-thirds done but most of the emotional payoff for these two does happen pretty close to the end so don't give up yet! I do hope you enjoy it but honestly, I would be a bit surprised if you did. I'm not sure it's your kind of book. (It's not for everybody.) I'm just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like Gabaldon - I'm not massively invested in Jamie/Claire particularly, but I just love the whole umm... epicness of the books. There is just so much - history and detail and characters.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would ever re-read the series so far (well, not unless I had a few months spare), but I do pretty much read everything she writes.
HA! You finally picked this one up!! Good for you. It's not really one of my all time favs but I did read book 2 so something must have inspired me to pick up yet another doorstop.
ReplyDeleteFor me, this one really dragggggged at the beginning as well. I too wanted to kick Claire most of the time. I think the saving grace however was the development of Jamie and Claire's relationship. They were just so *intense* together, you know? And also, the ending about killed me.
I can't really sway you one way or another since I'm not a die-hard fan, but I'd say, keep reading Angie. I think you'll be glad you finished it.
To be honest, the first one was too cheesy romance novel for me, but I still cared about the characters. I picked up the audiobook for the second, and then I was off and away. Some things happen in the later books that really create tension and connect you to the two characters much more than all the initial romance between them. In general, you do start to care more about them and some of the other characters associated with them. I think that once you get the groundwork out of the way in the first book, that you'll like them much more. Yes, there is a lot of groundwork with books that have that many pages in them, but they are still really good!
ReplyDeleteThe real beauty of this series is that with each book the characters grow, the storyline grows...there really is a whole lot of depth. Claire and Jamie really do grow as a couple, they don't stay stagnant.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a lot of peril in Claire's life, but I don't know...I just kind of went with it figuring that I would probably stumble and get myself in a whole of terrible situations if I all of sudden found myself back in the mid-1700s.
My best friend had a hard time really getting into Outlander. A few things did not make sense to her...did not click. I sat down with her and showed her how it does make sense...she likes the book better now but does not love it. I think these books either work for the reader or they do not. They work big time for me, and Gabaldon is my favorite author. ;)
It is okay if you don't like Outlander, I am certain that I and your other readers who are Outlander fans will still love your posts. :D hehe...
I have this in paperback and ebook, but haven’t even attempted to read it. The size is just so daunting, and the mixed reviews have caused me to set it aside. I can’t wait to hear what you think when you’re finished.
ReplyDeleteI read this one because of all the good reviews that I've seen but I didn't really end up loving it. I'm curious to know what you think about it when you finish though. I don't think I'm going to pick up the sequels anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteI was interested in picking this up once but after reading enough negative reviews I decided I probably wouldn't like it. It's just too big of a page commitment. :)
ReplyDeleteLove. It.
ReplyDeleteThough, I have to admit that a lot of my enjoyment comes from listening to the audiobooks. The narrator is amazing, and she does an amazing Jamie.
I've tried to read this book twice and still can't finish it. TOO drawn out and I get bored with it. I know lots of people adore this book, but it just doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteMsM
Nope, it gets worse. I liked a few things (basically what you said you liked it) but I thought the ending to be too exploitative. I finished it but never went back for more.
ReplyDeleteThea devoured all of them though.
There's a lot to recommend about the book, but I got through it only because it was a book club book. I had a real problem with the scene Rachel mentions. There's a second scene I find appalling. And while you noticed the trouble Clare always gets into, the fact that Jamie goes through physical hell so frequently became just too much for me.
ReplyDeleteWow, I expected more people to be encouraging you to finish with the amount of people that love this book. I read it years ago and ended up liking it, even with all the problems. I did read the next 2 books in the series and then just lost interest. I'd say if you are not loving it now, finishing it or not won't make any difference.
ReplyDeleteThe end of that book freaked me out way back when I read it. I haven't dared go back for more! So be sure to let us know what you think of that ending....
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across a display for book 2 in the series when I was in high school, and the gorgeous cover (as well as the size) won me over. Back then, I wanted my books to be as big as possible because I was finishing them too quickly. However, the beginning of the book made no sense, so I had to special order book one--and I loved it. Over the years, I reread it and the first couple of books in the series a few times. However, I stopped reading the series at book five--I simply couldn't force myself to push through the book and get to the good parts anymore. Recently, I gave all of them (except book one) up in the bookswap on Goodreads.
ReplyDeleteI loved the relationship between Jamie and Claire, and the belt scene didn't bother me. It bothered me even less when I learned about things like scold's bridles. (Which, thankfully, don't appear in the book!)
Honestly, if you're not already in love with Claire and Jamie, I doubt it's going to happen. The end of the book is pretty intense, but it only really works if you're emotionally invested in these characters.
I just read this about a week ago. It's fluff. It's exciting, and it was very different than the type of book I usually read (at least recently). I liked the action, I thought it was exciting. But it's a pretty long book, and if you aren't into it yet, I would rethink whether you want to invest the time.
ReplyDeleteKeep going. I reviewed it on a writer's blog a maybe a week or so ago.
ReplyDeleteI get where you're coming from, but it does get better. And seriously, how can you quit when Claire is IN MORTAL PERIL! You can't. :)
I have also tried to read this a few times. I don't know if it's one of those books you have to be "in the mood" for. At the time, the long descriptions of the heather and such bothered me, but I love Jean M. Auel, and she does REALLY long descriptions. Then again, I have to be in the "mood" for perfect, perfect, Ayla, too. I know so many people who utterly adore Gabaldon, though, and I feel like I should love her just for her name. :-) So I hold out hope that I'll be in the mood sometime
ReplyDeleteSince I've loved all things time travel since L'Engle, and romantic time travel even more since "Somewhere in Time" (Christopher Reeve...sigh...), I thought I'd adore these books. But I gave up even before you did, I think.
ReplyDeleteI just couldn't get over her poor husband, left behind while she has fabulous, sexy, dangerous adventures. Then she goes back to him and just bides her time until the next...? Plus, leather belts don't do it for me, either. :(
I loved the book, but if you don't love it by now it's not going to happen. The second book gives you a lot more depth and history, but her books are a real investment of time! I loved book 1 just because Claire is so unconventional and strong as a heroine. She should be a lot more careful in a strange time than she is, but I love how smart and opinionated she is. Gabaldon does a nice job of aging Claire and Jamie over time. Some of her books are really hit or miss (books 2, 4 and 6 are wonderful, 3, 5 and 7 not so much).
ReplyDelete