(5) = Best; (4) = Better; (3) = Good; (2) = Fair; (1) = OK
These abstracts serve as reminders to myself; they serve to "jog" my memory on what a book was all about. That's all. This is not a literary critique, not a social commentary, and certainly nothing profound to warrant further discussion.
(5) = means that I really enjoyed this book; (1) = means I finished reading it but wonder if my time could have been better spent elsewhere.
One of Mabel’s friend’s husband (Dawn & Robert) referred me to this book. It is great.
I also found a summary at Wikipedia! Check that out! This will save time summarizing the book.
Outlander (published in the UK as Cross Stitch) is the first in a series of novels (currently six) by Diana Gabaldon. The book focuses on two main characters, Claire Randall (née Beauchamp) and Jamie Fraser, and takes place in eighteenth and twentieth-century Scotland.
The novel is not easily classified by genre. On one level, the work is a romance novel with a focus on the romantic relationship between the two main characters. However, the book breaks certain romance genre conventions—the heroine, for instance, is slightly older than the hero. The book could be described as a work of historical fiction with a detailed account of eighteenth century Scottish clan life. The novel could also be considered science fiction with a plot propelled by time travel when Claire journeys from the 1940s to the eighteenth century.
It was awarded the RITA Award for “Best romance novel” of 1991.
The story is about Claire Randall’s adventure in 1945, traveling in Scotland with her husband, Frank, who is doing geneaological research on the Randall family. Claire is a trained Nurse having treated wounded men in WWII. On this journey, Claire walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles, and suddenly she is magically transported in time to the mid-18th century. She is treated as a Sassenach - an “Outlander” – in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in 1743.
She meets an English Captain Jonathan Randall (Frank’s distant grandparent of sorts; the family mythology about the Captain and what Claire experiences of him is quite a contrast). She finds out how cruel he is from a young man who tells her how the Captain had flogged him and showed her the results. The graphic detail would be “X” rated in a movie.
Claire is suspiciously treated as a “spy” as she speaks English and French, but does not know Gaelic. She is aware of historic Scottish animosity towards the English, so she introduces herself as Claire Beauchamp - French. She is accepted by the MacKenzie Clan after healing and nursing several men. We are introduced to history and culture of Scotland through the eyes of Claire. She is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, the young man who was flogged by Captain Randall. Claire is pregnant when the novel ends. Will Claire return to the 20th century? There is a sequel and the story continues… (5).
The setting is Englad Danny Cartwright, a blue collar worker, is out celebrating his engagement at a local tavern to Beth Wilson and her brother, Bernie. There are Four Yuppies (Upper Class men) drinking in one corner of the tavern obviously drunk; one of them blows kisses and shouts obscene language to Beth. Bernie challenges the men, the group goes out the back door, a fight ensues. Bernie is killed, Danny suffers a wound on a leg, the police arrives, Danny is arrested for killing Bernie. Our story begins.
Of course, we know Danny is innocent and his young defense lawyer will have to prove that. The scene shifts to the prison where he is incarcerated. There, he meets two of his “roommates": Nick and Big Al, who eventually befriend Danny. Nick discovers that Danny is exceptionally bright and offers to tutor him. I forget how long they’re in prison together. Suffice it to say Danny eventually acquires all the behaviors of the Upperclass, learns how to eat with knife and fork, learns proper diction, learns how to read, and eventually has his hair cut and groomed. Ergo: they discover they are look alikes! You can’t tell Nick from Danny. (see where this is headed?). They become great friends. Nick’s jail term is seven years; Danny’s is 22 years.
Danny is determined to prove his innocence. His young lawyer has the assistance of his father, who is one of the most powerful and well known defense attorneys in England. But am jumping ahead of the story.
Spencer Craig continues to scheme with his friends and as long as they tell the same lie they hope to get away with this murder. Craig rises to the top of his profession, so it appears the law will never catch up to him. He hires a second party to arrange for the murder of Danny in prison to silence Danny forever, and Nick is killed by mistake. There is a funeral for Danny. And, eventually, “Nick” (Danny) is released from jail (earlier) on Probation, and he discovers that “Nick” has inherited a gigantic fortune. Danny meets the family lawyer who managed the family’s fortune and tells Nick that Uncle Hugo is after that same fortune and plans on contesting the Will leaving everything to Nick.
Archer is a great writer. He leaves you turning page after page and keeps you up late at night. This story resembles the Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Danny and his young lawyer seeks revenge. We discover surprising twists and turns in this story that make for a great adventure. This is a worthwhile read. (5)
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