I'm reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, yet again. This is probably the 4th or 5th time over the past 15 years or so that I've read the series.
A very good friend recommended the series to me years ago, and another friend urged me to pick up the first book, Outlander. The premise of the books, as outlined by my friends, didn't really sound like something I'd be interested in. First, it was about a nurse from WWII. I don't care at all about anything connected to nurses, doctors or hospitals, even tho the friend who recommended the books was a nurse. I thought then, that must've been why she was so taken with the story. Second, I also didn't care for anything related to WWII or the periods shortly before or after. I much preferred the Medieval, Rennaissance or Regency periods for the setting of historical novels. My favorite author is Jane Austen (books set in the Regency period), and one of my favorite books is Katherine, by Anya Seton (medieval period). And, on top of those misgivings, there was the element of time travel thrown in. I think that may have put me off most of all - I didn't care at all (at that time) for anything sci-fi related, and time travel screamed that genre to me.
But there was that hook. The majority of the book is set in 18th century Scotland. Good country, good time period. So, finally, during a reading dry spell I opened Outlander to give it a cursory look.
By page 45 I was hooked. Fortunately, I had procrastinated from reading the series long enough so that when I finished the first book, I could immediately move right on to the next, and then the next. But, eventually I caught up with what had been published. Then it was time for me to join the throngs of Jamie and Claire devotees awaiting the next book of the series. That is where I find myself again. It has been reported that Ms. Gabaldon is in the final stages of publishing the seventh book in the series, An Echo in the Bone. Amazon actually has the book available for pre-order with a delivery date of September, 22, 2009! So, since it has been a while since I last read the series, I decided to once again read them all, beginning with Outlander and time my reading to finish A Breath of Snow and Ashes right before An Echo in the Bone is available.
Just for jollys I jumped online to see what others were saying about the advent of a new book in the series. That led me to some sites that have conversations about who should play the characters in the book if a feature film was made. Very interesting. The consensus on the net for the actor to play Jamie is plainly Gerard Butler, but I'd like to see Rupert Friend play the young Jamie and maybe Gerard play the older Jamie? (SEE PHOTO OF RUPERT, ABOVE) Rachel Weitz would be a perfect Claire, in my opinion. I think she could carry off both young and older Claire. I'm going to have to give some thought to some of the other characters, tho.
A very good friend recommended the series to me years ago, and another friend urged me to pick up the first book, Outlander. The premise of the books, as outlined by my friends, didn't really sound like something I'd be interested in. First, it was about a nurse from WWII. I don't care at all about anything connected to nurses, doctors or hospitals, even tho the friend who recommended the books was a nurse. I thought then, that must've been why she was so taken with the story. Second, I also didn't care for anything related to WWII or the periods shortly before or after. I much preferred the Medieval, Rennaissance or Regency periods for the setting of historical novels. My favorite author is Jane Austen (books set in the Regency period), and one of my favorite books is Katherine, by Anya Seton (medieval period). And, on top of those misgivings, there was the element of time travel thrown in. I think that may have put me off most of all - I didn't care at all (at that time) for anything sci-fi related, and time travel screamed that genre to me.
But there was that hook. The majority of the book is set in 18th century Scotland. Good country, good time period. So, finally, during a reading dry spell I opened Outlander to give it a cursory look.
By page 45 I was hooked. Fortunately, I had procrastinated from reading the series long enough so that when I finished the first book, I could immediately move right on to the next, and then the next. But, eventually I caught up with what had been published. Then it was time for me to join the throngs of Jamie and Claire devotees awaiting the next book of the series. That is where I find myself again. It has been reported that Ms. Gabaldon is in the final stages of publishing the seventh book in the series, An Echo in the Bone. Amazon actually has the book available for pre-order with a delivery date of September, 22, 2009! So, since it has been a while since I last read the series, I decided to once again read them all, beginning with Outlander and time my reading to finish A Breath of Snow and Ashes right before An Echo in the Bone is available.
Just for jollys I jumped online to see what others were saying about the advent of a new book in the series. That led me to some sites that have conversations about who should play the characters in the book if a feature film was made. Very interesting. The consensus on the net for the actor to play Jamie is plainly Gerard Butler, but I'd like to see Rupert Friend play the young Jamie and maybe Gerard play the older Jamie? (SEE PHOTO OF RUPERT, ABOVE) Rachel Weitz would be a perfect Claire, in my opinion. I think she could carry off both young and older Claire. I'm going to have to give some thought to some of the other characters, tho.
