Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Book Information:

 

Title: Outlander

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Published: 1991

Publisher: Dell Books

Pages: 629

Genre: Historical Romance

My Genre Category: Romance, Historical Fiction, Time Travel

 

 Summary (Courtesy of Goodreads)  

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

 *This book contains mature reading and may not be suitable 

       for younger readers—my mature rating is R*

My Review

General Comments

This book contains my top choices in genres: romance, historical fiction, and time travel. While looking for time travel books to read, I noticed a lot of comments that referred to Outlander. Of course, I had to read it. [This happened to be the first book I downloaded on my Kindle.] Anyway, I never read any book located in Scotland. By the end of it, I wanted to write my emails in some Scottish slang.

Characters

The characters are very well developed in this story, especially Jamie. Even though the book contains mature content which I do not always care for, I like how Gabaldon pushed her characters into situations. As a situation came up, I would think, "To really push these characters, she should (or not) let...happen." And, it usually happened. Then, I had to read on to find out how they would get out of that mess. The characters, however, did not stop there and continued to move and take a life of their own. The characters stayed pretty close to the attitudes of that time period.

Plot

The plot takes the reader on a wild journey through time and Scotland. There is a lot of historical background and references. The author puts a lot of effort into her research. Reading the book, I wondered if Claire would get back home to her time or stay almost 200 years in the past (from her time). Did she really have a choice? The middle was a little slow, but if you like heavy romance, then this should not be a problem. If you do not, keep reading because the plot picks up again. The characters are thrust into situations that can meet extremes at times.

Writing Style

The writing contains some Scottish Gaelic. Usually a character translates for longer sentences or words, but there are some that reader can understand through context if he/she does not speak the language. I found the writing easy to read and kept me going at a nice pace for such a long book. 

Thinking of Reading This Book?

If you like time travel, historical fictions, and Scottish highlanders, Outlander should probably be read at some point in your life. A long book (at 600+ pages) can be intimidating, but do not worry. It will go fast. The only concern would be for the mature content contains language and sexual scenes/descriptions.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

 

Book Information

• Title: Pride and Prejudice
• Author: Jane Austen
• Published: 1813 (3 volumes)
• Publisher: Thomas Egerton of London
• Pages: 320 
• Genre: Satire
• My Genre Category: Classics

* Spoiler free – only general information

Summary (Courtesy of Goodreads)  

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues. Renowned literary critic and historian George Saintsbury in 1894 declared it the "most perfect, the most characteristic, the most eminently quintessential of its author's works," and Eudora Welty in the twentieth century described it as "irresistible and as nearly flawless as any fiction could be."

 

My Review

General comments

 Pride and Prejudice became a classic that I loved. I did not get a chance to read this in school, so I ended up reading it on my own after graduation.  The setting and the characters made me want to sit up straight with the book in my hands and call people with titles such as Miss Bennett or Mister Darcy. 

Characters

The characters that stick out the most for me is Elizabeth (Lizzie), Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennett, and Lady Catherine. (A big list, I know.) Elizabeth Bennett is the main character, so obviously she should be sticking out to the readers, along with Mr. Darcy. Lizzie is not quite the normal girl for her time. She does not always follow her mother's wishes, and thus can be more readily associated with by girls in this time. She is the girl who stands up for herself but with style. I like the fact that Mr. Darcy, although rich and handsome, has flaws. It makes him more human and not this perfect man that authors like to write about. Mrs. Bennett (the mother of Lizzie) is quite the character. I am thankful that my mother is not so demanding of my future (especially of marriage.) However, Mrs. Bennett brings humor to the book. Lady Catherine seems to have a presence throughout the book because of her wealth and status. Of course, she is a piece of work as she intimidates the people around her. This makes her the type of character that I love to hate. [A final note: I do have to say that Mr. Bennett would be a great father. I have to admit that I feel slightly sorry for the poor man who has to deal with his wife on a daily basis—usually concerning his daughters.]

Plot

The plot is easy to follow. The need to marry respectably, securing one's future, the result of certain parental upbringings, and the complexities of love are rooted in the book. It is a love story and drama. One learns that it is not an easy path to find love and marriage in this book or time. In fact, the reader will find marriages based on convenience.

Writing Style

 The style of writing is not so bad to get through despite the 200 years gap between publication and now. The period does not have the thee's and thy's in them for anyone concerned. (Those happened a little father back in history.) I find the style to be witty and light. It is easy to feel and visualize the characters. The book is written in third person from Elizabeth Bennett's point of view.

 Thinking about reading the book?

 I think for this book to be enjoyable it helps to have an idea of the time. The roles people played and why people acted the way they did in the book is more understandable when there is some slight knowledge of the time period. Reading Pride and Prejudice with a 21st century mind would make you wonder why there is such a need for marriage (and for that matter, marrying well or "respectably".) Therefore, don't read the book with a modern mind. (Please note that you don't have to be a history buff to enjoy the book.) If you enjoy romance and time period books (specifically the Regency period), this might be a book for you!

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

 

Book Information:

·         Title: The Hunger Games

·         Author: Suzanne Collins

·         Cover Artist: Tim O'Brien

·         Published: 2008 (book 1)

·         Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

·         Pages: 374

·         Genre:  Young Adult/Science Fiction

·         My Genre Category: Young Adult/Dystopian

Summary (Courtesy of Goodreads)

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love

* Some spoilers in general about the book will be noted ahead of time*

My Review

General Comments

Because there is movie coming out in March, I thought I would review this book now.

Normally, this is not my style of book. I like happy endings and moments in books. This does not mean that there are no nice moments in Hunger Games, but happiness is not a key factor in this book. When discussing the Hunger Games with friends, I had a slight struggle coming up with the right description for the book. Maybe it was because I'm not used to reading this kind of genre? For whatever reason, the closest description that I could come up with is a "dystopian" and survival book. No, not surviving the end of the world—surviving life in Panem. I rented this book from Amazon Prime on my Kindle. I just finished book two, and will complete the series next month when I rent the last one. This review is for book one only.

Characters

Hunger Games mainly focuses on Katniss. Other main characters that we learn more about is Peeta (the other contender from District 12), and Haymitch. Because of the life that Katniss leads (even prior to the Game) makes the readers wonder how Panem got be the way it was. No wonder she has issues with feeling such as love (except for the kind that she feels towards her sister).

**Possible spoilers below**

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Her best friend, Gale, is hardly in the book although she thinks of him throughout. I don't think there was enough depth to their relationship to make me believe that she would have ended up with him if she did not go into the Games. I admit that it could have happened. Therefore, I didn't feel too betrayed in the middle and end of the book with what happened with Peeta.  In other words, I don't feel a strong love triangle here—just a confused girl in bad world.

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**End of possible spoilers**

Peeta seems like a nice boy and fairly transparent. Haymitch has his moments. He has a few more layers than Peeta. As a final note, I must mention that I did like Cinna (the stylist). He seemed like a genuinely good guy.

Plot

The plot is straightforward in that you know that Katniss will be entering this Game with competitors from the other districts. It is about survival and not only in the Game but in Panem life. There is starvation and inequality in the country as well as those who enter the games. Any acts of rebellion are out of the question unless you want to be killed and/or your family. It shows sacrifice, perseverance, cunningness, instincts, and consequences. Considering there are two books that follow this one, the reader knows that Katniss will make it to the next ones, but you are not sure how she will do that. Does she kill her fellow opponents? What about those that she "owes" or has an alliance with? There are surprises despite the straightforward plot.

Writing Style

Because you are reading through Katniss's point of view, you are restricted to her thoughts and actions, relying on others filling you in when something happens elsewhere. The style is written for young adults and provides an easy read. The author also likes to take the reader back through flashbacks to help explain things.

Thinking about reading the book?

This book might not be for everyone. It's not the type of book that I would say "I love the story in this book!" because it is a constant struggle for the protagonist. The setting is one I would never wish to be put in. However, it is a story that denotes overcoming obstacles and surviving in a harsh world. If you like slightly futuristic, science fiction, survival, and dystopian stories this book would be for you.