On My Bedside {Outlander Series}

Now that the series is out on Starz (which I do not have…boohoohoo), I feel like I’m hearing more chatter than ever about the Outlander series by Diana Galbadon.

 

Blonde Amanda introduced me to this epic story when we first met a little more than five years ago.  Over the course of a sleepless month (I had a newborn so my nights would have been sleepless anyway), I read books 1-7.  You’ll know that this in and of itself is pretty epic if you’ve ever seen one of her books (they aren’t little).  I took care of my littles during the day, reading every chance I had.  I stayed up all night, reading while feeding the baby.  And in the afternoons, Blonde Amanda and I would sit on her porch or mine, having a cocktail and discussing dreamy Jamie and old Scotland.  It was somewhat of a problem seeing as I had a brand new house and hoards of boxes to unpack.  But I remember those days so clearly and fondly!!

10964

Here’s the Goodreads synopsis of the first novel:
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 series is hands-down, without-a-doubt the most engaging, intriguing, and enthralling I’ve ever read.  I know the characters and their families and their trials and triumphs and I care about them.  I adore historical fiction and this is it at it’s best.  And Jamie Fraser is seriously the most dreamy hero of all time.  Seriously.  It almost makes me glad I don’t have Starz because I’m not sure how the on-screen Jamie could ever live up to the one in my mind’s eye.

Written in My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander, #8)

After finishing the first seven, I have been on pins and needles for FIVE YEARS waiting on number eight.  Diana averages four years per book – but they are SO worth the wait!!  I read Written In My Own Heart’s Blood just before school started back and it was amazing.  I think I cried when I finished it because I will be in my early 40’s by the time the next one comes out.  LOL.

I realize the books are a little scary to look at, and the thought of reading eight of them can seem daunting.  But if you ever try one book I’ve ever reviewed, let this be the one!!!

Now that I’ve gone totally over the top with my love for Outlander, raise your hand if you’re with me!!!!  And let me know if the Starz series is worth camping out at my friend MZ’s house to watch!!

xoxo

Follow me on goodreads here

*This post uses my Amazon affiliate link(s).
| Filed under Uncategorized | Tags:

10 thoughts on “On My Bedside {Outlander Series}

  1. OUTLANDER!! OUTLANDER!! I've loved this series for years. I am currently reading the whole thing again for the 3rd time before I read "In My Heart's Own Blood." I don't have Starz either, but I did watch the first episode that they released online & have watched several clips of interviews. "Jamie" is quite dreamy. :) I'm not quite sure on the lady playing Claire, but I soooo wish I had Starz to watch more.

  2. Oh, I'm definitely with you! I have been in the same shape waiting for Written… to come out, especially since it was released over a year later than it was supposed to be! So, I'm rereading An Echo in the Bone right now anxiously awaiting my copy to come in at the library.

    I agree that the size may seem daunting at first glance, but you're soon so wrapped up in the story the pages just fly by! Definitely worth it ladies, if you haven't yet read them. Alas, no advice on the series as I don't have stars either. :-/

  3. I JUST discovered these books and this series last week while on a trip to Lake George NY with my family-my aunt and uncle told me they were amazing so now my mom and I are hooked on this series, the 3rd one was just on Saturday night! I haven't read the books yet, I'm planning on starting them this winter, but the series is great! I'm so impressed you read those with a newborn…I guess they DO sleep a lot!

  4. Dina – I'm not sure if it's that the newborns sleep a lot or that new mommy's don't :-) I remember getting up to feed him for a quick 15 minutes and I'd still be awake reading 1.5 hours later. LOL

  5. I've not read these but they sound enthralling. I have to comment on the "wait" between books. In my early 20's I read Jean Auel's Clan/Cave Bear series and thought the same thing — three more volumes every 3-5 years?… Same deal with Sue Grafton…I thought, "I'll be in my 50's before she gets through the alphabet!!" Rest assured, time flies… Jean's series ended probably 10 years ago and Sue's only on "W" … your book's next volume will be here soon as did my 50's!- I just turned 51.

  6. Okay, Amanda, you've convinced me. First because I have been teetering on reading these for several months because they're always on Amazon's top 100 and second, because I have newborn! The middle-of-the-night nursing sessions are sooo much easier with a good book!
    I once read a few bad reviews on Amazon that scared me away. Knowing your impeccable taste, your one good review outweighs the rest!!
    I don't know if you have ever read Julie Garwood- she has some early books that are historical. My favorite is Castles.
    Happy Reading!
    ~Kandace

  7. You can watch the first episode free on the web, then you are hooked. I couldn't help but order Starz with the click of a button Saturday night because I couldn't make it to my bestie's viewing. For $10/month I couldn't resist. I can cancel later! It seems that the Starz series is going slowly and thoroughly through the story, maybe one novel per season. Actor Jamie's body definitely lives up to my expectations! I am a historical fiction lover also…Maria

  8. I tried reading these years ago when a friend was reading them and recommended them highly. Just could not get into the first one at all. I love historical fiction and Scotland, but the time travel aspect was a bit off putting to me. I did catch a few minutes of the show on Starz, though. Jamie is pretty dreamy…a bit muddy, but dreamy nonetheless…LOL.

  9. I've had the first book on my library wait list all summer. We do have starz so if u wanna catch a flight up here ur free to crash and watch the whole thing at our place?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *