Could not put it down...
I saw the trailer for the series by mistake and realized that the topic was right up my alley: historical and supernatural...
Oh, yeah...! So we were off to a great start but I will admit that I haven't even finished season one of the series. But I devoured the book...
Which is unusual because I do not usually enjoy romance novels. For those of you who have not read the book and are thinking about it, let me just give you some background information and then you're free to scurry off into a corner only to emerge when you've finished reading. The main character is Claire Randall who was a nurse in World War II and married to Frank Randall who has been away for the war. They decide to go to Scotland for a second honeymoon in order to break the ice between them after years of being apart. While in Scotland, Claire touches a standing stone and is sent back in time to the 18th century where she meets Jamie Fraser.
That's all you're getting from me. You'll just have to read the book and find out what happens next. For those of you who have watched the series, read the book. It's by far better and more realistic.
This book allows us the opportunity to look at a very turbulent time in Scottish history through a modern eye. Claire faces many difficulties for three very simple reasons:
1) She's a woman
2) She's English
3) She's educated
This pretty much sums up everything the Scottish church feared in the 18th century and before and because the church feared it, so did the people.
I grew up in Wales but I have never had a Scottish friend and so reading this was my first introduction to Scottish culture. I have to admit that I loved it. Celts met Vikings and the giants had offspring with huge muscles and flaming red hair to piss of the short, white little Englishmen with guns down the street. There is no love-loss between the Welsh and English and I found myself and avid Scottish independence supporter while reading. I'd just like to point out that I'm speaking for the book and modern day politics are not to be included - Sorry Braveheart, you know I love you really!
I fell in love with the characters and their spunk and Claire's defiance in the face of all obstacles. I do however, have to say that I love the fact that you feel the fear of 18th century women through Claire and possibly even more so because in her time it was not unusual for women to be educated or to talk back. Admittedly I find the sassy Claire on the series is a little too far fetched from reality. The Claire in the book is far more aware of the boundaries of 18th century women and stays within them as much as she possibly can because she knows to overstep them will land her in the docks or possibly cost her her life. This was their reality. Their job was to obey and populate, no more - just as it was for most of the world at the time and remains so in certain places today.
*Spoiler Alert ON*
The love, the love, the love... The love between Jaime and Claire is beautiful and pure. It is one that is grown over time and not a fleeting moment of passion. It is the love we all hope to one day have and cultivate.
I have to admit... and I am both sorry but then again I'm not, seeing as there are eight of them, that I haven't continued to read the books. I started the second one but it began nnnnnoooowwhhere near where I had imagined it would. Those of you who have read the book I think will agree that there is a HUGE jump between the ending of the first and the beginning of the second book. I will eventually get round to reading it but I was happy with the way the first book ended and had left some questions still unanswered but you in a nice enough position that you felt that no matter what, everything would eventually be right with the world... and the second book took a sledge hammer to my head and heart and ruined everything. It didn't ruin everything of course but you know what I mean. The second book starts with so many new questions, so much missed time and so up in the air that I panicked... I wanted answers and I wanted them fast and it looked like I would have to finish the book in order to get them so I bailed.
*Spoiler Alert OFF*
But all in all a great read and a good perspective bringer for modern times! I cannot promise you that I will read all eight of the books, especially seeing as I haven't even finished the second one yet but you never know...
Here's to good whiskey that put hairs on your chest to keep you safe from the cold!
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