Started: 14/05/18
Finished: 26/06/18
Spoilers: Minor.
I'm trying to judge this as a separate entity to the TV series. I've watched all episodes and really enjoy it so figured I'd give the book a try. But quite honestly . . . (bold statement coming) . . . I think the TV series is better.
Gasp. I know, right?
Now it's not that I thought the book was bad or anything, I just didn't love it the way I thought I would.
Characters
The characters are fine really. They're very likeable for the most part, and there was certainly a variety of Scots. As far as the minor characters go, I do think that had I not watched the TV series and already known beforehand who they all were, I might have confused one for another. Some of the lesser clansmen seemed quite similar in character.
Claire was a little bit of a love/hate character for me, but never quite so intense as love or hate. There were moments when she was really courageous and determined which I really admired, and compassionate and good-humoured which I related to. Then there were moments I wanted to throttle her. Sometimes she just makes bad choices, which I suppose one could argue makes her more human. Yes, but also more annoying.
Problematic Claire
The way Claire reacted is certain stressing situations bothered me. At least twice she dealt with dreadful events by laughing hysterically. First when she was almost raped by a soldier, whom she killed, and then again when she was almost burned as a witch.
I understand that people deal with shock in different ways, and the fact that Clair did this more than once shows this is obviously how she deals with shock, but having her burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter when people try to rape or kill her completely pulled me from the story. I just found it weird and inappropriate, I guess.
Jamie also was a love/hate character. For the most part, he was a well developed, kind-hearted man deeply in love with his wife. He was strong and brave and quite often risked his own life or sacrificed himself to save Claire (cause let's face it, she required a lot of saving) He was a nice character and I liked him.
Problematic Jamie
My only negative about him would be the times he made Claire have sex with him.
Is it rape if they're married? Is it rape if she enjoyed it?
If she says no, then yes. Yes, it is.
There were two occasions where Claire told him no and even tried to push him away but I guess because he's her super hot husband that makes it okay, right?
Jamie, if she says no, put your fucking dick away. Making her have sex with you doesn't make you likeable, it makes you creepy and actually disgusting. Respect your wife.
Plot
So by now, we all know the plot to Outlander so I'll spare you the boredom of reciting a synopsis we know too well. Instead, I'll explain my earlier statement of the TV show being better.
Everything is much more condensed in a TV adaptation of a book. Many things considered not as important get cut, and normally this is a bad thing because it's often the things cut that are sorely missed and dearly needed. In the case of Outlander, however, I think it is the reverse.
I think this book could be shorter, I mean it's over 800 pages for God's sake. There's quite a bit in here that I consider filler, and so in cutting out all that filler, we have a perfectly paced, perfectly interesting TV series.
In reading the book, I thought I'd get more, bridge a few gaps, and flesh out a few storylines. I did get more, just not the right kind of more. Instead of expanding on what we see in the show, we just get all the filler. All the unnecessary stuff, like Claire finding the Water Horse. I mean, WTF was all that about?
In fact, there's so much going on, so many big dramas and little melodramas that at times it felt like too much. The storylines felt a little thin, like butter spread across too much bread, as Bilbo Baggins once eloquently put it.
So in short, the TV series keeps all the important, plot-driving stuff and the book meanders around trivial, menial things.
Setting
Again, I'm trying not to judge this based on the TV series because when I think of Outlander, I think how much I want to visit Scotland, but I'm pretty sure this feeling comes from seeing the gorgeous landscapes and lush, rocky highlands on screen rather than in my head. Even now, having only finished it today, I can't remember if the author offered much description of the setting. I'm sure there probably was, but nothing is standing out for me. Every setting and every building was, for me, conjured from the settings used on screen.
I think perhaps the world building wasn't striking or visual enough for me to picture anything other than what I've seen on screen.
Writing Style
Written in First Person from Claire's POV. I wondered how this would work as the TV series highlights multiple perspectives and doesn't just follow what Claire's doing at every moment. But on the whole, I think the First Person style worked and I don't feel like anything was missed out, certain scenes (such as the Wentworth Prison scene) were simply shown through conversations recalling the past.
The writing was good, I can't complain about that as the author isn't a bad writer. My critique lies elsewhere, like little things such as pacing. It felt a bit like all-or-nothing. It would be one crazy action-packed chapter after another, and then it would drop and it would just be life as normal for several chapters. There's nothing wrong with this per se, but there's only so many chapters of Claire picking herbs and Jamie tending horses I can bear before a start glazing over.
I do feel like this book could easily be shorter. Cut out a couple of attempted rape scenes and you've pretty much got the same story but with a little less drama (and a little less rape). But don't worry about any lack of drama, there's plenty of melodrama to boot. Jamie and Claire are anger-bangers. They'll argue, fight, scream at each other, and then they're all over each other.
And soooo, let's talk about sex.
This book is crammed full of sex. I didn't realise how much, tbh. I knew there was a lot in the TV series but I thought maybe a lot was added merely for the novelty of tits on TV, but nope. There's just a lot of sex going on.
Now I generally avoid books involving a lot of sex. Not because I don't like it but because I very rarely read a sex scene that doesn't make me cringe. I like subtle, slow-burning romances with tasteful sex scenes. Where things are more hinted at then actually shown. It gives more of an air of mystery and imagination, something I find far sexier than simply being offered all the gory details of a plate. And trust me, I cringed more often than not.
Final Impression Overall, I liked it. I have a few issues with it but it was enjoyable enough. I'll definitely continue the TV series, but I won't be continuing the book series.
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