In yet another book club I’m in, we’ve decided to work our way through book series, then compare them to the television or movie series. Having just finished the television series of Outlander (and LOVED it), I am giving the books a go. I finished Book One a week ago and am eager to continue the series.
Originally published in 1991, Outlander tells the story of an ex World War II nurse, Claire, who gets transported back in time while on her second honeymoon with her husband, Frank. After waking in Scottish Highlands in 1743, she quickly finds that her freedom and her life is in danger. So, in order to survive and keep her secrets safe, she marries the handsome, tough, and honorable Scots warrior, Jamie Fraser, who has secrets of his own. Living in two separate lives with two separate men, the war between the British and the Scottish is nothing compared to the battle between Claire’s mind and her heart.
Outlander is the perfect mix of historical fiction, war, romance, with a dash of magic.
Though I’ve finished the television series and am only one book in, I struggled to determine which one I like more. As with most books compared to their cinema counterparts, the novel provides the reader with much more background, characterization, and information. Yet, I am glad I watched the series first so that I could put faces with names, and visualize the locations and settings we were in during the book.
I loved “book Jamie” and “show Jamie” equally. I have an ongoing joke (though I’m being perfectly serious) that no male character will ever capture my heart like Jamie Fraser and Jon Snow. They both are true heroes who have suffered a great deal. They have strong moral compasses and are truly best mix of tough and kind that I have ever seen in fictional male characters. It helps that they are both exceedingly attractive, too!
As for Claire, I enjoyed “book Claire” more because I got to know her better between the pages. In the show, her stubbornness and constant need for saving could get tiresome, at times. However, upon reading the book, I was able to see her thought process and appreciate her own toughness. I also believe that strong female characters still rub people the wrong way, unlike the damsel in distress. I appreciated the fact that even though Claire needed saving, she wasn’t a weak character by any means. I also enjoyed that the story was told through her point-of-view. Often times, stories like these are told through the male perspective, especially having been published in 1991.
The book itself is over 800 pages and as with many books that size, some parts can drag. For me, the beginning was the part I struggled with. I think the part that helped me is that I knew what was to come, since I watched the show. Plus, the first book is much more of a love story, whereas the rest of the books have more battles, drama, etc. Nonetheless, I loved the book as a whole.
I will give a book to show comparison after I finish each book, but will do a much more thorough review once I complete the entire series. If you have read the series and/or watched the show, I would love to hear your thoughts!
Books and Bites with Brooke 