Tuesday 26 March 2013

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon




'Voyager' by Diana Gabaldon

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite—or forever doom—her timeless love.

Review

This is the third book of the Outlander series, and what a great third book. I just loved how Diana Gabaldon takes Claire on the next stage of her journey to find her true love Jamie. This story follows the two finding each other again and the next stage in the lives - being together.

The beginning of the book switches back and forth between 1746 in Scotland with Jamie Fraser's post-war life and 1968 in Scotland with Claire, Brianna and Roger Wakefield undertaking the historical search for traces of Jamie Fraser and what might have become of him after the war. I know this style of writing moving from one time to another irritates some but for me, I think it is what helps makes the book so good, we are not left feeling we are missing what is happening in both times - we get the whole story. We learn through Brianna, Jamie's daughter when she finds proof of Jamie's life as a printer in Edinburgh years after the battle at Culloden. Knowing this Claire makes a hard decision to step back through the stone circle of Craigh na Dun, going back into the 18th century to find Jamie.

I loved the reunion between Claire and Jamie, finding each other again. They have little time together before being thrown back into the life of danger, mystery and mayhem! The story follows their journey back to Jamie's childhood home, which has a few shocks in store for Claire, their journey to West Indies in a rescue attempt meeting a few old characters and making new friends along their way to their new life in Colonies.

I have not tired so far of the story of Claire and Jamie. I love how Diana Gabaldon has brought back characters throughout the books and helped me understand why/what and how, she hasn't left me wondering, she talks through all the details which I have really enjoyed. This book is my favourite of the three so far, the first two had me laughing and crying throughout, gripped all the way through, this was the same, I just couldn't put the book down (probably good job I was in hospital while reading Voyager and had nothing to do but read - if not I think no one in my house would have been feed!!). Can't wait to start Drums of Autumn.

I most certainly recommend this series. Its full of adventure, time-travel and romance. A must read!

- Posted using BlogPress

Friday 15 March 2013

If I Stay by Gayle Forman



'If I Stay' by Gayle Forman
 
In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
 
'If I Stay' was a mixed bag for me. It was certainly a quick read and I enjoyed reading it, but I wasn't blown away by it as many of my bookclub's members were. I found the overall story of seventeen year old Mia who is severely injured in a car accident that kills her parents and younger brother heartfelt, and yes I did cry in a few places reading about Mia whose body is comatose. We follow Mia's spirit as it watches her friends and family rallying in support of her while recalling moments in her life as she decides whether or not to live or die. As I said I did enjoy overall the story but it wont make my favourite book for this year, and it may even be a book that I will forget that I've read in the future!!! Sorry to all those in my bookclub who loved this book!
 
An OK quick read (for young adults) but not that memorable.  

Thursday 14 March 2013

Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

'Dragonfly in Amber' by Diana Gabaldon


For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to the majesty of Scotland's mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones, about a love that transcends the boundaries of time, and about James Fraser, a warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his.

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful daughter as Claire's spellbinding journey continues in the intrigue-ridden court of Charles Edward Stuart, in a race to thwart a doomed uprising, and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves.

This is the second of Diana Gabaldon books that I have read and the second one in this series 'Outlander'. I really do think Diana is an excellent writer. This book starts in the 20th century with the story of Claire and her beautiful 20-year-old daughter, Brianna. Brianna is the daughter of Jamie Frazer who looks just looks like him - tall, red hair, high cheekbones and blue cat-like eyes. The story then moves on with the continuing story of Jamie and Claire, in 1746, with a number of flashbacks, where we find Claire and Jamie once more trying to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie's revolutionary attempts to take the throne of England and Scotland. I enjoyed the new characters that is introduced in this book, many with a good sense humour!

I really liked this second book in the series, finding myself laughing out loud many times and at other times crying. Without trying to spoil the story, I will warn you though that the chapters that are written around the approach to Culloden (about 50 pages) I cried my eyes out!!!

I am really enjoying the 'Outlander' series, great storytelling, with historically contents & lots of romance. Looking forward to starting the 3rd book. Would defiantly recommend book two!

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Sister by Rosamund

'Sister' by Rosamund
 
Nothing can break the bond between sisters ...

When Beatrice gets a frantic call in the middle of Sunday lunch to say that her younger sister, Tess, is missing, she boards the first flight home to London. But as she learns about the circumstances surrounding her sister's disappearance, she is stunned to discover how little she actually knows of her sister's life - and unprepared for the terrifying truths she must now face.

The police, Beatrice's fiance and even their mother accept they have lost Tess but Beatrice refuses to give up on her. So she embarks on a dangerous journey to discover the truth, no matter the cost.

This book was recommended to my by my friend Frances for my bookclub choice. This is Rosamund Lupton's debut novel and for a first novel I thought overall it was a good read. The novel flicks between Beatrice (Bee) having a conversation and re-telling her story to a lawyer, and a letter she is writing to her sister Tess. I didn't mind the writing style that the athour uses, but a few at bookclub didn't like this style and found it very irritating, going between a conversation/letter writing/emails.

I did enjoy how the story moved along with Bee, with her telling the story on how she carried out her own detective work, to discover what really happened to her sister. I enjoyed how the athour looked into Tess's life and included a number of characters who Bee believed could have been the possible murder of Tess. There was a number of unexpected twists and turns that had me second guessing all the way the book (until I realised who the murder was). There is one scene in the park, that had me; shouting at the book/going, whats going on/giving Bee advice, before I realised actually what was going on.

It is hard to say too much about the book without giving things away, as I really don't like spoiling story lines for others but I do want to say something about the ending without telling you the story. For a few in bookclub they hated the ending as it does leave you going 'WHAT!' 'SO IS SHE OR ISN'T SHE!'. I myself found this a little, NO I WANT TO KNOW!. So to help with this, the athour says that she 'leaves it up to the reader to decide whether she suruives, but her own personal opinion is that she does!'. I didn't like this twist at the end as I felt a little disappointed by it, but overall the book kept me reading with the want to know 'Who did it!!'.

An easy read, overall enjoyable and would recommend but wont be my number one book for this year!

Sunday 3 March 2013

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

 

'Outlander' by Diana Gabaldon

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.

I was recommend this book by a friend of mine Jen. She talked highly of this one and the next two in ther series which she had read so far. I got the book on the kindle and found myself soon engrossed in it. I have never heard of the author before and I'm very greatful for Jen for recommending her to me. I read every night and found that I was reading this book into the early hours of the morning as I really just couldn't put it down. The author had me captured with the story of Jaime Frasier and Claire Beauchamp and other characters like Dougal, Colum and Captain Randall. The author's details of historical events, time-travel, adventure, and love between Jamie and Claire was overwelming. I felt I was there in the Highlands with Jamie and Claire sharing their story and the story of all the other characters, I felt that I held my breath in suspense, laugh out loud and cried at some of the events in this story. I could feel their pain through trials and sadness, their triumphs and their undying love.

I didn't realise how long this first book was (nearly 1000pages) as I was reading it on my kindle, so when I found out I was shocked. The book never felt that long and I really think that was due to how good the story was. I ordered the next two books straight away and found myself waiting impatiently for them to arrive.

I can't wait to see how the story of Jaime and Claire unravels, being a part of their life and their love.

Would highly recommend - THANKS Jen