Customer Reviews

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander)

5 star:		(274)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I usually do not care for sequels, whether in novels or films. After reading Diana Gabaldon's wonderful book, "Outlander," I was sure she could not come up with another book to match the first. I was wrong and "Dragonfly In Amber" is an exception to my rule and an exceptional book. Once you begin to read, you will find yourself absorbed immediately and probably forget the novel's length (900+ pages). In fact, you may find yourself wishing it were longer.

There are two major storylines here. One takes place in the 18th century. Claire Randall, who had traveled back in time from post WWII Scotland to a Scotland preparing for the restoration of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, (Bonnie Prince Charlie) to the throne, had married James Fraser and confided to him the truth of her time travels. She also told him of the coming disaster of the Battle of Culloden Moor, (1745), and its terrible aftermath for all of Scotland. Together they do everything in their power to halt the inevitable uprising, including move to Paris to become part of the Prince's entourage and perhaps effect a change in history through their relationship with the Jacobites living in France. The relationship developed between Claire and Jamie continues to grow in this book. Their intensely passionate love and close friendship is extremely moving. Although James is a very strong and competent person, Claire with her strength of character, independence, resourcefulness and nursing skills moves adeptly through another time period and is as indispensable to James as he is to her. We travel with both of them, from the Scottish highlands to the pomp of the French court, as they attempt to impact history and continue on together with a love that transcends the boundaries of time.

The second and parallel plot takes place in 1968. Culloden is 200 years in the past. James had sent Claire back to the future to keep her and their unborn child safe from Scotland's fate right before the doomed battle and, they both believed, Jamie's inevitable death during the fight. Claire still feels the bitterness of the intrigues, betrayals, murders, treason and violence that were so much a part of her life with James as they fought together to spare Scotland from its future. Twenty years have passed and Claire, now a doctor, and her daughter Brianna, travel to Scotland from Boston. Brianna does not know the truth about her mother's history, before her birth, nor who her real father is. Claire's 20th-century husband is now dead and she is determined to discover what happened to James, their family and friends. He was her soulmate and the only man she ever loved. If there is a chance at all to find her Jamie, or at least discover what happened to him, she is will do it.

Once again Ms. Gabaldon deftly portrays 18th century Scotland and France and immerses the reader in another time with her superb historical research and writing style. Her characters, major and minor, complex and simple, grow and develop as you read. Many of them are introduced in "The Outlander," but some remarkable new figures emerge from this novel also. Many of them are bound to capture your heart.

I don't know if this book could stand alone without reading "Outlander" first. And since there is so much to gain by reading both books, and continuing on to number three, I don't know why anyone would wish to do so...unless this book is purchased without the knowledge of the prequel. Gabaldon's "Outlander" series is a major epic and this novel is one of the best in the series. It is jam-packed with adventure, accurate historic detail, romance, friendship, and more from a most unusual perspective. Highly recommended!
JANA

This is the second in a series of time travel, adventure/romance books by the author. There are four such novels published to date in what is hoped to be a series of six books. These novels have engaged readers everywhere, because of the author's masterful storytelling, as well as for the superlative use of historical detail which is woven into the tapestry in this most intriguing of stories.

While the core of the story is about a love that transcends time, it would be a disservice to label it a romance, as it is much more than that. It is a wonderful adventure story interspersed with actual historical events and authentic period detail. It is this attention to such matters by the skillful pen of the author that renders these books three dimensional and so enjoyable. They are positively addictive!

The love of the ages that binds these books is the love that twentieth century Claire Randall has for the eighteenth century Scottish highland warrior, James Fraser. Those of you who read the first book in the series, "Outlander", know that in 1945, Claire, an Englishwoman and combat nurse during World War II, is reunited with her husband, Frank, after the war. While on a second honeymoon in Scotland, she visits a strange, flat topped hill in the highlands of Scotland, where a forbidding stone circle draws her. Touching one of the stones, she is hurled through a vortex in time and finds herself in eighteenth century Scotland, where she meets a brave and brawny, red headed Scot, James Fraser, with whom she falls completely in love, body and soul. Finding herself thrust into the midst of clan warfare and intrigue, she and her beloved 'Jamie' have enough adventures to last a lifetime, which makes for a riveting story.

This book is a continuation of that story. It is told from the perspective of the twentieth century where Claire, who is now a doctor, has lived for the past twenty years. Upon the death of her twentieth century husband, Frank, Claire returns to Scotland with her grown, red headed daughter, Brianna. There, she discloses to Brianna the events of her secret past, as well as the truth of whom Brianna's biological father actually is and of the love that Claire bore him.

While in Scotland, however, Claire discovers something that will forever change her future, as well as her past. You see, for the past twenty years, Claire has believed that her beloved 'Jamie' died in the historic battle of Culloden. It was there that the Scottish highlanders bravely fought the English in a misguided attempt to restore Charles Stuart, their bonny Prince Charlie, to the English throne, only to be decimated and branded as Jacobite traitors. It was this very event that she and James Fraser had conspired to change only to fail. It was this failure that brought Claire and 'Jamie' to a crossroad that would force them to part and have Brianna become a denizen of the twentieth century.

This book continues the saga so deftly begun in "Outlander". It tells the story of what happened in the eighteenth century that ultimately caused Claire to leave the love of her life and return to the twentieth century. It recounts the plight of two star crossed lovers who make a desperate and valiant attempt to change the course of history. It regales the reader with the adventures they encounter along the way. It is a story that transports the reader from the turmoil of the Scottish highlands to the intrigue of the French Court.

Readers will be captivated by this amazing and compelling time travel saga.

I started this series with Dragonfly In Amber, although it is the 2nd book of the series. I was at a library skimming through and i happened to open up the cover (of the paperback) and saw an artist's depiction of Jamie. WELL, I just had to read the book because Jamie (the drawing)looked so handsome. Anyways, I read the book, and could not believe how AWESOME it was, I actually had a dream about the characters (no lie) because Ms. Gabaldon made it so real . Needless to say, I bought Outlander the next day, and read the entire series back to back. This is the book that started me off though, and I have never felt so strongly attached or so emotional about Jamie and Claire (I can't tell you how many times I burst out laughing or bawled like a baby). It makes me feel like I have a special bond with them somehow, like no one else can intrude in our world. I am a hopeless romantic and have read countless novels, but I am happy to say that Jamie and Claire's stories are the only ones falling apart (from being re-re-re-read of course) BUY THIS BOOK & THE WHOLE SERIES....YOU WILL LOVE IT =)

And I might add that no amount of therapy will cure you!
I had to go to a conference this past week--a four hour drive from my home. Since my husband drove, this gave me a glorious block of UNINTERUPPTED time to finish DRAGONFLY IN AMBER. I also brought almost a month's worth of unread newspapers and several unopened PEOPLE magazines. In addition, I brought along a newly published and highly acclaimed book of short stories written by one of my former students. My intentions were to finish my book and then catch up on the aforementioned readings. HA! Thankfully, I also packed Gabaldon's third book because no amount of self-control would allow me to read anything but VOYAGER! I have no idea when I'm going to clean my house or do my Christmas shopping (I do still go to work). The only reason I'm writing this review is that I don't want all the books to 'run together'.
DRAGONFLY IN AMBER is the second book of the highly acclaimed Outlander series. Jamie and Claire's adventures continue but the story actually begins at the end. It is 1968 and Claire has returned to Scotland with her 20-year-old daughter, Brianna. The next nearly 1000 pages involve Claire, Brianna, and a young historian named Roger and their attempts to find out what happened to Jamie, the love of Claire's life (and Brianna's father). Most of this novel is about what happens to the young lovers in the two years before Claire escapes back through the rocks in the year 1746.
Gabaldon is an extremely gifted writer. Her character development is so phenomenal that I too, have fallen in love with the red-headed Scottish Highlander. When he says things like: "Oh, Claire, ye do break my heart wi' loving you." or, "Dye think I don't know? It's me that has the easy part now. For if ye feel for me as I do for you--then I am asking you to tear out your heart and live without it." and, " I will find you, (he whispered in my ear). I promise. If I must endure two hundred years of purgatory, two hundred years without you--then that is my punishment, which I have earned for my crimes. For I have lied, and killed, and stolen; betrayed and broken trust. But there is the one thing that shall lie in the balance. When I shall stand before God, I shall have one thing to say, to weigh against the rest. Lord, ye gave me a rare woman, and God! I loved her well,"--it makes me wish I was Claire!
Well, there I go, I'm crying again! Let me go get my Kleenex and continue with VOYAGER. Thank Heaven for carryout!

Outlander is a series of 6 books, quite large in volume. When I first read Outlander, I loved this story, and I loved the characters. But by the time I finished this book I wasn't sure I wanted to read the next one and find out what happened to Jamie and Claire. But as I said, I was now engrossed with the people and the story and so I continued. I am now half way through the 4th novel (Drums of Autumn) and already own the last two (pre-purchased A Breath of Snow and Ashes). And I STILL wonder WHY I am continueing to read these! And here is why, Diana Gabaldon writes in DETAIL right down to the dirt on someones shoes. And she says so and so got chills and not because the room was cold; so many times you want to wretch. She writes pages and pages and pages of things that have nothing to do with the story. You really begin to wonder where she is headed and you start to feel that she is either wasting your time or she just likes the sound of her own voice. OR she enjoys BEING this character right down to the last thought and shiver. I find myself speed reading through some passages looking for when we are going to get back on track. Don't get me wrong, she is BRILLIANT!! If you love historical fiction, you WILL love her writing and you will LEARN alot about living in the time she writes about as well as the Scots. She does her homework, her research is impeccable and she has a cult following with this series. It is a great story and I will read all of them, I just think she could have written the SAME story in half the time. So forewarned is forearmed with Diana Gabaldon. If you have tons of time to kill, this is your book!

I can't say enough about these books. If I had to pick a favorite author, there would be no contest. Just remember, if you are new to reading these books, make sure to read them in order! Outlander, Dragonfly In Amber, Voyager & Drums of Autum, in that order. I never wanted to books to end and I am dying for the next two to be released!

Ms. Gabaldon is my favorite modern author, and this book is a prime example of why. A sequel to "Outlander" and a book that could possibly stand on it's own, "Amber" is humorous, dramatic, romantic and heartwrenching all in one. It's also riveting. Ms. Gabaldon writes characters as though she's lived with them all her life. She also considers details that some might not even think of: Claire horrifying her husband with newly waxed legs; a sight he'd never beheld before. The French plot is as good as any Tom Clancy novel, and the Culloden plot is as endearing as Jane Austin. The irony in that lay in the fact that the French plot is back in history and Culloden is 1968. Pick up "Outlander" and pick this one up to follow it!

This second action-packed installment in the Outlander series continues the saga of Jamie and Claire Fraser, and is full of historical details. The story begins in 1968, as Claire returns to Scotland with her 20-year old daughter Brianna, hoping to find out what happened to Jamie and his troops after he sent her back through the circle of stones to the 20th century. As Claire reveals the truth of her past to a reluctant Brianna and researcher Roger Wakefield, we are treated to more twists and turns in the adventures with Jamie and Claire. The pair live in France for a while, and later return to Scotland, as they attempt to thwart the return of Bonnie Prince Charles to Scotland and the impending doom he'll bring with the uprising of 1745.

The book is packed with one adventure after another, taking reaaders on an emotional roller coaster ride. Readers searching for a lighthearted romance may be offended by the graphic violence or sexual content. Personally, I couldn't get enough. I stayed up until 3:30 a.m. reading, slept a few hours, and immediately picked it up and started reading it again when I woke up! I can't wait to read Voyager!

I read "Outlander" last summer and fell in love with the style of Diana Gabaldon's action-adventure-romance-historical fiction writing. Outlander grabbed me, yet I didn't read this second book until this year.

Admittedly I went in with hesitations- how could anything top Outlander- and, besides, I knew what this book would deal with from reviews. To clear up any confusion, this covers the time preceding of the Battle of Culloden, which Jamie & Claire have been working so hard to prevent. In this book, the tensions are increased five fold as this couple works around the clock to stop it. And we all know what happens.

However, this is a tale told in flashback- a flashback from Scotland in the 1960's. Frank, Claire's husband of the modern world, is now dead, and Claire has taken her & Jamie's daughter Brianna back to Scotland to reveal to her the truth, in due course introducing Roger Wakefield, a historian who will be essential to Claire's discovering the truth of what happened after she went back through the stones so long ago. Thus you have two timelines- present day Scotland, in which emotions boil and simmer as the past is retold through Claire- and 1700's Scotland, where Jamie and Claire fight the future.

The social, political, and historical aspects of this book are genius- it held me for long hours as Jamie and Claire tramped through Scotland and France and England. A must-read for any fan of the Outlander series- and for any reader who wishes to be more than decently entertained for a good long while...

As usual, Gabaldon has woven a web of romance, history, suspense, intrigue, time travel...and a good dose of herbal lore. Fasten your seatbelts.

JK

I just can't help it! Diana Gabaldon serves (and delivers) another enticing slice of Claire and Jamie Fraser with Dragonfly in Amber. I admit I'm not a huge fan of romance novels, and at one time I vowed to never pick another one up--BUT Diana quickly changed my mind. Her brilliant ability to create multi-dimensional characters is profound; her descriptive methods of setting each scene immersed my mind's eye with vivid images of Edinburgh's narrow cobble-stone streets...and the splendor of Paris in the spring. From start to finish my reading experience was richly rewarded with the warmth, the passion, the humility and the candor that makes the characters in the Outlander series all the more human. As a genealogist, I found these stories gave me a brief, but valuable, glimpse of what life may (or may not) have been like for my ancestors. A remarkable, well-researched novel. This one will be read again...and enjoyed forever.