Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Outlander

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Summary: 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.

Rating: 3-ish/5 stars

Review:

Okay, so I've given my rating an 'ish' because I'm really torn on what I want to give this book. I have a deep love/hate relationship with it. Firstly, I will say that I adored parts of this novel. It was a very interesting idea that Gabaldon presented and it was awesome to see how she didn't shy away from certain topics (ie. sex, gore etc.). Those parts, however, don't make up for the scenes I didn't like so much. I'm going to quickly go into spoiler talk but for anyone who hasn't read it, consider this before picking it up: it is a long book, it is probably not best for younger readers and understand that this book not only encompasses the events of the 1700's, but the values of the period as well. I wouldn't whole-heartedly recommend it, but I wouldn't discourage reading it, either.

Spoilers ahead!

Top 5 Wednesday: Series I Won't Finish

Hello again! Sorry I've been so slack with my updates. Uni is ridiculous at the moment. But I've taken a bit of time today to do this weeks T5W with series I don't plan to finish. I will say that a lot of these I haven't touched in probably 5 years and most are within the same genre (paranormal romance) which I used to love but, for the most part, can't stand anymore. So, without further ado, let's go!

#5: Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi

I've mentioned this one before but I thought I'd include it again. Despite how much hype this series has gotten, I just couldn't get into it. I actually really like Tahereh Mafi as a person but these books were just not my cup of tea. I've been told I should give the next book a shot as it's apparently leagues better but I honestly have no motivation to any time soon. So, it's going on this list!

#4: Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick

I read this book when it first came out and I was into these sort of books and even then, I didn't think it was the most amazing book. But now, I have moved on from this genre and have little interest in continuing the series, despite owning the first two books in the series.

#3: Vampire Beach series by Alex Duval

I've actually read the first four books in this series but again, it's a genre that no longer draws me in and I never found the urge to finish this series to begin with.

#2: The Immortals series by Alyson Noel

This was possibly one of my least favourite series I have ever read. I read the first 3 or 4 books and the first one was okay but it got progressively more dull and ridiculous from there. I actually put this series down even when I was still into this genre. It was really not to my liking.

#1: House of Night series by Kristen and P.C Cast

This series just went for far too long. Unlike the other series, I stuck with this one for quite awhile. I read the first 6 books but I just couldn't force myself to go any further. The story stretched on too long, the main character had a new love interest every chapter, it became way too ridiculous and I just could not take it anymore.






Well, there we go! Please note that just because I didn't like these series, doesn't mean I judge someone who does like them. Everyone has their own tastes and these aren't mine.

What series won't you finish? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time!
Jess, xxx