"Ready for series to end but I'm in too deep!"
Claire is annoying but skilled and resourceful even though she is a nympho. What is Brianna other than a big brat who treats sweet Roger like crap and holds an unnecessarily long grudge against him even after he jumps through time, chases her from Scotland to America 200 years out of his own time and suffers enslavement? Even when he miraculously returns she holds stupid grudges against him until the end. She just likes to be mad at people and a person of very poor character. I haven't seen Bree use one of her modern skills as an engineer. She just uses her size to stomp around in pants as soon as she arrives back in time and make demands. I wish the writer would have tried humbling these two 21st century women. Gillis Duncan was a self serving witch but at least she didn't throw tantrums. I would have enjoyed hearing more about her regardless if she was a villain. I would have liked to see Gillis not actually dead but come back and cross paths with them again. I want to know what compels Claire to get horney when Jamie's back is thrown out and they are stuck out in the cold hiding under a ridge. Claire is 50 years old! Her constant need for sex with Jaime exercises my 3x reading speed button. Why is the writer obsessed with nipples? I swear the writer never hesitates to talk about nipples.
I have invested too many hours in 4 unabridged books because I like the history and adventure. The writing is spectacular and so is Davinia Porter's reading (although Brianna should be speaking in American accent not English). I dived into this series while waiting for Robert McCammon to write the next Matthew Corbett series novel. Plenty of adventures in that historical fiction although no time travel. I am ready for the next read but hear that Fiery Cross is super boring and long. May have to get a different book in between and take a break form these two super annoying characters.
"Overall good book"
This book was good, not as good as the first three books in the series. I enjoyed this book overall but the author drives me crazy with how many times she uses the description words "dryly" or "wryly" as in "said with a wry smile" or "he said dryly" (in the entire series I bet it totals 100+ times). I began to cringe every time I heard those words. Davina Porter is very talented with her range of voices and acting, I just had a hard time with her high pitched inflections. Sometimes they were so high (out of the blue) that it hurt my ears and I had to turn down the volume, only to have her speak more softly and need to turn it back up again. I found the 5th book "Fiery Cross" in an unabridged version elsewhere (audible only has the abridged version). I was so bored with it that I gave up half way through and sent the rented CDs back. I was in love with the first 3 books and it seemed to loose its appeal after this one. Overall Drums of Autumn has a good storyline and the narrator gives each character originality. I learned a lot about Scottish traditions with this series and give the author kudos for the research she put into writing it.
"Great again"
I gave this book 4 stars as it is up to the same high standards as the others in the series. I think it does lose a bit when the daughters boyfriend becomes a bit 'macho', but that's about all.
I finished this book with a lot of sadness though as the next in the series is both abridged and not read by Davina Porter. I'm afraid I am going to have to read it so that I get the same voices in my mind.
"Always a Favorite"
I think you either love this series or hate it. I do love it, but let's face it, it feels like it goes on forever! Some people like all the history, but I still can't get it all straight. I think it's because you tend to start drifting off after the first few hours! But still one of my favorite book series of all times.
"A Welcome Addition"
This was a satisfying installment in the saga of Jamie and Claire I hope Audible will add Gabaldon's Fiery Cross and Breath of Snow and Ashes in the unabridged versions SOON. Narrator Davina Porter does such an extraordinary job with both male and female voices that good books are rendered great with her performances. Audible notes in her profile that she won a 2006 recording award for A Breath of Snow and Ashes, but it is not yet available here.
"The bear attack scene IS missing from Chapter 15"
I found another listener's comment from about a week ago. I've listened to this book once before and am on my second round of the series preparing for Book 8 in June. Originally, I downloaded the book to my Sansa Fuze and I SWEAR I heard this scene (it's quite unforgettable). I no longer have a computer with Windows on it & unfortunately Audible doesn't support Linux so I can't redownload it to check if it's just a download format issue. I just compared the print copy using the Look Inside feature on Amazon and sure enough it skips the scene from somewhere on page 241 through most of 245. They are currently researching it & added me to the ticket so I'd get notified when it was fixed. :o(
But, hey, as far as the book as a whole goes... I love it!!! Great series and if you're on #4 already, you're probably hooked. And it just keeps getting better! MUST READ!
"I Am Amazed"
How does Diana Gabaldon keep up the quality with such long books and so many of them! Well, the change of location (to colonial America) helps and the addition of characters (Brianna and Roger and...) certainly helps as well. This book kept me as entertained as the previous ones, especially with Davina Porter's narration. Emotions run high in this family, almost exaggeratedly so. But isn't that part of what makes them real?
"Loved it - Drums really brings it!"
This is the 4th book in the Outlander series, and this is definitely my favorite next to Oultander itself. A few "secondary" characters become really interesting (Ian, Brianna, Roger), and the change of scenery to the American colonies is excellent. I bought a hard-copy of the book as well.
"Wow"
If you haven't read the series yet, I envy you. Start with OUTLANDER, then DRAGONFLY IN AMBER, then the VOYAGER, and lastly (for now) to this one, DRUMS OF AUTUMN. The reader is perfect, the story is hauntingly beautiful, funny, and powerful; the author is a genius. There are two more and whenever they come to audible in their unabridged versions, I'll buy them. Until then, I'll wait; I'll listen to other books, and I'll probably listen again to parts of these. I might have to buy the physical books. Enjoy. FIVE STARS as are each of the others in the series.
"Enjoyed it - and definitely worth the credit"
As always Diana Gabaldon has done her research. I enjoy the medical background, as well as the historical and human aspects of the stories and also this book.
I like the reunion of all three beloved characters (sorry for spoiler).
Davina Porter does a great job, she is so talented and makes the characters come alive! I love her melodic voice!
Nope - no extreme reactions, just enjoyed it
Worth a credit. The writing is sublime, you will like the characters. Sometimes the story line is a bit "unbelievable" and makes me roll my eyes, but I am overall hooked to the series.