Outlander

Outlander, Book 1

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 32 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

This stunning blend of historical romance and time traveling adventure has captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world and catapulted author Diana Gabaldon to the top of the New York Times best seller list. Outlander introduces an exhilarating world of heroism and breathtaking thrills as one woman is torn between past and present, passion and love.

In 1945, former combat nurse Claire Randall returns from World War II and joins her husband for a second honeymoon. Their blissful reunion is shattered when she touches a boulder in an ancient stone ruin and is instantly transported to 1743 Scotland, a place torn by war and raiding border clans. Will Claire find her way back to her own time, or is her destiny forever linked with Clan MacKenzie and the gallant James Fraser?

©1991 Diana Gabaldon (P)1997 Recorded Books, LLC.

Critic reviews

"Davina Porter maintains the distinct voices she creates for each character throughout the lengthy narration. Her delivery of 18th-century language sounds authentic and is easily understandable." (AudioFile)

The book I mark all others against

This series, for if you read this first book, you will read the entire series, is the bar I set all other characters against. I feel I know Claire and Jamie. I miss them when the book ends. Diana makes me feel so many emotions when I read her books the scenes are so very real. This is not a "standard" happy ending romance - it is so much more. The characters have happiness but also tremendous sadness and trials.
I must admit the first maybe 2 chapters I was not committed but once I got past that - wow! It is truly a gift Diana Gabaldon has to transform words into emotions and memories. I have listened to each of her books 2x and still havenot listened to an Echo in the Bone - the last book - which I purchased the day it was released. WHY??? because I don't want to lose Claire and Jamie.

Three times read and all well worth it

What did you love best about Outlander?

All the charters are well developed and felt necessary to the story. There is enough true history to give one a desire to believe in the story. Oh and the narrator! Davina Porter has a beautiful voice and has enough diversity to give voice to each of the different charters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Outlander?

Clair and Jamie's wedding night was quite memorable. In fact there are many well placed romantic and very sexy sections in the book and all seem like they should be there for the story to be full and well rounded. I don't always feel sex scenes in books and movies belong that sometimes they are just there for sex appeal and not to further develop a charter or story. Here, as in the entire series, all are necessary and well written!

Have you listened to any of Davina Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I am sure I have but this series is my favorite with her as the narrator. What a talent she has. The narrator is as important to a good digital book as the story it's self. There are some voices I love to listen to and Davina Porter's is certainly one of them!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There are so many moments in the book I cannot choose one to stand out over the others. All I can say is I am quite glad I have the books both physical and digitally because I am sure I will read and listen to them many times. In fact I am in need of a new paper set of the series now.

Any additional comments?

I am glad to see the movie come out. I have seen the first pilot/episode and feel the books have been justly represented. I suppose I may have to purchase those too.

The best!

What made the experience of listening to Outlander the most enjoyable?

I loved the story, the characters, the feel of the book. It really takes you away on a journey. Diana is the reason I joined audible. I listened to her stories numerous times. The first 3 books are my favorites.

Awesome Sci-fi Romance women will love

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've read this book in paperback twice. When reading a book I find myself speed reading if interested in the story because I want to find out what happens in the end and therefore I miss many of the small details. Listening to this audio book brought this story to life and I heard all the little details I missed before. Davina Porter's reading is so powerful and her voices, accents and inflections truly bring the characters to life. This audio recording is one of the best I've heard and is truly theatre of the mind. A great audio reading for both men and women, but in particular if for women who like sci-fi and romance.
I'm not going into details of the story. You'll have to find out for yourself. You won't be disappointed!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Outlander?

There were many to mention here. It's one after another that keeps me captivated and wanting more.

Which scene was your favorite?

Again there were so many it's hard to say which one was my favorite.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutly. I had difficulty during the work day because all I wanted to do was listen and the thought of having to turn it off to do to the office was devistating. Couldn't wait for the weekend and listened for hours and hours while doing my gardening and house cleaning chores. I find myself foregoing watching television to listen in the evenings. Who needs all the commericals and mindless "I'm so bored with all the tv programs" I'm changing the channel constantly when I have this book playing. Already started the second one in the series and don't know what I'll do when I've finished the very last one.This book series is a definate must read!!!!!!

Love love love!

I could listen to this audiobook again just to hear her accent. The story is one that seems to take on a life of its own. I find myself thinking about the characters like they're family or friends. I can't wait to start the next book in the series!

simply wonderful

Diana Gabaldon is a wonderful storyteller who can bring a character to life in so may wonderful ways! Davina Porter is a narrator like no other that I've listened to - can put the accent in like no other! I find myself wandering around, muttering things from the book, just to see if I can say them like Davina Porter did! If you like historical novels, you'll love Diana Gabaldon. If you like time travel, you'll love Diana Gabaldon. If you like romance, you'll love Diana Gabaldon. She tells her stories from a woman's point of view for the majority of the story, but even men would love the story itself. It's not just love and romance, but there is that, too! There is also a little intrigue as well. Outlander is a wonderful novel that I have read more times than I could count. And I've listened to it many times as well. And other than the occasional bad language and the alludement to sexual intercourse, it's a good book for most teenagers as well. IT really makes you think about things that went on back then in the 1700's. Makes me appreciate what they went through then for what we have today in the 2000's!

An epic love story

Would you listen to Outlander again? Why?

I have read the books and decided to listen to them owing to the sheer weight and substance of the later sequels. I love epic stories that have continuity and an ongoing story the spans decades and generations. That is what this is. Gabaldon has such creative verbage and unusual similes that kept me interested and never got boring, even in the minutiae that she creates with her stories and weaves with her words. The detail that describes the scenery, the events, and the history woven into her fiction is spellbinding and extremely fascinating. I feel that I know these characters intimately.

What did you like best about this story?

I love historical fiction that convinces the reader that it is all true, even the fictional part. Gabaldon makes the story believable in all its detail. She creates characters that are human and fallible, who have breached all the bounds of love and found strength in their frailties. This is essentially an historical recounting of the hard fought life in Scotland, the immigration and settling of families into the colonies of the New World, but the foundation is built on the love story that begins the saga and keeps the reader interested in the human side of life, the emotional thread that underlies all families and relationships that we can all relate to and that makes strict history bearable and interesting. We meet the two lovers at the beginning and eventually follow them into their twilight years, well past the constraints of this novel into 6 more books that I can't wait to begin as soon as I am finished with the last.

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Davina Porter is unwavering in her ability to not only read and enunciate the many accents that are represented in this saga, but also act out all the parts with such great emotion that it is as if you are sitting in front of a stage full of actors with your eyes closed. You can hear the emotion in her voice and then imagine it on the character's face as if s/he were standing in front of you. She speaks with a native British tongue, has a wonderful Scottish brogue, makes the Cockney London accent sound completely convincing, and her french accent is so believable. I knew all the characters instantly as she recreated them verbally for me.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am constantly chuckling out loud to myself at the antics created in the story. There are some really emotionally difficult scenes that depict the truth of living during the era of the middle 1700's. Gabaldon has a knack for creating a love scene in the middle of this crude way of living that makes you want to go back and live there for all its hardships. Her descriptions of the scenery create the smells, the sounds, the climates so real that its hard to imagine that this is not strictly nonfiction, but historical fiction that is being read. It does what a great book always does, it makes me believe it is real.

Any additional comments?

If you're not prepared to want to read all of the books that follow this one don't even start this one. You will get so drawn in you won't be able to stop. This book is addictive and this narrator makes it even more so!

AMAZING

Would you listen to Outlander again? Why?

Absolutely - if I ever get through the entire series!

What did you like best about this story?

The historical accuracy of Scottish Jacobites and the uprising.

Hooked!

Any additional comments?

A friend of mine introduced me to this series. I was tired of the same authors that I had been reading and listening to and I was ready for something new. Outlander was a delight! I am hooked and am working through the rest of the series. The quality of the performance is quite excellent as well.

The best audiobook I've ever "read"!

Where does Outlander rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Number ONE

What other book might you compare Outlander to and why?

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - historical fiction packed full of adventure and sweet romance with a wonderful depiction of marriage in both!

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Wonderful voice intonations to reflect the characters personalities and yes, even, their physical attributes

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Honest love does exist because I am living it but very refreshing to read about it. Listening to Jamie and Claire's love grow through "life" is inspirational.