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)

Best book I've ever read-or heard!

This book is wonderful. Terrific character development and stories. There is no category for it. Historical and modern all in one. You will leave this book thinking that the characters are actually real people. Read the entire series. It's a wonderful saga. Don't be scared because of the size. You'll want more!

Starts a bit slow, but by chapter 4..hooked! A+

If you could sum up Outlander in three words, what would they be?

Smart, memorable, stirring.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Outlander?

After Claire is captured and accused of being a witch, she is saved at the last moment by Jamie. After putting a few miles between themselves and the angry mob, Jamie asks claire for truth. Is she a witch? Claire confesses all and losses her sanity. Jamie takes her back to that fated boulder and gives Claire the choice to stay or go back to her time. And Frank.
This book has so many moments where every choice made counts! This is one of my favorite books ever!

What does Davina Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Davina Porter gives each character their own uniqueness. I can hear the characters smile as they talk. You can hear how dangerous some of the characters really are by their slow clipped words. Plus as much as I try to do a Scottish accent I fail really badly. She's simply amazing.

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

I have read and re read this book over and over again. Once I got into audible I listened and re-listened to this book multiple times. I've laughed and cried, Ive been so angry at some of the characters I've wanted to scream! This book is fantastically emotional. But in a good way

Outlandish adventure

I love this series so much. When I first started the series, I wondered what my Mom has set me to reading. Well after 5 years, I have read and re read my books so much, I am working on my second and some books my third copy as they have been read to shreds. I have also listened to the series at least once and am happy to come here and listen to it again and again. I will admit I prefer Geraldine's reading over Davina, but that is just a preference thing, nothing against anyone. I hope you come to love the characters as much as so many of us have to. Enjoy a wonderful book and find yourself hooked from start to finish.

Its not a 1940s story

Outlander is the first book I have read/heard by this author. She has talent not only in the production of an intriguing love,historical, mysterious, dramatic novel but also in the selection of a narrator to present her tale. Top notch.

Intriguing, exciting and intoxicating!

The beginning of this story starts out very slow but it's needed to set the groundwork for an amazing and action pack story filled with history, war, romance and time travel. Once you make it through the first few chapters you won't be able to stop listening. The reader has an amazing voice and is able to bring the characters to life in your mind. The writer captures your heart and gives you the feeling that you are there with Claire and Jamie. I loved every minute of this book and you will too!

Amazing reading, BUT hate the 'feedback'

What does Davina Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thoroughly enjoy the reading of this book. She performs beautifully and I really enjoy her inflections and accents. I am disappointed in the amount of 'feedback' I hear during though. I hear other people talking, or the reading itself repeated a few seconds behind very faintly in the background form time to time. It is not super noticeable if youre driving in a car or are in a place with background noise, but when Im listening at night while working quietly on a computer, constantly having to take my headphones off because I think I hear someone kinda sucks.

A book that will paint the canvas of your brain

💖 love this book and loved the readers voice! She made the words jump off the pages and come to life. I cant wait to listen to the next book in this amazing adventure!

Love It !! Can't wait to start the next one!

Would you consider the audio edition of Outlander to be better than the print version?

Definitely think the audio version would be better, the accents of each character were different and perfect! I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed this - can't believe I never heard of it before, but that said - ready to start the 2nd in the series. Time Travel & Romance (much more illicit than I would have expected) with such detail I feel like I am watching a movie instead of listening to an audio.

What did you like best about this story?

The details of every scene, puts you as a bystander watching the events unfold. Clare & Jamie true soul mates!

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

Perfect - love the gaelic and english accents - moves perfectly from female to male voices - My 1st Davina Porter

OUTSTANDING

This is one of my favorite book of all times I have read it in print and listened to it twice on audible. I cannot understand the negative reviews, but maybe its not for everyone but I was captivated from beginning to end. The narrator was amazing and brought life to a story that I was already in love with. Great read

Best of its kind

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

Impressed by the story link and the way that the narrator narrated the story and the path which the author has derived through out the book to make the readers without diverting our thoughts.