Written in My Own Heart's Blood

Outlander, Book 8

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 45 hrs

Publisher's summary

In her now classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon told the story of Claire Randall, an English ex-combat nurse who walks through a stone circle in the Scottish Highlands in 1946, and disappears… into 1743. The story unfolded from there in seven best-selling novels, and CNN has called it "a grand adventure written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the human spirit across [centuries]." Now the story continues in Written in My Own Heart's Blood.

It is 1778: France declares war on Great Britain, the British army leaves Philadelphia, and George Washington's troops leave Valley Forge in pursuit. At this moment, Jamie Fraser returns from a presumed watery grave to discover that his best friend has married his wife; his illegitimate son has discovered (to his horror) who his father really is; and his beloved nephew, Ian, wants to marry a Quaker. Meanwhile, Jamie's wife, Claire, and his sister, Jenny, are busy picking up the pieces.

The Frasers can only be thankful that their daughter Brianna and her family are safe in 20th-century Scotland. Or not. In fact, Brianna is searching for her own son, who was kidnapped by a man determined to learn her family's secrets. Her husband, Roger, has ventured into the past in search of the missing boy - never suspecting that the object of his quest has not left the present. Now, with Roger out of the way, the kidnapper can focus on his true target: Brianna herself.

Written in My Own Heart's Blood is the brilliant next chapter in a masterpiece of the imagination unlike any other.

©2014 Diana Gabaldon (P)2014 Recorded Books

Diana's hard work and Davina's acting ability ROCK

If you could sum up Written in My Own Heart's Blood in three words, what would they be?

History/Diana/Davina!

What other book might you compare Written in My Own Heart's Blood to and why?

Maybe James Mitchner's Hawaii. There is no comparison with Diana in character development. They leep right off the page into your heart.

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

Davina's acting ability and her talent with voices along with her ability to understand Diana's Characters' written word makes her unequiled. For example, I have played other books of Diana's by other Narraiters, and was put to sleep. NO ONE reads Diana like Davinna.

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

Yes and no: yes, because I wanted to know what was going on in their world and No because I hought at the time it was the last book and I wanted it to last. I was disappointed and angry at the ending at first, until a friend told me there would be a follow-up.
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Any additional comments?

no

love these books

these books are long but so action packed. the characters are well written and the reader brought them all to life. I can't wait for the next book

Dramatically Awesome

Where does Written in My Own Heart's Blood rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Once again Diana Gabaldon delivers. Her brilliant form of writing keeps the reader wanting more.

What other book might you compare Written in My Own Heart's Blood to and why?

All of her Outlander series are wonderful but this is one of her best.

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

Davina brings all the characters to life. Each with their own voice and emotion. You feel like you are there among the characters.

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

As with all of Diana's books. The story is full of laughter and tears.

Living On The Battle Lines in 1776 and 1980

Where does Written in My Own Heart's Blood rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This continuing Outlander saga does not disappoint. With the familiar voices of Davina Porter, the characters endure as them-self, acting and reacting in ways that stay true but continue to evolve. It is like old friends, who can quickly sweep us back and forward in time with just a phrase. 0n my first listen I got swept up in the action and relationships loosing the richer details. Now into my second listen I am struck by what I missed the first time around. This Outlander world is a feast for the senses, sometimes with delight but just as often with the visceral smells and sounds that make my jaw clinch, nose curl and skin crawl. It is, this feeling my way through her books with my whole body that brings me again and again to be in this world of Diana Gabaldon.

Who was your favorite character and why?

In the last book our hero of the Fraser Clan and his little grandson seemed to face certain death. In this sequel it is the Fraser women who's lives are at risk. While all the men in and around the Fraser Clan, young and old, muster to save Clair. Time traveling Brianna must rise to the realization that there is no time in human history that is without its own deadly dangers.

Which scene was your favorite?

Mmmmm.... Maybe......the scene where young ladies discover the young prideful William, bathing naked in the river...or Clair and Jamie making mad passionate love in the planting shed. But it was also memorable to envision the elegant Lord John reduced to a one- eyed retch of a man. Then again the image of Ian Murray avenging himself with the same savagery as those that attacked him, stays in my mind. Yet even more I still see Brianna being a nurturing mom in nearly the same moment she is ready and willing to destroy those that would use her family for their own greed. Gladly there is no one favorite scene; there are over 145 chapters and at least an equal number of worthy passages that linger long.

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

The coming home. It had me in tears to the end.

Any additional comments?

My thanks to the author for another outstanding summer read. I await the unveiling of the Stars cable production of the first Outlander novel but definitely not patiently. Please Professor Gabaldon, let there be more...

Enjoyed so much on Audible.

Love these books but hard to make the time to read. The Audible app was a great solution for me. I listened as I drove on long drives and as I walked the dogs. Perfect!

Each books has been a treasure.

I think the author has had a look at my family tree. I couldn't believe it that Savannah had both a Bell and a Simpson in the same sentence, or that there were Grimes, McDonald's, Campbell's, and Bledsoe's

A wonderful book about early America.

I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter. True love has no boundaries. Amen

The best!

Love Diana Gabaldon and the narrator Davina Porter is spectacular! Hope she is the narrator on all future books!

Wonderful.

I’ve read and listened to all of the books in the series more times than I’ll admit, but I never get tired of revisiting them.
Diana Gabaldon has been in my top five favorite authors ever since I first read Outlander back in 1996 and I have yet to read anything she’s written that I didn’t fully enjoy.
Listening to the audio versions just take the story to a whole new level. Davina Porter is the absolute perfect narrator for these stories.
If you have read the books and are worried if you will like the audio versions, don’t. You will not be disappointed. I promise.

I love everything about this but ...

The story is fabulous. I'm sad because the next book isn't done yet!
The narrator does an excellent job voicing the many characters. She makes the children sound adorable! She's very good with the difficult Gaelic sounds and accents. But she makes "Samhein" sound like "salmon." It's "Sow-in" or "Sow-een." Im a follower of the old Celtic ways, and I cringe every time she says "Salmon." If I could change one thing, it would be to have her replace that word with the proper pronunciation.
I'm also a free lance editor. That being the only fault I found in eight books is astonishing!! Hats off to the author and the narrator!!