One day as I was watching TV, I came across the Starz channel and saw a commercial for the new season of a show called "Outlander." I did not think much of it, except for the faint resemblance of the commercial to The Pirates of the Caribbean. I later learned that this was the commercial for the third season of Outlander, for the beginning of the show is about as close to ocean traveling as chalk is to cheese. A few months down the road, I was conversing with my Godmother over the phone when she suddenly remembered her urgency to turn on the TV. "The last episode of season three of Outlander airs TONIGHT, I can't miss it!" She abruptly hung up the phone, leaving me in the middle of my saying "Alright."
Hmmm...Outlander. I had heard that name before. I searched it on my phone, and found that it was the same show I had seen previews for on the TV. What the heck was it about? As I began reading the page on Wikipedia, I immediately picked up that it was definitely not about pirates. Finding the beginning story plot interesting, I decided to begin watching the show...And I fell head over heels in love. In love with the scenery of the filming, in love with the acting, the plot, and most of all, with the character of Jamie Fraser. It was no surprise to me when I finished the entire three seasons of Outlander. In less than two weeks. When I should have been studying for the SAT. Oh, well. 'Living life with no regrets,' is it?
As summer approached, I found myself having somewhat more time to kill. While cleaning my Godmother's house, I found her copy of Outlander, the book from which the first season of the highly popularized show was based on. It was thicker than any of the books I had read in a long time (high school gets in the way of such pleasures as reading for fun), but I decided to give it a try. Evidently, I had loved the show, and I needed to see for myself how similar the book was to its Hollywood companion. So here are some words about Diana Gabaldon's renowned book. Simply put, these seemingly-wordy 850 pages were 850 pages of pure bliss.
It is 1945, and Claire Randall, a former combat nurse for the British Army in World War II, is enjoying a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank. Frank's historian-type mind led him to take his wife to the Scottish Highlands for their trip. While Claire does not mind much for Frank's search for historical accounts on his British ancestors while on the vacation, Claire finds solace in her growing interest in botany. After watching a group of Scottish women perform a traditional dance around the stone circle of Craigh na Dun one day with her husband, Claire returns the next morning in search of a plant. This next part is the game-changer: she places her hands on one of the standing stones, and miraculously ends up in the year 1743.
While still trying to understand where she is, Claire gets taken by a band of Scotsmen after being almost raped by -- coincidentally? her husband's sinister six-times great-grandfather, Captain Jonathan Randall of the British Eighth Dragoons. Because she is an Englishwoman, Claire is immediately dubbed as "Sassenach," or outlander, in the clan community. However regarded with high suspicion, Claire is welcomed to Castle Leoch, where she engages into the role of a healer for the clan MacKenzie. After a series of complications, Claire, to keep out of the hands of Captain Randall, is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a young and attractive Scotsman who happens to be an outlaw due to his tough history with the cruel British army. Despite her attempts to reach Craigh na Dun to return to her time, Claire makes the decision to stay in the eighteenth century after realizing her genuine love for Jamie (it's pretty much inevitable to fall in love with Jamie - he's charming, strong, kind, a natural leader, and not to mention an amazing lover). The rest of the book is a complete emotional roller coaster: filled with vivid imagery of passionate as well as torturous moments that really touch the heart, I cried a total of five times while reading this book.
The way Diana Gabaldon creates this novel is truly amazing. Each one of her characters are crafted with incredible detail. The story itself is astonishing. Many times, I was left gawking, wondering how in the heck Gabaldon was able to write with such historical accuracy, covering a large range of subjects (war, medicine, eighteenth-century lifestyle, etc.), while using only the most impressive vocabulary and syntax. Gabaldon translated the emotions of the characters such that it got me, the reader, emotionally invested to the story line. I held authentic laughter, anxiety, and joy all while reading through the striking scenes. I fostered a new obsession, as I'm sure many Outlander fans have, of Scotland and their historic culture. I completely TORE APART during the scene when Claire broke into Wentworth prison to save her poor husband from grievances of Captain Randall, and Jamie ransoms his life for the sparing of her's. Jamie reassures Claire, despite his horrid condition, as Gabaldon writes, "He drew me close again, kissed me gently and whispered in Gaelic, 'He will let you go because he thinks you are helpless. I know you are not.' Releasing me, he said in English, 'I love you. Go now' (722)." I broke down. Claire had been an outlander to this time period, and even more so to the Scottish culture she had married into. Earlier in the book, she expressed her frustrations with not knowing Gaelic. However, at this crucial point in the book, Claire understands the language that is native to her husband, once foreign to her. Gaelic, in this situation, is used by Jamie to communicate to her from his heart while preventing Captain Randall to pick up on his last sentence to his wife.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much. As much as the rest of the series is compelling to read, I have many other books on my reading list that I ought to begin. However, knowing myself, I will probably get around to them.
Thanks for reading!
xx
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