First Thread - Welcome Everyone

Hello Outlander Fans. Thanks for coming. I'm Jessa, your unoffical hostess. I am a huge fan of the Outlander series and am in the middle of A Breath of Snow and Ashes. In this group we can talk about all that we do and don't love about the series and the author and all other works related to Outlander.

Also I will include some great sites for Outlander fans the first are below.

1. our group site - Gabaldon's own site - http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~gatti/gabaldon/gabaldon.html

2. Bookworm's Lair - Diana Gabaldon - http://www.bookwormslair.de/gabald_e.htm

3. OUTLANDISH CENTRAL - an online reading group devoted to author, Diana Gabaldon - http://readinggroupsonline.com/outlandishcentral/

Love Always - Jessa

Have fun and comment!

I logged into LT, went to check my groups, and this one flashed by. Well, I am definitely interested in this group! I have read all of the Outlander books, although it's been awhile since I have read some of them. I don't know how much I can contribute to the discussion, but I will do my best. I am currently trying to find a copy of Outlander on audio. A friend of mine tells me it is excellent. I'm cheap, so I will have to drive one town over to get it from their library. Since it's 32 hours of listening, I just hope I can keep it long enough to hear it!

I'm glad this group has arrived.

hobbit - thank you for your input and yes the audio's are great but do get the unabridged. I have the entire collection unabridged and it is great, long but well worth it. And yes they are quite a bit of money. I found a seller on eBay that sold the entire set for $300. They had multiple ones so they may still be selling it.

I have recently been intoduced to the LT groups and went in search of a Outlander group. Imagine my surprise to see that none existed. So, I knew I had to fix that and I hope it is a success. Please keep checking back because I hope to have it grow and have others post new thread topics as well.

- Jessa

Jessa - thanks for starting this thread. I haven't read A Breath of Snow and Ashes yet, so I can't comment on it, but I love the rest of the series. I plan to re-read the first 5 and then read the last one, since I only read The Fiery Cross once, and that was when it came out. This way I'll be up-to-date when I finally get to the last one. I've read the first 3 several times, so it won't actually take long. However, I have TONS of other books on my to-be-read list, and since I have the Gabaldon books in hardback, they're more difficult to drag them along in my purse wherever I go.

That is a great idea. I was only intoduced to them when I saw A Breath of Snow and Ashes coming out so I haven't had to wait in between yet. They are huge though but wonderful. Listening to them after having read them is great too because you get right back into the story without having to do the work of reading it. Since you already know what is going on all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. I like to play them when I do puzzles which I think I will do today. :)

- Jessa

It's kind of bizarre how I stumbled on this group as I just posted in the "what are you reading the week of" forum that I just started reading the first in the series Outlander and though it isn't my normal type of reading I am willing to give it a try. I picked it up at the local used book store but I don't know if I'll find the rest available there. They say they don't often get them in and since I bought A Breath of Snow and Ashes from a sale rack at the local grocery superstore, I'll have to make sure to hunt down the ones in between so I am not tempted to jump ahead.

IT is a great series. Let me know what you think.

I love the Outlander books. In new bookshops I always look out for new ones even though I've read them all and I know that A breath of snow and ashes only came out last year. I am currently in the middle of re-reading the series but I have got stuck at Drums of Autumn as I don't have it and neither does my local library. I haven't found it second hand anywhere and I can't afford to buy it new right now. Maybe I'll ask for it for Christmas. I hope its as good as I remember when I finally get to read it.

I recently got my husband to read Cross Stitch (Outlander) and he enjoyed it as well, though it did take him a long time to read and he hasn't asked for the next one yet!

Hello everyone!

Before I forget, I'll throw in the Ladies of Lallybroch site - http://www.lallybroch.com/ . It's a fun site, and they do have forums in which to discuss the books.

I was introduced to the series by some ladies I met online, and later met in person, whose opinions I trusted, but I still was hesitant when they kept talking about "Time-travel romance". Boy, did that sound both lame and far-fetched. :D :D

Now I'm the one telling people, "No, really, I know it sounds weird, but these are outstanding books! There's something for everyone. Read them, you won't regret it."

I loved A Breath of Snow and Ashes because, for me, it brought the storyline back into focus. I felt she had strayed a bit, meandered from the central story - Jamie and Claire.

I started rereading the series this summer, but I was sidetracked somewhere during the 3rd book. I'll have to get back into them.

Well, I'm up to Part Four and I must say I am enjoying it so far. As everyone said, I'd avoided it because it seemed a bit "lame" with the time travelling bit and all. And I also had this idea that Gabaladon was a Harlequin type author (no flames about me making fun of Harlequin = my daughter has worked for them for over 5 years - I just don't read them) So for that reason, I hadn't bothered with the books. But I am a fan of scottish history, being 3/4 scottish - my mother was a scottish war bride and my husband was born there. We went on a special trip there for a 60th wedding anniversary of a family member which was a big family reunion and we visited the Culloden moors while there - it was chilling. I can't wait to go back and spend more time exploring - the history is so rich there. So now I'm back to my toasty blankets and my book!!

I just discovered my invitation and was excited to join a group where people love Jamie and Claire as much as me. I am in the middle of reading A Breathe of Snow and Ashes for the second time. I have a copy signed by Diana Gabaldon herself. I met her a couple of weeks ago at a writers' conference and she's just awesome.

I have read the entire series several times, and A Breathe of Snow is my favorite now. It's an awesome book!

For anyone who is looking for used copies, try the following websites: www.powells.com or www.abebooks.com.

Powells may or may not have what you are looking for - they usually have lots of used paperbacks but very few hardbacks (at least for this series). abebooks is a conglomeration of independent booksellers, most of whom don't have their own websites, or don't list their catalogs on their websites. I found all of my used copies in hardback at Powells, but had to wait quite a while to find Dragonfly in Amber in a used hardbound.

On Gabaldon's website (our group website.) there is a link for signed books that takes you to poisonpen.com (I think that is the exact address) where you can order signed hardbacks of her books. They are brand-new but just a little pricey (just under $30 each). Still you may be interested.

Jessa

Is there a map anywhere that shows Jamie and Claire's travels in Scotland in the first book? Due to the family connection that I wrote about under another topic I'd love to see where they "travelled" in the first book.

The Outlandish Companion has a map of the Uk and the Eastern side of AMerica with the places the went marked.

On the subject of used copies of books, you might also try www.thriftbooks.com. A lot of times they have books for as low as a penny, although you do have to watch the shipping charges.

Just managed to respond to my invite, Hi to everyone.

On the subject of used books, www.paperbackswap.com is a swap site and you can add the DG hardbacks and softcovers to your wishlist. Not an immediate way to get them, but very reasonable. Free.

I'm not much on discussions groups, just don't have the time, but I will make sure check in now and again.

My favorites are Outlander and The Fiery Cross. Outlander (my twelfth or so reading) got me through a week long hospital stay by transporting me -mentally at least - to Scotland. For that alone I will always be grateful.

Must get to work listing more books.

ShawnMarie

Hi everyone.

I'm a huge fan of the Outlander series. I've read them all several times and never tire of the story.

Can't wait for the next one.

OK I did the unthinkable. I went and bought all the books I could find in the Outlander series at the regular full-priced bookstore. I haven't paid full price for a book in such ages that it pained me so. But I went to the used book store first and they said they almost never got the gabaldan books and if they did they got snapped up pretty fast. There were several copies of Outlander (the first book) on the shelves but none of the rest. I really wanted to continue on with the series so I bit the bullet and bought what I could at the real book store. They were only 12.99 (11.70 with my member discount) so it wasn't too bad. I pay $6 for them at the second hand store anyway. I'm still missing one and I'll have to keep my eye out for it, I can't recall the name now I think it's voyager so I have a few to read before I get there. I just finished reading a non outlander book called The Piano Tuner and the ending left me feeling sad and confused - it was unexpected but I'm hoping Dragonfly in Amber will be a bit more readable and predictable. At least with some sort of reasonable storyline. I hope!!

WOW - warbride, where do you go for used books that is extreme. I don't think I have ever paid more than $4.50 for a book from the used book store (except for the book Mists of Avalon and specialty/rare books), and that is before the huge discount I get for bringing in used books. Also what 'real' bookstore did you get them at. (Bordors, B&N, etc.) If you find out which book you are missing I will be happy to send it to you for the cost of media mail only. Let me know how you like the rest of the books. They are well worth buying brand-new.

Jessa

Jessa,
We only have one used bookstore in town and he charges pretty much whatever he wants. Also, you get about 1/3 of what you paid back when you bring a book back, so if you paid $7 you might get $2 if you are very lucky - he quibbles about every little crease and even when you buy a book in poor condition it's the same price. So I don't even bother bringing books back there, I just donate them to someone who will appreciate them. Not sell them back in the same condition I bought them and see them on the shelf again with the $7 price tag on it within hours of my returning it for $2. Not a chance. BTW that's one of the things he'll take money off for - if you removed the price sticker - because then he has to reprice it and it takes him time so you have to pay him for his time. Jerk. So I didn't mind paying full price for the Gabaldon books that I bought the other day. I just wish I could have found the Voyageur one. Except then I'd get no housework done today so it's best that I do not.
I finished the second book last night - Dragonfly in Amber.
BTW I was so shocked that in this book they actually went to Beaufort castle (that's the one my husband's first cousin now owns) and it was all set in the area around their home where we spent that 10 days. We had tours of Culloden moors and we had a Jacobite warrior do a presentation on how they put on the kilt (the real way) and how they dropped the kilt to run into battle and only wore their long shirts and how many ways they used their plaid to keep them warm and carry food and for wrapping their dead soldiers and all the other things in the book. The fellow did an amazing job and kept the children totally mezmerized while he told the story of Culloden Moor. I was in tears through most of it. And being in Beaufort Castle at the time just enhanced the "going back in time" theme. The Beaufort Castle that is there now is a much newer one though as it was built in the 1870's. The Lovat line had to sell it because of their father's substantial debts - I don't know how he got into such debt - but my cousin wanted to keep it in a Scottish family so she bought it. She (as my husband is) is a descendant of the Fraser clan so she wanted it kept by someone who belonged in the line. It feels so odd, even knowing that these books are fiction, to have been to those places and walked on that ground and know the history of the whole story that IS true to have this story woven into the truth makes it almost believable. I don't think the rest of the series will have nearly as much appeal as these first two books set in Scotland but I think I'll try to read on anyway - especially now that I've bought them all.

I am new to the Outlander series. A friend recommended it to me in October and I went out and bought the first 6, some used. I am currently 3/4 of the way through Voyager.

I am obsessed with this series, and I think that I'm reading them too fast - so I am sure that I will be re-reading them once I get through them all.

I think that Diana's ability to bring the characters to life is what I love most. Some of the chapters are so intense, that I can't stop reading.

I look forward to discussing the books.

banshee - they really are great books. I was found them over a year ago when the sixth came out in late september and I was done with Voyager by the end of October and that is with waiting a week in between the first and second for the second book to arrive. I hope you continue to love them and come back often to share with us.

Jessa

I finally got a copy of Voyageur (the 3rd Outlander book) and was able to continue reading the series. I had read the first two and bought the rest of the series but didn't want to open the next books out of order so I was relieved to find Voyageur so I could continue reading the series in the correct order. The only trouble is that with Christmas coming and my daughter and 2 granddaughters are arriving in less than a week so I will be limited in how much reading time I'll have. Right now I'm cleaning and dejunking and using the book as an incentive to get the jobs done that I need to get done. Hope that it works because I've got a lot of things to get finished in the next few days. Grrrrrr I hate not being able to just shut my door and read when I get a new book.

Hmmm, conversations have certainly died down around here.
I finished the last book in the Outlander series and also read Lord John and the Private Matter I actually read Lord John at the point where I couldn't get the next book in the O. series so I had a lull in between. It was out of sync because Lord John wasn't really a big player in the O. series books by the time I read it. It would have been better if I'd read it after reading all of the O. series.
So what does one do when you've read all the books?? I'm wishing there were more and I want to go back and read them over for the first time.

Hello all! I just found this group. I just finished reading Outlander and have to wait to order the other ones so I'm working on my TBR pile. I'm hoping that I can get them ordered in another few weeks. I'm dying to see what happens!

hi everyone! I'm so glad there is a group for Outlander! I have read the whole series twice and i plan to again before the year is over. I never get tired of Jamie and Claire!

I enjoy the series and have learned lots, but do find that she gets bogged down in detail. I guess as a guy, I enjoy the story to move along a little faster. I am just starting what I recently found out is apparently the last book in the series A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Hi...I haven't checked in to this conversation in awhile, as you can see by the date. I haven't ever actually responded to anyone's post, just read the thread. What I did when I got to the end of ABOSAA was start reading the series all over again, and again, and again...I'm on read number 4 now and I found them last August through a referral from a friend. I'm particularly happy that I didn't have to wait between Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager...that would have been pure torture. I have actually read other things, including some from the methadone list. They just don't have that magical pull that Diana's books do.

So, my advice to you would be to begin re-reading! and enjoy...Paulette

I accidently stumbled across your group while randoming searching for Gabaldon info. It's nice to know I'm not the only one out there that can't get enough. I am rereading Outlander for probably the fourth time. I have yet to read The Fiery Cross or Breath of Snow and Ashes as I'm trying to reread the series because it was so long in between. I have been buying the books as I come across them and I am currently looking for Voyager before I can move on. I also love the Into the Wilderness series, I highly recommend it to anyone that hasn't picked it up yet. Happy reading!

Hello to all. Not only am I new to the thread, I am new to the whole Outlander series. I read Outlander and fell in love..reread it and now I'm almost at the end of Dragonfly in Amber. What a story! I wish I had found this years ago when everyone was discovering it. I am pushing it on everyone I can just to have someone to talk with.

I am hooked.

#32: Well, if you have to have an addiction in life, it might as well be to a good story, and Gabaldon tells a great one!

This truly is my current addiction in life. I can't believe that I am so taken with these fictional characters! I spend my time reading other Scottish romance books, Highlander books or time travel novels, hoping I'll find something that comes close - and so far, nothing can compare to Gabaldon's Outlander series. Even though I'm not reading them currently (waiting for An Echo in the Bone to come out) I listen to them all (unabridged) on one big continous loop on audio tape while commuting to work. Currently I'm listening to A Breath of Snow and Ashes. This is my 2nd listening after reading it, and I must say, it's one of my least favorites. Not as much of a slog as The Fiery Cross, but I find it very depressing and loaded with a lot of unecessary (in my opinion) filler. As much as I still love the series, these later books have so many horrible depressing events in them (especially to Claire in ABOSSA) that I'm having trouble staying enthusiastic over the series. I much prefer the first 4 books. Does anyone else feel the same way as I do?

Ktleyed..You are not alone..:)

I have become obsessed with Jamie and Claire. I to have looked into other books on the scottish highlands but as of right now I am just starting Voyager. This is the first read for me because I just discovered the books from someone here on LT. If I remembered who it was I would kiss them!

Glad you're enjoying the series MDLady!