2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This is where we will discuss the book after we start reading it in January.

I'm very much enjoying the audio of this. I'm on chapter 7 now and loving the world and character building!

For me, the book started out super slow. I love the writing, it's beautiful. But I prefer fast-paced books. This one does a lot of world and character building.

Maybe it's because I'm listening at 1.30x speed on audio, but it definitely isn't slow for me at that speed haha!

The audio is definitely helping me keep moving with the book, but Im also enjoying it enough to have gained my own momentum. I always imagined there was more of an age gap between Jamie and Claire. By modern standards he seems pretty mature for his age. The historical context and setting is quite enlightening to me too. Im definitely gaining a new perspective.

Ashleigh wrote: "Maybe it's because I'm listening at 1.30x speed on audio, but it definitely isn't slow for me at that speed haha!"

I listened to the audio faster than that and it was still slow :-p

Really enjoying it so far, on chapter 11. I don't usually do historical fiction but Gabaldon has made the world-building really accessible for me, which I appreciate.

This book had me hooked from the get-go. I love the amount of detail, and the characters are excellent.

Emma wrote: "The audio is definitely helping me keep moving with the book, but Im also enjoying it enough to have gained my own momentum. I always imagined there was more of an age gap between Jamie and Claire...."

I must have missed this part. What are their ages?

I am really struggling with this book, used to a faster pace.

I am currently on page 40, please tell me the pace is going to pick up a bit.

Thanks :-)

Ashleigh wrote: "Emma wrote: "The audio is definitely helping me keep moving with the book, but Im also enjoying it enough to have gained my own momentum. I always imagined there was more of an age gap between Jami..."

It says Jamie is 23 and I believe Claire is 27. Its not directly mentioned but in passing at various points.

Ashleigh wrote: "Maybe it's because I'm listening at 1.30x speed on audio, but it definitely isn't slow for me at that speed haha!"
Lol I listen at that speed too, I got through 5 or 6 chapters that way while doing housework yesterday!

I'm both reading this - trade paperback, which is how I've started collecting the series - and listening to the Audible version. The last time I read this I made it through about page 200, I'm currently on p 174 before picking it up again this morning. It's snowing hard here and super cold so im snuggled up on the couch with my cats and a heated blanket and my coffee and my husband's plaid, which we keep tossed over the back of the couch in our library, for a few hours of reading!

I must admit I'd forgotten just how talented this writer is. For those of you struggling with the pace, things definitely accelerated IMO after the 1945 portion. This is a very deep and complex story and I can see how beautifully it leant itself to screenplay. She's truly creative with the way she hints at things early on that become important later. I'd also forgotten just how damn funny and relatable Claire is for me, maybe that's because I am also a nurse who spends a lot of time in the company of men and have been known to drop a few *bombs* here and there but wow was I cracking up at the scene where (view spoiler)[ she's dropping the teapot and cursing in front of the solicitor (hide spoiler)] 😂 And being married to a Scotsman myself I can confirm that "Mmmmphm" is in fact a bonafide Scots expression 😂: " My captor, a man of few words, had responded to my questions, demands, and acerbic remarks alike with the all-purpose Scottish noise 'Mmmphm.' Had I been in any doubt as to his nationality, that sound alone would have been sufficient to remove it" (p 41).

This time around I'm struck by how different the 1945 portion feels than the rest, almost as though its another story, but not in a disjointed way. Edit: after thinking about this a bit more I almost wonder if we are intended to feel how disconnected and almost bored Claire is with her life in 1945. For me it feels like she's just going through the motions a bit, partly due to how disconnected she seems to feel from Frank for obvious reasons, and also because of what she's just been through in terms of nursing in the war. When she's transported back in time I get the feeling that she's in such a survival response that things are almost hyper-real and vivid, which again pushes the contrast between the two time periods. Anyway just my 2 cents there.

Here are some favorite quotes so far:

(view spoiler)[
p56- “At least we were not set upon by highway-men, we encountered no wild beasts, and it didn’t rain. By the standards I was becoming used to, it was quite dull.”

p64- I felt an odd sense of intimacy with this young Scottish stranger, due in part, I thought, to the dreadful story he had just told me, and in part to our long ride through the dark, pressed together in drowsy silence… I had noticed that to sleep, actually sleep with someone, did give this sense of intimacy, as though your dreams had flowed out of you to mingle with his and fold you both in a blanket of unconscious knowing… If the trust was mutual, simple sleep could bring you closer together than the joining of bodies”

p70- I found what I supposed I was looking for in the central drawer. A half-finished letter, written in flowing hand… legible or not, the date at the top of the page sprang out at me as though written in letters of fire: 20 April, 1743.” (hide spoiler)]

Sooo...not to rain on anyone's parade, I know this book is much loved, but this is not a book for me. I enjoyed the first quarter of the book, where we are meeting the characters and learning the setting. I loved the description of Claire going through the contents of the former healer's herbs and remedies.

But then it turns into a boddice ripper. How much sex does a book need to get the point across? I am not a romance reader, in general, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

The sex is definitely a killer in this haha. I agree!

I'm up to chapter 25 and have some thoughts based on some information that has come to light!

(view spoiler)[Gillee (sorry listening on audio so not sure on spelling) is she Mrs Graham? Is she a time travelling person too? Clare mentioned earlier she was reminded of her and then she saw the small pox vaccination mark which suggests she is from another time. I do hope that's reflected upon more in future chapters, because I'd really like to know! (hide spoiler)]

Still loving this. I'm a little frustrated that what could have been written as kink is instead frequently written as scenes with dicey/questionable consent. But otherwise I'm incredibly impressed with how well this book has kept my attention!

I’m loving it too and am already eyeing up the rest of the series!

Emma wrote: "I’m loving it too and am already eyeing up the rest of the series!"
- me too! I own books 1-3 in the trade paperback format and wanted to get through those before committing to purchasing the rest of the series... if the rest of the book holds up this is looking like a series to read through!

Ashleigh wrote: "...I'm up to chapter 25 and have some thoughts based on some information that has come to light!

[spoilers removed]"

- love your theory! I have similar thoughts, I'm excited to learn more about why all these stories exist and who else in this world might be a time traveler!

Ashleigh wrote: "The sex is definitely a killer in this haha. I agree!

I'm up to chapter 25 and have some thoughts based on some information that has come to light!

[spoilers removed]"
Yes, I read it the same way - she is what you state in your spoiler.

Has anyone watched the T.v. Show? I was apprehensive about reading this book because of the length so I opted audio this time around. It’s working out wonderfully. Certainly lots of character build up and I actually don’t mind it despite my preference for a faster pace. It’s a bit more romantic than I like but it’s been fun to listen to so far. Interested. Currently on chapter 20

‘Certainly lots of character build up..’
I agree Sarah- I love character driven stories and I can see how people have become attached to the series- its as much for the characters as the story itself. I haven’t seen the tv show and Im not sure I want to now as I have my own clear images of how it ‘looks” and I dont want that to change!

I definitely love the writing style and the character and world building. It just all seems to flow so naturally and it's so easy to follow. The writing is so beautiful and elegant it's hard not to be drawn into it.

Book 2 was on sale on Kobo yesterday so I bought it haha! I also already own three other ones (they were given to me). I'm now less afraid of their sizes knowing that I am very much enjoying this series. I'll probably slowly continue on over the coming years as I can't see myself getting through them all this year if I want to read other things too haha!

Ive just finished and am feeling very satisfied. Maybe we could do the next one as a buddy read in a few months?

Emma- I agree about the tv show lol. IF I watch it it will be after I’ve read the books. I would continue with a buddy read with this for sure. Ashleigh- I hear you on wanting to read other things too. I collect books even though I have little time to sit and read anymore. So audio is the only way I’ll have a shot at completing the series.

I'm enjoying it so far. I'm combining both audio and reading as there's a lot to get through before the end of January! The pace is good and I'm enjoying the author's skill in both characterisation and creating an atmosphere.

I finished this! I couldn't give it anything but 5 stars. The writing was just too beautiful to ignore. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I’m still on Chapter 1!

I am about a quarter through and, although it is enjoyable, I find it a bit slow. Perhaps it is all the time spent on character-building and atmosphere creation or more likely it is because I watched a bit of the series a few years ago and sort of know what is coming.
From what I've read, the show is an exact rendition of the book, dialogue and all.

Martha☀ wrote: "I am about a quarter through and, although it is enjoyable, I find it a bit slow. Perhaps it is all the time spent on character-building and atmosphere creation or more likely it is because I watch..."
I loved the TV show, and pleased to realize that it was in fact quite a mirror of the book itself! I'm at nearly the half way point, had to take a bit of a detour to spend some time on a library book (Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, which is INCREDible!) but jumping back into it this week! Overall while I wouldn't say its perfect I do absolutely love it so far.

I´m in 1/3 - Clare is an amazing person.
I saw tv show and I´m glad to say: the book and the serie is fabulous

Just finished and it was everything I needed this month. Definitely wouldn't have picked it up by myself, but I'm so glad I did.

I'm plodding along but only halfway through. Obviously I won't finish it in January! Call me a ninny but I am offended by the detailed descriptions of physical abuse and beatings, and the subsequent justification of these actions. I also despise the glorification of rape. I may carry on with it but other, better quality reads may bump this one off.
Will anyone else continue this thread into February?