Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

English nurse Claire and husband Frank take a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands in 1945. When Claire walks through a cleft stone in an ancient henge, she's somehow transported to 1743. She encounters Frank's evil ancestor, Black Jack, and is adopted by another clan.

Claire nurses young soldier James Fraser, a gallant, merry redhead, and the two begin a romance, seeing each other through many perilous, swashbuckling adventures involving Black Jack. Scenes of the Highlanders' daily life blend poignant emotions with Scottish wit and humor. Eventually Sassenach (outlander) Claire finds a chance to return to 1945, and must choose between distant memories of Frank and her happy, uncomplicated existence with Jamie. Claire's resourcefulness and intelligent sensitivity make the love-conquers-all, happily-ever-after ending seem a just reward.

This book has romance, swashbuckling adventures and lots of action. Scenes of the Highlanders' daily life blend poignant emotions with Scottish wit and humor.

Club Rating: 4.4