Outlander

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Category: Must Read, "What to read after Twilight"

Book Synopsis:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon - when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach - an "outlander" - in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord... 1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life... and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

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If I could recommend ONE book to read after Twilight - it would be Outlander!

MY Take on this epic love story - So, how many times have you Google searched "What to read after Twilight?", well, I did it all to often before I stumbled upon this glorious series. Every time I did a search for my next book, the only thing that seemed to be recommended reads were teenage vampire stories. For me, when I fell in love with Twilight, I was anxious to read a more sexy adult version. Something that didn't leave EVERYTHING up to the imagination, but still had substance. My next attempt was pointing toward the Charlaine Harris series, True Blood. While I'll say it had some of what I wanted, there was something missing. I was left wanting something more. I stopped reading at book 2. So the search to find "what to read after Twilight" continued for me.

During a casual visit to Borders one day, I remembered a conversation with Izzy where she mentioned a different recommended read, which didn't involve vampires. I was intrigued, and decided to go for it (although it's no small read).

Claire's accidental travel into eighteenth century Scotland begins with disorientation and turmoil. Her confused feelings are accompanied by heartache while her husband Frank remains in 1945. When she is put into a situation where her nursing skills are needed there's an unexpected chemistry between her and her patient is not even acknowledged by her until later.

Jamie and Claire's remarkable star crossed lovers story has everything from passion, intense adventure, anguish and even (surprisingly enough) comedic relief. These characters are developed so well (although many criticize Gabaldon's OVER descriptions from time to time) that you are able to relate to their experiences even when we can not even begin to imagine what these times were like. While the endeavors are an important part of this novel (duh!), the core of the novel is still based around Jamie and Claire's relationship (much the way I felt about Twilight). It is very difficult for me to describe the intimacy you feel within the relationship between Jamie and Claire, maybe because I have never read a book that has such gripping descriptions of the steps this romance takes.

To say simply to read Outlander after Twilight, I believe does this book an injustice. If you simply read the first book, you WILL read the others. It is NOT another vampire story, however, it does have the supernatural twist of time travel. So, if you are like I was...googling away...looking for your next read. STOP NOW! Pick up this book, and you'll be hooked.

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