Cross Stitch (Outlander, 1) : Gabaldon, Diana: desertcart.co.uk: Books Review: Read it, Sassenach! - I bought this book a long time ago, on the recommendation of a friend, but it sat unread on my shelf for about a year. I'm not sure what it was that put me off, whether it was the strange title (I was thinking, Cross Stitch? Really? Is this about crafting? Because if it is I'm really not interested), the generically boring cover, or the dramatically romantic-sounding synopsis. I'm not really one for historical romance; I have throwbacks to picking up my Grandma's Mills & Boon's and flicking through to find the dirty parts, and not having much interest otherwise. But anyway, for whatever reason, I finally took the plunge one day, and began reading. Cross Stitch (or Outlander, depending on where you are) is a book about Claire Randall, a woman transported back through time to 18th Century Scotland, where she meets a young Highlander, Jamie Fraser. I won't give too much away about the plot, but needless to say, things get complicated, exciting, and rather steamy, and I was left wondering what took me so long to get around to reading it. This is such a great book. Diana Gabaldon does a fantastic job of making you love Claire almost straight away; you care about her, you sympathise with her, you get swept up into her adventure right along with her. She's a brilliant heroine, a modern 1940's woman lost in a much harsher past. She is strong, intelligent, feisty, resourceful, and rather sexy when she wants to be. She also has her faults, which just make her all the more real. Gabaldon writes in such a way that you are really drawn into the past with Claire, the strange sights, smells, tastes. The author has a way of describing a scene in such a way as to not make it obvious that she's trying to get you to formulate a picture in your head, but rather that you are just seeing through Claire's eyes. There must have been rather a lot of historical research done on the period; the effort really shows and pays off. Gabaldon has a real knack for creating characters, too; even the minor ones you are able to visualise clearly and grow fond of easily. Claire is obviously keen to find her way back to her own time (and her husband, Frank), but it's not that easy. These are tense political times, and as a strange-looking woman who appears out of nowhere not able to explain herself, she's taken for a possible spy. She finds a friend in the aforementioned Jamie, and of course, things get complicated. And rather romantic. At some point early on the focus moves away from the time-travelling and the strangeness of being 200 years in the past, to the relationship between the two main characters. Jamie Fraser. Ah, Jamie. Again, I don't want to give too much away, but there is so much to love about him, I don't even know where to start. The thing is, he's not perfect, and he's quite a complex character, while still remaining realistic. He goes from being adorable, funny and flirty, to brave, strong and heroic, to rather unattractively (in my opinion) domineering and violent, to vulnerable and broken. His personality covers a lot of bases, but somehow Gabaldon makes it work, and he's a fully rounded, complete character, who is just as endearing and addictively readable as Claire. The parts of the book where Jamie is not so loveable, you'll have to read yourself and formulate your own opinions. It's a bit of a sore point, in the Outlander fan world, I've come to realise. Anyway, Claire meets Jamie, and for one reason and another they find themselves spending a lot of time together. Their early interactions are played out so well and flirtatious in such an understated, sweet way, I have read them over again and again, and am still not tired of them. What begins as a fondness turns into something of a passionate whirlwind romance, and things do get rather physical, and there are a number of sex scenes. Now, for some reason, the sexual content of this book seems to be a love or hate thing. Being a reader of some rather steamy books previously, when I first read this book, I actually thought the writing of the sex a bit lame. While there are quite a number of sex scenes, most of them stop at the key moment, only to move onto the usual 'laying in each others arms recovering' type thing. Certain words aren't used (important ones, like, oh, you know, penis), so it's difficult to follow what's going where, etc. I've heard that some people think the sex in these books is too much veering on distasteful. Personally, I thought it was pretty well-written, and if I'm being perfectly honest, it could have been more detailed (I am shameless and happy to tell you that in the later books, while there seem to be fewer sex scenes, the writing of it improves and does get rather hotter). For me, it wasn't over-the-top flowery, like many romance books, which I appreciated, there was plenty of it, and apart from the cutting away and the lack of detailed description, it was rather enjoyable. They are a passionate, fiery couple, and they don't hold back. So I guess if you like that sort of thing, you'll enjoy this aspect of the book. There are plenty of heart-wrenching, more classic romantic moments, some of which will have you reaching for the tissues. There are also some fantastically written romantic lines, mainly Jamie's, which will have you swooning over your cuppa. Many things happen to Claire and Jamie along the way; some good, some not so good, some very upsetting and disturbing, in fact. The two characters are really put through the mill, and they go through it all together. The latter third of the book takes a much darker turn; seriously, this book really does take you on a roller-coaster of emotions! I have read Cross Stitch a number of times, as well as all the other books in the Outlander series. Having recently finished the latest book, Written In My Own Heart's Blood (yes, I'm still with it after 8 books, that should say something!), I have again gone back and re-read Cross Stitch, so I could reconnect with the characters at the beginning of their story. It is as entertaining as ever. So to say it was not what I expected from the title and cover is an understatement. Don't be fooled! It's very much an adult book, with adult themes, not the flippant historical romance I imagined it was going to be. It will have you gripped, laughing and crying, from start to finish. What are you waiting for?! Read it! I promise you, you won't be disappointed. You'll likely be ordering the whole series and losing a few months of your life to Claire and Jamie, just like I did. Enjoy. Review: Cross Stitch (or Outlander US Version) - I read Cross Stitch in the early 1990's when it first came out at a time when I was looking for a great book to read and this book does not disappoint whatsoever!! Most readers have, as I have, rated this book 5 stars, it deserves it and more, the writer is very talented and puts other authors to shame with their writing and story telling, Diana Gabaldon the author of this book and the whole saga that follows are excellent reads. I only wish there were more authors out there who took the time and effort to write quality rather than just writing to make money. Diana Gabaldon writes from the heart, she makes you laugh, cry and really feel for the characters with her talented writing. Absolutely brilliant!!! More than 20 years later, Ive read this book twice and plan to read it again, had to buy another copy because my first copy is too well used to read again. Ignore the 1-3 stars very few rated this book, those few who rated it 1-3 stars are from other very jealous writers/authors steaming at the ears, that they didnt write it first!!!! They say that there are things we must do before our time is up and reading this book is one of them, after reading it the first time more than 20 years ago, I still can't forget how it gripped me and how it made me feel, still get those goose bumps every time I think about the story and the characters Claire and Jamie Fraser, look on YOUTUBE you will see many fans wanting this book made into a movie on the silver screen!!
| Best Sellers Rank | 135,234 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 434 in Romance Time Travel 548 in Gaslamp Fantasy 1,802 in Historical Fantasy (Books) |
| Customer reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (413) |
| Dimensions | 11 x 3.7 x 17.8 cm |
| Edition | New Ed |
| ISBN-10 | 0099911701 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0099911708 |
| Item weight | 469 g |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 880 pages |
| Publication date | 16 July 1992 |
| Publisher | Arrow Books Ltd |
J**E
Read it, Sassenach!
I bought this book a long time ago, on the recommendation of a friend, but it sat unread on my shelf for about a year. I'm not sure what it was that put me off, whether it was the strange title (I was thinking, Cross Stitch? Really? Is this about crafting? Because if it is I'm really not interested), the generically boring cover, or the dramatically romantic-sounding synopsis. I'm not really one for historical romance; I have throwbacks to picking up my Grandma's Mills & Boon's and flicking through to find the dirty parts, and not having much interest otherwise. But anyway, for whatever reason, I finally took the plunge one day, and began reading. Cross Stitch (or Outlander, depending on where you are) is a book about Claire Randall, a woman transported back through time to 18th Century Scotland, where she meets a young Highlander, Jamie Fraser. I won't give too much away about the plot, but needless to say, things get complicated, exciting, and rather steamy, and I was left wondering what took me so long to get around to reading it. This is such a great book. Diana Gabaldon does a fantastic job of making you love Claire almost straight away; you care about her, you sympathise with her, you get swept up into her adventure right along with her. She's a brilliant heroine, a modern 1940's woman lost in a much harsher past. She is strong, intelligent, feisty, resourceful, and rather sexy when she wants to be. She also has her faults, which just make her all the more real. Gabaldon writes in such a way that you are really drawn into the past with Claire, the strange sights, smells, tastes. The author has a way of describing a scene in such a way as to not make it obvious that she's trying to get you to formulate a picture in your head, but rather that you are just seeing through Claire's eyes. There must have been rather a lot of historical research done on the period; the effort really shows and pays off. Gabaldon has a real knack for creating characters, too; even the minor ones you are able to visualise clearly and grow fond of easily. Claire is obviously keen to find her way back to her own time (and her husband, Frank), but it's not that easy. These are tense political times, and as a strange-looking woman who appears out of nowhere not able to explain herself, she's taken for a possible spy. She finds a friend in the aforementioned Jamie, and of course, things get complicated. And rather romantic. At some point early on the focus moves away from the time-travelling and the strangeness of being 200 years in the past, to the relationship between the two main characters. Jamie Fraser. Ah, Jamie. Again, I don't want to give too much away, but there is so much to love about him, I don't even know where to start. The thing is, he's not perfect, and he's quite a complex character, while still remaining realistic. He goes from being adorable, funny and flirty, to brave, strong and heroic, to rather unattractively (in my opinion) domineering and violent, to vulnerable and broken. His personality covers a lot of bases, but somehow Gabaldon makes it work, and he's a fully rounded, complete character, who is just as endearing and addictively readable as Claire. The parts of the book where Jamie is not so loveable, you'll have to read yourself and formulate your own opinions. It's a bit of a sore point, in the Outlander fan world, I've come to realise. Anyway, Claire meets Jamie, and for one reason and another they find themselves spending a lot of time together. Their early interactions are played out so well and flirtatious in such an understated, sweet way, I have read them over again and again, and am still not tired of them. What begins as a fondness turns into something of a passionate whirlwind romance, and things do get rather physical, and there are a number of sex scenes. Now, for some reason, the sexual content of this book seems to be a love or hate thing. Being a reader of some rather steamy books previously, when I first read this book, I actually thought the writing of the sex a bit lame. While there are quite a number of sex scenes, most of them stop at the key moment, only to move onto the usual 'laying in each others arms recovering' type thing. Certain words aren't used (important ones, like, oh, you know, penis), so it's difficult to follow what's going where, etc. I've heard that some people think the sex in these books is too much veering on distasteful. Personally, I thought it was pretty well-written, and if I'm being perfectly honest, it could have been more detailed (I am shameless and happy to tell you that in the later books, while there seem to be fewer sex scenes, the writing of it improves and does get rather hotter). For me, it wasn't over-the-top flowery, like many romance books, which I appreciated, there was plenty of it, and apart from the cutting away and the lack of detailed description, it was rather enjoyable. They are a passionate, fiery couple, and they don't hold back. So I guess if you like that sort of thing, you'll enjoy this aspect of the book. There are plenty of heart-wrenching, more classic romantic moments, some of which will have you reaching for the tissues. There are also some fantastically written romantic lines, mainly Jamie's, which will have you swooning over your cuppa. Many things happen to Claire and Jamie along the way; some good, some not so good, some very upsetting and disturbing, in fact. The two characters are really put through the mill, and they go through it all together. The latter third of the book takes a much darker turn; seriously, this book really does take you on a roller-coaster of emotions! I have read Cross Stitch a number of times, as well as all the other books in the Outlander series. Having recently finished the latest book, Written In My Own Heart's Blood (yes, I'm still with it after 8 books, that should say something!), I have again gone back and re-read Cross Stitch, so I could reconnect with the characters at the beginning of their story. It is as entertaining as ever. So to say it was not what I expected from the title and cover is an understatement. Don't be fooled! It's very much an adult book, with adult themes, not the flippant historical romance I imagined it was going to be. It will have you gripped, laughing and crying, from start to finish. What are you waiting for?! Read it! I promise you, you won't be disappointed. You'll likely be ordering the whole series and losing a few months of your life to Claire and Jamie, just like I did. Enjoy.
R**E
Cross Stitch (or Outlander US Version)
I read Cross Stitch in the early 1990's when it first came out at a time when I was looking for a great book to read and this book does not disappoint whatsoever!! Most readers have, as I have, rated this book 5 stars, it deserves it and more, the writer is very talented and puts other authors to shame with their writing and story telling, Diana Gabaldon the author of this book and the whole saga that follows are excellent reads. I only wish there were more authors out there who took the time and effort to write quality rather than just writing to make money. Diana Gabaldon writes from the heart, she makes you laugh, cry and really feel for the characters with her talented writing. Absolutely brilliant!!! More than 20 years later, Ive read this book twice and plan to read it again, had to buy another copy because my first copy is too well used to read again. Ignore the 1-3 stars very few rated this book, those few who rated it 1-3 stars are from other very jealous writers/authors steaming at the ears, that they didnt write it first!!!! They say that there are things we must do before our time is up and reading this book is one of them, after reading it the first time more than 20 years ago, I still can't forget how it gripped me and how it made me feel, still get those goose bumps every time I think about the story and the characters Claire and Jamie Fraser, look on YOUTUBE you will see many fans wanting this book made into a movie on the silver screen!!
R**N
A breathtaking read!!
What an amazing story! I cannot believe I have not found these books until now!!?? The story is breathtaking (Outlander1) it never loses pace and holds your attention on every page. It is possible to 'connect' with the main characters almost immediately and you genuinely want to know what happens to them. Every chapter has a 'ah!!' moment and your breath is regularly taken away. The descriptions of the Scottish Highland scenery are excellent and take you on a real journey with the characters. I have read the first two books Cross Stitch( Outlander) and the Dragonfly in Amber and cannot wait to start the next- except I feel I must move on to other things. I have now come to the point where I am about to 'ration' my 'Outlander' intake! Jamie and Claire are charismatic and their relationship is finely drawn- a most realistic and profoundly moving partnership in the making. It's not my usual fare but my goodness- I've decided to 'go with the flow' and expect the returns to be worthwhile!
A**D
If you liked the tv series, you should enjoy the books
Having watched most of the tv series, decided to give the books a try. Not sure that the Scottish accents came across well on the page, which was sometimes a bit frustrating. Apart from that, the story was action-packed, inventive and moved along at a good pace. Have ordered some more books in the series.
A**N
Through the Stones series is unputdownable!!
The story of Claire, who travels 'Through the Stones' from 1945 to Jacobite Scotland and meets many fascinating people is an amazing mix of fantasy and historical fiction. This is the first book in the series and sets off fairly gently at the end of the 2nd world war when she is taking a holiday with her husband to get to know each other again after being apart through the war. It picks up the pace significantly when she steps through a stone circle and finds herself back in Jacobite Scotland and is rescued from a nasty English soldier (who looks remarkably like her husband) by a group of Scotsmen. She uses her nursing skills to help them, and becomes particularly close to a tall, handsome red-headed Scot called Jamie Fraser. This book, and the several that follow, tell her tale as she tries to survive in the primitive and violent time in which she's found herself. The relationships she forges and her adventures are told in an engrossing and exciting manner. I've recommended this book to lots of my friends and no-one has been disappointed yet.
D**.
Like most of the people who wrote reviews on this book and on all of Diana's books, this series is the only series I have ever read that has stuck with me for over 15 years. I have read and re-read every one of the books and cried when my husband surprised me with her last book I didn't even know was coming out. I have been reading since I was 5 years old, non stop, voraciously. For these books to be my favorites that I read and read again is saying alot. Ms. Gabaldon fleshed out her characters so well that they are truly unforgettable and real. There are no cheesy fake romance lines in these books, but a real love story. Regarding the 2 star review, someone is being too defensive. The point is that Claire is not weak and helpless but is in a world where women are treated as such. Even a kind, loving person like Jamie is steeped in his culture's view of women and their behavior. But through the series, Jamie comes to value Claire's independence and intelligence. That part of the first book was a contrast to their future relationship. Women can only be put down if they allow themselves to be.
B**8
The book is in perfect condition. It seems to be new, never touched. It's arrived in advance of 3 days.
U**I
I did find it hard to read this book at the start, but then as soon as it took off - The only thing i can say is OMFG ...!! It is one of the best book i have read and i would consider reading this book " Time well spent". You don't want to stop reading this book when you start reading this. Though it has 800+ pages, trust me its worth the read. Amazon delivery as usual Amazing ...Perfect on time !!!
P**.
Bought it thinking it would be different from American book but the same.
A**様
とても私の英語力では読めないレベル。だけどKindle版なら辞書を引くのが超簡単。わからない単語や訛りがいっぱいあるけど面白い
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