Dragonfly in Amber | Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2)

Drgonfly In Amber | Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2) | Diana Gabaldon

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	• Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2) Diana Gabaldon Delta, 2001 - 752 pages average customer review:based on 303 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Historical Fiction at it's best

Dragonfly in Amber and it's predecessor, Outlander, succeed because Diana Gabaldon really does her research in regards to the historical accuracy. She lists all of her sources in the book and thanks various historians for advising her. You believe you are in the time period because she is very much aware of what is going on in France at the time. The romance aspect is timeless and the characters are well-rounded and interesting.

Dragonfly in Amber

The second in the series of Outlander by Diana Gabaladon, I enjoyed Dragonfly in Amber even more so than Outlander, the first book. While the first had a wonderful plot it seemed to have unneeded violence and a few scenes that were unrealistic. Dragonfly in Amber overcomes all of that.

It continues, surprisingly, 20 years after the first book. Claire (the main character) is back in the 20th century and has made a trip to Scotland with her daughter Brianna after her husband Frank dies. At this point, the reader wonders, what happened??!! At the end of Outlander, we were still in the 18th century and Claire was still with Jamie, a noble dashing clansman.

With a brief first part in which Claire strives to find out what happened at the great battle of Culloden, the characters are still in the 20th century. During this, it comes out that Frank was not her daughter Brianna's father, but rather, Jamie was. Incredulous with disbelief, Brianna and a friend Roger listen to Claire's story of what happened in her time travel adventure.

The 2nd part of the story takes us back to 18th century Scotland. Jamie and Claire are living in France because he is still an outlaw in Scotland. There they are hoping to stop King Charles from trying to retake the Scottish throne and by consequence, stop the awful battle of Culloden. They are surrounded by enemies and Jacobites (supporters of Charles) at every turn however, and an unfortunate series of events causes them to have to return to Scotland.

There, drawn into things against there will, they prepare for war on behalf of Charles and Jamie is drawn into Charle's army with all his men. Their only goal at this point is survival and to still perhaps prevent the bloody battle that will end the war.

The writing in this book, like the first, was very descriptive. While the first and last parts are told in the 3rd person and from different characters point of views, the majority is in the 1st person from Claire's eyes. A large book, there is plenty of detail on events and people and even side characters are described in depth. Also in this novel, Claire seems to act and talk more like a person from the 1940's would, as opposed to seeming to be from a much later generation like she did in the first novel.

The only part of this book I didn't really like was a scene where Claire is recovering from illness. A friend, in order to heal her, does some very naughty things to her. Maybe I just didn't understand the scene, but it just seemed very strange and out of place to me. Aside from that however, I found most events in the book to be realistic (if one views time travel as realistic as well).

Overall this was an outstanding novel. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Dragonfly in Amber
Copyright 1992
947 pages

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Drgonfly In Amber

Why do the new printings of Diana Gabaldon's books not have the original artwork on the dust jackets? Very disappointing. The books, however, are among my favorites and will be read again and again. She is a master tale spinner and you end up feeling as if you know these people and then miss them when the books is done.

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Outlander's Second sequel

I had already bought all of the Outlander books but in paperback promising myself to aquire the hardcover copies when I was able to. I was a late-comer to this series which helped me having paperback first because I wrote so many comments and observations in the narrow margins of the paperback versions.

I was very pleased with the condition of the book and would order again from this seller. These are all wonderful stories to read and re-read.

Diana Gabaldon does a superb job of developing her characters that you feel you are right there with them as they live their lives through these stories.

Thanks again Amazon for being there for me.

M. Stone

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A slogfest of a story

This the 2nd of the Outlander series and I just finished this one. Like the first, it's long, excessively so. What makes this different from the first, however, is that it's really really slow. About a quarter of the way in, I was ready to stop reading it. It didn't appear to be going anywhere and was starting to make me a little angry, to be honest. I felt cheated by the author. I had invested so much time into the first book and she's killing me slowly with the second.

It did redeem itself in the end. The story is well done, but really, half of the book could have been edited out and the story would have remained the same. I didn't realize there's such a following for these books, apparently entire groups formed around them. I would say they are good, but now the end-all be-all. I think they might be slightly overrated.

Having said THAT, the history that goes into the books is actually kind of impressive. It's not really my thing, but if you like hearing about the 1800s Scotland, France, etc... this is probably right up your alley and you wouldn't want to stab your eyes out with a spoon.

I'm debating on reading the third, but will definitely be taking a break from this series to read something a little more light and airy.

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With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters ? Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser ? delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful follow-up to Outlander....

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland?s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire?s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

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