This is the eighth book in the Outlander series. I honestly can’t believe I’ve read all the books to this series.

I now moderate an Outlander forum so I had to catch up for the show’s airing. Great start to the show by the way.

As for this novel, I feel the first couple of books were my favourites. I think the first novel is the most tightly written. Each of them subsequently have become more and more sprawling. There are a lot of narratives and it can often drag in the middle.

Case in point, I did not always like how various characters and families were split apart. I also did not like William or care about his struggles.

On a more positive note, Gabaldon’s novels usually end on a high or on a plot hanger. This one was the former. Ultimately, these books are about family and marriage in extreme circumstances. I really enjoyed the every day moments featured at the end. So much so that I will read the next book.

I have given up on other series before, but Gabaldon’s writing just makes it so that I still hang out every time I finish.

Read on August 3rd-14th, 2014.

In a funny twist, I learned about this book from a Korean drama about an alien who learns to fall in love called “You from the Stars”. This children’s book is about a China rabbit toy who goes on a reluctant adventure and learns to love.

There was something sweet as Edward learned to love and the ending is lovely as a result. I don’t love this book though. I can see how it could be a classic for children. I didn’t really like how the rabbit was punished for not loving his child though. The characters along the way were nice but very sad as well.

Read August 2, 2014.

I have read all of Giffin’s novels, and this was definitely one of the most lackluster. It even edged on being melodramatic. Worse of all, I was bored and wanted the novel to be finished for most of it.

At first, the Texas college town setting and football focus reminded me of “Friday Night Lights”. The coach’s wife was even named Connie. But this wasn’t the TV show and there was just too much American football politics in this.

Most romances are predictable in some way, and it’s all about the journey. I like that Giffin usually has a good buildup to her couple. She definitely has a formula. It didn’t quite work for me here. She presented two prospects for her heroine: a hot more dreamy man who looks perfect vs. her other attractive, but decidedly different end-game man. The first man was too melodramatic with his issues; it felt a bit soap operaish. With the character she ends up with, I just kept thinking, “Get to the point!”

It felt a lot of the novel was about the protagonist and her daddy issues. There’s something a bit too much about the May-November romance presented here. It felt a bit contrived even.

I was always going to read this book, but a friend invited me to her book club and this was the selection. Sadly, I cannot make my first book club meeting since I have another engagement. If I was there, I would definitely say this was not the author’s best work.

Read July 26, 2014 on Kindle.

There are spoilers in this review.
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For years I knew that this book was good. I did not know what it was about though. It happens that I hear good things about a title and author, but not know their work. I finally was able to read this and prepared myself after all the fluffy Heyer and Fleming novels.

When I started this book, I was interested in the narrative style and the characters. I didn’t necessarily think it would give me a book hangover. This book really grew on me. It has that quality wherein the characters and their lives slowly seep into your mind and heart. I didn’t even realize how much I loved it until the end.

The ending! I cried. I probably only cry for a book once a year and rarely do I sobbed. I sobbed, and I had to hold it in. There was so much pathos for the characters. They were all well drawn out. Everyone of them had a story and quality. It was really lovely.

The novel is definitely one of family and friendship. It is also one about war, death, and the deep love one has for writing and books. It’s simply written and it really knocked me over when I finished it.

Definitely recommended.

Finished May 29, 2014 on Kindle.

When I read this back in May, I thought this was my second James Bond – Ian Flemming novel, but it was actually my fourth. If I count the Sebastian Faulkner Bond novel, this was actually my fifth Bond novel. I read the first three Fleming Bond backs in March 2009. All three of them bled into each other I guess.

It makes sense because these books are formulaic. James Bond goes on an adventure, meets a girl, and there is some action.

What is really quite funny and discomforting about Dr. No is that there is a lot of casual racism in the book. The racism surrounds the mixed villain who is Chinese. I read this novel while in China and it was the only Bond novel on my Kindle for some reason. The racism was not so bad, but it was a bit ignorant. Kimonos aren’t Chinese style. There was sexism as well which is classic Bond.

Having said that, I still found myself reading the novel quickly. I think I’ll keep reading them even though they are incredibly outdated. I think Fleming does good pacing and there were a couple of sensual moments in this book. I can’t really take these books seriously, and knowing that helps me enjoy them.

Read May 29, 2014 on Kindle.