Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

This book was recommended to me and at first I wasn't sure if I would like it. I had heard of Diana Gabaldon before (The Scottish Prisoner) but did not know anything about this series. The thing that made me decide to try it out was the time traveling aspect. The little bit of fantasy added interest to what sounded like a boring historical book, and made it into something potentially exciting and mysterious.

When I first started it I wasn't impressed, I liked the main character but I found her husband and their life a bore. She was taking up an interest in plants and herbs and her husband was researching his family tree. Neither which I find very interesting. The minute she stepped into Scotland in 1743 the entire feel of the book changed and I loved it.

Forced into a dangerous time with a war between the British and the Scottish Clans Claire's new life is focused on survival. She has to try and gain the trust of the people while at the same time lying about who she really is and where she is from. There is suspense and mystery everywhere as she slowly begins to learn the complicated relationships between the members of Castle Leoch. Claire becomes friends with a young Scot warrior Jamie Fraser, who takes it upon himself to protect Claire from the danger that she often finds herself in the middle of. Jamie's passion for Claire becomes undeniable and she finds herself torn between him and the husband she left behind.

Even though this book was very long I didn't notice the length while I was reading it. Most of the time the story flowed nicely and was never short on adventure. I liked Claire's strength and no nonsense attitude. Her stubbornness got her in a lot of trouble but it also saved her. This book is classified as a romance, but it was a tame version of one that isn't full of sex and has a great storyline besides their relationship.

Great book, I will read the rest of them.

Coming Soon: September 24

I outlined in an earlier post here, about J.K Rowlings new book written for adults. After a long wait the book will finally be on shelves this Thursday the 27th. I love the Harry Potter series and am curious to see how this book will be. Unfortunately this will have to take the back of the line of a long list of books that I want to read. I will get to it one day, I hope.

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Europe Vacation

I cant believe its been three weeks since I last posted. It's not because I've forgotten to post or ran out of things to say, it is because I was on vacation in Europe for over a week! I had a great time there and the weather was so nice. I spent the last two days in Rome and would love to go back again. Three days there is not enough time to see everything; its such a beautiful city. Here are a few pictures from the trip I'd like to share. I also finished the book Outlander yesterday, so will be posting a review of it soon.

The white washed houses of Mykonos

A dome in St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City

The Colosseum

Inside the Colosseum

St. Mark's square in Venice

The Parthenon in Athens

The Arch of Constantine in Rome

Beautiful ceiling in the Vatican Museum

Site of the first modern Olympics in Athens

Coming Soon: September 3

The Time Keeper

Coming out September 4, Mitch Albom's new book, The Time Keeper, sounds as as interesting and inspiring as the last book of his I read, The Five People You meet in Heaven. I loved his last book because it was an original story and idea. It was the kind of story that made you think, and see the world in a different way. This time Albom tackles the mystery of time.

Father Time is the hero in this novel. He was the first man to measure time and invented the clock, but was punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift and banished to a cave to forever listen to the cries of people seeking more days, more hours, in life. After almost being broken, Father Time is being released with a mission. With a magical hour glass he must teach two people the true meaning of time. He returns to our world to find in dominated by the clock that he invented. He is partnered with two people, a young girl who wishes to end her life, and an older wealthy man who wants to live forever. In order to save himself, he must save them both.


The Tombs 

I have never read Clive Cussler before, judging by the covers (yes I do that) they always looked like books written for men, battleships blowing up, planes exploding, stuff like that. His latest book treasure hunting book looks more my style. A fan of both Tomb Raider and the Uncharted video games, treasure hunting always seems adventurous, romantic and a fun way for me to learn a little bit of history.

 These treasure hunters are a husband and wife team Sam and Remi Fargo. When a friend requests their help on a top secret excavation site they agree and soon find themselves on the hunt for the tomb of Attila the Hun, a high King who was buried with a vast fortune of gold and jewels. They follow the trail across Europe, from Italy to Russia, and discover not just one tomb but five. They are up against thieves, hunters, Russian business men, and a ruthless Hungarian who claims to be the descendant of the King. And they are all trying claiming the treasure as their own.