An Invitation for Outlander Fans...

Good day to everyone! As I look at my widget countdown for the release of Diana Gabaldon's latest book in the Outlander series, I can't believe it's only a few days away. Such anticipation for me, and I'm sure for you, too, if you're a fan of the series! I fully intend to fall off the face of the earth for a few days when I get my little hands on a copy and revel in the world that is Jamie and Claire.

I thought it would be fun to celebrate the upcoming release of Echo in the Bone by taking a few days and posting about my experiences with this terrific series. I invite you to join in and share your thoughts and experiences as well. We might even be able to encourage some who have not read the books to give them a try.

To start off the celebration and countdown, I thought I would answer one of the most frequently asked questions when I talk about the books with someone who is not familiar with the series:

"What are they about?" they ask curiously and innocently.

Hmmmm.....

To answer this question, I'm going to quote the author, Diana Gabaldon, because it pretty much sums it up as succinctly as possible:

In the pages of Outlander, you will find...
"history, warfare, medicine, sex, violence, spirituality, honor,
betrayal, vengeance, hope & despair, relationships, the building
and destruction of families and societies, time travel, moral
ambiguity, swords, herbs, horses, gambling (with cards, dice, and
lives), voyages of daring, journeys of both body and soul...
you know, the usual stuff of literature."
--Diana Gabaldon

I think one of the reasons I enjoy Diana's writing is because it doesn't fit neatly into any one category or genre. If you're a fan of history or historical fiction, you'll find well-researched books about the Scottish Highlands, the Jacobites and the Rebellion of 1745, the events leading up to the Revolutionary War in the colonies, as well as a fascinating look at daily life in the past; if you enjoy science/science fiction, the time travel element is an ever-evolving puzzle in each book, and Diana Gabaldon's scientific background is evident in the skills she gives Claire as a "healer"; the love story of Jamie and Claire is truly engaging and unique in that they are portrayed realistically as a couple who share joys, struggles, and sorrows together as they experience life and mature; the plots are intricate and unpredictable for the most part, and there is always something mysterious happening (even a few ghosts) for those who enjoy mysteries; you just never know what twisty turn the plot will take, and you're constantly guessing. So much fun!

So, for all of you who are Outlander fans, what aspects of the books do you enjoy the most?

Teaser Tuesday: The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. If you'd like to play along, please do the following:

Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
Be careful not to include spoilers.
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.



Here is my teaser from the ARC of The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman, a tale of love, secrets and murder in the Ottoman Palace in sixteenth century Constantinople:

p. 52
"There were many occasions in the life of the palace women -- entertainments and dancing for the Sultan, alfresco picnics in the palace gardens and boating expeditions along the Bosphorous -- when the Valide showed herself. At those times, when the music played and the sound of women's voices and laughter carried on the rose-scented air, when they were taken to watch the dolphins sporting in the Sea of Marmara or when the moonlight sparkled on the waters of the Bosphorous and the little boats of the women, lit up like fireflies, followed the Sultan in his mother Safiye's barge, its poop all inlaid wih precious stones, shining with ivory and gold, at those times, Celia thought, it was possible to believe that the Valide was indeed the mother of them all."

It's Monday! What are you reading?

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog. Join in the weekly fun by clicking here.


This week I have an ARC from Bloomsbury Publishers. The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman is an intriguing historical fiction novel that takes the reader to Constantinople in 1599. An English ambassador thinks his fiance' has been lost in a shipwreck, but clues begin to emerge that lead him to believe she may have survived and be hidden inside the Sultan's harem. It is a tale of secrets, love, and murder in the Ottoman palace.

Last week, I read and reviewed Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler. My review is posted below.

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

From the publisher:

"After nursing a broken engagement with Jane Austen novels and Absolut, Courtney Stone wakes up and finds herself not in her Los Angeles bedroom or even in her own body, but inside the bedchamber of a woman in Regency England. Who but an Austen addict like herself could concoct such a fantasy?"

My thoughts:

I believe this is the type of book that readers will have polar opposite reactions -- you're either going to love it or find it full of flaws. I want to say that I thought the premise of the book was truly interesting -- what a fascinating concept to have a twenty-first century modern woman (Courtney Stone) wake up and discover that she is inhabiting the body of a Regency era maiden (Jane Mansfield - yes, really) who has just suffered a head injury during a horse riding accident. As Courtney slowly gains consciousness, she believes she is living in some type of dream state as her surroundings are obviously not modern. When time passes and she realizes that this is not a dream-state, that she has somehow experienced a type of time travel, she tentatively takes her place in the household and attempts to play the role of the daughter, hoping that somehow she will discover how she managed to be in Regency England and if it is possible to return to her former life.

What was truly difficult to understand was the snide and rude behavior of the protagonist. When in her own time, Courtney turned to the writings of Jane Austen for pleasure and comfort and considers herself a Jane Austen addict. If that were true, she would have had an underlying understanding of the expectations of society and the vastly different cultural traditions and norms. Instead, as she takes part in the Mansfield household and interacts with family friends, she is forever making inane and flip comments about women's rights, the role of men and women in society, servants' rights, and other ridiculous remarks. I suppose these were meant to be witty, but it made the character so contentious that it completely detracted from what could have been a great storyline. There are also several situations and references that I can only describe as crude and tasteless. While Courtney's journey of self-discovery does lead her to a greater level of maturity at the end, the reader does not completely learn the mystery of the time travel. I assume it is necessary to read the next book, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict (which is the parallel experience of Jane Mansfield finding herself in Courtney's twenty-first century world) in order to learn how and why the time travel occurs.

I wish I had a more positive view of the book, but I have to call 'em like I see 'em, and this is one that I had too many issues with to recommend. It had the potential to be a fun and interesting read, but somehow it totally missed the mark.

Title: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
Author: Laurie Viera Rigler
2008
Publisher: Plume
293 pages

Cozy Mystery Week at Sharon's

Hey, everybody! Thought I'd pass along this fun tip -- Sharon at Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews is having a fun week of cozy mystery reviews and author interviews.

See you there!

Teaser Tuesday: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. If you'd like to play along, please do the following:

Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

Here is my teaser from Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict:

p. 33 "That's when I decided to order myself a large clam-and-garlic pizza and reread Pride and Prejudice. I would self-medicate with fat, carbohydrates, and Jane Austen, my number one drug of choice, my constant companion through every breakup, every disappointment, every crisis. Men might come and go, but Jane Austen was always there."

Update on Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander

Just received this e-mail from Tasha Alexander -- I've loved her Lady Emily series, and can't wait to read this latest installment!




Greetings, everyone!


I'm thrilled to announce that TEARS OF PEARL, my fifth novel (the fourth in the Lady Emily series), goes on sale in bookstores everywhere today. To mark the occasion (aside from praying, chanting, and sacrificing goats in what I hope will not be a vain attempt to ensure good sales), I've updated my website to include additional information about the locations in the book:


http://www.tashaalexander.com/constantinople.html


I hope you'll check it out. And if you decide to read TEARS, I'd love to hear what you think. So far, this is my favorite in the series...


Thanks for all your support; it means the world to me.


xo
Tasha