The Outlandish Companion by diana gabaldon

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

It would have been truly great to have this book readily available when delving into the series. The Gaelic glossary and pronunciation guide would have been extremely helpful.

Although the Gaelic terms are initially explained to Claire upon introduction, as I progressed through the series, I often found myself forgetting their meanings and having to pause my reading to look them up.

However, the overly lengthy explanation of Garlic grammar was rather mind-numbing and made it a bit of a chore to get through.

I binge-read the books after becoming enamored with the Starz television series. Had I been reading the books as they were originally published, the very detailed synopsis for each of the first several books would have been of great use before commencing the fifth book.

If this book were in my personal library, the extensive list of all characters might have alleviated the occasional confusion that arose. Nevertheless, it really seems to be more of an Outlander Trivia answerbook than a comprehensive companion.

I did find the short chapter about character development and names to be quite delightful. However, the inclusion of horoscopes for fictional characters just seemed a bit far-fetched and perhaps out of place.

This book might be a nice addition to own if I happened to come across it at a thrift store, but it is by no means a must-have for every Outlander fan.

0 0 Reply

Seto2

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

Fun look back at the first four Outlander books!

It offers detailed plot synopses, characters, glossary, trivia, and more. However, the plot synopses were a bit long. The first one for Outlander was good and simple, but then Dragonfly came along and she spent pages on quotes instead of just presenting the basic plot.

The good sections included trivia about book touring, questions from readers, and how she came up with the characters. These parts were quite interesting and provided insights into the author's process and the series itself.

On the other hand, there were sections that I skipped. The really long horoscopes and geneologies didn't hold much appeal for me. Also, the glossaries and character lists, while they might have been useful when reading the books, seemed excessive now that I had already finished the series.

Overall, it was a fun read. It would have been even better to have this guide while reading the series, rather than years later. It could have enhanced the reading experience and provided additional context and information.

0 0 Reply

shimijachan

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

** 3.5 stars **

I purchased this book several years ago, precisely at the inception of my Outlander fixation. However, being my typical self, I never managed to actually read it until now.

Regarding companions, it is extremely detailed and encompasses nearly every piece of information one could desire to know (along with information that I truly had no inclination to know). I was most intrigued by the sections regarding how the characters and the story originated and indeed found those captivating. Of course, since I am reading this so many years later, a significant amount of the information I already knew from interviews and other sources (particularly the section covering the TV adaptation).

As for me, I had no interest in the sections that concentrated more on the 'technical' (for lack of a better term) aspects. Items such as pronunciation guides, family trees, and horoscopes held no appeal for me, so I either skimmed through or skipped them. I also skimmed over the research and writing guide/tips. I have no aspiration to ever become a historical fiction writer, and I also don't envision myself ever utilizing the bibliography. But it's great that it's there for anyone who wants it.

This book is definitely what I would classify as a collector's item. Something cool to possess but by no means essential. Apart from the very useful book summaries (which I have referred to previously and will无疑 do so again), I will not be rereading any part of this book.

0 0 Reply

Animez-Senpai

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I haven't read every single page of this book. However, I bought it because I really wanted to refresh my memory before the highly anticipated "Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone" comes out later this month.

And I'm extremely glad that I made this purchase! This book is not only filled with great content but also has a plethora of other awesome extras. It's truly the perfect coffee table book.

The reason being that you can simply pick it up at any time and read a little bit. It doesn't matter if you have just a few minutes or a longer period of time. It's so convenient and enjoyable.

Whether you're sitting in your living room, relaxing on the porch, or taking a break at work, this book is there to provide you with a wonderful reading experience. It's a great addition to any bookshelf or coffee table. :)

0 0 Reply

guilts51

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I would read it again, so I’d say 3 stars. However, it's not a book that I would read for a very long time or consider it as a comprehensive reference book.

DG has included a great collection of resources in this book, which are useful for genealogy and Scottish research. She has utilized these resources for her own books.

Personally, I felt that some parts of the book were a bit lacking in substance or seemed a bit fluffy to me. Nevertheless, I still appreciated the efforts put into it.

I will definitely read the next book in the series as I continue to explore the next few books. I'm curious to see if the author will address the areas that I felt needed more depth and improvement.

Overall, while this book has its strengths in terms of the resources it provides, it also has some areas that could be enhanced to make it a more engaging and valuable read for a wider audience.

0 0 Reply

KidneyEnjoyer

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I gave the article a skim and then re-read it. My interest in genealogy and related topics is rather limited.

However, the sections on the internet that are now quite outdated serve as a sort of time capsule. They offer a glimpse into the past, showing how our understanding and approach to certain subjects have evolved over time.

Even though my personal interest may not be high, it's still fascinating to see how these old sections have remained, almost like fossils preserving a moment in history.

Perhaps they can provide valuable insights for those who are more deeply invested in the study of genealogy or for historians looking to understand the development of online information.

In any case, they add a unique dimension to the digital landscape and remind us of the ever-changing nature of knowledge and technology.

0 0 Reply

catalox

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

The most interesting aspect of this book was Gabaldon's account of her writing process. It's a topic that piques my curiosity for every author. Each writer has their own unique way of approaching their work, and I'm especially intrigued by how those who pen complex historical novels conduct their research.

However, it must be said that the book was overly padded. There was an extensive list of all the characters and their roles, which seemed rather unnecessary considering that on a Kindle, one can simply highlight a name to access that information. Additionally, there was a long list of foreign words and phrases along with their meanings, but it wasn't alphabetized, making it less useful.

There was also a ridiculous and overly long chapter that provided "horoscopes" for Jamie and Claire. This was written by a fan, not Gabaldon herself, and it was complete junk. Moreover, there was a chapter dedicated to errata, listing every incorrect comma and wording error in the first three books.

To top it all off, the book was highly repetitive. Gabaldon described her writing process, and then reprinted email exchanges and interviews where she again described the same process. It all seemed like a rather cheap way to produce a long book for sale, with precious little original content.

Overall, while the initial insights into Gabaldon's writing were interesting, the excessive padding and repetition detracted from the overall quality of the book.

0 0 Reply

shiningcheese

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

If you are a die-hard fan of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books and strive to keep all the characters and plots in perfect order, this is an absolute essential.

The time travel element within the series can truly make it a challenging task to remember precisely who did what and when.

I, for one, discovered its usefulness as I plunged into the series with the 7th book instead of commencing from the very first one.

Starting from the middle can be quite a daunting experience, but having a resource to help sort out the complex web of characters and events was invaluable.

It allowed me to better understand the backstories and relationships that had developed over the course of the previous books, enhancing my overall enjoyment of the series.

Whether you are a new reader or a long-time enthusiast, this is a tool that can greatly assist in keeping the Outlander universe clear and coherent in your mind.

0 0 Reply

Leave a Review

You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.

The Outlandish Companions #1

The Outlandish Companion

diana gabaldon

This edition

More editions

About the author

diana gabaldon

Readers also enjoyed

Community Reviews