Read Outlander. Now.

{Don't you wish you knew where you could actually buy it for $3.99?!}

A little over a year ago, several people recommended that I read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (not to be confused with the terrible movie or not-at-all-terrible vehicle by the same name). I immediately dismissed the suggestion because (a) I don't usually like sci-fi, time traveling stuff, (b) I don't usually love that period of historical fiction, and (c) I REALLY don't enjoy romance novels.

I know, I'm picky when it come to books.

Anyway, much to my surprise, Outlander kept being recommended to me, even by people whose taste in books I totally trusted. And so, sometime last winter, I requested the first book of the Outlander series from the library. And I have to admit--I spent much of the first book wondering 'what were they thinking?!' There was much of the book that I didn't agree with, or was just plain difficult to read. But somehow, by the end, I found myself loving it. Loving.

And then I requested the second book. And the third. And the fourth. And so on, all the way up to the last book that's been released (the seventh), and I'm desperately awaiting the next book to be released.

It's a little bit difficult to explain what's so infectious about these books, but I'm not sure I've come across anyone who didn't like at least the first one. I think it has something to do with the fact that Gabaldon creates characters that you genuinely come to care about--I know this is probably going to sound totally wackadoodle, but even now (a good six months since I read the last book), I sometimes find myself thinking "Oh, that's something Jamie would say," or "I wonder what Jamie would do?" And let's just be honest--I'm not usually into romance novels, but these were pretty hot. 

Jamie and Claire felt like real people to me. Friends, even. And, I miss them.

Source: blackryptonite.tumblr.com via Meredith on Pinterest

  (This quote is attributed to Paul Sweeney)

 I know some people (like my husband) can re-read books over and over again. Not me. I can count on one hand the number of fiction books that I've re-read in my life. In fact, there are four--To Kill A Mockingbird, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 1984, and Outlander. And of those, NEVER before have I come across a book that I love so much that I'll just pick it up and read a random passage. But I find myself doing that often with Outlander. In fact, I'm considering re-reading the entire stinking series. That's how much I loved it.

I know they're big books, but they FLY by. And if you're not sure that you're ready to commit to reading seven books, know that you could stop after the third book (Voyager), and it would feel like you were at a point of resolution.  Seriously, if you love to read, you have to give this series a shot. 

Have you read it yet?