My entire summer has been spent deep within the pages of books. I'm on my 9th book so far. While most have been fiction, I have started to broaden my literary horizon with factual tales as well. I decided that I'm going to attempt to post book reviews on here after I finish a book.
The first two books that I read this summer are the 5th and 6th in a series that I adore with my entire being. Instead of trying to sum up the contents of the pages I'm going to share with you a letter that I wrote to the author after I finished A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I haven't sent that letter, but after finishing the book I was completely consumed with so many emotions that I just had to put them on paper and try to express to Diana Gabaldon what her books have meant to me.
Here is the letter:
Dear Diana Gabaldon,
I know you must get gazillions of letters like this every single day, yet I still felt compelled to write to you and express my sincerest thanks for your books. They have been like a best friend to me; always there and available to take me out of reality and give some respite from the hectic world that we live in.
I started reading Outlander in the fall of 2006 after much coaxing from my mother-in-law and my best friend, who were both Gabaldon obsessed. I soon found out what all the hullabaloo was about as soon as I read the very first chapter of Outlander. Though the following two years were busy and crazy, with finishing up my degree and beginning my first year of teaching, I always found time for Clair and Jamie, eagerly awaiting what would befall them next. My best friend, mother-in-law and I have spent many hours contemplating story plots, making predictions and just reveling in the beauty of your writing. We talk of the characters as if they truly exist, for in our minds they are almost as much a part of us as our own family and friends. My husband often in jest, takes me by the shoulders and looks me in the eye while saying, “Rachael, they aren’t real”. Of course my vehement response is, “To me they are!”
I finished “A Breath of Snow and Ashes” a couple of days ago, but have not had the desire to pick up another book since. I found myself on a couple occasions just sitting and staring off in to space, wondering what I should do, because nothing sounded as fun and exciting as reading about the Frasiers. My husband encouraged me to just pick up another book to read. My half joking response was that if anything happened to him I would not re-marry right away. I am in mourning over the books, and have to learn how to live with out Jamie and Claire until I can move on to another. Yesterday I was laying in bed thinking of what I would do the next day. I realized that my beloved book would not be there for me to delve into for 3-4 hours out of the day. The thought of it actually brought tears to my eyes – (part of this truly insane emotional response was also due to PMS).
My husband, in-laws and I are planning a trip to Scotland for 2010. While my husband and father-in-law will be watching the British Open my mother-in-law and I will be gallivanting all over Scotland using Outlander as our guide. I don’t know if you have done so already, but it would be great to have an Outlander Travel Guide, or tour. I have also thought how wonderful it would be to have the series turned into a TV show. The books are much too complex to be turned into movies, and I would be horrified at the amount of details that would have to be left out. But each book could easily provide enough material for an entire season, especially with all the mini-stories and plots that are woven throughout the books. I’m sure these ideas/suggestions are old news to you, but I had to at least say my piece
I once again give you my eternal thanks and gratitude. Through your books you have given me countless hours of sheer bliss, with many more to come as I re-read the entire series, then listen to the whole series on CD as well. I am constantly astounded by your literary genius, extreme plot twists, the webs of stories that are woven throughout, along with the immense amount of research that you have done to make the series truly come to life.
Always your ardent fan and impatiently waiting the release of, “The Echo of Bones”
~Rachael Fraley-Brinker
Post Scriptum:
Your books have also greatly broadened my vocabulary, along with giving me challenge spelling words for my Middle School Students!
