Jenna Harte

I’m still on my quest to read 100 books. Sometimes I feel guilty because when I’m reading I’m not writing. But since I’m not writing anyway, perhaps reading will inspire me.

I read Diana Gabaldon’s interview in a recent writing magazine. Romance and adventure sounded right up my alley even though I don’t like historical romances much. I picked up Outlander and tried not to be overwhelmed by the idea of reading over 800 words. That last time I read that much was either the Stand by Stephan King or And Ladies of the Club by Helen Hooven Santmyer that was over 1000 pages.

Overall I liked Outlander but I did struggle some. It meanders a lot which I’m not into. I think its Elmore Leonard who’s quoted as saying “Only write the stuff that people read.” I skip a lot of stuff. But I did get into the book and was up late several nights wanted to know what happend. I like the risks Gaboldon takes. She went out into a very dark and disturbing situation without making it too much. I did think it would have taken Jamie, the victim of the worst tortures, more time to overcome the trauma, but perhaps thats 18 century men. I also struggled with Clair’s lack of grief over leaving her husband in the current day (1943). And I didn’t really get that Jamie (1740’s) was the love of her life. I didn’t see it as much in her as I did in him.

But with that said, I did get the second book, but found it wasn’t the story I wanted to read. I wanted to know if she went back to Jamie. So about 1/4 of the way into Dragonfly in Amber, I put it down and instead picked up Voyager, the third book in the series. So far I’m enjoying it even more than the first book.

So I’ve read 16 of 100 fiction books (I’m on 17). Maybe when I reach 20 I’ll feel like I’ve actually made some headway.