An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon (ISBN:0385342454)

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		An Echo in the Bone: A Novel
	
				(161 reviews)			
(1937 Readers)

			Diana Gabaldon		
	
Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in An Echo in...more
 Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in An Echo in the Bone, the enormously anticipated seventh volume, Gabaldon continues the extraordinary story of the eighteenth-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his twentieth-century time-traveling wife, Claire Randall.Jamie Fraser, former Jacobite and reluctant rebel, is already certain of three things about the American rebellion: The Americans will win, fighting on the side of victory is no guarantee of survival, and he’d rather die than have to face his illegitimate son–a young lieutenant in the British army–across the barrel of a gun.Claire Randall knows that the Americans will win, too, but not what the ultimate price may be. That price won’t include Jamie’s life or his happiness, though–not if she has anything to say about it.Meanwhile, in the relative safety of the twentieth century, Jamie and Claire’s daughter, Brianna, and her husband, Roger MacKenzie, have resettled in a historic Scottish home where, across a chasm of two centuries, the unfolding drama of Brianna’s parents’ story comes to life through Claire’s letters. The fragile pages reveal Claire’s love for battle-scarred Jamie Fraser and their flight from North Carolina to the high seas, where they encounter privateers and ocean battles–as Brianna and Roger search for clues not only to Claire’s fate but to their own. Because the future of the MacKenzie family in the Highlands is mysteriously, irrevocably, and intimately entwined with life and death in war-torn colonial America.With stunning cameos of historical characters from Benedict Arnold to Benjamin Franklin, An Echo in the Bone is a soaring masterpiece of imagination, insight, character, and adventure–a novel that echoes in the mind long after the last page is turned.   less

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
I was concerned with how long it took me to get "into" this book.  In the past, the other books in this series have hooked me back in immediately and this one was hard.  I didn't get thrown into the action until around page 200 or so.  The writing is well done, but jumping between 3 and sometimes 4 story lines is a little confusing. (The reason I didn't like reading Tolkein's Two Towers.)  Then,...more
 I was concerned with how long it took me to get "into" this book.  In the past, the other books in this series have hooked me back in immediately and this one was hard.  I didn't get thrown into the action until around page 200 or so.  The writing is well done, but jumping between 3 and sometimes 4 story lines is a little confusing. (The reason I didn't like reading Tolkein's Two Towers.)  Then, once it picked up I couldn't put it down. The end has another great SET of cliffhangers.   hide

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							Dorie
						
							few weeks ago						
I loved all the history of the American Revolution in the novel, and had fun looking up the details on the various battles and famous figures mentioned.  As for the story, I enjoyed how it switched between the different characters.  All the stories were interesting and there were very few dull spots.  Loved the end, but not sure I can hang on for the next book -- it will be torture!  I...more
 I loved all the history of the American Revolution in the novel, and had fun looking up the details on the various battles and famous figures mentioned.  As for the story, I enjoyed how it switched between the different characters.  All the stories were interesting and there were very few dull spots.  Loved the end, but not sure I can hang on for the next book -- it will be torture!  I still don't know what role Percy has in the novel, his presence seemed superfluous in this one but I imagine Gabaldon has something up her sleeve for him.  Four and a half stars.   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
Finally finished this book.  Another long one, but you have to love the adventures of Jamie and Clair. By this time, it's like you are part of the family and you have to find out what is happening in their lives, but how long can they go on? At their age now they deserve rest and peace...to enjoy the rest of their lives together. But, of course Diana can't leave us hanging. Her authentic detailed...more
 Finally finished this book.  Another long one, but you have to love the adventures of Jamie and Clair. By this time, it's like you are part of the family and you have to find out what is happening in their lives, but how long can they go on? At their age now they deserve rest and peace...to enjoy the rest of their lives together. But, of course Diana can't leave us hanging. Her authentic detailed writting and devotion to historical accuracy will keep me waiting for more. But, Jamie and Clair can not go on forever...Diana, keep them real. Just one more...Gosh, It's like potato chips!   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
it was hard to follow at times since the last of her novels i read about 3 years ago.  it was difficult to remember some of the side stories and was not loving that most of the story surrounds William (jamie's son) and Ian (his nephew).  the historic information on the british/american war were dragging and boring at times, seemed politic a little too much.  overall, the second half of the book...more
 it was hard to follow at times since the last of her novels i read about 3 years ago.  it was difficult to remember some of the side stories and was not loving that most of the story surrounds William (jamie's son) and Ian (his nephew).  the historic information on the british/american war were dragging and boring at times, seemed politic a little too much.  overall, the second half of the book was good and really enjoyed it.  a bit slow in the beginning.  she does leave you hanging and wonders when the next will come out.  she tends to write with long periods of time in between novels.   hide

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							Kevin
						
							few weeks ago						
It took me forever to get through this one.  I think there's more in here than there is in a lot of the others.  Teeny-tiny print and 814 pages!  Maybe my eyes are going.

Anyway, I will say that this one is far better than Breath of Snow and Ashes, but not as good as some of the earlier ones.  I guess that happens when you're writing about the same people for this long.

I have a few beefs with...more
 It took me forever to get through this one.  I think there's more in here than there is in a lot of the others.  Teeny-tiny print and 814 pages!  Maybe my eyes are going.

Anyway, I will say that this one is far better than Breath of Snow and Ashes, but not as good as some of the earlier ones.  I guess that happens when you're writing about the same people for this long.

I have a few beefs with it, though.  Quite a few, actually, but so that I don't spoil anybody reading this, I will just say that there are a LOT of very convenient coincidences in regards to characters being in the same place at the same time.

There are also WAY too many cliffhangers left dangling at the end of this one.  Usually they're left with all the major plots wrapped up, but you know there can be a sequel because everybody's still alive.  I hope she's working on a sequel right now because it's missing a lot.

And final critique:  she should have stopped around page 650 and saved the rest for the next book because she seems to have started to realize at that point that she had too much going on and starts cutting out details that are typically there.

As I said, liked it better than the last one, not as much as the earlier ones but even with all of the above critiques, I still enjoyed it and can't wait for the next!   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
What a ride! Since this is the seventh book in a series, it seems pointless to rehash the plot, or even remotely attempt to explain what is going on in this book, but suffice it to say multiple story lines and characters come together here (with the occasional cameos of real historical figures) for an incredible adventure set mostly during the American Revolution. I have just finished the...more
 What a ride! Since this is the seventh book in a series, it seems pointless to rehash the plot, or even remotely attempt to explain what is going on in this book, but suffice it to say multiple story lines and characters come together here (with the occasional cameos of real historical figures) for an incredible adventure set mostly during the American Revolution. I have just finished the book, and am once again in awe of Ms. Gabaldon's ability to piece together bits that she wrote nearly 20 years ago with new story lines and have them fit seamlessly as if she planned it all along - though she couldn't possibly have foreseen the world she would create when she first wrote Outlander. Now I must start the series over again, because every time I read a new one in the series, a new layer is added to the older books in the way of foreshadowing and mysterious characters that are now understood in a different light. Truly fascinating reading, and the books just keep getting better (though I strongly suspect the next book - #8 - will be the last in this series).   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
Outlander series, book seven.

There is a lot of separation here--both in terms of place and of time.  So at times the stories feel a bit disconnected.  We have Jamie and Claire's experiences with (mainly) the Continental army, Lord John and William's experiences during the same time period with the British army, and Roger and Brianna's life in 1980's Scotland.  Ian also plays a significant...more
 Outlander series, book seven.

There is a lot of separation here--both in terms of place and of time.  So at times the stories feel a bit disconnected.  We have Jamie and Claire's experiences with (mainly) the Continental army, Lord John and William's experiences during the same time period with the British army, and Roger and Brianna's life in 1980's Scotland.  Ian also plays a significant role, and spends part of his time with Jamie and part on a personal journey.  

I have been waiting years for this book, and loved most of it.  The details of life in Revolutionary America are fascinating and the depth of Gabaldon's research is apparent.  The downside is that several promising characters are introduced, only to disappear (for example, the twins that travel with Ian for a bit).  Also, there are not only loose ends, which I can deal with in a series, there is one particular plotline that just gets dropped--so abruptly, in fact, that I thought I had a defective book with chapters left out.

The storytelling is beautiful and the characters feel like dear friends.  It will be a long wait for the next book...   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
You know that I really love Diana Gabaldon's work.  I really do.  I wish I knew people like James and Claire Fraser.  I wish I was more like Claire Fraser.  But  (You knew there was a "but" coming) this book seemed to have some plot lines that felt forced and some of them were revisits to adventures that Jamie & Claire had in earlier books.  Going to Scotland wasn't the simple adventure that just...more
 You know that I really love Diana Gabaldon's work.  I really do.  I wish I knew people like James and Claire Fraser.  I wish I was more like Claire Fraser.  But  (You knew there was a "but" coming) this book seemed to have some plot lines that felt forced and some of them were revisits to adventures that Jamie & Claire had in earlier books.  Going to Scotland wasn't the simple adventure that just traveling across the ocean during a war would have been; no, no, they also had to suffer kidnap (again) and Rollo injured (again), so the whole plot line that led to Jamie & Claire being at Saratoga felt more like Diana had written this great scene at Saratoga, and many fans had already read it, so she had to create a way to use it.  

Don't get me started on the ending.  We could have cut out large chunks of the convoluted journey to Scotland and spent more time on resolving the plot lines that were left hanging (almost literally) off a cliff.  

I never thought I'd be glad to see the end of Jamie & Claire's story, but I rather hope that book 8 will bring about the conclusion that it should and that Diana can return to the excellent plots and surprises that made us all love Outlander in the first place.   hide

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							Ellen
						
							few weeks ago						
If you haven't read the Outlander series (Outlander is Book #1) by Diana Gabaldon, you really should! They are sooo good. I personally think that the first 3 are the best -- I just finished #7 An Echo in the Bone - and it was wonderful too, but somewhat predictable. I do think you need to start from the beginning with the first one.

It is historical fiction, science fiction (yes, there is...more
 If you haven't read the Outlander series (Outlander is Book #1) by Diana Gabaldon, you really should! They are sooo good. I personally think that the first 3 are the best -- I just finished #7 An Echo in the Bone - and it was wonderful too, but somewhat predictable. I do think you need to start from the beginning with the first one.

It is historical fiction, science fiction (yes, there is time-travel, which sounds so hokey, but I promise once you suspend your disbelief and go with it, you'll be carried away with the story) romance and adventure!! I find these lots of times in the "romance" section of the bookstore, but they are soooo much more than that. I do promise you will wish for a significant other who can whisper sweet Gaelic nothings to you however!!   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
As a devotee of the six-book saga of Claire and Jamie's  love affair, I was terribly disappointed by this book and its tacky, soap-opera cliffhanger ending. 

What makes Outlander, Diane Gabaldon's first Claire-and-Jamie book, so wonderful is that she told the story solely from Claire's perspective. Although fast paced, the book followed a single plot line and Gabaldon's descriptions were...more
 As a devotee of the six-book saga of Claire and Jamie's  love affair, I was terribly disappointed by this book and its tacky, soap-opera cliffhanger ending. 

What makes Outlander, Diane Gabaldon's first Claire-and-Jamie book, so wonderful is that she told the story solely from Claire's perspective. Although fast paced, the book followed a single plot line and Gabaldon's descriptions were emotionally nuanced and elaborately detailed. 

In Echo, Gabaldon bounces around the minds of multiple characters. The book is extremely plot driven, shattering the sensitive emotional connections we previously built with Jamie and Claire. 

And all I can say about the ending -- and the cheapest of its plot points -- is that Gabaldon doesn't know her characters at all if she thinks for one minute that Claire would really act as she did. Ms. Gabaldon, I am ashamed of you. 

I suggest that Gabaldon re-read Outlander -- maybe twice. Go back to viewing the world through the eyes of Claire. I hope your next book cleans up the mess you left your readers in Echo.   hide

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