The 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge is on week number five, hence it should be book number five; however, I am going to be posting about my first three books today! I'll be linking up here!
You see, I started the year off reading Diane Gabaldon's Outlander!
I remember last year Googling "top historical fiction books" and the Outlander series topped many lists. I kept it in the back of my head but didn't move forward. Then the first in the series was offered for FREE for Nook one day and I snatched it up. I still didn't begin reading it. Stubborn woman that I am!! Finally, a friend of mine also got a Nook and she was perusing my library and saw the book there. She was so excited and she asked me if I loved it as much as she had! That she had read the first five in the series. Well, I figured I had enough nudging in that area and I might as well make it my first book of 2012!
The characters in "Outlander" are so rich and the history of the mid 1700s Scottish Highlands so vivid that you are transported along with the main character back in time. The main character is strong and admirable, making her own way in a man's world. The love story is captivating and full of romance and chivalry. (Not to mention some 1700s barbarism!) There were nearly 900 pages in this first book and I was so engaged in the story that I took my Nook with me everywhere! I stayed up late at night telling myself "just one more chapter"!
Not one minute after I finished "Outlander", I was purchasing "Dragonfly in Amber", the second in the series.
And yes, I did indeed purchase book three (which I have not started yet) "Voyager". An impressive 1,005 pages long!
And the third book of 2012 is completely different from the first two. It is the story of a young woman who, after her highschool graduation, leaves an affluent family, their dream of her college education, and a beloved boyfriend behind, to move to Uganda.
"Kisses From Katie" is a true story written by an amazingly selfless girl who felt strongly led by God to move to Uganda and spread love to the people, and especially the children.
Katie still lives in Uganda and has adopted 14 little orphaned girls, has sent hundreds of children to school, and helps to feed and educate the local villages. She started a nonprofit organization and feels so blessed with life she doesn't know what to do with herself.
Here is Katie's blog - The Journey if you want to see what she is doing for yourself!!
I am going to try and finish all 1,005 pages of "Voyager" by Friday so that I can be back next week!
Sherry
I love, love, love these books and devoured them last year. I can't wait until book 8 comes out. Fortunately The Scottish Prisoner (which is inserted during Voyager) came out in November to keep me waiting. :-)
ReplyDeleteI absolute LOVE the Outland series. A friend turned me onto them about six years ago. I have read the entire series three or four times now. I managed to find the first few books at thrift stores and such. Now I purchase them the minute they appear on Amazon, I can't wait for the next one!
ReplyDeleteAnother HUGE fan of the Outlander series. Some of my friends dropped off after book 4 or 5, but I'm still a loyal fan who rereads the series when I get a chance. I just read my first Lord John book (also by Diana) and think I'll keep up with those as well.
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