I've recently become obsessed with the series Outlander. After binge watching the show, I decided that I would take a run at the book and see how they compare. Normally, I'm a book person. In fact, there have been very few times in my life where I have enjoyed a TV or movie adaptation of a book as much as I've enjoyed the book itself. I think it's simply because I love the art of the written word. I've been an avid reader since I was child, and I'm a writer at heart. Honestly, this medium is just a part of who I am. However, I have also always been very interested in film and acting. I find everything about movies and TV interesting. I even took a film class in college that taught me to look at film as the art form that it is, so when I watch a movie or a TV show I look for everything. I pay attention to the acting, the objects placed around the set and their importance, and even the music. All these elements play a huge role in whether or not I will like a movie or TV show.
All that being said, let's talk about the book first. For those of you who don't know, Outlander is 800 pages of amazingly detailed historical fiction that tells the story of Claire, a WWII nurse, who is transported to 18th century Scotland and meets Jamie, a young kilt-clad Highlander. The core of the novel is the relationship between Claire and Jamie, but it is so much more than that. Claire arrives in Scotland during the middle of the Jacobite Rebellion, so not only is the fate of her future up in the air, the fate of the entire country and the Highland way of life is in jeopardy. Diana Gabaldon does an amazing job at telling both parts of the story and tying those two elements together.
Her descriptions are priceless and some of the best I've ever read. One of the most appealing aspects of this story is its setting, and Diana has a way of describing the Scottish Highlands in the 1700's that makes you feel like you've been there and are simply recalling a memory. It's absolutely astounding! The other aspect of this book that that sold it for me is the character development. Most of the time, authors spend a lot of time on one character, and the rest are just developed only as far as their storyline needs them to be developed. This is not the case with Outlander. Even though the book is written from Claire's point of view, the reader can be well acquainted with each of the main characters. In my opinion, Outlander is not only written very well, it's a fantastic story that gives the reader something new with every page turn.
Lights, Camera, Accents!
Now, I will admit that I was a fan of the show first. I fell in love with the everything about it! Everything from the kilts and the strong Scottish brogue to the beautiful Highland landscape won me from the start. I even loved the sound of the Gaelic language when the actors spoke it so much that I'm currently learning it myself (they make it look way easier than it is, trust me). I can honestly say that this is the first time that I have ever enjoyed a TV series and its book series equally. There are other TV series out there that are based off books that I have read, and I always end up liking either or, never both. For example, The Mortal Instruments is one of my favorite book series, but I absolutely HATE the show. And on the other hand, The Vampire Diaries is one of my favorite shows, but I couldn't even finish the book series because it was so bad. This was not the case with Outlander.
First of all, the acting is superb! There were some of the more violent scenes where I had to remind myself that it wasn't real because the acting was just that good. That's when an actor is doing their job to the upmost of their ability, when the audience can't distinguish reality from fantasy.
Don't get me wrong. I understand how most fans feel about their favorite books being turned into shows or movies because I have been there, but I think Outlander is a different case. There is a physicality to this story that begs to be seen and heard, not just read; I think making it into a TV show just adds depth to it. Being able to see the beautiful landscape of Scotland and see the actors bring these characters to life just adds to the experience.
Now, there are discrepancies between the book and the show, but I think the writers do an amazing job at making the fans of the book feel connected to the show. In a lot of instances, the dialogue is taken word for word from the book, and that helps tie the book and show together. However, we have to remember that print and film are two completely different mediums. Certain aspects of the book will not translate well into the show, so some things have to be modified. One reason is because we can't know what a character is thinking in film like we can in a book, but I think this show does great with delivering to all its fans with every episode.
Obviously, like everything posted on this blog, these are just my opinions, and everyone is entitled to their own. However, if you're looking for a new book series to get lost in or a new show to binge watch, I suggest giving Outlander a chance. Trust me. You will not be disappointed.
XOXO Kayla
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