Bonus #47 Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone

Diana Gabaldon. 2021.

The just released, long awaited (what I thought was going to be the last book) of The Outlander series, I've been looking forward to this book for quite a while.  Maybe the build up was too much, but it felt like this book was jsut trying to do way too much.  It ties up a lot of previously abandoned storylines, but she introduces a lot of new characters and themes.  I didn't find the book as smooth as the rest of the books in the main series.  It felt more like she took a lot of the side stories and strung them together rather than the tight novel I am used to from her. 

The characters in this book, particularly the new ones, are shallow and one-dimensional.  In particular, I felt the introduction of the Quaker women just did not suggest an understanding of Quaker spirituality or culture at all.  This was particularly disappointing since I was initially excited to see them included.  I was also deeply troubled by the continuation of Young Ian's storyline. I found the whole return to his Mohawk wife subplot unbelievable. I am waiting to see what Indigenous readers think, but I would describe that entire section as offensive.
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It took me a long time to finish it and I wasn't at all sucked in the way I was with the other ones.  In fact, there were times when I felt like I wanted to put it down for a break--which did not happen in the previous books at all.  I don't mean to say that it wasn't a decent book and the series up until now has been so addicting, but just wasn't everything I was hoping for.  The series is still worth it, particularly if you really want to enter a historical, fantastical world.

Not recommended--which is tough since I really liked the previous books.

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