Claire Fraser has reunited with her husband, Jamie Fraser, and we find them traveling through America in 1770 and settling down in North Carolina with Jamie’s young nephew, Ian Murray. Unbeknownst to Claire and Jamie, their daughter, Brianna Randall, decides to find them to warn them about a newspaper clipping of their death in 1776. But of course, they have more important things to worry about than their pending deaths.
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com
The reason I continue to give these books the highest rating I possibly can is because they deserve it. The series is probably one of the most riveting and engaging I’ve ever read. With that being said, “Drums of Autumn” was a difficult read for me. Not because I didn’t understand it or anything like that, but because of the pain, anguish, hurt, deceit and strife that is contained within its pages. But to be fair, it is counterbalanced with strength, tenacity, bravery and honor. Everyone exhibits these traits as if they are being tested repeatedly. I read this book wondering, “Will they ever get a break?” Claire and Jamie seem to attract trouble no matter where they are. I enjoy the intelligence displayed by both to get out of said trouble, but it’s still a challenge to read such hardships without wondering whether things will ever just be simple for them.
Now that Claire and Jamie are in America, we find them traveling through the south to his Aunt Jocasta’s plantation in River Run, North Carolina. And here is where all the fun begins. Not only do the depictions of the scenery take you far away into another time and place, as they did in Gabaldon’s previous novels, but they drop you off in such splendor that when you put your book down, you’ll wonder why you aren’t surrounded by trees and sky and fresh air. At least I did. But what’s also noticeable is the Native American presence in the book. The people and their culture are depicted expertly, giving you the feel for being in one of their villages, walking amongst the people, as you read each word.
“Drums of Autumn” somewhat focuses on Brianna Randall and her boyfriend, Roger MacKenzie. This time around, Brianna takes the fateful step through the stones to find her parents. I didn’t think she would travel without Roger Mac, but she does. And wouldn’t you know it, he follows her. They are newcomers to the past and have more knowledge of what’s to come in the future than even Claire does. What’s most interesting about Roger following Brianna is we learn a bit more about the stones and the rituals surrounding them. I absolutely loved that Brianna was able to accomplish what she may have worried she could not. She truly is her father’s child. She’s just as tall and stubborn as Jamie, and I thought she would be recognized right away as his daughter by all who saw her. I won’t go into who doesn’t recognize her immediately, but I thought for sure those familiar characteristics would be a sure sign of who she was. Oh well.
I can safely say that each time I read a new installation in the series, I wonder about time travel. How does it work within this imagined world? Is anything changed as a result of them going back in time? Are they still living in another plane of existence? And how continuous is time? I may get a little deep when thinking about it, but it does make you wonder what Claire’s presence in the past has done to the written history they know as of 1968.
This book is another homerun in literature, as far as I’m concerned. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially since I couldn’t wait to hop into “The Fiery Cross,” which is book five in the series. I’m sure you already know I’m reading it. Okay, just about finished with it and am holding off starting the next one because I want to re-read “Voyager.”
For more information on the books or the fabulous author, Diana Gabaldon, please visit her website at www.dianagabaldon.com.
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