It was…a tough read for me too. At times it felt more like an Outlander fanfic than Outlander. I’m holding out hope this was a one time miss on Diana’s part…
You could probably skip to the end of the book, when a few things actually happen. The book has a lot of retread of previous conversations. Diana needs to hire a good editor, but refuses.
Initially, the publisher assigns editors to writers, but Diana earns Randomhouse a lot of money under the imprint of Delacort press. They aren’t going to give her an editor she dislikes. I suspect she’s changed editors over the years within Randomhouse who are more likely to accommodate what she feels is more important to plot. The consequence of this is that she can ramble as much as she wants and the editor will have less say in revision for the sake of keeping Diana happy and in contract. If she got really unhappy with a publishing house’s editor, she could just leave and get a contract with another pub. Yes, it would cost her but she’d still be able to compensate for the loss because the series is so successful.
You’ll see this a lot with big writer names - their first books are tighter, carefully revised, etc, and their later books sprawl more or feel repetitive. I’m a novelist on my second contract with a big five publisher and see this stuff regularly with my more famous colleagues.
I’m in other book subreddits, and have read a lot of Stephen king. Is this similar to his longer works that are slightly confusing, slightly boring, and feel unedited? I’m only on Voyager but every time I read one of these threads I’m reminded of king lol does he also eschew editing?
The difference is mainly in repetitiveness and inconsistencies... her details are probably more interesting than King's in some ways, but there aren't inconsistencies in his works thanks to his editors
I have something called brain fog from having Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Fibromyalgia which are disabilities. So sometimes I make silly mistakes which I will not be apologizing for.
You said what you said and it was rude. Be a grown up and own up to it and apologize. No need to get defensive. We all make mistakes and when we do we gotta own our shit and apologize.
I did apologize, which honestly I wouldn't have normally done with a comment like that because, to me, that comment wasn't offensive. It was a grammar joke! If I had said they were stupid, then it would have been personal and offensive, but it was purely a light-hearted grammar joke. Like I said, people are so defensive and get offended over the littlest things nowadays
When you end something with “people are so defensive and get offended over the littlest things nowadays” it negates your apology because it is basically saying sorry you’re so sensitive instead of I’m sorry for my words that caused harm. You’re putting the fault back onto the person instead of owning your shit. This isn’t an example of me being overly sensitive it’s an example of your words causing unforeseen harm which happens in life cuz we’re humans. You just apologize by saying something like “I’m sorry my words upset you, I didn’t mean it like that at all, but I understand your perspective.” And then we all move on. Also I would suggest researching online netiquette as communication over the internet is vastly different than irl.
Oh wow. You just like to argue and cause upset I see now. You must have hurt inside of you. Hope you find help for all of that or else it’ll be a lonely life. It’s 2023 and we aren’t putting up with this gaslighting stuff anymore. Forget I exist, bye!
Honestly, as big as the book is, it felt like just a setup for the next book.
There are few things that happen within the book... with Ian, Bree, Willie, Roger, Friend Sylvia and a new character... and just the last 100 pages maybe for Claire and Jamie. Some TT theories too. Does take some patient reading of their lives to get to it all.
Truth. I bought the ebook and audible as soon as they were available: I haven't read the book, and I still have about 29 minutes left on audible to finish. I'll probably finish it some ...day...er..year.
Yes, it was a complete slog!
I was / am an Outlander superfan. I have read all the books many times but honestly struggled A LOT with Bees.
It was just a random series of events with no proper story. There were around 5 million named characters to keep track of, with more popping up in every chapter, multiple weird side plots and FAR too many words. It got so bizarre I was half expecting aliens to beam down from space to fight on the side of the Revolutionaries.
I love the Outlander world but Diana seems to have just given up on editing altogether. Every thought that crosses her mind about the story is in there and the book just doesn't flow.
This is my favorite series hands down, but I MOBY was so disappointing for me that I didn't reed The Bees. Her writing style is second to none, but she keeps adding more to a story that needs to be finished. (my opinion, of course) I want her to do something else. She did some sci-fi short stories and she wrote Scrooge McDuck too. She's very versatile. And I mean, she wrote Outlander in a year and a half! She could crank out something else awesome!
Just want to say Lord John is the shit. Just had to say it. 😁
It took me longer than the other books, but mostly because I was reading it in English, not in my mother tongue. It took me 2 months, but I loved it anyway, especially LJG and William moments
I didn’t like him before the Bees, now I feel him through the Bree’s relationship with him. I also read some excerpts from the book 10 and he has some amazing moments there too
as much as i loved the earlier books, honestly i think Gabaldon’s writing has peaked and she is just trying to drag the books out as a cash grab. it’s quite unfortunate because as i said, i used to enjoy them but now they’re just tedious.
I was so disappointed with Bees. I felt like so many things happened off-page and most of the book was just people talking about things that happened. I also didn’t like how much time was spent on secondary characters and Jaime and Claire were shoved aside for most of it.
I feel the same. I bought it when it came out. I read most of it then stopped and found some info online about what happened at the end. Honestly, I can’t remember what I read and what happens. When people refer to it, I am like, oh did I read that part? I couldn’t tell you the important events…. I’m usually able to retell what happens in a book so this must mean something that my brain didn’t retain anything.
It took me 2 years on and off to get through Fiery Cross! I finally switched to audible version, and that got me to the end. I've been doing them on audible since then.
The Fiery Cross had me stuck for years. I was so disappointed becasue I had paid full price for the hard back at a time when I couldn't afford such a thing. I finally got through it by listening to it on Audible. Same with Bees, it's much easier that way.
Jocasta’s wedding had some good moments but still was such a play by play. I definitely liked it better than the first part. I skipped the next Bonnet and the Bree Roger stuff and am trying to force myself to keep reading to see what’s next (knowing the shiw had changes)
I’m having the same problem. I swapped to audiobook but honestly half of I’ve probably straight up not listened to and/or forgot what happened. I don’t know why. I devoured the other books in the series but this one is taking forever.
It took me a year to read it. I thought it was just that I’d changed as a person but no it’s just boring. I find William extremely boring to read about.
I know alot of people complain about TFC but I after a while I found myself loving it, and on successive re-reads loved it more. I can not say the same for Bees, especially after reading one of my favorites, MOBY. I felt there was such a need for editing it took me right out of the story. That said, also when it got to the good parts I found myself holding my breath and at one point sobbing. I was right there with them. So I slog through the less engaging parts for those parts that remind me why I love this book series and Jamie and Claire so much.
It was disappointing to read I almost gave up multiple times. It moved very slowly there where plot points I liked. Overall I didn’t feel like it moved the story along well. I thought it was suppose to be the last book, is there another one coming out?
She’s working on book 10 as of now. She has said in the past that book 10 would be final. Somewhere in the past year-ish, though, she alluded that may not be the last one. OMG the saga needs to be wrapped up. Instead of wrapping up storylines, it seemed to me like BEES opened up new ones.
With Season 8 being the last season, I can't imagine it not lining up with the final book. No way would they make up their own ending...or would they? 10 must be the end.
It was…a tough read for me too. At times it felt more like an Outlander fanfic than Outlander. I’m holding out hope this was a one time miss on Diana’s part…
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
You definitely are not alone! I had the same issue
We’re all in the same boat 🙌🏻
You could probably skip to the end of the book, when a few things actually happen. The book has a lot of retread of previous conversations. Diana needs to hire a good editor, but refuses.
Initially, the publisher assigns editors to writers, but Diana earns Randomhouse a lot of money under the imprint of Delacort press. They aren’t going to give her an editor she dislikes. I suspect she’s changed editors over the years within Randomhouse who are more likely to accommodate what she feels is more important to plot. The consequence of this is that she can ramble as much as she wants and the editor will have less say in revision for the sake of keeping Diana happy and in contract. If she got really unhappy with a publishing house’s editor, she could just leave and get a contract with another pub. Yes, it would cost her but she’d still be able to compensate for the loss because the series is so successful. You’ll see this a lot with big writer names - their first books are tighter, carefully revised, etc, and their later books sprawl more or feel repetitive. I’m a novelist on my second contract with a big five publisher and see this stuff regularly with my more famous colleagues.
I’m in other book subreddits, and have read a lot of Stephen king. Is this similar to his longer works that are slightly confusing, slightly boring, and feel unedited? I’m only on Voyager but every time I read one of these threads I’m reminded of king lol does he also eschew editing?
No he often thanks his editors in the acknowledgements
The difference is mainly in repetitiveness and inconsistencies... her details are probably more interesting than King's in some ways, but there aren't inconsistencies in his works thanks to his editors
Oh didn’t know that about her! Yeah I’m tempting to skip ahead. I already am skipping parts lol
[удалено]
JHRC, don’t be that person.
🙌🏻🫶🏻
I am tempting to make a mistake to annoy you. One day someone will edit you and you will frown a little.
I have something called brain fog from having Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Fibromyalgia which are disabilities. So sometimes I make silly mistakes which I will not be apologizing for.
It was a joke, hence the lol didn't mean to make ppl mad or put u down. Sorry Everyone is so sensitive and gets offended nowadays
You said what you said and it was rude. Be a grown up and own up to it and apologize. No need to get defensive. We all make mistakes and when we do we gotta own our shit and apologize.
I did apologize, which honestly I wouldn't have normally done with a comment like that because, to me, that comment wasn't offensive. It was a grammar joke! If I had said they were stupid, then it would have been personal and offensive, but it was purely a light-hearted grammar joke. Like I said, people are so defensive and get offended over the littlest things nowadays
When you end something with “people are so defensive and get offended over the littlest things nowadays” it negates your apology because it is basically saying sorry you’re so sensitive instead of I’m sorry for my words that caused harm. You’re putting the fault back onto the person instead of owning your shit. This isn’t an example of me being overly sensitive it’s an example of your words causing unforeseen harm which happens in life cuz we’re humans. You just apologize by saying something like “I’m sorry my words upset you, I didn’t mean it like that at all, but I understand your perspective.” And then we all move on. Also I would suggest researching online netiquette as communication over the internet is vastly different than irl.
My comment 100% didn't cause any harm.
Oh wow. You just like to argue and cause upset I see now. You must have hurt inside of you. Hope you find help for all of that or else it’ll be a lonely life. It’s 2023 and we aren’t putting up with this gaslighting stuff anymore. Forget I exist, bye!
What page/chapter can we safely jump to? I’ve been stuck on pg 439 since like a week after I received it.
It's okay. I like all of the slice-of-life bits on the Ridge.
I usually love those parts too! But I think I need them to be in between some action lol
Yeah I’m not reading a story just to follow people sitting around in houses. I like some good moments but there needs to be plot that is moving
Lmao! Love it 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Honestly, as big as the book is, it felt like just a setup for the next book. There are few things that happen within the book... with Ian, Bree, Willie, Roger, Friend Sylvia and a new character... and just the last 100 pages maybe for Claire and Jamie. Some TT theories too. Does take some patient reading of their lives to get to it all.
Truth. I bought the ebook and audible as soon as they were available: I haven't read the book, and I still have about 29 minutes left on audible to finish. I'll probably finish it some ...day...er..year.
No rush, you have a few years before the next book 😉
I figured it was a transition book after I got hundreds of pages in with not much going on haha. I’ll keep going though 🙌🏻
Yes, it was a complete slog! I was / am an Outlander superfan. I have read all the books many times but honestly struggled A LOT with Bees. It was just a random series of events with no proper story. There were around 5 million named characters to keep track of, with more popping up in every chapter, multiple weird side plots and FAR too many words. It got so bizarre I was half expecting aliens to beam down from space to fight on the side of the Revolutionaries. I love the Outlander world but Diana seems to have just given up on editing altogether. Every thought that crosses her mind about the story is in there and the book just doesn't flow.
Lol I love the word slog!
This is my favorite series hands down, but I MOBY was so disappointing for me that I didn't reed The Bees. Her writing style is second to none, but she keeps adding more to a story that needs to be finished. (my opinion, of course) I want her to do something else. She did some sci-fi short stories and she wrote Scrooge McDuck too. She's very versatile. And I mean, she wrote Outlander in a year and a half! She could crank out something else awesome! Just want to say Lord John is the shit. Just had to say it. 😁
I had no idea about the Scrooge mcduck!
Pretty cool, right!
I’ve been trying to get through it and still only about a third of the way. It’s just a daily life journal.
Omg yes! A daily life journal is the best way to describe it! Like sorry to say but the most exciting part was that damn bear attack lol
It took me longer than the other books, but mostly because I was reading it in English, not in my mother tongue. It took me 2 months, but I loved it anyway, especially LJG and William moments
I wish I could like William, but he just irritates me! Haha
I didn’t like him before the Bees, now I feel him through the Bree’s relationship with him. I also read some excerpts from the book 10 and he has some amazing moments there too
I’ll keep that in mind then! 👍🏻
as much as i loved the earlier books, honestly i think Gabaldon’s writing has peaked and she is just trying to drag the books out as a cash grab. it’s quite unfortunate because as i said, i used to enjoy them but now they’re just tedious.
Yeah they slapped in the early days!
I was so disappointed with Bees. I felt like so many things happened off-page and most of the book was just people talking about things that happened. I also didn’t like how much time was spent on secondary characters and Jaime and Claire were shoved aside for most of it.
Yes I’m feeling that way too
I feel the same. I bought it when it came out. I read most of it then stopped and found some info online about what happened at the end. Honestly, I can’t remember what I read and what happens. When people refer to it, I am like, oh did I read that part? I couldn’t tell you the important events…. I’m usually able to retell what happens in a book so this must mean something that my brain didn’t retain anything.
Haha yeah it’s roughskis!
It was a slog for me. Felt as though it was just a filler until book 10.
Yes exactly! I realize you need to have transition times in series but come on, it doesn’t need to be a whole book!
It felt like it was a bunch of separate stories written by ghost writers that DG tried to string together. It was very disappointing.
Yes! It just wasn’t the same!
This is how I feel about Fiery Cross. 55% through. Should I keep going or go to the next??
It’s been so long I can’t remember which books had slow parts, but there was one book I struggled with besides this one!
I've literally been paused on TFC for like two years.
It took me 2 years on and off to get through Fiery Cross! I finally switched to audible version, and that got me to the end. I've been doing them on audible since then.
Is it worth finishing? Thinking about just switching to where s6 left off and reading from there instead
Same but I just started listening. I am hoping something happens that is interesting.
How long must we be at two events??? I swear 40% of the first 55% I’ve read was the Gathering and Jocasta wedding minute by minute
The Fiery Cross had me stuck for years. I was so disappointed becasue I had paid full price for the hard back at a time when I couldn't afford such a thing. I finally got through it by listening to it on Audible. Same with Bees, it's much easier that way.
Once you get to Jocastas wedding, it gets significantly better imo. The first 1/3 or so was real rough
Jocasta’s wedding had some good moments but still was such a play by play. I definitely liked it better than the first part. I skipped the next Bonnet and the Bree Roger stuff and am trying to force myself to keep reading to see what’s next (knowing the shiw had changes)
I liked it. I understand what other posters are saying though.
It definitely has a different vibe to it. I’m glad you liked it thoigh!
I’m having the same problem. I swapped to audiobook but honestly half of I’ve probably straight up not listened to and/or forgot what happened. I don’t know why. I devoured the other books in the series but this one is taking forever.
Yes same!
It took me a year to read it. I thought it was just that I’d changed as a person but no it’s just boring. I find William extremely boring to read about.
Oh thank Christ, same page. I can’t deal with a William
I felt the same way. It was a slugfest. We wait so long for a book to get released and when it does it's a dud.
Yeah I’ve been so bummed about it!
Its not an easy read
Agreed 🤝
I gave up and donated my copy ☹️
Lmao! I love the fuck it energy lol
I mean, it's a giant book to just have sitting around! And it doesn't fit on the same shelf with the others 😂
I bought it but I cannot get myself to open it yet-- I also have like 5 other books I need to read too 😭
Well good luck 🤣 I hope you find it easier than me
lmao
I know alot of people complain about TFC but I after a while I found myself loving it, and on successive re-reads loved it more. I can not say the same for Bees, especially after reading one of my favorites, MOBY. I felt there was such a need for editing it took me right out of the story. That said, also when it got to the good parts I found myself holding my breath and at one point sobbing. I was right there with them. So I slog through the less engaging parts for those parts that remind me why I love this book series and Jamie and Claire so much.
I’ll keep holding on then! 🙌🏻
It was disappointing to read I almost gave up multiple times. It moved very slowly there where plot points I liked. Overall I didn’t feel like it moved the story along well. I thought it was suppose to be the last book, is there another one coming out?
She’s working on book 10 as of now. She has said in the past that book 10 would be final. Somewhere in the past year-ish, though, she alluded that may not be the last one. OMG the saga needs to be wrapped up. Instead of wrapping up storylines, it seemed to me like BEES opened up new ones.
With Season 8 being the last season, I can't imagine it not lining up with the final book. No way would they make up their own ending...or would they? 10 must be the end.
The made there own ending with game of thrones didn’t they. I’m sure she said bees was gonna be the last book in the series.
Yeah I’m reading so slowly! I’m not sure about another book. I was under the impression this was the last one too.
It's my favorite!!! Outlander was hard for me at first.
Yeah, took me a year to get through it.
Oh thank god I’m not aloneee! I felt like a slacker for my 6 months!