Clouds, Coffee & Classics discussion

Ok, so... My library lending period ended TWICE on this book and I still couldn't finish it. That's not to say it wasn't a good book! It was. It was an interesting enough read. The descriptions were at times very beautiful. I loved the idea behind the book and the gorgeous Scottish highland backdrop. However, it was just SO, SO long. I have little enough time to read as it is... far less then I would like! So if I'm going to read and 800 page book it had better be EPIC. This wasn't quite, "epic". Good, but not THAT good. I accredit the author for coming up with such an elaborate and involved story plot and colorful characters and all the history and research that had to have gone into this undertaking. And this is just one book among a whole series! Miss Gabaldon is certainly talented! And quite successful. All her books seem to become best sellers. Had I owned this book and not just gotten it from the library perhaps I would have finished it.
And yes, for all those who are wondering if you haven't read the book already, the reviews are true, there ARE a lot of sex scenes in this book. Once you are a few hundred pages in. They weren't particularly distasteful in my opinion and were sometimes actually quite nice but perhaps a little over done? It depends on the reader I suppose. I didn't find that I minded so much. Only when it seemed to interrupt the story, which happened a few times.
I feel like this book could have been just as good if it were half as long. I think the same story could have been told and would have been much easier to stick with had it been whittled down a bit. There several unnecessary elements, twists and turns and plot points that turned it into the eight hundred page book that it is.

What did you all think?

I only made it 1/2 way through too. I think I would have made a serious attempt to finish it if the sex scenes hadn't been so over the top. And I agree - the story could have been told with far fewer pages. Maybe there's an abridged version out there somewhere that I might enjoy (?)

I agree with Anne - it would have been just as good if it was about half the size! I got through the whole thing, but I did get the feeling more than once of "Oh for heavens sake come ON! Lets get this over with!" Battle after battle after near-death experience... it was all quite... epic... but it kind of stepped on it's own toes. I hate to sound like I didn't like the book, because I did, but I hate something that I feel obligated to finish. There are some that I just don't complete and I guess that's kind of the author's job - to compel and intrigue me to the point that I must know what happens to these characters!