Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I am a big fan of historical fiction, but this was my first (and last) foray into the romance novel. I bought the book after reading a couple of the glowing reviews on this site. I was looking forward to the promised "sweeping," "meticulously researched," "historical romance." Instead I got a disturbing, shallow, historically and culturally inaccurate disappointment. Typically, I can find the merit in anything and will compulsively force myself to finish a book regardless of my opinions. But with Outlander, I just couldna do it. Claire, the heroine, is dim witted, over sexed and totally unlikable. The hero, Jamie Fraser, is a one dimensional super hunk who is just too dreamy to be true. Oh, well, aside from the fact that he beats the heroine "half to death" in a creepy, sadistic scene that reeks of what must be the author's British school girl fantasy. This is not history (some reviewers have excused this scene as "what they did back then"). To make matters worse, the supposedly strong-willed heroine turns around and decides that not only did she deserve the beating, but that she truly loves her attacker. Yuck. I felt embarrassed for the characters and myself after that chapter! It goes on from there. I put the book down for good around page 600 or so. I have no problem with sex or violence in a book, but not when it's as poorly written and contrived as Outlander. Don't be swept away by the positive reviews. If you're looking for intelligent, captivating historical fiction (with or without romance) this isn't it.