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Outlaw
The story of how I, Julian Carter, and my precious two-year old son, Stephen, left Atlanta, Georgia, and found ourselves on a white sailboat, tossed about like a cork on a raging sea off of Australia's northern tip in 1963, is harrowing.
But it pales in comparison to what happened deep in the jungle where I was taken as a slave by a savage tribe unknown to the world. Some places dwell in darkness so deep that even God seems to stay away.
There, my mind was torn in two by the gods of the earth. There, one life ended so another could begin.
Some will say I was a fool for making the choices I made. But they would have done the same. They, too, would have embraced death if they knew what I knew, and saw through my eyes.
My name is Julian and this is my story. But more, it is the story of my son who was born to change the world.
From deep in the impenetrable jungles where New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker was born and raised, comes OUTLAW, an epic adventure of two worlds that perhaps only he could write. Full of harrowing twists, sweeping violence, and wild love, Outlaw takes us beyond the skin of this world to another unseen.
But it pales in comparison to what happened deep in the jungle where I was taken as a slave by a savage tribe unknown to the world. Some places dwell in darkness so deep that even God seems to stay away.
There, my mind was torn in two by the gods of the earth. There, one life ended so another could begin.
Some will say I was a fool for making the choices I made. But they would have done the same. They, too, would have embraced death if they knew what I knew, and saw through my eyes.
My name is Julian and this is my story. But more, it is the story of my son who was born to change the world.
From deep in the impenetrable jungles where New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker was born and raised, comes OUTLAW, an epic adventure of two worlds that perhaps only he could write. Full of harrowing twists, sweeping violence, and wild love, Outlaw takes us beyond the skin of this world to another unseen.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
200 people are currently reading
4725 people want to read
About the author
Ted Dekker
201 books9,857 followersTed Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
October 25, 2013
Where do I start? That is all that goes through my mind when I read novels I'm not sure I want to stop reading, or am so happy that they have finally come to an end. Ted Dekker is one of my favorite authors and I have read many of his previous thrillers such as Thr3e, The Bride Collector, and Adam. I've enjoyed each tremendously and have since planned on reading as many Dekker works I can get my hands on. Outlaw is nothing like those books. Sorry fans!
Julian Carter is the least likely person to be drawn to missionary work in the far away land of New Guinea where life was both pure and lost at once. After the death of her parents, and her husband, the southern belle takes her less than a year old son, Stephen, on a journey that she was drawn to after having a vision... and a missionary who tells her church about the wonderful work done on Thursday Island. A storm rages that sends her shipwrecked into the valley known as Tulim during August of 1963. She is taken as a slave into the hands of a tribe living in this valley where she stuggles with the will to survive daily as she's lost her only son. The constant threat of being killed because of their laws and practices are a constant source of fear and suspense.
Ted Dekker spares no expense at bringing to life Julian and a few of the others she meets in this harrowing tale of a woman leaving behind everything she's ever known to wake up in a nightmare, but still never loses faith. Her journey had my eyes glued to the page as she learned about this new, and frightening culture. Dekker is a master at drawing people in with his attention to detail and nail-biting suspense. I couldn't help but wonder what experiences in Julian's life were true to Dekker's own as he'd been raised in a setting similar to that described as Tulim Valley.
All was well until I came to the latter half of Outlaw. The last part of the novel had me wondering for a long time where is Dekker going with this. It seemed not to be from the same novel. I was still mesmerized by it because of Dekker's voice, but I was often times wondering if what I was reading was real or imagined. The character used is not reliable enough at times and leads to a pretty weird ride.
Ted Dekker uses Outlaw to further push the boundaries of what it means to love, forgive, and believe. Known for novels that chronicle the never-ending fight between good and evil, love and hate, Outlaw is no different in this respect. Losing the world as we know it only to find something more beautiful and powerful than we ever imagined. Isn't that a story worth reading about?
Julian Carter is the least likely person to be drawn to missionary work in the far away land of New Guinea where life was both pure and lost at once. After the death of her parents, and her husband, the southern belle takes her less than a year old son, Stephen, on a journey that she was drawn to after having a vision... and a missionary who tells her church about the wonderful work done on Thursday Island. A storm rages that sends her shipwrecked into the valley known as Tulim during August of 1963. She is taken as a slave into the hands of a tribe living in this valley where she stuggles with the will to survive daily as she's lost her only son. The constant threat of being killed because of their laws and practices are a constant source of fear and suspense.
Ted Dekker spares no expense at bringing to life Julian and a few of the others she meets in this harrowing tale of a woman leaving behind everything she's ever known to wake up in a nightmare, but still never loses faith. Her journey had my eyes glued to the page as she learned about this new, and frightening culture. Dekker is a master at drawing people in with his attention to detail and nail-biting suspense. I couldn't help but wonder what experiences in Julian's life were true to Dekker's own as he'd been raised in a setting similar to that described as Tulim Valley.
All was well until I came to the latter half of Outlaw. The last part of the novel had me wondering for a long time where is Dekker going with this. It seemed not to be from the same novel. I was still mesmerized by it because of Dekker's voice, but I was often times wondering if what I was reading was real or imagined. The character used is not reliable enough at times and leads to a pretty weird ride.
Ted Dekker uses Outlaw to further push the boundaries of what it means to love, forgive, and believe. Known for novels that chronicle the never-ending fight between good and evil, love and hate, Outlaw is no different in this respect. Losing the world as we know it only to find something more beautiful and powerful than we ever imagined. Isn't that a story worth reading about?
January 7, 2014
First of all, I am a die-hard Dekker fan. I read through this book in two days, the whole way thinking that this is the Dekker I have been waiting for since the Circle Series (I HIGHLY recommend that, by the way!). I was in tears almost the whole way through.
Then...
I got to the second section of the book and everything went downhill from there. Now, I am a Christian, and I fully appreciate spiritual parallels in literature....in moderation. This was just too much, and too repetitive. I began to feel like I was reading the same thing over and over again. The stories of Julian and many other wonderful characters were just cut off. I was left wanting so much more. The story just held me in its merciless grasp, and then vanished! Stephen was underdeveloped, unrealistic, and lacking in emotion. I wish we could just throw away the whole second section and rewrite the story from there. I love Ted Dekker as a novelist. The Circle Series is my absolute favorite book series of all time, and I cannot fully express my deep disappointment in the second part/ending of Outlaw.
Then...
I got to the second section of the book and everything went downhill from there. Now, I am a Christian, and I fully appreciate spiritual parallels in literature....in moderation. This was just too much, and too repetitive. I began to feel like I was reading the same thing over and over again. The stories of Julian and many other wonderful characters were just cut off. I was left wanting so much more. The story just held me in its merciless grasp, and then vanished! Stephen was underdeveloped, unrealistic, and lacking in emotion. I wish we could just throw away the whole second section and rewrite the story from there. I love Ted Dekker as a novelist. The Circle Series is my absolute favorite book series of all time, and I cannot fully express my deep disappointment in the second part/ending of Outlaw.
February 11, 2014
The author is a good writer, I have to admit. I enjoyed the first portion of the story, which is full of adventure and danger and new environments. I'll admit reading the postscript by the author helped a lot to explain how he was able to capture the distinct feel of a lost tribe of "savages" in the jungles of New Guinea... but something about the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. In many ways, I think the whole "religious conversion of the tribe of colored people" theme bothered me. The religion in question wasn't exactly 100% Christian (it actually had many Buddhist overtones thrown in) but the sense that it was in any way superior to the evils of the tribal way of life was somehow cloying to me. Also, the very fact that the book, which had such potential for adventure and possibility, degenerated into a basic religious conversion story made the ending stale, trite, and a little irritating to someone who is admittedly an atheist.
December 11, 2013
Ted Dekker's problem is that he tells messages rather than telling stories. Yes, there is a story here, and not a bad one at that. However the second half takes a turn and mostly becomes a character or two repeatedly repeating the message of the story--that our human bodies are costumes and are souls are the important part. Unfortunately it is talked about so much that it doesn't seem natural, and it is clearly just the message Dekker wants to get across. Still, the first half of the story is very good, told from the point of view of a female survivor of a shipwreck living with a primitive tribe in Irian Jaya. Her confusion at their ways is very believable.
The second half is told from her son's point of view when he is grown up. This is that character that constantly talks about costumes. This is understandable (but still irritating) as he has grown up in the jungle with only one other man. I would have preferred a longer book if it detailed growing up in the jungle, exploring the themes slower and more naturally.
All up, not bad, but it suffers from Dekker's desire to constantly push his message across to the ocean.
The second half is told from her son's point of view when he is grown up. This is that character that constantly talks about costumes. This is understandable (but still irritating) as he has grown up in the jungle with only one other man. I would have preferred a longer book if it detailed growing up in the jungle, exploring the themes slower and more naturally.
All up, not bad, but it suffers from Dekker's desire to constantly push his message across to the ocean.
October 21, 2013
Wow. Ted Dekker goes deeper in this great book. A surprising change from his norm, but still worth the read for Dekker fans. Those who find Ted's regular fare too fantastic may also enjoy this look at a life fully surrendered to God.
October 25, 2013
By far the best story written by Ted Dekker!!! I have read everything he's published and this novel wraps them all up in as amazing and beautiful gift! I thought his older writing style was lost forever but he's back and I'm thrilled! It's not for everyone. Only for those who choose to see!!
June 29, 2019
60% good
In the beginning of this book I had hopes for it- like, it sounded interesting. Until about 3/4 way through the book, I was like, *beep*, this is gonna be hard. But with hard work and a calm mind, I waded my way through the dragging last 1/4 of the book. The very end, I admit, was pretty good. But, nada. Outlaw still only gets three stars out of five.
In the beginning of this book I had hopes for it- like, it sounded interesting. Until about 3/4 way through the book, I was like, *beep*, this is gonna be hard. But with hard work and a calm mind, I waded my way through the dragging last 1/4 of the book. The very end, I admit, was pretty good. But, nada. Outlaw still only gets three stars out of five.
October 10, 2013
Before I begin this review, I would point out that I won this as an ARC. I have never read nor reviewed an ARC before this, so bear with me.
I was unsure of what to think when I heard that Outlaw was going to be released. Early reviews stated that it is "different" than Dekker's other works, which, generally speaking, are "different" to begin with. (It is not often that I read novels that contain talking bats, demon-possessed serial killers, vigilante priests, people drowning in lakes only to be born anew, etc. Comprende?)
Those early reviews are right. In Outlaw you will not find serial killers who have Noxema fetishes or break people's bones or stuff like that. There aren't any vampires or deadly epidemics that kill everyone, either.
What you will find is the story of a young woman named Julian Carter who is shipwrecked and "saved" by a tribe of islanders. Her infant son, Stephen, is presumed lost at sea. Julian's part of the story is written in first-person, and my heart broke for her as she is abused by the tribe, who is not welcoming of outsiders. In fact, those who wander into the valley they call home are never permitted to leave. Those who escape are killed.
Julian is permitted to live among them under one condition: that she "marry" one of the princes vying for control of the valley and produce a son for him.
This is gut-wrenching stuff, folks.
Dekker's trademark weirdness kicks in about halfway through the novel. It turns out that the first half of the book is Julian's handwritten account of her first few months with the tribe, and her son, Stephen (who didn't drown after all) was presumably reading it. He's twenty years old now, because eighteen years have passed since Julian was taken captive. Now it's up to Stephen to rescue her from the tribe...or is it?
Unfortunately, I didn't identify with Stephen very well. After being separated from his mother he had a VERY unusual upbringing, and some of the conversations he has with his mentor left me scratching my head a bit. There's a lot of philosophizing. Or is theologi-phizing? And then it gets trippy. REAL trippy. What started out as a reasonably "normal" story turned into something far different by the end.
Was this my favorite Dekker novel? No. Was it my least favorite? Definitely not. For those who can appreciate a touching story and food for thought, Outlaw is a must-read.
I was unsure of what to think when I heard that Outlaw was going to be released. Early reviews stated that it is "different" than Dekker's other works, which, generally speaking, are "different" to begin with. (It is not often that I read novels that contain talking bats, demon-possessed serial killers, vigilante priests, people drowning in lakes only to be born anew, etc. Comprende?)
Those early reviews are right. In Outlaw you will not find serial killers who have Noxema fetishes or break people's bones or stuff like that. There aren't any vampires or deadly epidemics that kill everyone, either.
What you will find is the story of a young woman named Julian Carter who is shipwrecked and "saved" by a tribe of islanders. Her infant son, Stephen, is presumed lost at sea. Julian's part of the story is written in first-person, and my heart broke for her as she is abused by the tribe, who is not welcoming of outsiders. In fact, those who wander into the valley they call home are never permitted to leave. Those who escape are killed.
Julian is permitted to live among them under one condition: that she "marry" one of the princes vying for control of the valley and produce a son for him.
This is gut-wrenching stuff, folks.
Dekker's trademark weirdness kicks in about halfway through the novel. It turns out that the first half of the book is Julian's handwritten account of her first few months with the tribe, and her son, Stephen (who didn't drown after all) was presumably reading it. He's twenty years old now, because eighteen years have passed since Julian was taken captive. Now it's up to Stephen to rescue her from the tribe...or is it?
Unfortunately, I didn't identify with Stephen very well. After being separated from his mother he had a VERY unusual upbringing, and some of the conversations he has with his mentor left me scratching my head a bit. There's a lot of philosophizing. Or is theologi-phizing? And then it gets trippy. REAL trippy. What started out as a reasonably "normal" story turned into something far different by the end.
Was this my favorite Dekker novel? No. Was it my least favorite? Definitely not. For those who can appreciate a touching story and food for thought, Outlaw is a must-read.
December 19, 2013
Ted Dekker has long fascinated me with his ability to stretch the imagination of his readers and do something that no one else has really done before. I have not loved all of his latest books, but I really loved "Outlaw", finding it to be a story unlike any other I've read. The story bursts with life and vivid descriptions, likely because Dekker has set the story deep in the heart of a jungle like the one where Dekker himself was born and raised. As I glimpsed into the heart of the tribe, unknown to the world and holding fast to a set of beliefs so different than my own, I could only imagine what it would be like to be Julian and be thrust into such a foreign setting! I found the story to move along swiftly, as I was caught up in Julian's story, one where her very life is continually threatened. The characters are well-rendered and believable, and I loved the complex nature of both Julian and her son, as well as the various tribal members they encounter.
As I closed the pages of the story, I reflected that more than any other Dekker book, I was challenged to consider my belief in God and whether I am living a life where faith is put into action. Am I living out the deep truths presented in God's word? The power of Dekker's story is that it challenges all of us to take our thoughts captive to the truth of what Jesus has done on the cross, to look at the world through God's eyes and not our own fear-filled ones. It is a challenge to love and forgive, in God's power, when we surely can't on our own. I found the past couple of chapters of the story so moving that I was battling tears.
I highly recommend this imaginative and thought-provoking read, and award it 5 out of 5 stars. I can only hope that we may meet these characters again!
Book has been provided courtesy of Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group Canada, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
December 31, 2013
Once again I am astonished by Ted Dekker. Outlaw has got to be one of his best works to date, as I really fell in love with this story. Enlaced with riveting danger, intriguing characters, and such a compelling message that once again opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at life, Outlaw is truly unique from all of Ted's other stories.
Although still remaining true to his style and trademark of a story captivated by emotion, love and truths, Ted created something different this time. Many of his stories including "The Sanctuary" and many of his other masterpieces, usually have a "hero-saves-beloved-at-all-costs" plot and defeats the adversary. However, in the face of death and danger, the hero has to reject this natural instinct and instead, offer love and grace to the enemy. It is a story of intense forgiveness, but also a realization of one's identity to even make this possible. It calls people to understand who they really are and not what the world makes them out to be. To live and be guided by the Spirit, His love and His truth. I highly recommend this book. If not for its jungle-deep mystery, tribal peril, and amazing characters, then at least for its message!
Also, I have to hand it out to Ted. You did an awesome job creating Julian! At first I thought she was a man by the name, because you never clarified it until a few pages into the story and plus the name is a bit male... But later her femininity in her character is remarkable for being written by a man. If I didn't know who the author was I would have thought a woman wrote this. She is a great character! Very relatable.
~Alyxandra Sarik
Although still remaining true to his style and trademark of a story captivated by emotion, love and truths, Ted created something different this time. Many of his stories including "The Sanctuary" and many of his other masterpieces, usually have a "hero-saves-beloved-at-all-costs" plot and defeats the adversary. However, in the face of death and danger, the hero has to reject this natural instinct and instead, offer love and grace to the enemy. It is a story of intense forgiveness, but also a realization of one's identity to even make this possible. It calls people to understand who they really are and not what the world makes them out to be. To live and be guided by the Spirit, His love and His truth. I highly recommend this book. If not for its jungle-deep mystery, tribal peril, and amazing characters, then at least for its message!
Also, I have to hand it out to Ted. You did an awesome job creating Julian! At first I thought she was a man by the name, because you never clarified it until a few pages into the story and plus the name is a bit male... But later her femininity in her character is remarkable for being written by a man. If I didn't know who the author was I would have thought a woman wrote this. She is a great character! Very relatable.
~Alyxandra Sarik
October 8, 2013
Tossed about the natives much like her boat was tossed across the waves, Julian’s journey is utterly harrowing, heartbreaking, and stunningly incredible all at the same time. As I was reading, I forgot that this was a tale penned by Ted Dekker. This, in and of itself, is extraordinary for me as a Dekker fan. One of the things I enjoy most about Ted’s writing is the fact that each time he stretches into new territory while maintaining his tone and style. This book steps away from all of that dives so deeply and richly into the story that any traces of anything but the adventure disappear.
Julian’s journey through heartache, tragedy, trauma, and crisis to the end of the adventure is absolutely stunning in its intensity. More than dramatic adventure though, the situations are so real that you can practically smell the vegetation and the homes of the natives. As I was reading, I was so wrapped up in the adventure that I was tearing (nearly literally) through the pages to find out what would happen next. At one point I stood up and gasped out loud at a plot twist I hadn’t seen coming.
This story will grip you by the throat and drag you through unimaginable horrors at the same time that you can feel Dekker practically begging you to see beyond the mere action and situations in the story. When you are finally able to pull back the veil and see the big picture, it will stun you with its ferocity and literally drown you in the enormous and unending reality of God’s love.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Thank you!
Julian’s journey through heartache, tragedy, trauma, and crisis to the end of the adventure is absolutely stunning in its intensity. More than dramatic adventure though, the situations are so real that you can practically smell the vegetation and the homes of the natives. As I was reading, I was so wrapped up in the adventure that I was tearing (nearly literally) through the pages to find out what would happen next. At one point I stood up and gasped out loud at a plot twist I hadn’t seen coming.
This story will grip you by the throat and drag you through unimaginable horrors at the same time that you can feel Dekker practically begging you to see beyond the mere action and situations in the story. When you are finally able to pull back the veil and see the big picture, it will stun you with its ferocity and literally drown you in the enormous and unending reality of God’s love.
Review copy provided by the publisher. Thank you!
January 2, 2014
I really enjoyed this novel, not only because of the narration that only one that has lived in a primitive jungle setting could write, but because I believe it will be one of those rare stories that impacts my identity as a follower of Christ. I found myself learning alongside Outlaw how to look beyond our human "costumes" to the certain future we have as believers. It was painful to see him struggle between his desire to connect and respond in the flesh and to trust and surrender wholly to Creator God....a struggle in which all believers are immersed. I highly recommend this novel. Just be ready to deal with your own struggle between the now and the eternal.
June 3, 2017
WOW. This book was gripping, bittersweet, and poignant. I loved it. So much. The ending just wrapped me up in a hug, and the lesson was one that hit me like a sucker punch during this time in my life.
The truth is, God is like a million suns, and the Darkness is only a mouse. How epic is that? This book really helped me.
The truth is, God is like a million suns, and the Darkness is only a mouse. How epic is that? This book really helped me.
November 3, 2014
4.5 stars
September 3, 2013
I really did try to go into "Outlaw" with as open of a mind as possible, because, to be completely honest, I have been rather disappointed in Dekker's books the last few years after being such a huge fan of his earlier writings. To me, "Outlaw" was a mixed bag of both good and bad. I really enjoyed the first 3/4's of the book dealing with Julian's life in Atlanta, GA and her call to the Mission Field as I felt like Dekker did a great job of making all of the essential characters come to life and providing just enough mystery to keep the reader coming back for more. However, I felt like the latter half of the book dealing with Outlaw's growth into manhood, his going down into the Tulim Valley, and other such things that I will not include so as not to ruin the story for those who haven't read it, really bogged down and I found myself almost dreading having to finish the book. Dekker left this book in such a way that there will definitely be another book or two in the "Outlaw" Series, but I am honestly not sure if I will pick up a copy of these books when they are published.
Title: Outlaw
Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: FaithWords / Center Street (2013)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the FaithWords / Center Street book review bloggers program on NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Title: Outlaw
Author: Ted Dekker
Publisher: FaithWords / Center Street (2013)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the FaithWords / Center Street book review bloggers program on NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
June 20, 2015
Dit boek las wel lekker in het begin. Een vrouw lijdt schipbreuk en komt terecht bij een onontdekte stam in Nieuw-Guinea. Op de helft werd het verhaal echter wel erg zweverig en ik snapte de clue niet echt. Ik vind een paar moordlustige stammen trouwens ook niet heel thrillerwaardig. Daarvoor had ik toch wel wat meer verwacht!
Al met al geen supergeweldig boek, heb het gewoon gelezen om iets te lezen eigenlijk.
(Misschien kun je het wel lezen als je wat meer over zulke stammen wilt weten, maar daar heb je natuurlijk ook wikipedia voor).
Al met al geen supergeweldig boek, heb het gewoon gelezen om iets te lezen eigenlijk.
(Misschien kun je het wel lezen als je wat meer over zulke stammen wilt weten, maar daar heb je natuurlijk ook wikipedia voor).
February 11, 2014
I normally find Ted Dekker's book to be real page turners, and his Circle Trilogy is still one of my favorite series of all time. But to be completely honest, I could not force myself to finish this book despite spending a total of 27 hours stuck on a plane over the period of a week. It read like a horrible romance story, written by a man narrating as a a woman with Stockholm Syndrome. I got halfway through the book over several reading sessions and finally counted it a lost cause.
July 21, 2018
Wow. Great writer. Now to read all his books.
September 13, 2019
This book was a mess that was way, way too long. With unexpected allegorical undertones, the occasional plot hole, and lots of extremely questionable material throughout, I was relieved to finally get it over with.
Where to even begin?
The story follows the trials of Julian when she decides to journey to New Guinea with her infant. Led there by mystical dreams of a lush forest and a song that somehow wordlessly spoke, "Come to me," and, "Save me," to her, she ends up shipwrecked after a storm and kidnapped by a tribal people.
There's not much I can tell you without spoiling the story, but MUCH of the first 70% of the novel, of the abuses and struggles Julian endures, are pointless to the plot. I'm not even kidding. That entire section could have been halved at least, cut out or chopped down, skimmed or abbreviated. We did NOT need to know in detail every single aspect of her capture and life. There were many extraneous subplots that, in the end, had zero significance to the story. Like I said, it was a mess.
One of these, which contains small spoilers that I will hide, was
Another big issue I had with the story was the Stockholm Syndrome Julian began to experience somewhat early on, as well as the (WARNING for possibly triggering material) implied rape both then and later in the story.
(Warning ended).
In addition to those issues, the book addresses Christian pacifism in the last third of the story. It implies that righteous anger, or emotions of any kind, are somehow "wrong" or a sin, when Jesus himself took a whip to those sullying the temple.
In the end, I gave it 2 stars, one for the writing, because it was fairly well written, (except for the last third when it was so repetitive I was, at times, bored out of my mind), and one for the narrator Nicola Barber, who for the most part, did a very good job vocalising the characters and emotions in this insane book.
The contents of the story are what I had problems with. By far, this is my least favorite of the Ted Dekker books I've read. I wouldn't recommend this one.
Where to even begin?
The story follows the trials of Julian when she decides to journey to New Guinea with her infant. Led there by mystical dreams of a lush forest and a song that somehow wordlessly spoke, "Come to me," and, "Save me," to her, she ends up shipwrecked after a storm and kidnapped by a tribal people.
There's not much I can tell you without spoiling the story, but MUCH of the first 70% of the novel, of the abuses and struggles Julian endures, are pointless to the plot. I'm not even kidding. That entire section could have been halved at least, cut out or chopped down, skimmed or abbreviated. We did NOT need to know in detail every single aspect of her capture and life. There were many extraneous subplots that, in the end, had zero significance to the story. Like I said, it was a mess.
One of these, which contains small spoilers that I will hide, was
Another big issue I had with the story was the Stockholm Syndrome Julian began to experience somewhat early on, as well as the (WARNING for possibly triggering material) implied rape both then and later in the story.
(Warning ended).
In addition to those issues, the book addresses Christian pacifism in the last third of the story. It implies that righteous anger, or emotions of any kind, are somehow "wrong" or a sin, when Jesus himself took a whip to those sullying the temple.
In the end, I gave it 2 stars, one for the writing, because it was fairly well written, (except for the last third when it was so repetitive I was, at times, bored out of my mind), and one for the narrator Nicola Barber, who for the most part, did a very good job vocalising the characters and emotions in this insane book.
The contents of the story are what I had problems with. By far, this is my least favorite of the Ted Dekker books I've read. I wouldn't recommend this one.
January 10, 2014
Once you’ve read a Ted Dekker novel, you know: the man knows how to command a story. His latest, Outlaw, is no exception. It’s big. It’s bold. It’s bombastic, and Dekker weaves his tale of good clashing with evil with his signature gritty realism.
Outlaw is surprisingly, even shockingly, PG-13—intended for mature audiences because of its depictions of violence and sensuality. In terms of plot, it’s something like a cross between The Hunger Games and Castaway, but with a broader message of eternal hope. It’s a story of being pressed to one’s limit and triumphing. Of sacrifice and redemption. In many ways, it’s the author’s attempt, through story, of making that which may seem inhuman, human.
I will admit the opening line set me up for distraction later on. It starts: The story of how I, Julian Carter, and my precious two-year old son, Stephen, left Atlanta Georgia … It was the name that threw me—Julian, which I’ve always taken for a man’s name. As this section of narrative is written in first person without personal pronouns to identify the speaker’s gender, I read most of the first chapter believing this to be a man’s story. When I realized I was wrong, I had to revise my previous assumptions because, ahem, turns out Julian is most decidedly not male—as the unfolding plot makes increasingly clear.
Dekker fans will recognize the novel’s island setting as similar to the one in which he was raised. Indeed, the verisimilitude of Outlaw seems more than merely researched. For its detail, depth and compassion for the human species, it is clear that this story was, at least in part, lived by the author first-hand.
Thanks to Center Street for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.
Outlaw is surprisingly, even shockingly, PG-13—intended for mature audiences because of its depictions of violence and sensuality. In terms of plot, it’s something like a cross between The Hunger Games and Castaway, but with a broader message of eternal hope. It’s a story of being pressed to one’s limit and triumphing. Of sacrifice and redemption. In many ways, it’s the author’s attempt, through story, of making that which may seem inhuman, human.
I will admit the opening line set me up for distraction later on. It starts: The story of how I, Julian Carter, and my precious two-year old son, Stephen, left Atlanta Georgia … It was the name that threw me—Julian, which I’ve always taken for a man’s name. As this section of narrative is written in first person without personal pronouns to identify the speaker’s gender, I read most of the first chapter believing this to be a man’s story. When I realized I was wrong, I had to revise my previous assumptions because, ahem, turns out Julian is most decidedly not male—as the unfolding plot makes increasingly clear.
Dekker fans will recognize the novel’s island setting as similar to the one in which he was raised. Indeed, the verisimilitude of Outlaw seems more than merely researched. For its detail, depth and compassion for the human species, it is clear that this story was, at least in part, lived by the author first-hand.
Thanks to Center Street for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.
February 15, 2014
I've long avoided Ted Dekker because I scare easily, and with an active imagination, I've wondered if I could read his books and sleep through the night.
I took a chance on Outlaw, which is not at all scary or creepy, and I think I'll have to take a chance on his other books, too!
Outlaw is the story of Julian, an unloved mother who ventures to New Guinea chasing a literal dream. Since her son, Stephen, was born, she has had a recurring dream calling her from her comfortable home in Atlanta into the jungles of New Guinea. She follows the call and finds herself in circumstances she could never have imagined. She loses her son. She is taken prisoner among the villagers. Her life is viewed as a commodity to be traded. Her worth is centered on what she can do for the tribe, not for who she is.
At times, it is H-A-R-D to read. Dekker is not afraid to put his characters through the worst case scenario to achieve a better end.
Outlaw is a parable of the life of faith, of walking in truth and light in the midst of unthinkable darkness. It's haunting and raw and challenging. By the end of it, I was undone.
Forgiveness, hope, identity. Dekker hits on these heavy themes in ways that might make us squirm but that also force us to examine ourselves and our beliefs.
I regret nothing about reading this book, except that it's taken me so long to pick up a Dekker book.
I took a chance on Outlaw, which is not at all scary or creepy, and I think I'll have to take a chance on his other books, too!
Outlaw is the story of Julian, an unloved mother who ventures to New Guinea chasing a literal dream. Since her son, Stephen, was born, she has had a recurring dream calling her from her comfortable home in Atlanta into the jungles of New Guinea. She follows the call and finds herself in circumstances she could never have imagined. She loses her son. She is taken prisoner among the villagers. Her life is viewed as a commodity to be traded. Her worth is centered on what she can do for the tribe, not for who she is.
At times, it is H-A-R-D to read. Dekker is not afraid to put his characters through the worst case scenario to achieve a better end.
Outlaw is a parable of the life of faith, of walking in truth and light in the midst of unthinkable darkness. It's haunting and raw and challenging. By the end of it, I was undone.
Forgiveness, hope, identity. Dekker hits on these heavy themes in ways that might make us squirm but that also force us to examine ourselves and our beliefs.
I regret nothing about reading this book, except that it's taken me so long to pick up a Dekker book.
August 24, 2016
Minor Spoilers:
2.5 stars for book as a whole +0.5 star for the narrator of the audiobook with the voice of an angel.
This book read like there were two authors. I loved the first part of this book and the second part (as it pertains to the plot of the first part) was alright. However, the majority of the second part of the book was like a weird obtuse sermon; it was just dripping with religious tropes and verbatim verses I have heard in church. I understand that Dekker is lumped into the group of Christian Fiction writers, but I also know that he did not like being pigeonholed as only a Christian Fiction writer. The subtly of his religious belief in the first part of the book was powerful and moving and gave the narrative a good flavor. However, he severely over-salted the second part and I can understand why he has been pigeonholed by many of his fans and critics. Half way through the first part I found out that this novel had sequels and I was really excited to get to those, and now after finishing the second part, and the book as a whole, I probably will not bother as it seems that this book is leading up to him setting off on a mission to spread his religion. Also the rainbow light things were strange and kind of 180'd the natural, gritty feel of the story.
2.5 stars for book as a whole +0.5 star for the narrator of the audiobook with the voice of an angel.
This book read like there were two authors. I loved the first part of this book and the second part (as it pertains to the plot of the first part) was alright. However, the majority of the second part of the book was like a weird obtuse sermon; it was just dripping with religious tropes and verbatim verses I have heard in church. I understand that Dekker is lumped into the group of Christian Fiction writers, but I also know that he did not like being pigeonholed as only a Christian Fiction writer. The subtly of his religious belief in the first part of the book was powerful and moving and gave the narrative a good flavor. However, he severely over-salted the second part and I can understand why he has been pigeonholed by many of his fans and critics. Half way through the first part I found out that this novel had sequels and I was really excited to get to those, and now after finishing the second part, and the book as a whole, I probably will not bother as it seems that this book is leading up to him setting off on a mission to spread his religion. Also the rainbow light things were strange and kind of 180'd the natural, gritty feel of the story.
January 13, 2014
As a huge fan of Dekker for over a decade, I was disappointed in Outlaw.
Reason being that it brought up the question of Christian pacifism near the end. I won't give away any spoilers, but the climax of the book was not as satisfying as I was hoping for.
It seemed like Dekker was implying that to feel anger at evil was a sin, and not the right path; that righteous anger should always be rejected for a feeling of nonchalance-like peace.
Now, I'm not saying that we should run around angry all the time or that it's okay to pursue revenge, but Jesus Christ himself went in the temple with a whip to chase out merchants who were defiling his Father's house.
I felt like the message that Outlaw was trying to send ignored the fact that Jesus had and displayed human emotions that are never condemned in the Bible.
All that being said, I did enjoy Outlaw up until the climax. It had very well-developed characters, settings, a very exciting plot, and was written excellently. I'd recommend it to anyone who would not be bothered by the aforementioned issue of pacifism.
Reason being that it brought up the question of Christian pacifism near the end. I won't give away any spoilers, but the climax of the book was not as satisfying as I was hoping for.
It seemed like Dekker was implying that to feel anger at evil was a sin, and not the right path; that righteous anger should always be rejected for a feeling of nonchalance-like peace.
Now, I'm not saying that we should run around angry all the time or that it's okay to pursue revenge, but Jesus Christ himself went in the temple with a whip to chase out merchants who were defiling his Father's house.
I felt like the message that Outlaw was trying to send ignored the fact that Jesus had and displayed human emotions that are never condemned in the Bible.
All that being said, I did enjoy Outlaw up until the climax. It had very well-developed characters, settings, a very exciting plot, and was written excellently. I'd recommend it to anyone who would not be bothered by the aforementioned issue of pacifism.
January 15, 2014
This would seem pretty hokey except for the fact that Dekker grew up in Irian Jaya, which gives him some credibility on the subject matter.
He provides something of an insider view on the inner working of native groups including leadership rivalries, treatment of women and justice. It is a very different paradigm.
What you make of the God and angel intervention is a matter of personal religious belief. Dekker provides a religious perspective far more profound that most "Christian" novels.
This is far better written and deeper than most of the less than stellar stuff on the Christian shelf.
I find the attitudes of the protagonist annoying since she calls the natives "savages". White folk and Christians have perpetrated more than their fair of savagery including the Holocaust and the decimation of many aboriginal groups around the world.
Worth reading even for non-Christians.
He provides something of an insider view on the inner working of native groups including leadership rivalries, treatment of women and justice. It is a very different paradigm.
What you make of the God and angel intervention is a matter of personal religious belief. Dekker provides a religious perspective far more profound that most "Christian" novels.
This is far better written and deeper than most of the less than stellar stuff on the Christian shelf.
I find the attitudes of the protagonist annoying since she calls the natives "savages". White folk and Christians have perpetrated more than their fair of savagery including the Holocaust and the decimation of many aboriginal groups around the world.
Worth reading even for non-Christians.
October 13, 2014
There were parts of this book that I enjoyed but overall it was just too far out at the end to say that it was a wonderful, enlightening read. The story started out slow and very strange for a modern day setting. Outlaw follows Julian Carter as she is held captive by an undiscovered tribe of people after being washed ashore following a ship wreck. I was enjoying this somewhat strange book for the first 3/4 or so. Then it became very confusing as to what was going on with her son Stephen who had been raised by man/spirit that had qualities of God. The son was to save his mother and bring light to the tribe and then to other parts of the world. There was just a very unreal ending to the last 50 pages of the book.
December 21, 2013
The plot line was a great idea, but it became so repetitive. Pages and pages of basically the same words and teachings. I really liked Ted Dekker's circle series because it was Christian without being over the top and in your face. The last third of Outlaw felt like a sermon. It was too preachy for me.
December 29, 2015
I honestly love all Ted Dekker books and this was a MAJOR let down. As a Christian writer and even a MALE this book was very awkward and quite innapropriate to read knowing a male wrote this..... yes at times it was pretty intense but I skimmed 99.9% out of the book... sorry Ted Dekker but this book was not what I expected from you... NOT RECOMMENDED for young audience or any audience in general
December 22, 2013
I give any book I read a hundred pages and if it is not doing anything for me by then I figure it is just not going to happen. That was the case with Outlaw. I've read other Dekker books and loved them but this one just did not do it for me.
October 16, 2013
I really don't know how I feel about this book. It was very different from anything I have read before.
September 27, 2019
I was looking for a change of pace and this book gave it to me. I enjoyed learning about the culture of cannibals and jungle tribes. This book is packed with adventure and is written by a man who was born and raised by missionaries in the jungles of Irian Jaya. This is a pretty amazing story and although some parts didn’t quite make sense to me, I still enjoyed it. This is a wild book! (Karen's review)
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