Saturday, March 6, 2010

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've gotten 3 or 4 pages into chapter 65 in A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES. 

Dear Diana, 

What's with this Wedding at Cana writing style of yours? I love it! Just when I think things are slowing down, you change the water into wine and start serving up the deliciousness!

Yours in Christ (and Jamie Fraser),
Carol 

Seriously - I CANNOT believe what a turn this book has taken. Then again, I suppose I can believe it, after previous books that went along their merry way until PRESTO! They took off like a bat out of hell. 

I am going back to reading now because this part is SO good and I only have a short free time window in this insane asylum I call my house. But I'll tell you this: I am at what I believe to be one of the most powerful - if not THE most powerful - moments in this series.

Photo credit: philadelphia.about.com 
Jamie just declared himself for liberty. That is HUGE. Put yourself in his position. He's an honest, hard-working man who spent years at the mercy of English rule - fighting for Scotland and suffering subsequent punishment - and has finally found some peace. And he now has to put every ounce of faith and trust into his oddball, time-traveling wife's notion of a Revolutionary War -  and declare himself a rebel. When all he really wants to do is stay out of trouble and avoid fighting like the plague. It's mind-blowing how huge this is.

Photo credit: planetware.com
I am more than nostalgic for where I grew up right now. No shocker as I've waxed on previously about my hometown bordering Valley Forge. I used to drive to my friend Katie's house and pass cannons and log cabins along the way - and think absolutely nothing of it. Dinna get me wrong - I respected the hell out of what took place at Valley Forge. But it was what it was; I lived there. I had to drive through the park (Bitterman) to get to the local shopping center!  Seriously though - I went through a Revolutionary War obsession in the 4th or 5th grade... and even had wedding portraits taken at Valley Forge Park in front of a log cabin (Tracey is right now going "OMG I totally forgot about that!) And now - wow.  Reading this book...I'm dying to go back. Tracey - Shannon - Jenn M. - and anyone else who wants to join us, I have one thing to say:  ROAD TRIP!!!!!! 

PS - Check out these pictures taken by a fellow named Adrian from England who lives in PA now and has a personal website at adrianc.com. I have posted one of the inside of a cabin, below. Can you imagine Jamie, Claire, Bree, Roger and Jemmy all sharing ONE?!

ALSO - click this link for some fascinating information and links regarding Valley Forge and George Washington's troops camping there (what was left of them) for 6 months.

6 comments:

  1. Re: wedding pics--OMG I totally forgot about that! ;-) (Seriously, I really did.)

    I find that the Revolution stuff is one of the most fascinating parts of this entire book. I forget if I've said this in the comments, but it's so surprising to me how much like the Civil War this al was, with friends and family at odds with each other over whether they were for or against liberty. It makes you wonder which sides everyone else on the Ridge or in Claire/Jamie's lives are going to take....

    BTW--spent the afternoon at the National Portrait Gallery in DC--TOTALLY got my fill of 18th century historical figures! Verra cool.

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  2. P.S. HOW funny was it that neither side believed Jamie???? That scene was just so awesome--such a great mix of pathos and humor.

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  3. Hi Carol,
    Just found your blog the other day via Twitter. Love how you share as you're reading..can't wait till you get to the end of Echo! It's always great to find others addicted to the books! By the way, I live not too far from Valley Forge.

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  4. Hey Erin - no way! Tracey and I grew up in Paoli. My normal reaction would be to ask "Where are you from?!" but I suppose I should not be asking personal questions in a public forum. :) I'm glad you found the blog! I have a ball writing as I'm reading. And we have a chat on Monday nights from 9-10 - hopefully you'll join us!

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  5. I'm in for a road trip. When do we leave?

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  6. Tomorrow, Shannon. Preferably BEFORE CCD drop off. ;)

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