The Visitor

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 67 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE.

Dear Ian,

When some dude comes sniffing around camp and spits in your Auntie's pottage, you DO SOMETHING. You don't just stand there laughing while he walks away. 

I bet you wouldna have stood by calmly whilst he spat in your uncle's brandy.

Just my .02. 

Love, 

Carol

Another Thought

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've started chapter 66 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

Oh. My. God. Waiting for William to see Jamie is giving me the feeling I had when I was waiting for Jamie to run into Jack Randal again. You knew he was alive. You knew it was going to happen. You just didna know when. And here they are - Jamie and William - on opposite sides of Simon Fraser's bed (who did NOT die in battle in real life, so I'm tres interested to see what happens here) and Jamie isna looking up - so William isna noticing him.  My god - this is the best drama I've ever been privy to in my entire life! This makes "Who Shot JR?" look like Mister Rogers!!!!!!!

I Had to Stop and Blog!

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Chapter 65 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH IS JAMIE FIGHTING???? The man just had surgery - his hand is dripping blood - and he's fighting Hessians! Is there no rest for the weary?! Or people who have recently had their person cut into with a scalpel??? This is insanity! For the first time since Outlander, I'm seriously considering the fact that Jamie Fraser could die. And I'm SCAIRT!!!!!!!

PS - Jamie better hope he dies on that field... because Claire is going to KILL HIM when she sees that hand!!!

So Much to Say

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read Chapter 64 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I have been underlining like crazy lately. I should blog while I'm reading, but it's so good, I canna stop to blog! I'm going to post the lines I've underlined and give you my thoughts on them. I mean NO disrespect or copyright infringement by posting these lines from An Echo in the Bone, ken?

"his own mother made a dish from the flesh of wine and apples, beswimming in red wine and spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, that made his mouth water only to remember."   OK am I the only person whose own mouth watered when I read this? I'll admit it. I love me some swine (or "pig's ass" as one of my Kosher girlfriends from college called it.)

"unlike most wives, Claire would have a place to go if something befell him." Really Jamie? Really? Where exactly is she going to go? Back to the Ridge? Or is she going to move in with Fergus and Marsali? Because surely you dinna mean she's going back through the stones if something happens to you. C'mon. Think rationally you big, stubborn Scot. And for God's sake; DINNA DIE.

"It was twilight and the world was full of shadows". I'm loving all the mentions of the word "twilight" lately. It's one of my favorite words in the universe. It holds such possibility. (And it reminds me of Edward Cullen.)

Execution left a stain upon the air and marked the souls of those who saw it.  This is probably the most profound statement Diana Gabaldon - or quite possibly anyone - has ever made.  When I went to the Tower of London, I was overcome by this incredible feeling. It was an eerie, creepy feeling of death that made you feel like you'd drown in it if you didn't find your way out of the place. There is a stillness there; you can feel their pain. So many souls whose lives were ripped away from them in an instant - in unfathomable ways. There are ravens all over the grounds... with their watchful eyes... and I remember saying I felt like the souls of all the dead were trapped inside the ravens.  The only other time in my life I've ever felt that indescribable, smothering feeling was in October 2001 when I saw the remains of the World Trade Center. The same feeling of sadness and grief was overwhelming. That is the stain that execution leaves upon the air... and I've tried to explain it so many times - to no avail. And then Diana Gabaldon comes along and just puts it into a handful of words... so eloquently. She blows my mind.

"Ye need spectacles, don't ye? I hadna realized." Oh how I loved this scene. She knows he's right - and she's fighting him on it - and she finally gives in - and then turns the tables on him. And all I'm thinking is "Wow Claire, you're lucky you made it all the way to 60! Most people find their eyesight going at around 45!"  And how in god's name is she doing intricate surgery on Jamie's HAND?! I was surprised he didna bring that up when she was inventorying her wee scalpels.


"I paused and shouted into the mist, calling his name. I heard answering calls, but none in his voice."  Oh my god - when I got to this part, I almost fell off the treadmill. You can totally see this happening right in front of you. What a POWERFUL scene. The dead and dying, lying all around, and Claire is literally stepping over them, calling Jamie's name and hearing nothing in response. I can't even talk about it because I truly felt sick when this happened - a la when Roger Mac was hangit. "I'm sorry for your man," I said. "but my man lies here. Get away, I said!" Oh good god I might cry again. Diana - you take as much time as you like to write your books, lass, because my GOD - the research that goes into them is incredible. Who knew it was like this? Who knew wives and children were coming along, looting the dead? Don't get me wrong - I get it. Hell, I watch that soldier taking everyone's gold teeth out on The Pacific every week. But wives and children??  AND - the fact that they had to bury the bodies deep enough so the wolves wouldn't get them?? Who knew?! THIS is why DG's books are so good. She does her homework. I'd rather her take 10 years to write a book - and do it as well as she does - than read something someone cranked out in 4 months with no thought or integrity. Blech.

"Ye've the tongue of  a venomous shrew," he said, "but your a bonnie wee swordsman, Sassenach."  This is CLASSIC JAMIE FRASER! I LOVE IT!!!

"Anyone seen that big redheaded bastard who broke the charge?"..."Whoever he is, I tell you, he's got balls the size of ten-pound shot."  I LOVE JAMIE FRASER. Have I mentioned that lately? In his late 50s and yet he's still THE MAN on the battlefield.

"Having a good hand on your arse always makes me feel steady." Again - classic Jamie. I get a little thrill every time I read a line like this.

OK that's it for now. I have underlined more... but I should save some for later. Besides - I have to go read. But I have one quick thing to tell you about where I am now:

HAMISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Great Chat - and a Great Casting Video!

Thanks to everyone who came to chat tonight! As always, I love chatting with you lassies. You guys give such great insights about the series. I always feel a little sad when it's time to sign off!

And a special thanks to Jeanie who suggested this casting video for Outlander. Wow. Double wow. It's REALLY good. Enjoy!

Outlander Chat Tonight

Don't forget My Outlander Purgatory Chat tonight at 9PM Eastern! We'll be discussing up to and including Chapter 59 in An Echo in the Bone!

MOP VIDEO: Happy Birthday Jamie Fraser!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser!!!!  

Just a wee bit of video in celebration of the year of our laird.  :)

"Here's Tae Us!"

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read chapter 57 in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. 

I have to apologize for being all over the place in this blog entry. Once you've seen yesterday's videos, you'll wonder if I was hung over whilst typing this. And I assure you, I'm not. God bless large bottles of water when one is juggling both Pinot Grigio AND Scottish Whisk(no e)y - all for the sake of James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser - and good, amusing Youtube video. ;)

William's cousin Henry is wounded and holed up at Mrs. Woodcock's house. She clearly is diggin' on him... and I'm guessing the feelings are mutual. What I don't know is how they met... or why she's not with Mr. Woodcock who is most likely dying out in the wood with the captured militia.

OK so tell me I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat while reading about Rob Cameron's friend, the archeologist?? He's digging around Lallybroch and I'm all "Oh god! Oh god! He's going to find something! Something Jamie left! Or something Jenny left! Ahhhh!" But alas, he didna find anything. And it's probably just as well because I dinna know if my wee heart could have taken it if he had found something bad/sad. I am also not convinced he won't find something in the future. I mean - why bring an archeologist into the story if you're not going to need him for something in the future, right???

So William left the Hunters (I can't help seeing Mr. Hottie Denzel Washington every time I hear the name Denzell) and caught up with the British army - and alas - a fellow named Brigadier Fraser. And I will pat myself on my own back when I tell you I immediately texted Tracey and told her I was willing to bet it was Simon, down from Canada. I knew I had read about the real Simon Fraser and how he fled to Canada after Culloden... and eventually made his way back to Scotland and bought most of his property back - but I wasna sure if he was in the British army. Soooo anyhoo... it was him and he is asking William to dine at his table, which I have convinced myself is because William is BLOOD OF HIS BLOOD and there is a true connection that neither of them understands. Kindof like one of those stories you hear on 60 Minutes where two people have been next door neighbors and best friends for 35 years and find out they're brothers. Yeah. So anyway - I'm VERRA interested to see how - if at all - Simon Fraser factors into "the rest of the story".

Moving right along to one of THE HOTTEST scenes I have EVER read in this series - yeah - you know what I'm talking about:  YOU. COME  HERE. NOW. (Jenn M emailed this AM and was seriously thrilled to have read that scene. Can you blame her?) That was tremendous. Although, I'll tell ya, I couldn't enjoy it enough because I was too worried they were going to get caught. And getting caught doing the deed would have been one thing - but to get caught doing yourselves - well that would be quite another. I love how Diana always has Jamie stop - right in mid coitus - and tease the heck out of Claire - only to start up again and make her see stars. All men should be taught to do that, don'tcha think?

Any men reading this? What say you???

Anyway - I loved when Jamie said "Play with fire and ye may get singed, Sassenach". Sigh. More murmuring. I could read an entire novel of Jamie Fraser's fornicatory murmuring. 

One of my favorite Bree/Roger scenes:

"Here's tae us. Wha's like us?"
  "Damned few," she replied in broad Scots, "and they're all deid."

Reminds me of one of my husband's family parties when the celtic and Irish music is blaring ("FINE GIRL YOU ARE!") and everyone is having a good time and getting a little looped... and the Irish or Scottish quotes start coming out. Always a good time.

Loved when Claire noticed that no one gets yeast infections because no one wears underwear. I don't know why but that cracked me up. I'm going to make a little bet with you that when Shannon gets to that part, she's going to think it's hysterical. I'll let you know.

So anyway - Claire was taken by the British army and met up with William - and I almost had a heart attack. Of course I texted Tracey immediately. (I should really find all of last night's texts and post them as I'm sure they're pretty darned hilarious.) I cannot tell you how this suspense of "when is Jamie going to see William - and more importantly when is William going to see Jamie" - is killing me. I have said since Day 1 of this book that Jamie and William will eventually be on opposite sides of the battle field - and I'm terrified that William is going to reject Jamie when he finds out he's his da. I don't know if he'll be bratty about it "I'm the 7th Earl of Ellesmere!" or just upset or what. And it will kill Jamie if he's mean. And if he utters ONE NEGATIVE WORD about the beard - he's a dead man. I know it will take time for him to accept Jamie. But eventually he will - just like Brianna. I know it.

"A woman takes life with her when she goes. A woman is... infinite possibility".    Died. Right there. Just died.

I LOVED when Jamie was touching Claire's hand and tracing the lines and her "J" scar. And she said "I'd held him in my hand for the best part of my life".

Oh god. I have to stop now. It's all gotten soooo good. I need to read...

Four Greatest Words Ever Spoken:

YOU.
COME HERE.
NOW.

(Jenn M gets credit for this one, lassies.)

The Birth of Our Laird!

Happy Birthday James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser!!!

Take your time about it, aye?