Outlander Series discussion

For those participating in the total RE-read, this thread is meant to avoid spoilers for readers on their first time through. Currently reading DIA through April 30.

Thanks Jacki! This is what I had said on the other thread:

When I started DIA I was still really bummed out that Claire had had to leave Jamie. And for the first few chapters in DIA, I was even more bummed out because it did not appear that her trip to Scotland was going to make anyone happy. And not having read ahead or being familiar with the books, I did not anticipate any good things coming about. I was just about ready to quit reading until she started telling the story. It was all very disconcerting to me for the first several chapters.

And I will add that the "jumping back and forth" in the story line made me a little crazy until I found a rhythm for it.

I was totally deflated when the book started. I thought..."what" how did she get back and why did she go back. My mind took me all kinds of places. I still don't know the answer too. I wondered where the child was born. It seems she was a 20th century kid so that was even more confusing. Then we jumped back to be with Jamie in Scotland so I was relieved, but then I knew she would be leaving soon because she was pregnant at the ends of Outlander and pregnancies only last so long. So how far can we take this discussion? I'm still reading, but I rounded chapter 36 today.

Oh girl it gets so good. Not to worry, right when ya start getting confused about certain story lines DG reveals all. Dia is probably one of my favorites just because the ending is so amazing...but that we will get to at a later time. ;)

I keep hearing that even though this book is a little slow in parts, it's the best ending ever. I can't wait. I stayed up late last night until the book was falling out of my hand ha ha and my husband threatened to run me out of the room if I didn't turn off the light. I have the day off today and I'm going to burn through as much as I can (with a two year old).

I keep hearing that even though this book is a little slow in parts, it's the best ending ever. I can't wait. I stayed up late last night until the book was falling out of my hand ha ha and my husband threatened to run me out of the room if I didn't turn off the light. I have the day off today and I'm going to burn through as much as I can (with a two year old).

Yay, thanks Jacki for starting this thread. To start off, this is my first pass through these books, but I am mid-way through Fiery Cross, so technically, this is my read through. I binged the first four books during the Starz hiatus! So DIA is still pretty fresh in my mind ha ha

I have an idea that may be silly. I am going to put my reading status at the end of my posts in case it is useful to anyone.


Amy
FC - Chapter 15

And I was kind of upset at the start of DIA. I assumed we would get additional Jamie/Claire plot, but didn't really know where DG was taking the series and as I posted in the other thread, was kind of put off with the whole BJR thing, so it took a bit for me to come around.

Is everyone past Part 1? If so, what did you think of the reveal in Chapter 5?

I am going by the wiki to help prevent spoilers and keep me on plot. http://outlander.wikia.com/wiki/Drago...

Amy
FC Chapter 15

Amy I love the status at the end of your post. I'm going to do that also. I think we are ok to talk about part I since the whole book discussion is the 30th, but does anyone else have an objection or suggestion?

Judy DIA chapter 37

I just was noticing how the MOBY discussion was organized on the "home" page here. It might be a way to structure discussion on each book. Well, not exactly structure it, but organize to keep the comments where they should be. I'll leave that up to our fearless landerlovers!

I think structure sounds great. Most of us are finished or nearly finished with the book.

That's a great idea. I know this is a dumb question but who are the moderators? I know Diane is one because she is on here alot. I just wonder what the other mods would think if we made said folders? I think it's a great idea and I'm sure the mods would agree.

No clue

I am a moderator with the group but not specifically with these reread threads. The moderators here are not the ones who introduced or organized the reread threads. It was not even discussed with the moderators prior to opening the thread. In my opinion though the thread is a good place to discuss the books and the thought was in the right place, but it was never organized or maintained well. It does need structure or as we have seen people will get spoilers. Realize that maintaining structure with as many threads as it would take to go through the entire series will be quite an undertaking. Somebody will have to take charge and be responsible for that.

Thanks for the clarification Diane. That makes sense. Amy would you be willing to take charge of this thread? You already proposed a structure, so I thought I would ask. :-)

DIA chapter 42 (almost done!)

I don't mind giving it a shot, I'll take a look at the home page. I would be a newbie about it, so Diane or anyone, if there is any certain way to do things, just let me know.

Amy
FC (still chapt 15, ha)

Maybe my first move will be to add "spoilers" to the thread name since this thread is intended to discuss DIA for those who have either read beyond DIA in their first pass at the series (e.g., me), or are re-reading DIA.

Can I do that, or does Jacki have to?

fyi - I check this site frequently, but may miss a day or two here and there. I work part time and have two bairns of my own, well maybe they're weans technically (2 and 4 yo).

I can see if I can add "spoilers" to the name. I'm sorry I haven't been posting on here, the new comments don't show up on my notifications for some reason! I'll have to play around with this.

I completely agree with creating a structure for this discussion, so Amy or Barbara, if you have ideas for how it should be laid out, feel free to post them!

I'm thinking it might also be a good idea to create a new thread when we get to Voyager, and we can also structure that discussion. I'll start looking around for ideas on how to set it up so it's ready from the start! :)

Amy wrote: "Maybe my first move will be to add "spoilers" to the thread name since this thread is intended to discuss DIA for those who have either read beyond DIA in their first pass at the series (e.g., me),..."

The tread clearly states it doesn't contain spoilers in it's title so anyone coming here already knows that. If those people don't want to see spoilers they could easily avoid them by not coming to this. I don't particularly see the need for structure, or spoilers in every tract. Set up a different track with spoilers rather than changing this one.

This is my suggestion for structure:

1. In the title it should say contains spoilers through the current book- anyone on a reread that wants to include info on a future book and spoiler tag it. Some people have not read the entire series and do not want a spoiler for other books

2. Since it is a group read type of situation I would split the read up to sections (chapters) so people know what to read & discuss by a certain date. This will help people not to discuss the ending before the rest of the group gets there

3. Each book of the total read(reread) through does not need it's own thread as there is already a thread for discussion on each book. There is no need to have two DIA or Voyager threads etc. People are welcome to use those threads - this particular thread is for the people that are participating in this specialized group read.

I hope these suggestions make sense - I just want to avoid 50 threads that are basically repetitive since we already have threads for each book. At the same time I would like to see people enjoying the discussions on this total reread with out feeling frustrated.

The MOBY setup on the home page seems to be organized by sections of the book. That makes sense to me. Just to follow the sections in Voyager as DG laid them out.

Brizo - My quoted comment was before Jacki changed the title of the thread, so we are on the same page.

Diane - Thanks for the suggestions. I agree with most suggestions and appreciate them.

Diane and others

re: Diane's #1 in her last post, correct me if I'm off base all, but this particular thread is for those who actually do wish to discuss (or be free to potentially slip and discuss) events/ideas that occur beyond DIA that pertain to the current reading point in DIA. In that sense, I do not agree with #1. For those who don't wish to have spoilers past DIA, they are able to stick to the 2015 "Group Read" for first timers. which is where some of us started.

Totally not trying to make things complicated, just want to be clear.

Now, back to the juicy book! :)

Our current mission was to take to 4/30 to discuss our re-read of DIA. We have discussed aspects of Parts I and II. That said, let's take a few days to discuss Parts III and IV (finishing off Paris). and then a few more days (+/-) to finish off DIA, it's ok if we go a few days beyond the 30th, since it took some time to set it up.

Discuss aspects of these sections through 4/27:

Part III: Malchance

CHAPTER 18: Rape in Paris
CHAPTER 19: An Oath Is Sworn
CHAPTER 20: La Dame Blanche
CHAPTER 21: Untimely Resurrection

Part IV: Scandale

CHAPTER 22: The Royal Stud
CHAPTER 23: The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men...
CHAPTER 24: The Bois de Boulogne
CHAPTER 25: Raymond the Heretic
CHAPTER 26: Fontainebleau
CHAPTER 27: An Audience with His Majesty
CHAPTER 28: The Coming of the Light
CHAPTER 29: To Grasp the Nettle

Parts III, IV Topic 1: I'm curious to see what everyone else thought about Claire actions trying to keep Frank's existence alive. Too much? Well founded? Futile? i.e., what do people think of changing fate from reading these books?

Amy
FC Chapt 20

Jacki - I think we should clarify the thread name. Agree?
to
Total Group "Re-Read" of Series starting Feb 2015 : **May CONTAIN SPOILERS beyond current book**

Got it
We'll get this all hammered out soon! :)

Amy - thank you for setting up the discussion topics and dates! You've been such a big help. I want to get caught up with reading this week and weekend so I can actually discuss with you girls! I tend to get sidetracked easily because my TBR pile is forever building!

Amy wrote: "Diane and others

re: Diane's #1 in her last post, correct me if I'm off base all, but this particular thread is for those who actually do wish to discuss (or be free to potentially slip and discus..."

I hear what you are saying but there is already a place to discuss DIA with spoilers because it is the DIA topic.(as well as a thread for each book where spoilers are allowed for that book and all that came before) We don't really need 2 DIA topic threads. If this is a place to discuss all of the books as you read them then people should be aware that there will be spoilers up to the book being currently read before they start browsing and unexpectedly get a spoiler. Having a specific place for 1st time readers and re readers solves that.

Hey gang - I've chatted with Diane and Jacki via message, I think we're all on the same page now. This thread will be the spot where we can discuss the total Feb 2015 re-read of the series , not just re-read of DIA, i.e. we'll discuss Voyager,etc re-read in this thread too. We'll update the thread name once more so it's clear.

See message 24 for most recent book discussion topic, and/or add one :)

The name is now "Total SERIES Re-Read....", and as Amy stated, we will also be discussing the rest of the books in this same thread. I look forward to the discussions that we'll be having!

just a comment re: MOBY that was above - we set up that way for when the book was released - the plan is in the next month or so to close all the multiple threads and revert to one general one - since the book has been out about 6 months and most/many of us have read it - it will contain spoilers for the entire series

Thanks to you all for your efforts to clarify and make this something that will work and not mess up things for people who have not gotten so far into the series. I have been a reader of the series since very close to the beginning and waited for each new book. It is very hard to discuss the books and forget what I already know from future books. I never had ambitions to be a moderator, but did try to move things along when they lagged. I will gladly follow the new recommended guidelines to keep things on track and enjoyable for every participant.

Anyone have a response to message 24 topic? Or anything else about Parisian exploits? I will move us to the final part in a couple of days unless I hear people chiming in on the current sections.

I understand this is for those who are rereading the series. Where do I go for reading the series for the first time? I am getting ready to read Outlander.

V wrote: "I understand this is for those who are rereading the series. Where do I go for reading the series for the first time? I am getting ready to read Outlander."

There is a Total read through thread that started in February that you could go to.This is mostly meant for first timers so there is no spoilers for later books. If you are just starting it though you will probably get spoilers for Outlander since they moved on to Dragonfly in Amber at this point. You can also discuss any book in the topic for that book which should contain no spoilers for books coming after. Again I am not sure you would want to go to the Outlander thread until you have finished it unless you do not mind spoilers for Outlander.

Thank you

I looked back at Amy's question in message 24 about Claire's efforts to keep Frank in existence. The concept of one's actions changing time is something that has been the subject of so many books. DG has never gotten into splitting universes and such to cover when someone does change something, but I think the idea here is more like time is a body of water. You can make a ripple, but eventually the current will smooth that out to the future course. Look at Claire's efforts, all that bother and Frank was born in the due course of time. Of course, he never knew the true story of his ancestry, neither did Claire until it happened, but IT was going to happen one way or another.

Another thought on that subject. Claire tried her best, along with Jamie's help, to prevent the uprising, but in many ways their efforts helped forward the cause. This convinces me that Claire was meant to be where she was when she was. If she hadn't gone back in time, would the uprising even gotten off the ground?

That is the whole conundrum of time travel.

Ah, interesting, so not so much as changing the past, but that it was fated for her to travel.

This may sound kind of weird. If you ever watched Star Trek - Deep Space Nine. The creatures in the worm hole saw everything at once. They did not have the same view as linear beings (us). When I heard this, I took it to understand the theory of predestination. God knows what you are going to do, he doesn't stop it, but he knows the outcome so he can tell if you are saved or damned. I know I am mixing up all sorts of things and may freak people out, but this is the way I understand things.

(Politics in the whole time in Paris drove me nuts because it was all based on the theory of divine rule. So all of society was centered on the royal beings, and actions were life and/or death based on how those royal beings "saw" things.)

One's concept(s) of time is much more interesting. Claire definitely saw it as a linear progression, and so was determined to provide for Frank's birth and life. But I was never sure if it was because of her love for him and their marriage, or because she wanted to be sure that she would arrive at the stones at the proper time to come to Jamie. But the woman was committed to protecting his future birth even with the problems it was creating for her life with Jamie.

I have friends in another culture who truly believe and live as though time is circular. Kind of what goes around, comes around. If I don't get "it" this time, I will next time? (Which has nothing to do with anything, except that being late for appointments does not bother them in the least!). I wonder if, in future books (dare we hope!), Master Raymond might show up to enlighten the characters and us, on how we are all connected and how time plays out in our lives.

I actually agree with Arlene and believe that this is why God does not interfere when we wonder why he allows war, crime, sin, and poverty to exist. Predestination seems like a viable idea. Claire, as a scientist, would not be able to accept this and would have to do all she could to ensure Frank's existence. After all, she's met and interacted with BJR and can clearly see that Frank has a past lineage.

My brain is going "wooooo ooooooh" so I'll end this stream of consciousnes and just say "Scot in the millpond! Woo hoo!"

Barbara just summarized what I love about these books and the series. You can go from a discussion of predestination or Divine Adoration to a Scot in the Millpond; just like real life. Mine is a little more boring, (no Millponds near my house) but one can pretend.

Well, I am still not sure about spoilers, but I think this question is early-on Outlander, so I'm hoping my question will be ok. This idea has "worried" me since I first found the series and it seems to fit in with the last few comments above. OK. If the ghost is Jaime (and according to Herself, it is). And he's watching Claire at the window. And the flowers at the stones are forget-me-nots. And he (ghost Jaime) is waiting for Claire. Then are they going to get together over and over and over? And will she not remember each time and Jaime, but he will remember her? I hope I live long enough to read DG's book with the final answer.

I have the same hope - that I live long enough to get through to the end, hard as that might be. Then again maybe we will end up with a Stephen King Dark tower cop out ending. I don' t think DG would do that to us.

I've been away, sorry! Happy Mother's day! I think we should be done DIA. Anyone want to add something about the ending?

Amy
FC chapter 25

Still reading DIA chapter 40. Not quite finished yet :( teaching and reading blah! LOL!

Happy to keep on DIA. Lorinda, picking on you. What is going on in chapter 40 and what do you think about it?

For me, there were too many points of rift added between Jamie and Claire, I was a bit put off. I am looking for some drama, but I thought some reactions and actions just broke them too much.

I have failed at keeping this going. We should be on Voyager. Anyone care to start discussions. I can't even about the most recent TV epidsode......