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Post by cissy on Apr 30, 2006 18:52:35 GMT -5
Well, most everyone seems to think this is a good idea, so let's try it! Welcome to the Official ARAS Book Club Thread, where we can discuss our current Book Selection. If you are an ARAS member, and have access to the selected book (and have read it!), feel free to discuss. No additional forms to sign, no cards to return...it's entirely free (I'm being silly, I know) Anyway, on to our first Book Selection: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (published as Cross Stitch in the UK) Is reading the first two chapters (50 pages) by May 13 too much? If it is, let me know, and we'll change it to just the first chapter. Happy Reading!
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Post by giggin on Apr 30, 2006 21:28:15 GMT -5
Yeah...my first book club ;D! Two chapters by May 13th sounds great to me! I like having deadlines, because it makes me less lazy ! Notice I didn't say it stops me from being lazy ? I can't wait to start the Outlander, chapter 1 and 2 discussion !
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Post by hermione13snape on May 1, 2006 7:41:50 GMT -5
I thought my mother had the book but she hasn't so it looks like I'll have to buy a copy very soon.
Why do Americans change titles of books? I have got it. Just noticed Cissy's full comment.
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Post by R.L. on May 1, 2006 12:23:05 GMT -5
I am going to see if I can find it at the library this weekend - hopefully they will have it. Besides, it will give me a good excuse to go, since it is a brand new library and see what's there!
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Post by amirab on May 1, 2006 15:30:15 GMT -5
Okay, I may join. I really want to but I am going to have a bunch of projects in science in the next few weeks. If I can do this, I will tell you all, and find the book.
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Post by billywiggy on May 3, 2006 16:32:51 GMT -5
Yeah! The Book Club Thread!!! ;D I'm almost finished with this one . . . but I can't wait to discuss it!!
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Post by hermione13snape on May 13, 2006 7:13:34 GMT -5
I finished the first two chapters last week! I am a pretty fast reader!
I LOVED IT!
What can I say! I thought the atmosphere was brilliant and some of the little nuances of what the characters were doing was superb, I like little details like the one where the heroine says she put her elbow on the cushions.
But my favourite part was the conversation they were having with a respectable old man about the evolution of profanities. I love the English language and the development of it and that was really good, even though I don't swear that much myself I liked that.
Oh and she didn't waste time with the sauciness did she?
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Post by amirab on May 13, 2006 20:51:27 GMT -5
I got the book, but have not been able to read it. My science teacher loaded a load of homework and projects on the class. Hopefully I could be able to start reading it during the week.
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Post by cissy on May 13, 2006 22:52:41 GMT -5
Okey dokey, first two chapters read, so what do y'all think? Claire's a pretty spunky gal--I'm like you hermione13snape, that conversation on profanity made me laugh so very hard. Just wait--it is going to get MUCH better!! Although later on, sometimes I very much want to strangle Claire, for she is a headstrong, outspoken sort of person, and this causes much trouble. (which I don't think is giving too much away )
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Post by olwen on May 14, 2006 10:00:33 GMT -5
I am Loving Outlander! I'm over 200 pages so far because I was home sick this week and as far as I'm concerned Jamie is the man!
I'll confine my comments to the first 50 pages, though. Diana G has a beautiful flow of language that makes the story unfold naturally and gracefully. Her descriptions of the cottage, the foliage, everything made the story real to me.
I like Claire's character, even her outspokenness. A wartime nurse probably has seen enough to be done with mincing words so it suits her character wonderfully.
Her husband Frank seems like a good man, but a little reserved. I'm almost tempted to say "cold fish", but perhaps that's not fair - there has to be a marked contrast between Frank and Jamie.
The scenes at the henge with the village women were brilliant. I wonder if such things actuallly go on (not the New Age druid Stonehenge stuff, but true ancient customs that have never died out. It's an interesting thought)
And Jamie, what can I say? I loved him immediately, he's so vibrant. But I must confess, I have always had a special weakness for Scotsmen.
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Post by giggin on May 14, 2006 17:16:56 GMT -5
I'm loving this book... ! The part I loved the best was about the ghost. That was really cool! *Shiver me timbers* I can't wait to find out what that was all about ! I also enjoyed the whole scene at stonehenge very much. I love the fact that I can picture it in my head, because I've been there before, and I have pictures of the stones ;D! So neat! So, do we have a time line for the next chapter?
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Post by cissy on May 14, 2006 21:47:49 GMT -5
Next chapter due Saturday, May 20...get to reading! It is just getting quite interesting beginning in Chapter 3...trust me, you'll see!
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Post by billywiggy on May 15, 2006 0:46:14 GMT -5
Diana G has a beautiful flow of language that makes the story unfold naturally and gracefully. Her descriptions of the cottage, the foliage, everything made the story real to me. I couldn't agree more! Her use of language is exquisitely rich and real, but yet not loaded down with too much detail; she uses just enough to place the images straight into your mind. I was hooked after the first few pages! But I must confess, I have always had a special weakness for Scotsmen. ;D If I wasn't before, I certainly am now! Between this book and watching 'Long Way Round' with Ewan McGregor . . . let's just say I want to go to Scotland now. And I'm with you, Giggin - I can't wait to see what's up with that ghost!
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Post by desraelda on May 19, 2006 16:26:26 GMT -5
And I'm with you, Giggin - I can't wait to see what's up with that ghost! Can't believe I nearly missed this thread. I just read the whole series again recently, but I have Outlander beside me now. I can't recall it chapter-by-chapter. Sorry guys, nothing up with the ghost. It's Jamie, of course, but the ghost doesn't connect with any other part of the book. Ch 3 wherein we meet many of the main characters. I've always had a soft spot for Murtagh. Later on he says to Claire something like ... then we'll be buried one on either side of him (Jamie). Dougal's a pretty tough character, too. Poor Claire. It had to really confuse her when she saw Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall looking so much like Frank.
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Post by olwen on May 19, 2006 17:15:27 GMT -5
Sorry guys, nothing up with the ghost. It's Jamie, of course, but the ghost doesn't connect with any other part of the book. Ch 3 wherein we meet many of the main characters. I've always had a soft spot for Murtagh. Later on he says to Claire something like ... then we'll be buried one on either side of him (Jamie). Dougal's a pretty tough character, too. Poor Claire. It had to really confuse her when she saw Jonathan Randall looking so much like Frank. Jamie can come haunt me anytime ;D And what a detestable piece of work Jack Randall is. I love the small but well-thought out details in these opening chapters: the men scandalized that Claire is in her "chemise", using whiskey as a disinfectant and Claire's dawning realization that things are not what they seem to be. Brilliant!
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Post by desraelda on May 19, 2006 18:40:06 GMT -5
^^Ah, yes, Jamie. I had a hard time getting my daughter to read this book ... or any book for that matter. She called me at work one day and said ... Ma, why didn't you make me read this book sooner. I said ... are you in love with Jamie yet? Outlander is the book that started her love of reading.
In the latest installment, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, Jamie is 54 and Claire is 60. But they're still going strong.
The thing about Chapter 3 is the way Claire comes to realize where she is. At first she's finding every other reason for the redcoats and kilts. Even when she's taken to the cottage by Murtagh, she's rationalizing the whole thing. It's finally Jamie's wounds and the lack of lights where Inverness should be that start to convince her. Can you imagine being in that sort of situation? I think her training as a wartime nurse helped her over the shock. Myself, I'd be dead from it.
DG said that when she was writing the book, Claire wasn't supposed to be from the 20th Century, but she just kept talking that way and DG couldn't stop her. So she finally had to give in to the time-travel. And aren't we glad she did?
And BTW, just so you don't get confused as you read the rest of the series, Outlander was first published in the US and the opening of the book was in 1945. When it was later published in the UK, two things happened. The UK publishers changed the name to Cross Stitch and 1945 became 1946. The reason for that is that the conditions DG described in Scotland were closer to those condition in 1946, not 1945. This causes a problem with the dates in Dragonfly in Amber and later on. The US publishers (understandably) refused to change 1945 to 1946 because the book had already been out for some time.
Hope I'm being helpful. I've been an Outlander fan for a long time. I read it when it first came out in paperback in the early 90's and occasionally dip into DG's website.
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Post by hermione13snape on May 20, 2006 11:42:04 GMT -5
I loved the third chapter... I don't know I imagined Jason Isaacs as Jack Randall so you know that compensated the rudeness he had I felt.
Jamie though - my one and only love was called that and so reading him bought back some memories and it gave me some little pains in my heart - he was cute!!!!!!! And a little younger than me as well. But yeah he's nice and I loved the line at the end about getting her of his chest!
Des - Please don't spoil the series for me, I haven't read them before. I am only on the third chapter.
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Post by desraelda on May 20, 2006 13:53:05 GMT -5
Des - Please don't spoil the series for me, I haven't read them before. I am only on the third chapter. You're not the only one who said something to me so apologies all around. I'll just lurk and enjoy everyone's discoveries. No hard feelings.
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Post by giggin on May 20, 2006 18:28:03 GMT -5
I'll just lurk and enjoy everyone's discoveries. No hard feelings. No, no...we can't have that Des. We must have all Outlander experts in the book club posting, especially if we have questions about certain parts along the way ;D! It's great to know that the book just keeps getting better and better! I am starting to live with the book now...it goes where ever I go . LOL...I don't know about anyone else, but Jaime, in my mind, has become Alan *oh geeze...I'm pathetic*! Chapter three was so awesome ! I am sooooo hooked!
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Post by desraelda on May 22, 2006 21:59:01 GMT -5
No, no...we can't have that Des. We must have all Outlander experts in the book club posting, especially if we have questions about certain parts along the way ;D! It's great to know that the book just keeps getting better and better! I am starting to live with the book now...it goes where ever I go . I wouldn't desert you guys. I'm here. If you have a question, ask. I'm just really enjoying more people loving this book. Much as I love Alan, I just can't see him as Jamie (although I wouldn't mind seeing him in a kilt). But, the book I'm currently reading is about a very distinguished man, about Alan's age, who loses his wife. In all the crying scenes, I see him as Alex in Snow Cake and that absolutely moving scene in the pink sweatshirt. Can I be pathetic with you? "Aye, if ye'll take the lassie off my chest and fetch me a clean shirt." Jamie is just so
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