Too Long (spoilers)

[Jack]

(Please don't kill me for this post... I really liked most of the series
and the last 400 pages or so of this latest book.)

But the book is much too long and nothing much happens in the first 600
pages or so. (Yes, there are touching moments and interesting dialogue but
nothing much is happening. I sometimes felt like I was reading a profound
person's diary.)

I don't know why but this often happens in a series. The later books
become way too descriptive and the action lags. The first few books in
this series were incredible but the series started to lag in "Fiery Cross"
and continued to do so in this latest book.

I realize that some people like lots of description but I personally like
the exposition to finish as quickly as reasonably possible and move on to
the complication.

The 2nd epilogue was also confusing to me. Were they explaining the
printer's error, or were they saying that there was more danger to come?

Finally, I found the ending really sad. I realize that not all books have
to have a happy ending but the separation of Jamie and Claire from their
family really "sucks!"

I also don't understand how Jamie can think he can return to Scotland.
Having participated in a battle against the Crown, wouldn't he be
considered a traitor and arrested the moment he set foot on British soil?

- Jack

[Patrick Strauss]

Post by Jack
I also don't understand how Jamie can think he can return to Scotland.
Having participated in a battle against the Crown, wouldn't he be
considered a traitor and arrested the moment he set foot on British soil?

Jeah - if they find him.
But generally speaking you're right - the book was a bit laggy for me 2.
Pat

[ALIDA SPRY]

Post by Jack
(Please don't kill me for this post... I really liked most of the series
and the last 400 pages or so of this latest book.)

Jack,

We won't kill you! Maybe severely maim and torture but no killing here.
Just kidding! You're certainly entitled to your opinion. I felt that DoA
and FC were the ones that dragged on for me. ABoSaA was a nice pace
although it did pick up a lot towards the end, I'll grant you that.

The 2nd epilogue was just an explanation of how easily things get messed in
the newspaper. Not only did Jamie and Claire survive the fire but the
newspaper then reported it happened in January even though it was in
December. That's why Claire said something to the effect, "They never get
anything right."

The ending was sad but you had to see that Brianna and Roger couldn't stay
in the past forever. They just don't fit there as well as Claire does. I
found the ending very suspenseful. I can't wait to find out what was in the
box for Jemmy!

As for Jamie returning to Scotland, well, I don't know the logistics of how
it will work out but I do know Diana wrote in the Outlandish Companion that
the series will end around 1800 in Scotland so I suspect that something will
transpire that will prevent Jamie and Claire from returning to the Colonies.
In one excerpt Claire is in London while Jamie is off doing something (I
forget what at the moment) and he has written her a letter. There was also
a scene when they are reunited and another where Jamie finally tells Willie
that he is his father.

I am reading FC right now and plan on re-reading ABoSaA after that. I'm
sure I'll focus more on the details on the second time through.

Happy Holidays!

Alida

[CarrieAnn]

If you have read Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati, you will read the
part about the white witch, (Clair) a doctor, and her husband a big
red-haired Scott wounded in the battle at Freeman's Farm, in the Battle
of Saratoga in upstate New York in September 1777. Diana gave Sara
Donati permission to use Clair and Jamie in her story.

If Diana holds true to Sara Donati's story, then they will be in the
colonies at that time.

Post by ALIDA SPRY

Post by Jack
(Please don't kill me for this post... I really liked most of the series
and the last 400 pages or so of this latest book.)

Jack,
We won't kill you! Maybe severely maim and torture but no killing here.
Just kidding! You're certainly entitled to your opinion. I felt that DoA
and FC were the ones that dragged on for me. ABoSaA was a nice pace
although it did pick up a lot towards the end, I'll grant you that.
The 2nd epilogue was just an explanation of how easily things get messed in
the newspaper. Not only did Jamie and Claire survive the fire but the
newspaper then reported it happened in January even though it was in
December. That's why Claire said something to the effect, "They never get
anything right."
The ending was sad but you had to see that Brianna and Roger couldn't stay
in the past forever. They just don't fit there as well as Claire does. I
found the ending very suspenseful. I can't wait to find out what was in the
box for Jemmy!
As for Jamie returning to Scotland, well, I don't know the logistics of how
it will work out but I do know Diana wrote in the Outlandish Companion that
the series will end around 1800 in Scotland so I suspect that something will
transpire that will prevent Jamie and Claire from returning to the Colonies.
In one excerpt Claire is in London while Jamie is off doing something (I
forget what at the moment) and he has written her a letter. There was also
a scene when they are reunited and another where Jamie finally tells Willie
that he is his father.
I am reading FC right now and plan on re-reading ABoSaA after that. I'm
sure I'll focus more on the details on the second time through.
Happy Holidays!
Alida

[MarukaT]

I thought it dragged, too, although I still enjoyed it. I agree with
you that the story started to move slower in FC and I think you're
right about the series issue. Perhaps the character immersion gets so
strong as she goes on that it's difficult to leave out those detailed
descriptions because everything becomes so "real." DG could probably
do their lives day by day at this point....

My BF thought ABOSAA definitively stamped the series as chick lit. I'd
previously not thought of the books that way (more as historical
thrillers that defy conventional genres) but he was put off by the
dominance of feminine detail (which I think was always present, but not
dominant in earlier books).

All this not withstanding, I'm sure I'll re-read it.

[KelliHope]

I agree about the dragging! I got into Claire's kidnapping, but the
rest was very slow til the last few hundred pages. It took me forever
to read! The end was sweet, but. . .well, seemed almost cheesey. . .
how did the box (with Jemmy's name on it) just hppen to end up at the
reverend's house? How was it untouched for all those years? And are
Jamie & Claire really going back to Scotland? What about the ridge? Is
there one more book for sure? Noone I know has finished it yet, so I'm
going crazy with noone to talk to!

[ALIDA SPRY]

Post by KelliHope
I agree about the dragging! I got into Claire's kidnapping, but the
rest was very slow til the last few hundred pages. It took me forever
to read! The end was sweet, but. . .well, seemed almost cheesey. . .
how did the box (with Jemmy's name on it) just hppen to end up at the
reverend's house? How was it untouched for all those years? And are
Jamie & Claire really going back to Scotland? What about the ridge? Is
there one more book for sure? Noone I know has finished it yet, so I'm
going crazy with noone to talk to!

There is at least one more book but possibly two according to Diana at one
of her appearances on her book tour. Yes, they are going back to Scotland.
If you read Diana's website, there are some excerpts from scenes in the next
book(s).

I don't think that this book dragged anywhere near as much as DoA or FC.
The ending wasn't cheesey, it was meant to make you think about all the
complications and implications of time travel. Were Claire, Brianna and
Roger destined to go to the past and then return? Was the box there all
along or would it have disappeared if they had not gone to the past or had
not returned? Can things in the past be changed or not? Maybe we'll get
answers to those questions before the series is ended.

Alida

[Ally McG]

I finished the new book in 2 days of intense post-Xmas reading to find
out what was going to happen and how they were going to get around that
fire. I really enjoyed the whole thing but I understand with what you
say, Jack, about the dragging. I didn't find it that way myself but
when I tried to explain what was happening in the book to my husband
(who bought me the book for Xmas and who stood in line with me for an
hour to meet Ms Galbaldon this past summer), it sure didn't sound like
an exciting book... it was more like a "diary" as someone else noted
here.

All in all, I enjoyed it!!

As for the box...why not? Claire can't send her daughter mail. - but
she does know where they will be in the 1970's! Why not leave letters
in a safety deposit box in a bank that will exist 200 years hence? With
the right instructions, it just might reach the recipient! I think it
was a totally unique solution for a mother to still have contact with
her daughter, knowing that Brianna would worry about what would happen
to her parents.

[Colleen Lill]

When I read this part in the book about the box, I immediately remembered a
scene from one of the "Back to the future" movies. I think it was the one
where Michael J Fox's character goes back to the western days and before he
goes back, he's standing on a dark road just after the professor had
disappeared and a car pulls up and a guy gets out and asks his name, then
hands him a letter. He said that he was from Western Union (or something
like that) and that they had been holding onto the letter for decades, as
per instructions from the sender. Turns out the sender was the professor
and he had sent Michael's character the telegram/letter, with instructions
for the time, date and location of where to deliver the letter.

I think it's highly likely that Jamie and Claire left the box somewhere
where it could be found and delivered to them at the right time. I cried
when Brianna started to read the first part of the letter - so unexpected!
Can you imagine how Brianna must have felt when she read the first words of
the letter?


Colleen

Post by Ally McG
As for the box...why not? Claire can't send her daughter mail. - but
she does know where they will be in the 1970's! Why not leave letters
in a safety deposit box in a bank that will exist 200 years hence? With
the right instructions, it just might reach the recipient! I think it
was a totally unique solution for a mother to still have contact with
her daughter, knowing that Brianna would worry about what would happen
to her parents.

[Julia]

How spooky!! I was thinking of that scene in "Back to the future" too
after I read the part about the box in ABOSAA , (I even watched "Back to
the future 2" the other day. I dearly Love Dianas books and am starting
a re-read of "Outlander" Because I just can't pick up anything
"non-Gabaldeon" at the moment and dreading the long wait for her next
book. I had a back injury and off work so
I have plenty of reading time ;)
I too thought the book dragged a bit, I wanted more Jamie and Claire
scenes but with all the kidnapping going on and all we didn't get too
much of them together. I think the poor things are exhausted I wanted to
see more homey normal scenes without anyone getting murdered, shot at,
amputated etc. what this couple needs is a vacation!!
One thing that has got me wondering is (maybe I just didn't understand
it correctly, going to have to re-read ABOSAA) Brianna's oven, and was
it piping she was making?? did she succeed in her experiment which I was
assuming was piping hot water for a shower or bathing mechanism, did it
work or not ??
what do you think??
Happy new year!!

Julia

[k***@yahoo.com]

Jack
I just started this group and Iam glad Iam not the only one to feel
this way, this last one well I call it filler paper.what a
disapointment ,and the Fiery Cross liked to of killed me never have I
had to forse myself to get throu a book but told myself I had to for
the sake of the next book and for my loyalty to her as a great fan .can
only hope the next book will make all of it worth it.Agreed to much
information,I dont need to no what head lice looks like it was enuff to
no thay had it. filler paper. kelly

[a***@gmail.com]

Well I think calling the book "filler paper" is a bit of a harsh
judgement. I had an easier time reading the book than I did your one
paragraph, my goodness! It's about the LIFE of Claire and Jamie. If you
want action without the detail, you should consider another author.

From the very beginning her works have not been short, they have been

detailed and lavish, and I love it personally. But to call the entire
work filler paper in bad english? Too harsh. Try Nancy Drew, you might
like that better. Less filler.