Chapter 3 - The Man in the Wood

Okay, now we're cookin' with gas. Once this chapter is off and running, it just keeps going. From meeting new 18th century characters, to field dressing war wounds, to skirmishes, this chapter never slows pace.

Favorite quote:

"'I can handle a single redcoat wi' one hand -- maybe even two of them,' he said, a bit boastfully, 'but not three.'" - Jamie

I like how this shows that even Jamie understands his own limits. While he may not be humble, he is at least a realist.

Favorite scene:
As much as you might think my favorite scene might be Claire popping Jamie's shoulder back into place, or the skirmish with the English at Cocknammon Rock, I am actually amazed at how strikingly descriptive the portrayal is of the night scenery. The way the starlight (with no city lights to drown it out) colors and highlights all of the characters; how the half moon causes shadows to appear deceptively 3D as Claire tries to walk the road towards what she thinks is Inverness. I know I've experienced that same sensation myself walking down our long gravel driveway toward home at night where I grew up. In my opinion, this is the type of imagery that provides the liquid backdrop for the characters to perform in.

A sideways reference to St. Paul's stance on the silence of women demonstrates how Claire is a modern woman, not limited by the constraints of old dogmatism. When the men are shocked at her profanity, one of the men states how her husband should "tan her" for her swearing. Not only does she tell him "You can mind your own business," but she adds, "and so can St. Paul." This passage from 1 Cor. 14:34 is almost always quoted out of context, and this unnamed ruffian, as would be expected, follows suit. However, the point is well made, that Claire knows her mind and is not afraid to speak it. I know it's still early, but if I'm reading Claire right, in general I think I would tend to agree with her that pragmatism far outweighs a rigid and sterile orthodoxy based only on customs and traditions.

I'm still amazed at how quickly characters are being introduced, establishing the storyline early on. With this basic outline, it appears that Claire and Jamie are off on their first adventure. (Oh, wait...I guess it would be their second adventure, since they just had one...)