Chapter 23 - Return to Leoch

As we catch up with the tired couple at the Red Boar, Jamie considers options of where he might go now that he learned from Horrocks that it was indeed Randall who had shot the sergeant-major that he was accused of killing. Being able to prove it, though, was another thing entirely. Should he flee to France? America?

“You’re right,” he agreed, “we could go to France.” I started, having momentarily forgotten that whatever he decided to do, I was now included in the decision...."I might be able to go back to Lallybroch.” His face clouded, and I knew he was thinking of his sister. “For myself,” he said softly, “I wouldna go, but it isn’t only me anymore.” He looked down at me and smiled, his hand gently smoothing my hair. “I forget sometimes, that there’s you now, Sassenach,” he said.

I like how his circle of consideration had widened to now include Claire in his decision-making calculations. Even though she felt awful and traitorous for practically having abandoned him for the run she made trying to get back to Frank.

I felt extraordinarily uncomfortable. I felt like a traitor, in fact. Here he was, making plans that would affect his entire life, taking my comfort and safety into account, when I had been doing my best to abandon him completely, dragging him into substantial danger in the process. I had meant none of it, but the fact remained. Even now, I was thinking that I should try to talk him out of going to France, as that would carry me farther away from my own goal: the stone circle.

I especially like how the Duke of Sandringham has been weaved back in to the story as a potential noble who could potentially provide amnesty for the falsely accused Jaime.

Arriving back at the castle, the weary travelers are immediately met by the inqusitive inhabitants, and a forward Mrs. Fritz.

“Why, what’s the matter wi’ the poor child?” she demanded of Jamie. “Has she had an accident o’ some sort?” “No, it’s only she’s married me,” he said, “though if ye care to call it an accident, ye may.”

I hate it when I get accidentally married. Although, now back in the routines and associations of castle life, Claire's realizations about the stability of her newlywed status take an ominous turn.

We had grown very close in the month of our marriage, but I had felt that closeness crack under the strains of the last few days, and thought it might now shatter completely, back among the practical realities of life at Castle Leoch.

Claire's paranoia at the sight of Laoghaire spirals into a self-inflicted frenzy of emotion directed scattershot at Jamie when he returns to the room. Jamie, not knowing what to make of this odd turn of events, lashes out in anger...and passionate - uh, passion. He reveals he had not just married her for his share of the rents (as it was a paltry sum), yet provides the gift he had meant to give her all along: the wedding ring he had contracted for with Ewan the armorer.

Okay, just want to keep the record straight, they had been riding for two days with hardly a stop to make it back to Castle Leoch, and yet, here they are, arguing, increasing blood pressures, and then...well, increasing blood pressures some more. The sheer wildness of this passion drips with unrestrained emotion at the recent events they had both shared while on the road: the dangers and the adventures combine in one heated strain of loosing of all fleshly restraint.

All I can say at this point is, "Frank, buddy, I'm pretty sure you're screwed."

Chapter 17 - We Meet a Beggar

As we continue to move beyond the wedding, I'm beginning to feel some of the depth of the story that is obvious and necessary (since the story covers monumental ground over the course of the series). Between familial intrigue and clan politics lies the heart of wisdom, and Jamie appears to navigate these waters skillfully, as if he is a master diplomat.

Plover's nest with neatly arranged eggs

I really do enjoy what I am coming to call within my head the "extras" that Diana just plops down in the middle of the ongoing action. The little side-note regarding the behavior of the plovers is one of those "extras". I love learning these little tidbits of natural history, and then she takes that little bit of information, even about how all the "narrow ends of the eggs" should be toward the center of the nest, and turns it into a major back-story piece about Jamie's past and his mom. Amazing.

I did make myself laugh when I ran some of the narrative together that was supposed be separated. This is how I read it:

I thought of telling him that his own touch seared my skin and filled my veins with fire. But I was already alight and glowing like a brand. I closed my eyes and felt the kindling touch move to cheek and temple, ear and neck, and shuddered as his hands dropped to my waist and drew me close. Jamie seemed to have a definite idea where we were going.

Ha, I thought we were headed into another part of the story I would have to "skim", but then I kept reading:

At length he stopped at the foot of a huge rock, some twenty feet high, warty with lumps and jagged cracks. Tansy and eglantine had taken root in the cracks, and waved in precarious yellow flags against the stone. He took my hand and nodded at the rock face before us.

Okay, so the they really were going somewhere else, not just, um, somewhere.

Beggars and merchants carried news from town to town

Then we meet with Hugh Munro as Claire and Jamie are lunching on top of the cleft of rock. What a wonderful post-medieval character: a mute beggar with information; an early version of the internet! Surely this is one of the classic ways information was shared throughout history: travelers would move from town to town, picking up tidbits of news here and there, and disseminating it wherever they would roam, kind of like birds scattering seeds, or weed spores carried on the wind.


Munro's loyalty is captured in the story of his suffering at the hands of the "Musselmans" (the Muslims). Even though he suffered greatly, he is allowed to beg in the various parishes of the countryside due to his torturous experiences in the Middle East. Unfortunately, people of all various religions have been able to justify horrendous practices, all in the name of "truth" or their own version of God.

And then, of course, what would an Outlander chapter be without Jamie and Claire, yet again, getting after it.  Skim, skim, skim. Ladies, I gotta tell ya (once again), from my perspective, these sex interludes do not enhance the story at all. Yes, we know Jamie and Claire are in love. Yes, we know they yearn for each other dearly. Yes, we know I'm a prude. :)

But it's still a good story....

Chapter 15 - Revelations of the Bridal Chamber

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your patience while I have been "off-grid" for the past many days. Although not technologically off-grid, I have been mentally off-grid with a myriad of other life-necessities, a brief yet lingering illness, and other family commitments and responsibilities. It's true: real life trumps virtual life every time.

So...how 'bout them newlyweds?

Really, I have no idea where to go with this chapter. Really. Is it because of the bedroom scene? No, not especially. Actually, I think the whole thing is depicted with a light touch and a gentle sense of humor. Much less graphic than I expected. (Whew). What did surprise me, though, was how much hefty story and plot lines are drawn in to this first time that Claire and Jamie are together.

"Six weeks ago, I had been innocently collecting wildflowers on a Scottish hill to take home to my husband. I was now shut in the room of a rural inn, awaiting a completely different husband, whom I scarcely knew, with firm orders to consummate a forced marriage, at risk of my life and liberty." 

How, indeed. Obviously, this is a rough summary of the book up to this point. This plot device is the pivot on which the whole book (and series, I suppose) turns. I like how the narration carries these logical suppositions and many times mirrors my own thoughts as I read the story. I suppose this is one of the reasons Diana is such a popular writer, to which her extremely dedicated and loyal fan base (that's you) readily attests.

The early embarrassment between them is palpable and is only broken by Claire's offer to have him sit down next to her. As he sits down instead on a stool across from her, he takes her hands in his and she notices how his hands are hairier than Franks. I kind of snickered at the insertion of the Old Testament passage about Jacob and Esau; not because it was entirely inappropriate (I mean, things pop into our minds from all sorts of triggers), but it made me think of the rest of that Bible story. When Jacob "stole" Esau's birthright, it turns out he tried to fool his dim-sighted father Isaac by wearing goat-skins over the backs of his hands to mimick Esau's hairiness. Goat skins. Umm, have you ever felt a goat at a petting zoo or farm? Esau had to be one hairy dude! Anyway, this is the image that popped into my mind when Claire made the reference: Jamie with goat-like hair on his hands and arms. Kinda ruined the moment, so to speak.

As if to tag on to that humorous image, then Jamie compares the unknown act to what animals on the farm do, and if that's the case it shouldn't take very long! From that perspective, I'm sure it would be true. His humorous imaginings were entertaining. I mean, if that's all you know or have seen, why would that not be the case?

Also, as if to make my earlier point about Claire not seeming to think much about Frank, even Jamie agrees with me! Jamie!

“Well, I knew ye must be thinking of him. Ye could hardly not, under the circumstances. I do not want ye ever to feel as though ye canna talk of him to me. Even though I’m your husband now—that feels verra strange to say—it isna right that ye should forget him, or even try to. If ye loved him, he must ha’ been a good man.” 

(Okay, I'm not really making that point, but he certainly does impress upon her the need for her to honor Frank's memory).

I think it is interesting too, that when Jamie offers to get Claire a real ring, she kind of brushes the thought away by consoling herself with ongoing thoughts about leaving this time and circumstance, including Jamie. Would her thoughts be changed after this chapter, or events yet to come? She still has a main objective through this onslaught of unusual events that has happened to her. If she ever does make it back to Frank, how complicated would that relationship now be?

I do like the little "private vow" they take to always make sure they never lie to each other.

 "...I’ll ask nothing of ye that ye canna give me. But what I would ask of ye—when you do tell me something, let it be the truth. And I’ll promise ye the same. We have nothing now between us, save—respect, perhaps. And I think that respect has maybe room for secrets, but not for lies. Do ye agree?” He spread his hands out, palms up, inviting me. I could see the dark line of the blood vow across his wrist. I placed my own hands lightly on his palms.
“Yes, I agree. I’ll give you honesty.” His fingers closed lightly about mine.

My wife and I have this same value (without the blood vow, though), and have made it the key value our kids have had to deal with as they've grown up. Once lies and deceit enter in, trust goes out the window; no healthy relationships can survive without trust. However, I did have to pause a moment as Jamie draws a distinction between not telling lies, yet leaving room for private secrets. Isn't a private secret kind of like a lie? After thinking about this for a bit, I concluded that as long as what is secret is not a violation of the person's revealed character (like, if Jamie turned out to secretly be an ax-murdering serial killer or something), then I suppose it would not violate the honesty rule. But I still think that is a very slippery slope that requires much mature thought and consideration.

“You are safe,” he said firmly. “You have my name and my family, my clan, and if necessary, the protection of my body as well. The man [Randall] willna lay hands on ye again, while I live.” 

Jamie's awkward Senior Class photo
and trophy for being most gallant guy, ever.

As Jamie pledges to protect her, even with his own body, Claire is reminded of infantrymen that she had encountered in field hospitals. I thought this was a great comparison for her character to draw seeing that Jamie is younger than she is, and has certainly seen his share of violence. This is a noble and gallant young man, indeed. Maybe a little too perfect. I'll have to keep my eye on him; he's raising the bar for men everywhere. Dangit.

Then, Claire makes the mistake of asking Jamie about his family. Whoa. Clan heritage is certainly an ongoing source of pride for Scots, even to this day. My wife showed me how there is a family tree in MOBY to help everyone keep things straight.

Okay, now I'm not sure if this is a guy thing or if it's just me, so I'll just throw it out there: while I understand that exponential characters are necessary in an epic of this size and scope, it's one of my least favorite parts of fiction reading. I don't like having to keep multitudes of characters and relationships in check every time new ones are brought in.

For example, since I am a fan of the science fiction series Dune by Frank Herbert, I struggled with that same factor in his universe. To top it off, his characters are spread out over several centuries and planets and have unusual alien names that are difficult to figure out how to pronounce, even mentally pronounce, if you know what I mean (although some of these Scottish names seem practically alien to a Northwestern 'Merican like me). Understandably, in sagas of this breadth, it is necessary to introduce additional characters as new adventures continue, but, for me, I dislike having to flip back and forth between chapters (or books) trying to remember who's who and keep everyone straight. Perhaps I just need to pay closer atten-squirrel! 

Little-known fact that Jamie is actually related to US President Barack Obama!

Of course, in this plot-rich section, we learn that Jamie still has rights to his father's estate at Broch Tuarach, or Lallybroch, even though he can't return because of the price on his head. After his tour of duty in the French army he returns to Scotland with a band of "broken men". Here again, the getting-hit-in-the-head-with-an-ax story resurfaces raising more questions for me, with further hints of foreshadowing, I'm sure.

His stay at the Abbey Ste. Anne de Beaupré certainly helps to explain Jamie's grasp of scripture. But France? That sure seems like a long and difficult way to transport someone who is injured so badly, especially in that day. How were they so successful at avoiding the English patrols with someone so badly wounded? They surely could not have made time very well, and with an invalid suffering a practically fatal head wound? Hmm.

Okay, well, moving from the unlikely to the...(ahem) inevitable, on we go to the um, other parts of this chapter.

Skim, skim, skim, - yes, it's funny how he is surprised that it's face to face.

Skim, skim, skim - "Haven't you seen a naked woman before?" "Aye, but not one so close...And not one that's mine."

Skim, skim, skim - "Hey lass! Ye’re still able t’ walk! Isn’t Jamie doin’ his duty by ye, then?"

Skim, skim, skim - what, three times!?

Skim, skim, skim - "“Oh, so there’s something you don’t know? Well, we’ll find out then, won’t we? As soon as I’ve the strength for it...Next week, sometime.”

Whew, made it! And it only took a few squinty-eyed pages and half a bottle of wine!

Okay, all kidding aside, the consummation of their marriage is dealt with in a lightly humorous, but meaningful way. Yes, Jamie is a gallant young man; yes, they are being drawn together by their mutually constricting circumstances; yes, there remain many questions from new information about family, property rights, and unknown dangers. But isn't this all just like...life? We all wonder about the unknown from the comfort of the known, and yet, in a true adventure, there is little that's familiar, which is why we cling tightly to that which we do know for sure. That's what makes it an adventure! Claire only knows that Jamie has been the one constant beacon of integrity and hope in a whirlwind of unusual circumstances and persons. These two characters are simply drawn together in the throes of an adventure with (to them, and me) unknown outcomes.

The logic of her circumstances catches up with Claire in the middle of the night...

I woke in the hours before dawn, shivering and rigid with terror. I could not recall the dream that woke me, but the abrupt plunge into reality was equally frightening. It had been possible to forget my situation for a time the night before, lost in the pleasures of newfound intimacy. Now I was alone, next to a sleeping stranger with whom my life was inextricably linked, adrift in a place filled with unseen threat.

Another masterfully-crafted vivid passage that clearly describes Claire's sobered perspective. But what better way could Jamie reassure her, than to comfort her with what's familiar: “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered into my hair. “There’s the two of us now.”

But among all of my other questions, one burning one remains: don't they realize that summer romances never last?  :)

Chapter 5 - The MacKenzie

This chapter is a great insight into some of the customs of the clan leader.  To be sure, life in a castle had to be a hard life, compared to today's standards. Claire finds this out in the opening scene.

"I was warm, and the surrounding room was piercingly cold. I tried to burrow back into my cocoon of quilts, but the voice that had wakened me was still nagging."

I once read that four-poster beds originated with the goal of keeping the occupants warm inside the curtains, since the rooms were not heated. Kind of like camping in a tent, and then you find out it's 30 degrees colder outside once you unzip the flap. The four-poster also kept illness inside the curtains (it was thought), not spread around.

While this chapter is brief, obviously introducing us to Colum MacKenzie has great foreshadowing. What is the leather pouch that is seen in his attendant's hand before Colum excuses himself and leaves the room? Interesting...

Actually, as appears to be the case with my brief experience in this novel, I am greatly drawn to the scenes surrounding the action and the characters. My favorite excerpt from this short chapter is actually picturing Claire as she is inspecting the volumes on the shelves:

"There were perhaps two dozen books on this shelf; more on the opposite wall. Hurriedly I flipped the opening pages of each volume. Several had no publication dates; those that did were all dated from 1720-1742. Colum MacKenzie obviously liked luxury, but the rest of his room gave no particular indication that he was an antiquarian. The bindings were new, with no sign of cracking or foxed pages within."

*Gasp* Okay, for all of you who say you like reading the sex scenes in the series, all I have to say is that for me, as an avid researcher of old texts, this is better than any sex scene. This is...like...like porn for history buffs.

"No sooner had the door swung shut behind him than I was at the bookshelf, running my hand along the leather bindings."

Yeah, Claire, that's it, baby. Run your hand along those leather bindings...

Seriously, can you imagine looking through these old 18th-century texts in mint freakin' condition, and recognize them for the luxuries that they would have been in that day and age? I would have loved to inspect every one. Rudely, then, the narration pulls Claire away from the books over to the desk; obviously she is wanting to find out what date/period she is experiencing in this castle since falling through the stones...but who cares about that; I want her to go back to reopen those volumes so I can find out what is in those books! Aaaaaaghh! Go back to the books, Claire, go back to the books! 

Dangit.

After re-reading this post so far, I'm pretty sure for all of you Gabaldonian purists out there that I have just blown your mind.

As I pictured those volumes, though, I was reminded of a recent old text that I stumbled across online that anyone interested could review for themselves at Internet Archive, if they were so inclined by clicking here. It was actually a primer from a similar time period (originally mid-1600's) that just fascinates me to no end. It was designed as a grade-school primer in scientific theory with illustrations, English descriptions on the left and Latin equivalents on the right. Here is a page below of Johannes Comenius' Orbis Pictus (The World in Pictures).

Johannes Comenis Orbis Pictus, ca. 1727, scant years from Claire's adventure at the castle.

Interesting how it says "A wind underground causeth an earthquake." Now we know. (I know, I know, it's geeky and eclectic, but this is the kind of stuff that I love to peruse).

Dangit, Claire, go back to those books...

Chapter 2 - Standing Stones

Well, if nothing else, I must say the pace of the story is moving right along. I would have thought we would have had more back story to wade through before getting to Claire's experience at the stones.

Favorite quote:

"Life among academics had taught me that a well-expressed opinion is usually better than a badly expressed fact, as far as professional advancement goes." - Claire

No doubt Diana is writing this from her long association with academia. I would definitely agree (not that I have had a long association with academia), but I have also found that simply stating something with confidence goes a lot farther to convince others than those who can quote fact after fact yet with an unconvincing lack of passion.

Favorite scene:
I was mildly amused at Claire's lack of interest in the discussion between Frank and Reverend Wakefield discovering all of the history surrounding Black Jack Randall. I certainly would have been eager to join in their discussion. I was a little sad when Claire left the room to have tea with Mrs. Graham...

Additional comments:
While obviously the Druidic elements are critical to the story, I'm finding it difficult to connect there. Before you start throwing stones, I get it; it's cultural and very historically accurate, yes. I'm just not sure if it's a guy thing or if it's just me, but the tea leaves and palm reading stuff (yes, I understand it's important foreshadowing in the story), just makes me kind of, well, roll my eyes. Let me hasten to add: I AM NOT DISLIKING THE STORY, I am merely trying to be honest in my perspective on the book. If my wife knows anything about me, it's that if you ask my opinion you're usually going to get it. :)

Ok, from what my wife told me about the series, Frank and Claire's "roll in the hay" (or in this case, "cow parsley") leaves me wondering how many episodes of this I will have to endure in the rest of the book. Yes, I'm sure most guys would be, like, "My wife knows that I'm reading this book, and they have excerpts from Penthouse letters in here? Dude, I am stoked!" But, seriously, is it really necessary to have the lovemaking scenes described in such detail? For me, and this is obviously just me, it totally distracts me from the story itself. Yes, I know Frank and Claire are married, but that doesn't mean I want to peek in on their bedroom while they're, y'know...right? Let's let them have their moment, and understand they've had their moment, while not experiencing their moment with them. Kinda creeps me out. K?