Chapter 7 - Davie Beaton's Closet

Since this whole adventure is just one big science experiment, I decided on this chapter to experiment with not only reading the chapter, but listening to it while reading it. I must say, Davina Porter's performance on the audio version is really stunning to me. Hearing the accents and pronunciation of obscure (to me) Scottish names, places and things increased not only my comprehension of the story (since I wasn't trying to figure out how things should be pronounced), but I'm finding my appreciation of the story increased as well.

One of the things I am really enjoying about the story is how Diana doesn't always explain what a term is, and leaves us to find out from context clues what it is. Things like "breeks" for britches; "kiss the iron" for (what I think relates to) honoring the pope (or converting to Catholicism); "theriac" for poison antidote. These little "treasure hunts" are the types of things that appeal to me, where the meaning is not right out there, but becomes evident if you apply yourself a bit.

I also appreciated the opportunity to take a break from everything new that Claire was experiencing and to get a glimpse into what she could remember about her time travel experience.

"I had tried repeatedly to think about everything that had happened to me since I stepped through the standing stone. But things moved so rapidly around this place that I had hardly had a moment to myself when I wasn't asleep. Apparently I had one now, though..."

I'm not sure why, but this little respite in the action was refreshing to me. The description of her recalled experience is very "Dr. Who"-ish, but we do glean a couple of other glimpses or snapshots of things that may or may not come to pass in the story: what were the terrifying images she "had fought away from" during the maelstrom of the time-passage; had she really "fought toward others?"

When she brings Jamie his lunch out at the horse fields again, he recounts the story of why he was a wanted man, and how it is all a case of mistaken identity for the murder of the sergeant-major who had flogged him. But he adds enticingly:

"Though had it been Captain Randall, I expect I'd ha' made the effort."

The way Black Jack keeps coming up in the story, the scene is definitely being set for what I can only assume will be the ongoing antagonism between the characters as the story unfolds. His physical likeness to Frank; the fact that he is the moral antithesis of her husband; he's the bane of our hero Jamie, and a well-reputed enemy of the Castle Leoch; yes, it is a masterfully applied interweaving of delicious villainy.

Obviously, since my wife has read all of the books, and I have been exposed to everything Outlander since Seattle, I knew Jamie's last name was not MacTavish. While it wasn't the whole explanation, it was nice to have that back-story explained a bit in this chapter, as well.

As Claire drifts off to sleep in the afternoon sun while Jamie and Old Alec talk horses, Claire recounts:

"Oddly contented and drowsy, I pushed away all thoughts of Colum's suspicions, my own predicament, and other disturbing ideas. 'Sufficient unto the day,' I thought sleepily, picking up the biblical quotation from some recess of memory."

Interesting usage of this biblical quotation from Matthew 6:34, the full text of which reads: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." The context of this saying comes on the heels of God's provision for those who "seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things [food, drink, clothing] shall be added unto you."

The psychology of picking and choosing bible verses for our own edification (and not entirely in its full context) is a natural human tendency that fascinates me. I have been guilty of that very thing myself from time to time. It seems that in a time of crisis, the mind seeks to make sense of unusual things and events, to find solace with the known in the midst of upheaval; so it is here with Claire pulling a comforting slice of scripture from "some recess of memory".

As she makes her way back to the castle, Claire considers the shape of the scar on Jamie's head that he had showed her while recounting his tale of woe:

"It wasn't a straight line, as might be made by an English broadsword. The wound was curved, as though made by a blade with a definite bend. A blade like a Lochaber ax? But so far as I knew, the murderous axes...were...carried only by clansmen..."

Hmm. Not sure exactly how Claire would have known a detail like that, unless I missed it earlier in the story. But it is an interesting twist to the shroud of mystery surrounding Jamie's past.

The detailed descriptions of all of the late-medieval medical tools and potions made for some interesting reading at the last part of the chapter. All I have to say after reading that is, "Thank God for modern medicine and indoor plumbing." :)

Chapter 4 - I Come to the Castle

Clearly, everything I've heard about the descriptive narration is true: it's so vivid and lucid that the imagery of 18th century Scotland simply comes to life around the characters.

Favorite quotes:
I have several from this chapter that seemed to strike a chord with me in some fashion, beginning with the opening of the chapter:

"The rest of the journey passed uneventfully...at least we were not set upon by highwaymen, we encountered no wild beasts, and it didn't rain."

Yeah, you know you're having an uneventful day when none of those things happen.

Kinda reminds me of a quote from the animated movie "Chicken Run" (believe it or not). The chickens are penned up in a chicken pen that resembles a WWII prisoner of war camp, and are destined to be made into chicken pies. The ringleader chicken named Ginger is always trying to encourage them to escape and at one point tries to motivate them by shouting, "Listen, we either die free chickens, or we die trying to escape!" To this rallying cry, one of the the other chickens pipes up with the very reasonable request: "Are those the only choices?"

I guess for Jamie and Claire, not being attacked by highwaymen or wild beasts and not getting rained on really is reasonably uneventful, certainly compared to what they've been through already. If those are the only choices, then they are indeed having an uneventful journey the rest of the way.

Then Claire describes Jamie's appearance, as she tends to his wounds while he shares the story about his sister Jenny and Randall:

"...shirtless, scarred and blood-smeared, with stubbled cheeks and reddened eyelids from the long night ride, he looked thoroughly disreputable. And tired or not, he looked entirely capable of further mayhem, should the need arise."

To me, this is the timeless description of every woman's "bad boy." Whether he's a biker, or an ex-con, pirate, or some other ne'er-do-well, the gallant scrapper who is noble yet "capable of further mayhem, should the need arise" shouts to me of the protector that every woman dreams of. No wonder Jamie's so popular! I'll let your comments determine otherwise... ;)

"In older, more primitive times...it was an act of trust to sleep in the presence of another person. If the trust was mutual, simple sleep could bring you closer together than the joining of bodies."

I thought this was a great perspective on demonstrating how they are growing closer. And it makes sense, too, knowing that any number of (hazardous) things can happen while you are asleep. That very descriptive previous phrase: "to actually sleep with someone did give you this sense of intimacy, as though your dreams had flowed out of you to mingle with his and fold you both in a blanket of unconscious knowing." Wow. But I can tell you my wife has some crazy dreams, and I'm not sure I want those to mingle with mine!

This is my favorite description so far, as Claire is trying to describe what the castle looks like:

"It looked, in fact, like an eighteenth-century castle."

Ha! Every one of our mind's eyes filled in all the details; beautiful!

As Claire and Jamie are beginning to grow closer together, some questions are being posed in the narration almost as quickly as they come to my mind:

• If this is really happening, what is her relationship with Frank? If he's not alive yet (in time), isn't that the same as being dead, leaving her a widow, as Jamie suggests? That's just a weird thought to me.
• From Claire's perspective, what would Frank be doing when she turns up missing in 1945? What could he do?

I know these are the questions that have answers later on, and it must be hard for you to restrain the spoilers in the comments, but I'm trying to give you my perspective as it happens. I must say, I feel a bit transparent and exposed, but I appreciate everyone's enthusiasm and support! Thanks!