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This week we started with The Man in the Moon

The man in the moon can mean more than one thing:

-men going to the moon

- Jamie, his head it is dark against the moon - he is a man in the moon

- the face that can be seen n the dark and light areas of the moon.

One controversial line is Stay fit at the end of Claire's letter to Brianna. tThe purpose of this line was to break the tension, restoring the relationship between Claire and Bree with famous ''Claire humor''. She is reasserting her role as Bree's other. There is bitter sweetness and it gave a comic relief. Jamie is laughing at Claire's coment as well. Claire was trying to give Bree a mother to remember, although she is absent.

Are you annoyed by it?

''Ghost afraid of spittle''- similar to pissing on the door posts.

While examining IInnes, Claire ,once again, shows wisdom and ift for healing and diagnosis.

Forces of nature are many in chapter 44. Our Frasers are definitely one of those!!

I could literaly feel the smells of rotten meat, that was the level of being in the scene. And it was horrible!

Mr. Willoughby's Tale is very interesting!

Parallels : Mr Willoughby and Claire :

- both outlanders ( culturally with no way back)

- forced to live among people who consider them ''others'' and mistrust them

- have specialized skills / knowledge and both use their hands

- both are tolerated by the rest because of Jamie

- both are skilled in healing arts which are alien to the others

Mr Willoughby and Jamie :

- both lost their birth rights

- they can't practice their true trade/ skills

- had to make hard decisions in their youths

- both are enduring consequences of those decisions as wiser / older people

- both exiled

Vow to heal VS mariage vow - There are times when Claire puts her healing vows in front of everything - her safety included. Jamie, unlike Frank, understands that , it doesn't mean she loves him less.

What did you think about this exchange between Jamie and Claire? Can he understand her devotion to healing? Can he accept it ?

Talking about vows, Claire ( when threatening Mr Tompkins) is bending her medical vow for the sake of her marriage vows . She is putting Jamie's well being ahead of her medical ethics

Moment of grace - grace of forgiveness

Claire crossed herself - Jamie's religious beliefs beginning to influence Claire. She was asking God to watch over her and give her strength.

Claire leaned her head against the gun - just like an officer after the battle.

John recognized the sense of failure, he experienced the same and he relieved her sense of isolation. He is like an angel -she is forgiven for not being able to save all her patients.

I really like how this encounter went by. And you? Do you think this conversation will have an impact in the further story?

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One of the funniest scenes were in the chapter 38 when Jamie and Jenny are waiting for Hobart MacKenzie to come and take revenge. But, Ned Gowan is back!

What do you think about Jamie agreeing on leaving Laoghaire with nice amount of money?

Mary MacNab brought the food and put it in front of Jamie, as if he were the laird. She is the piece of Jamie's past still unshared with Claire.

Do you think he should have told her then and there?

Ian's initiation ceremony into manhood went wrong. I can feel Jamie's desperation so well. Do you think Jamie did well not informing Jenny and Ian what happened?

'I Shall Go Down to the Sea', we are going to set sails on Artemis - goddes of chastity ( Marsali) , hunting ( hunt for Ian ) , moon ( talk about moon in the chapter 42).

Old coins - When Claire was preparing to leave, Roger was commenting on the value of the old coins as well. Good parallel there!

Claire visiting Faith's grave and meeting Mother Hildegarde. I love that she went there and left pink tulip.

Willoughby's words about Reverend rang an alarm in my head. I knew we will see him again eventually.

Traitor among smugglers - decoy on the real traitor - casting suspicion on everyone kept Jamie on guard.

What do you think about Fergus and Marsali's pairing at this point? Does she have any idea what she put herself into?

Acupuncture scene was hilarious. The way Claire and Willoughby handled it was perfect! Twisted testicles, pah! 🤣

We are in part seven, named Home Again.

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The Prodigal's Return can definitely refer to more than one person returningto Lallybroch.

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My heart breaks when I see how Claire is longing for home. Especially when she asked Jamie if they would live at Lallybroch in one of the previous chapters. Do you think they could have lived there happily? Or the pull to make their own place elsewhere was too strong?

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Why did Jamie want to be punished by wee Ian as well?

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Was it to motivate him to behave and to demonstrate that he was sorry that Ian was bearing such a load of anger from his parents? Jamie was guilty for keeping Ian in Edinburgh.

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I saw it as that and also as a way for Ian to be cautious about his actions in the future as they can lead to this same situation and punishing his uncle as well.

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Jamie and Claire's time in their chamber at Lallybroch is definitely ''calm before the storm''. I wonder if the title of the chapter means that there are more things burried in Jamie's past , and not only the treasure on the island.

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And then we hear that famous word - ''Daddy''

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In Jamie's eyes , Laoghaire had a teenage crush on him, was mildly upset because of his marriage to Claire , but that doesn't make her a bad person. He doesn't see why Claire considers it betrayal.

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During the fight, it is interesting that it seems that in Jamie's mind, Claire went back to her normal life, he didn't consider its happines.

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Why didn't Jamie tell Claire about the marriage? He was afraid that Claire will leave him.

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What always grates my ears is scene where Jamie is calling Claire a bitch. I believe it shows the level of his emotions. He called her that before (during their fight in book 1) and asked for forgiveness. Twenty years of harshness and trials later, he calls her that and worse.

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Many people ask - Why did Jamie bring Claire to Lallybroch?

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Gabaldon gave an answer to this question:

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-He wanted to be away from Edinburgh where she can vanish in crowd and leave for Craigh na Dun.

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- Lallybroch contains their shared memories

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- He trusts in her but not in his own abilities

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- Showing Claire that she is his only wife, his priority.

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Claire has an instant urge to bolt and run and then to think it over. That is why she flies from Eden. Eden = Lallybroch = Jamie and Claire's eden.

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What was Jenny's motivation to tell Claire to go?

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Claire was expecting Jamie to come and bring her back. She begins losing her heart in flight to the stones. She gave him chance to prove he is choosing her and fighting for her.

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On the other hand, Jamie was expecting Claire to return. Were they testing each other's commitment?

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Ian going after Claire and retelling what happened is hilarious!!! Highly needed dose of humor!! That and Jamie talking to Claire thinking she is a part of fever dream. Precious!!!

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What's In a Name - is powerful chapter. It reveals so many crucial things about Jamie's past and present.

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Laoghaire and Jamie's marriage :

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They had already had a story, she knew his story. They both had bad experiences in the past. Jamie was her fantasy but he didn't live up to expectations. Laoghaire wished he was like he used to be with Claire, but her dreams were shattered. Jamie called for Claire in his sleep. So, she was practically married to a half- man.

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''Here in the dark, with you, I have no name'' is one of my favourite lines ever! It means so much. It means that he gives her himself , and gives her opportunity to do the same. He offers her not only physical protection , but the protection of his heart and soul, giving her opportunity to protect him s well. He is not limited by labels and titles. He opened his secret self to her.

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If you want to add anything, be my guest!!

This week, only 4 chapters!

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In chapter 27, everything went Up in Flames- everyone's illusions about one another, their preconcieved notions and , of course, the printshop.

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''His eyes ... like a warm tropic sea'' - foreshadowing of tropic seas

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I adore Jamie and Claire's time at the tavern. From Devil take the barmaid to Let them watch. Later, in the room, Jamie's words about brute, blind with need show his self loathing. Does he refer to Laoghaire or Geneva?

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Why do you think Jamie chose to print seditious pamphlets? I see it as self sacrifiing gesture for benefit of people in general. It doesn't involve the safety of his family other than Fergus's. Do you think that is hy Jamie decided to include Fergus in it since he is an adult, with no wife and no family? Or it was a way to give Fergus job that he is able to do?

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Malcolm X part was hilarious, followed by Young Ian's conclusion about his father rutting with whores , or to be exact - Claire. I laugh every time! Claire and Young Ian have that instant bond which is great to read! Do you have a feeling that Claire is taken to Ian faster than to Fergus?

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Chapter 28 was ironically titled, Virtue's Guardian since Jamie is not exactly ''the guardian o' virtue'', not with his secret.

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A lot of mentioning of spiders which brings 'What a tangled web we weave...''quote in mind. I feel Jamie is doing just that. Weaves a web just like spiders weave two kinds of silk. Is it a metaphor for Jamie's various identities and making sure he leaves a safe way out ? ( door at the printshop, for example) . Jamie has many sticky stands.

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Is Jamie's penance for omitting truth as well?

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Smugglers rendezvous- So, there were two excisemen - one hanged the other to take money for himself OR somebody else did it? There are some thing that are always a bit unclear to me and I never have time to investigate them deeply. This scene is one of those.

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And finally, they all decide to go back to Lallybroch.

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Do you think it was fine to let Ian sleep with second Mary? Do you think that is what Young Ian truly needed?

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Margaret Campbell was one more victim of Culloden**. Does it represent what could have happened to Claire if she had stayed?**

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Share your thoughts!

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Claire is preparing to leave thrugh the stones. I love this part. It is full of anticipation and planning and contrasting emotions.

Do you think that Bree needed to see the deed of Lallroch to completely believe Claire?

I love the detail of a name of a dressmaker - Jessica Gutenburg - I see it as a nod to the way they found Jamie - in a printing shop

Quod Erat Demonstrandum - Thus it has been shown.

Due to Jamie's difficulty with pen he thought it impossible to write but he had been setting the lead type with great facility. Thus it has been shown that there was another way. There was another way to fight - not with the sword but with words.

Do you think Bree would have gone through if Claire hesitated?

A. Malcolm, Printer

Does the plastic film thrown equate future thrown in the wind? From Bees, we know the symbolism of this scene and I love that they added that conversation in that book.

I noticed ( as I am sure everybody else did) that Claire compares herself to other women - she has so many insecurities. It is such a human flaw and so understandable in that certain moment that I really love to see her vulnerabilities that make her more realistic character.

The reunion itself is beutiful, iconic moment for the entire book series and I love how their firstreal topic of conversation is Brianna and I love the scene where Jamie breaks down and cries in Claire's arms after seeing photos. The thought in my mind is always - It was worth it!

Did you like how they reunited? Or you needed it to be more fairy tale like? Was their reunion in the middle of chaos fine with you?

My nose is broken - echo of the beginning of the story where Jamie is on the Culloden field thinking about purgatory and broken nose.

There are so many echoes of the wedding night - can you find them?

Claire has so much guilt accumulated. My heart breaks when she sees the scar and says - I will never leave you again.

Old Ian alludes that he doesn't know Jamie any more, how could Claire? Do you think he exaggerated or he was simply under huge stress because of Young Ian?

One more face from the past is Fergus who dropped on his knees , just like Caire did to Jamie's scar.

Here we drop in the middle of Jamie's chaotic life with excisemens, fiends, smugglers and other dangerous people around. We are like Claire - totally oblivious what constitutes Jamie's life those days and I found it interesting how Jamie appears as a cornered rat( guilty conscience?) in that cellar.

Do you think Jamie was right to hide the fact that Young Ianis in Edinburgh from Old Ian?

How did you percieve Jamie based on Madame Jean's lines when talking to Claire during the breakfast? She was very distressed.

Share your thoughts about all of it, freely!

When I am Thy Captive

We start this week in Inverness on May 25th , 1968.

Claire remembers Frank supporting her profession. How did you take that support. Did he do it honestly or Frank supported Claire not because she was meant to do it, not because she was awesome,but because ''it will cause less damage to Brianna''? He points out the book on Revolutionary War and I wonder if he found Claire's name there.

Meanwhile, Jamie is at Ardsmuir Prison in Scotland on February 15th, 1755.

Honor's Prisoner- John - prisoner of his honor - he is stuck at Ardsmuir for doing something dishonorable. Jamie is a prisoner, he gave himself up, but he is still an honorable man.

''Ardsmuir is the carbuncle on God's bum'' - answer to Claire's question from the end of the previous chapter.

What happened at Carryarrick Pass is an important event in Lord John's life and military career. He was mortally embarrassed and almost 10 years later the event sticks in his gut . He despises Claire for her role and he is thrilled at the idea of seeking revenge on Jamie Fraser until he realizes that honor's duty lies between them. Their roles won't allow Lord John tove his personal revenge. Lord John is bound and held prisoner to his code of honor.

Claire plays a double part. She may have been the reason Jamie spared his life. Claire was also the reason why LJ remained spying on the camp awaiting for a moment in which to rescue an English lady.

What was your initial impression about John? Did he seem creepy not?

Duncan Kerr escaped to France - did he meet Geilis there? From ''Past Prologue'' we know who put this reasure and how. Kerr gave direction of treasure as a code for Jamie. He passed the information and died.

''She will come for you'' can have a double meaning here. It can mean Geilis will come for Ian who is , after all, a MacKenzie descendant, or it can refer to Claire who will come for both of them - John and Jamie.

Grey picked one of the chessmen - John is playing with a pawn but Jamie's ''I swallowed it'' is a true check mate.

John and Jamie's trust is built on belief in one another's honour. They are matched intellectually,but like in a chess game, John is searching for Jamie's weaknesses.

What is your view of John and Jamie's relatonship at this point?

The Torremolinos Gambit is a daring move with a lot of risks. Just like John's move on Jamie is daring and risky. What did you think of it?

''Your brother was right'' - Jamie will grieve Claire forever and he will hope, as well, because he hadn't seen her dead. (I love that line)

Why did Jamie take the blame about tartan and sacrificed himself?

He is reassearting the distance

He is gaining prisoners' respect. He was considered priviledged. He escaped and he was unpunished. In his head, he knows he was priviledged because of John's lust.

He escaped and left his men while he went to see the gold.

He wants to hurt John because John would need to watch the body he wants being flogged. Jamie feels that he gets special treatment from LJ not because of his leadership of the men, but realizes it is because of his lust for Jamie's body.

It is interesting that Jamie never notices John's physical appearance, while John notices everything.

Jamie severed all the connections and he mentioned the temptation on many levels: of John's company and to consider John a friend.John and Jamie have great commonality - education, inteligence and humor. But, John is sexualy attracted to Jamie who is disgusted by it due to his trauma and cultural context.

Midgame is chess term and Roger,Bree and Claire are halfway through the number of years that passed in Jamie's life.

Tell me your opinion of Ardsmuir chapters - Jamie, John, the two of them, other prisoners ( did you catch some familiar names) , the gold / treasure etc...

A bit late, but since it was finale, it is understandable!

The first Voyager reread post! We will start with theme and shape.

Theme: Identity

Voyager has a lot of adventure, changing of times and places, seeking of destiny, and so on—but the underlying theme is that of a person’s search for identity and how they define themselves, in their own eyes, or those of another, or those of society at large. By marriage, by career, by calling—or by recognition of one’s own essential being. You see this worked out most noticeably (of course) in Claire’s and Jamie’s story, first as she seeks the husband she’s lost and longed for, and then as they look for safe landing and a place in which they can survive together.

The continuing metaphor lies in their names until Jamie finally reclaims and restates his identity, when he introduces himself to a rescuer: “My name is Jamie Fraser…. And this is Claire…My wife.”

Shape: Voyager is shaped like a braided horsetail. It has a triple narrative through the first third of the book, with Jamie’s, Claire’s, and Roger’s voices taking turns, then falls into a simple linear narrative in Claire’s voice through the second two-thirds of the story. Jamie is telling his story forward as it happens, Claire is telling her story backward (to Roger and Brianna), and Roger’s story is set in the present moment and provides a turning point to switch between Jamie’s and Claire’s.

(OUTLANDISH COMPANIONS VOL 1 AND )

Culloden...

''He was dead.'' - Incipt, the first line of a book. Imagery of death and purgatory. But aside from that, this incipit has an enormous amout of foreshadowing of the story to come.

**This is what Jamie says was his purgatory**. (in Bees)

Here the issue of death and purgatory lead us into the fact that even though Jamie was saved against his will, the next several years become for him a sort of living death between the cave and the prison. One really could not say that he lived during those years. And the purgatory that he anticipates until he is reunited with Claire, really does happen since he is eventually reunited but only after waiting 20 years alone. So this incipit does in fact tell us a lot about the story to come.

Jamie has lighthearted discussion with himself about physical pain until he remembers - ''Claire'' and then all pains faded.

It is actually interesting that Jack Randall saves Jamie from bleeding to death.

Crow- war goddess of the Celt aspect. Calling of the crows is common motif.

The last line - ''and still alive.'' - contrast to the first line.

In Chapter 3 , Frank and Full Disclosure this word Frank can be interpreted as being completely honest about what happenned but also it can be the character of Frank and full disclosure of him.

Perpetual Adoration - parallel to Claire's time at Abbey. She needed to let Jamie go in peace, to allow herself forgiveness for what she caused Frank.

St Anthony - saint of poor, sailors, fishermen and travelers. (foreshadowing of eir adventures on the sea)

Nursery scene is another of those scenes that are often mentioned among the readers. Gabaldon explained it as: exchange of tenderness. Two small branches of mutual compassion extended over a big void. It is not sexual, it is sensual. Frank sees Claire's frustration and the breast thing is the only thing he can do something about. It's a moment of peace for her and she is grateful. Building foundation for a family - it is house bulit on the cobwebs. There is a theme of tragedy and loss - Claire's pain is so overfull and Frank recognizes he can ease it in a way she couldn't offer to him.

Frank picks up the pieces of their lives back together - he accepts Brianna fully as his own. Claire knows and appreciates it but she came back by necessity, in love with Jamie. They make repeated efforts, but her betrayal is always there. Frank can't and won't admit the truth of the story, they can never discuss it fully and resolve it. Jamie's ghost is always there. The love they had for each other is still there, supported by their united feelings for Brianna. Yes, their love is diminished and erroded by the memory of their betrayals but it is still a kind of pillar. Pillar which is twisted and shaped by the wind and rain, but still there.

Do you agree with her? Or do you still find it weird?

In Chapter 4, we are back to Lallybroch where Jamie is the Dunbonnet. He continues to contribute to his family and tenants. Without that, his life would be impossible - purposeless.

Stag Hunting is one of those scenes which I need to explore a bit for my next reread. For now, I can see resemblance to a Catholic Communion ( physically accepting Christ so you become part of him) . Jamie drank the stag's blood and took the deer's soul into himself and became one with him and the forest ? There is respect towards the stag whose essence is transferred to the man in need. Gratitude.

Do you have more thoughts about this?

Errata for chapter 5 : Mrs Coker = Mrs Crook

Jamie's two mistakes in this chapter were innocent and meant well but could have been fatal. He shoots the crow and he admires Young Ian and takes him. Luckily, all was well. The imagery of Jenny with new grey streaks of hair is very powerful.

The title of the last chapter for this week ( '' Being Now Justified By His Blood'') is puzzling for me. Is Jamie being justified by Fergus's blood - justified in trading himself for his family's safety? Or is it Fergus being justified in his role of adopted son by the loss of his blood on Jamie's behalf? Does Fergus feel guilt for Jamie's duel with Randall?

Jamie was reeling from child being nearly killed (Fergus) , parallel to Claire reeling after Bree was hit by the car.

Mary MacNab - does she also feel guilt because of what Ronald did to Jamie ?

Share any of the thoughts about these chapters if you wish! Culloden, Dunbonnet, Claire and Frank after her return, Mary MacNab, Fergus... Discuss whatever you want!

Finale Preview - summary and photos

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Damn All Randalls!

Many people wondered about Frank not finding any records about Randall and Mary's wedding, but Gabaldon explainedthat it was private ceremony so there were no official records of witnesses.

This chapter was the start of Jamie's process of forgiveness. Jamie remembered his own loss of his brother and fhe feeling of being lost and alone.

Jamie is moved to compassion for Mary and Alex, but for Jack, too. His own burden of rage has eased a little. That is whee he begins to realize that his only way of recovering forgiving BJR. He's already done vengeful violenceto BJR - he only acted on the urge to kill him. Consequences to that were disasterous. It wasn't satisfactory but it was disasterous. Jamie sees Jack as he'd never seen before and he is shocked by his own empathy. Because of Jamie's ability to identify with Jack begins his process of forgiveness.

Do you think it was normal that Jamie behaved so nicely to Jack? Do you think Jamie should have been so comforting taking him outside? Did he do it to make sure Mary was safe or to allow Mary to say goodbye to Alex?

And at the end of this chapter we have the famous 'Damn All Randalls' speech when compassion and anger wll up together. The difficulties of sharing Claire's past and future come full circle. Claire had a choice, Frank didn't and that is why Jamie tolerates him so much.

Chapter 46, Timor Mortis Conturbat Me (Fear of death disturbs me)

The saddest and the most heartbreaking chapter EVER!

First, Claire sees the dead HIghland soldier and everything after that is about death. His tartan blended with the leaves is it foreshadowing of plaids disappearing from the Highlands.

Dougal dies. What did you think about him at the end?

Murtagh and Fergus show loyalty and bravery. I love Murtagh's line that It is better to die on Culloden killing the English, to have clean and honourable death, than to be killed by your own cousins.

Jamie, just like with Fergus, gives Claire a job to do and a purpose to leave that she cannot argue with, once again well done DG for providing us with just about the only reason she would ever leave Jamie for and the presence of the english soldiers at that moment made it easier for her not to second-guess the decision.  

My heart breaks every time I read this. I never cried so much over a book. Claire's thought about her heart breaking is so appropriate. 💔

The final chapters of the book take us back to 1968. I love this part of the story. I love the witch hunt, Roger and Claire working as a team and Brianna finally accepting the truth.

But,Brianna's reaction. I understand it. When Bree finds out the truth about Jamie it is the second loss of the only daddy she knows. She's lost him to death and now he isn't even hers. Fine line between pain and rage ( rage is easier to deal with). She is mad to a lot more than her mother. Her whole identity is upended because neither of her parents is who she thought they were. It all happens in the middle of a grief for her father. To abandon Frank's memory and embrace wife- stealing adulterer whom they are telling she is just like.

One of the very controversial scenes was when Claire says to Bree that she hated her. Anyone whose unexpected pregnancy disrupted person's life can identify with the resentment and later, love. Claire didn't mean to hurt Bree, she wanted to explain the depth of her feelings to give sense of a father who would never see her but loved her powerfully enough to give up the only anchor of his life.

I am so glad it was Bree who saved Roger from the effects of the stones.

And finally, Claire finds out that Jamie survived Culloden.

So, the end of book 2 came. There was definitely rule of three in DiA : 3 orphans - Roger, Claire and Bree are looking for a family and home. They start from different places but they end up in different emotional places. The 3 of them share ability to TT, but we don't know it until the end of the book.

A lot of things happen in these few chapters. How did you survive their separation? What do you think about 20th century chapters and ''witch hunt''?

How do you rate Dragonfly in Amber? Is it on top of your Outlander books list?

Outlander Series Extra Long Reread- Dragonfly in Amber:chapters 41 - 45

Only 4 chapters this week!

At the start, Frasers are still at Beauly ( actually they were there for 2 whole months!). Claire meets Maisri, the seer and It is a good thing that Claire talked to Maisri - she could reconcile her knowledge of the future and have a bit of hope that future can be changed.

Again, before time traveling, her future is predicted ( just like Mrs Graham's palm reading). She will be alone. Without Jamie?

There were some funny lines in this chapter (unlike the rest of them ) , especially about Old Fox and his prostatitis.

In chapter 42, there were many reunions - Lallybroch men, Fergus,Mary, BJR, Alex, Simon, Cameron, Jamie and Dougal.

Sometimes, I forget some info like Claire selling her pearls: She put aside her personal goods and safety to tend to the needs of the men. She is a wife of a laird. Her determination and care is proven again, in the 20th century when Roger looked for them.

I loved Claire's line - ''A lifetime isn't enough for that kind of love'' - (foreshadowing?) and I loved Claire taking the men to Jamie!

Falkirk battle happened on 17th January 1746

Piper - VIsion of piper, alone, far away is similar to Maisri's vision of Claire

Jamie and Dougal's dynamics is very intresting to me because they don't trust each other in terms of the politics , but they do trust each other to fight together against the English ( shared enemy) and as Scots on the side of BPC they are clearly on the same side at this moment.

In chapter 44 in Which Quite a Lot of Things Gang Agley we meet Duke of Sandringham who, until his death , didn't reveal his true colours. From what he told Claire, he may have been a Jacobite, but who knows?

Death of Hugh Munro was devastating and tragic because of Jamie's promise to Hugh's widow whom we never again see nor hear about. I understand Jamie wasn't in any position tohelp her, but his promise sounds weak, knowing what will come.

Did you like Jamie and Claire's stay at Beauly? Old Fox? Young Fox? Maisri? Dougal and Jamie? Duke?

Feel free to write about intersting stuff from this part of the book. Next week, I am finishing with Dragonfly!