Wednesday, June 8, 2011

And So it Begins

My DH is truly digging his 2nd go at Outlander.  They just left to collect the rents and Jamie and Claire will soon be married.

What is he hung up on?  The fact that Claire didn't seem to have much of anything on her person that would show she's from the future when she went through the stones.  I keep trying to tell him she had shorter hair (a long bob?) at that time - and wasn't a big jewelry person (other than Frank's ring)...but he's not buying it.  "Not a plastic comb in her hair?  Not a watch?  Not a pence or a pound note in her pocket?"

I told him she was just going up to the hill to pick herbs and it didn't seem odd to me that she didn't have any of those things with her (none that I remember, anyway).  I then told him when all else fails...suspend disbelief!

He also asked why Dougal would allow BJR to punch Claire in the stomach.  I told him a) "Dougal's a bit of a douche" and b) "Dougal didn't trust Claire either...and he certainly doesn't want BJR to think he's in cahoots with her!"  That seemed to do the trick.

Onward and Jamieward!
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23 comments:

  1. ClayJune 8, 2011 at 11:46 PM

    I never had the impression Dougal "let him" punch her in the stomach, he wasn't there in the room. I don't know that it's spelled out, but I always thought that was part of the reason he was so pissed off at BJR. Sure he could grab her and kiss her, and rub up against her... but he wasn't going to let him punch her!

    I can see her leaving her purse and keys in the car at the bottom of the hill, and was probably used to minimal frills from army nurse duty. and she had her shoes, not to mention underwear and a bra... lol.

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  2. Karen HenryJune 9, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    Show him the "bra burning" picture in THE EXILE. :-)

    I agree, I think Dougal was furious at the way BJR treated Claire. He didn't know that was going to happen.

    Karen

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  3. Jo MJune 9, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    I second Clay's and Karen's responses. BJR's punching Claire is one of many reasons that Dougal realizes how horrid BJR would be to Claire if he (Dougal) allowed her to be taken prisoner by BJR, and hence the impromptu wedding...

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  4. ClayJune 9, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    Just to be clear... by "Sure he could grab her and kiss her, and rub up against her" I meant Dougal... I think he was not a very nice guy in a lot of ways, as evidenced later when he wanted Claire when Jamie was taken by the Watch. But he was honorable, sort of, besides that, and he loved and took care of his men when the wasn't hitting them in the head with an ax...

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  5. Tracey R.June 9, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Agreed with everyone so far. If you think about it, the punch in the stomach is really the catalyst for everything that happens afterward--Dougal is not only completely offended, but he realizes just how much danger Claire--and indirectly, his own clan--is as a result of BJR's "interest" in Claire, and that's what sets the marriage plans in motion.

    As for the "where's all Claire's stuff" question, I think Tom should post that on CS and time how long it takes to get an eyeroll from DG... ;-) Kidding!! But I never had a problem with it myself, as I didn't think Claire planned to be at the stones for more than a few minutes. We have a community garden plot, and whenever I go over to water or pick stuff, I always leave my stuff in the car. Keys are another matter--I figure maybe she just dropped 'em when she went thru the stones?

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  6. Purgatory CarolJune 9, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    Tracey that's so funny because Tom wants to post on CS! He can't handle the truth though - he'll stop reading if anyone is mean. LOL He also wants to know why Claire didn't say to Dougal "Take me to Craig Na Dun and I'll tell you all about myself once we get there." Funny - that thought never crossed my mind. Interesting to get another perspective.

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  7. JuliazunJune 9, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    And if I recall, there was a lot of talk about Claire's dress - didn't everyone think it was some sort of undergarment?

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  8. ibeeegJune 9, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    Fantastic that your husband is reading these books. I wish mine would. I find it fun to hear the male perspective on Outlander. A co-worker (male) read these books based on my recommendation and he loves them. Interesting conversations we have had.

    I agree with your answer to your husband that sometimes, if all else fails, just suspend disbelief. I had to tell my best friend that when she was reading Outlander. She reads with needing to know the answers and the why and how things occur BEFORE the story is even finished. It all needs to make sense as she reads.

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  9. AnonymousJune 9, 2011 at 12:25 PM

    I agree with the above, Dougal was horrified that BJR punched Claire. But admittedly, I have a bizarre fascination with Dougal. All his illegitiment children... and actual children. That's one verile piece of kilt meat!
    Ooops, was that out loud?

    Off topic: we were watching Gangs of New York last night. I kind of like Henry Thomas for Roger Mac.

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  10. Adeer1June 9, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    My DH is reading/Listenig (with me)
    We are just behind your DH Dougal has just told Jamie and Claire that they were go to "travel" with him. It will be interesting if my DH has the same reaction as your DH. (he didn't question her lack of "stuff" at least not to me)

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  11. Karen HenryJune 9, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Carol - please tell Tom from me that he's more than welcome to post on Compuserve anytime! We can always use more guys on the forum. :-) And if he waits just a week or two more, DG will be done writing SCOTTISH PRISONER and will have more time to answer questions.

    I'll look forward to seeing him there! :-)

    Karen

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  12. AnonymousJune 9, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    Hi Carol,

    I don't know HOW you got him to start reading OUTLANDER, but please post the recipe...I've failed miserably myself.
    Remind your DH, as he is reading, to pay particular attention to all aspects and details of Jamie's loving treatment of Claire...then he (your DH) can practice on you!!

    Anne-Marie

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  13. JosieJune 9, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    I wear my hair in a bob, only wear a wedding ring for jewelry, and quite often leave the house without a watch! And if I was just going for a walk I might have the key to my house in my pocket (and Claire didn't need one with such a 'hospitable hostess' but I wouldn't take money with me.

    Don't forget that she had just returned from being a nurse during the war - she would have been used to not wearing any extra jewelry etc.

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  14. MrsMushJune 9, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    And don't forget... not only was Claire a field nurse, but she spent her youth moving around with her uncle, living in camp sites (that is how she met Frank in the first place). She probably wouldn't have been one to be high maintenance even before the war.

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  15. menatraJune 10, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your DH perspective, please keep them coming! I laughed out loud when I read your explanation of Dougal being a bit of a douche! hahaha!
    That's so awesome that he is reading Outlander I can't wait to hear his other theories and thoughts. Keep him reading.

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  16. lesleyJune 10, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    Can we put up a "bigging" for Tom to come on and do a post himself.
    --Go TOM, GO TOM, waving pom poms etc etc :-) --
    Now going to work on my dh again to gently (read nag, nag, nag) persuade him again that he will enjoy "The Books".
    :-)

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  17. Purgatory CarolJune 10, 2011 at 7:38 AM

    Oh Lesley. What an idea! Tom as a guest blogger! That would be hilarious! I'll see what I can do. At this point, he doesn't even know I blogged about him. I'll have to ease him into that notion gingerly. ;)

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  18. Jo MJune 10, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    I second the vote for your husband to do a guest blog!!! And might it have been possible that Claire left the car keys in the car? There are people in my parents' small town who do this, and I imagine the Highlands seemed quite safe to Claire after the battlefields of France (and it's not like she was leaving a kine unattended...)

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  19. MarshaJune 10, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    When I re-read Outlander for the second time, I picked up on Claire mentioning her loafers. I imagined them as penny loafers -- which are a fairly modern piece of apparel. I did get my husband to read it, and he was ok with it, but complained about how "Clire and Jenny blabbed on and on about nothing" in the "domestic" scenes. Such a grump!

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  20. lesleyJune 10, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    Hi Jo M, this is where it gets interesting re the car keys.
    In Cross Stitch,(the UK version of Outlander which is the books I have) Claire goes to the stones on a bike. I did a double take when I first listened to the audiobook which is Outlander.
    :-)

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  21. writex3June 12, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    We want Tom! We want Tom!

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  22. Alex @ The Blethering BookwormJune 16, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    I am sitting here, full of the cold, muscles achy and just feeling sorry for myself and your posts have really cheered me up!
    "Dougal's a bit of a douche" I nearly choked reading that. lol. I totally agree, almost as big a swine as BJR at that point I think.

    Thanks for the giggle!

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  23. Purgatory CarolJune 16, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Awww..feel better, Alex!! :)

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