I am Dying Right Along with the Scots

SPOILER ALERT - Dinna read unless you have read up to Chapter 44 in Dragonfly in Amber.

Rupert  just died and I am dying right along with him. I know what's coming. I can feel what's coming. I have been reading for a while now but just had to stop and blog. I have to talk about this. My stomach hurts. And if I were to look at a photo of Jamie, his image would be fading, much like Marty McFly in "Back to the Future". And I can't stand it. I almost want to close the book and walk away, so I don't have to go through the inevitable. But I have to, don't I?  Would it do any good to pray to God to make it end differently, like Jesus did in the Mount of Olives? Not very likely. I have a feeling I'm about to meet my very own Judas... and something tells me he goes by the name Jack Randall.

OK - Things I love:

I love that Jamie views Claire as his equal. And I love that Jamie views Claire as a strong woman and never treats her like she's weaker than him. He let her go with the English... and I think that speaks volumes. Don't get me wrong; there is a very slight part of me that wants to scream "How can you let her do this?!" but then I come to my senses and think "Thank God he let her do this!" I'm sure she'll come out of that OK. (I think I'm sure?)

I love that we got to see Rupert again. I was waiting for him through this whole book.  And although I'm devastated he had to die, I just love that we got to experience that brotherhood among Jamie, Dougal and him at the last; it was beautiful.

I love that Claire is such an awesome care giver and can fix - or diagnose - anyone. She is one BAD ASSED you-know-what and this series should be required reading for EVERY FEMALE ON THIS PLANET.

And I love the following exchange, to the point where my heart literally aches:

He looked down at me helplessly, rage and fear mingled on his face. And under it all, a trace of humor at the underlying irony of the situation.

"I am a sassenach, after all," I said, seeing it. 

He touched my face briefly with a rueful smile. 

"Aye, mo duinne. But you're my sassenach."

OK I have to go back and read. But I'll be back later today. I plan to finish this book by this evening. And then I'm going to need help. Lots and lots of help. Maybe in the way of Santa Margherita... I canna be sure just yet, ken?

The shite is hitting the royal fan, Sassenach!!!

SPOILER ALERT - do not read unless you have finished chapter 38 in Dragonfly in Amber.

Holy CRAP - I canna believe everything that just went down. I mean - you KNEW Jack Randall would rear his fugly head again at some point - broken johnson or not. But did I think he'd do it in Jamie's SITTING ROOM?!? Um, NOOOO. I canna believe the BALLS on this guy! What if Jamie weren't sick?!  I'm thinking he would have torn Randall's butt limb from limb (as my former classmate Will Smith once sang. Snicker.)  He must really care for his brother. Which kindof surprises me as he referred to Jamie as "Alex" while he was raping him. I still don't know if he was referring to his brother, Alex.. or that poor soul named Alex who he also raped some time ago. Blech. The guy is disgusting... and frankly, I'm surprised Jamie let him live; Frank or no Frank. I mean - the guy is just going to do it to someone else. Look at Fergus!!! Letting him live is like taking a dirty priest and sticking him in yet another parish to molest again. DISGUSTING, Sassenach!!!

Why do I feel the need to type like Jamie? I canna figure it out for the life of me.

You know what this blog needs? Some Scottish commentary in the comments section. Let's work on that, y'all.... mmmmkayyy??

PS - My Jack Randall - hands down - Jason Isaacs. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!!!!

Pondering Jamie...

SPOILER ALERT: Don't read unless you're way the heck into Dragonfly and Amber.

OK so my Outlander peeps and I have been debating which Jamie we like better. We've all come to the conclusion we like smelly, stable-working Jamie better than hob-nobbing-with-the-Bourgeoisie Jamie... no matter how good he smells. I think it's because he's in his own element. France Jamie is just not a comfortable Jamie in my eyes.

OH and I came up with such a good parallel whilst in yoga this AM. How ironic that the man who wanted Claire to cover up her womanly goodies with a fan at Versailles was the same man who ripped her dress half off in front of 30+ men as a scare tactic with the 16 year old English soldier in the Highlands. Pretty interesting turn of events, don'tcha think?!

DISCUSS!

Outlander cry-fests

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read unless you have started Dragonfly in Amber.

OK so have you ever pondered future books in the series... only to find yourself in tears at the mere prospect of what MIGHT happen? Cuz I have. Tonight, actually. I was thinking about the possibility of Brianna going through the stones at some point... and what would happen if she met Jamie, by herself, unbeknownst to her mother... who would still be back in 1967, wondering why her daughter is taking so long at Woolworths. (They didn't have Target back then.) And what Brianna would say to Jamie. And what Jamie would say to Brianna. And then all KINDS of waterworks ensued. It was like PMS week at Satan's School for Girls in my house. Not a pretty sight. I'm OK now though... I think.

My Outlander Playlists

***Many of these versions can be changed: artist, acoustic, etc. 
***SPOILER ALERT: Be careful when reading descriptions!!

3/2/15 - UPDATE - The new and improved playlist and descriptions can be found here or by clicking the Playlists tab at the top of the page.


OUTLANDER Playlist

Song	Scene
Scotland The Brave	After Claire goes through the stones and finds herself thrust upon a group of Clansmen
The Mummers Dance	Claire riding with Jamie, taking comfort in his kindness-and again when she’s visiting him at the stables andhaving dinner with him in the castle, etc
Crucify	Claire dealing with Dougal and Colum and feeling lonely... and rrealizing how difficult it is to stay alive, let alone wait until she can get home again
Highland Wedding	Played during Claire and Jamie’s wedding
Love is a Battlefield	While Jamie and Claire are fighting after Claire’s botched escape attempt
All I Want is You	Played while Claire and Geillis are being held in the water... and Jamie rescues Claire in the same scene. Slow motion - especially when Claire sees Geillis’ small pox vaccination scar
My Love is Like a Red Red Rose (Eva Cassidy)	Claire and Jamie professing their love at the cottage after Claire stayed in the 18th century for Jamie
Wonderwall (Ryan Adams)	Claire standing in the doorway, looking at Jamie (who doesn’t know she’s there) contemplating how to bring him back from the depression is killing him
Running Up That Hill  (Peter Gabriel / Kate Bush)	Claire giving Jamie the “exorcism” - pouring rain outside - lots of thunder and lightning.

                                     

Song	Scene
Dream On (Kelly Sweet)	Claire lying in the hospital bed, dreaming of Jamie when they think she’s crazy after she comes back through the stones to 1946
This Woman’s Work (Kate Bush)	We see Jamie screaming his lungs out for Claire while he’s being dragged away (in slow motion) as she is lying on the ground bleeding and going into labor. Then we see Claire delivering Faith - holding her tiny body - lying in the hospital dying - and finally being treated by Raymond.  Quick shots of Jamie in jail are also seen throughout.
My Immortal (Evenescence)	When Claire sees Jamie again after Faith dies
I Alone (Live)	When Jamie and Claire make love for the first time after Faith dies and Jamie tells her to promise he’s the only man she’ll ever make love to again
Run Snow Patrol	When Jamie send Claire running away from the cabin and back through the stones
Adagio For Strings	When Jamie is fighting the soldiers and Claire is running back through the stones
Culloden’s Harvest	The end of Dragonfly... when Claire talks to Roger and Bree about Culloden...and Roger tells Clair that Jamie didn’t die at Culloden.

Song	Scene
On Your Shore (Enya)	Claire, sitting alone on Roger’s sofa, wonderingif it’s really possible she’ll get back to Jamie
Don’t Give Up (Peter Gabriel)	Jenny talking to Jamie in the kitchen when he comes down to the house from the cave
I Dreamed a Dream (Susan Boyle)	Claire and Frank fighting - Jamie waking from a nightmare in jail - Frank’s body being wheeled into the hospital
Amazing Grace (Susan Boyle)	Claire and Bree standing in the cemetary at Frank’s burial - Jamie being “saved” and walking toward Helwater with his meagerbag of “belongings”
Why Does it Always Rain on Me?  (Travis)	Jamie working at Helwater and being blackmailed by Geneva
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)	Claire walking into the print shop - seeing Jamie - Jamie seeing her - Jamie fainting - Claire and Jamie crying together on the floor
My Sweet Lady (John Denver)	Claire and Jamie making love for the first time in 20 years
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face	Claire and Jamie lying in bed , rediscovering each other

                                                                          

Song	Scene
Make Me Smile (ComeUp and See Me)Cockney Rebels andSteve Harley	Roger to Bree
Deciphering Me Brooke Fraser	Bree to Roger
I Would Walk 500 Miles (The Proclaimers)	Jamie to Claire... and Roger to Bree (at the 20th century Scottish Festival) I see something cute, like the men doting on the women simultaneously while in separate centuries
Into the Mystic (Van Morrison)	Jamie and Claire on the boat, headed to River Run
In a Big Country (Big Country)	Jamie (Totally gratuitous shirtless scene - working outside on the Ridge... C’mon... Humor me)
The Sweetest Thing (Juice Newton)	Claire waking at dawn and watching Jamie sleep
Forever (Kenny Loggins)	Jamie and Claire  at the fence at night
Why Should I Cry For You?  (Sting)	Roger deciding whether to stay in the 18th century
The Rouges of Scotland (Celtic Bagpipes)	LORDDDD, THE GATHERING!!!

"Hurt" by Christina Aquilera. This song makes me think of Jamie, digging Beardsley's grave and thinking about his father... but it also makes me think about Jenny, thinking of Jamie and writing him the letter after finally forgiving him for allowing Ian to become a Mohawk. Ugh. So poignant.

"I Will Follow You Into The Dark"  - Jamie telling Claire that even death will never part them.
"Run" - This song just makes me think of Jamie and Claire knowing they might part.. and feeling the impending doom regarding their possible death by fire at the Big House.

I couldna help it, Sassenach

I was happy waxing on about the Twilight series... and then my sister Tracey made me read "Outlander". Saying she "made" me read it is an understatement. She practically sat on my chest like Claire sat on Jamie's when she first met him and was addressing his wounds. And believe me, I would have been wounded had I not read the book. So I gave in and read it... and now I am OBSESSED. And it's all Tracey's fault. So - just like Twilight - I am going to blog as I read. I am currently reading "Dragonfly in Amber". And - as many of you - I have been scratching my head since page one. Oh - and crying. There has been lots and lots of crying early on in the book. But I got over it - and now I'm just enjoying Jamie and Claire...