Gabaldon, Diana- Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2); Informal Buddy Read: Starting Dec 2014/Jan 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

This topic is open for discussion is Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon.




Book Synopsis:
With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters — Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful follow-up to Outlander....

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Reserved

[Shannon]

Since I've already started it, I made some notes so I wouldn't forget what I was thinking while reading. I'm going to go ahead and post them, then come back as y'all catch up & discuss ;)

Ch 1-7

As I started, I found myself quite anxious to (view spoiler)[get back to the past. Back to Jamie & Claire. But then I did discover I was enjoying the present as well. I'm not sure how I feel about the potential romance between Rodger & Briana. For one thing, Rodger seems to be developing feelings pretty dang fast -- not a big fan of that. Plus, I'm still not sure where everybody falls in the family tree thing -- is Rodger related or not? (hide spoiler)]

When we finally do (view spoiler)[get back to the past, I was happy to discover Jamie knows about the baby. I'd been worried about that. (hide spoiler)]

But -- so far -- not really being drawn into (view spoiler)[this whole French storyline. I miss my Scots! Making me want to skim....... (hide spoiler)]

[Rosina]

I'll join in too once I get 1st one done.

[Greta]

I just finished Book 1 and have a few other books to read now before I get on with Book 2, but I plan on joining in as soon as possible!

[Shannon]

I'm waiting to continue when some others are ready to get started. So y'all just let me know.

[Rebecca]

I can start this whenever I get it from the library. I'm #6 on the hold list right now.

[B'burg Linda]

I have book 2, but won't be able to start it for a week or two. But I'm looking forward to the discussion and hope a few of you are still around when I get down to it.

[Anita Reads]

I'll wait by starting this one. I got it on audible already, but I don't think I'll be starting this until late December or early January, so I hope there'll be others to read with me when that time comes.

[jingles]

I'm in on this one as well. It's a re-read for me, so I'm game to jump in and discuss it at any time :)

[Logan]

It's been so long since I read this and I'd like to go back and refresh my memory. I probably won't start until January.

[Shan ~A~]

Just bought it at Amazon.com for 99 cents (if anyone needs a copy that's the Kindle edition). I a few books to get to, so I'll just jump in when I get to it.

[Rebecca]

I'm hoping to start this in the next couple of days. Just need to load it onto my ipod and finish my current book.

[Shannon]

Ready whenever you guys are! :)

[[deleted user]]

It might take me a hot minute to get to this one, but I definitely want to go through the whole series.

[jingles]

Shan wrote: "Just bought it at Amazon.com for 99 cents (if anyone needs a copy that's the Kindle edition). I a few books to get to, so I'll just jump in when I get to it."

Thanks for letting us know, Shan! I just got the Kindle copy. I also have the audio, so I'll be doing that whole audio + kindle thing again, like I did on the first one :)

[Rebecca]

I'm starting the audiobook now! I'm so excited :)

[Emma (M)]

I'm up for reading this one. I finished the first earlier in the year and definitely want to keep going with the series.

[Karen ♐]

I'm in also. Loved the first one, couldn't wait to get to this one. Started the audiobook too.

[Rebecca]

Just finished the first chapter and WOAH so many questions!!

(view spoiler)[ What happened to 18th century Scottland? Why are we in modern times? Where is Jamie? Does Brianna really think Frank is her father? Where did she grow up? Ahhh (hide spoiler)]

[Emma (M)]

RebeccaS wrote: "Just finished the first chapter and WOAH so many questions!!

[spoilers removed]"


I just finished the first chapter as well! (view spoiler)[ I am totally surprised to find the story back in the 20th century, with Claire having seemingly spent the last 20 years in America with Frank! I am wondering if she is looking into the battle at Culloden to see if Jamie died fighting there? Maybe she got sucked back into the time vortex at the stones early in her pregnancy with Brianna and couldn't get back to Jamie. Guess I will have to read on to find out (hide spoiler)] Diana Gabaldon has certainly sucked me in from the get go!

[Greta]

I need to finish a few books & then I'll get started.

[Rebecca]

Chapter 1-5 Thoughts.

(view spoiler)[ So we find out that poor Jamie died in the battle and somehow Claire returned to her modern time. She had Brianna and told her that Frank was her father. I can't imagine how painful it must have been for Claire to lose Jamie and have to go back to a world that must have felt far away. I don't know if I could have kept the secret for 20 years, but it's something people would definitely send you to a doctor for if you told them.

I am really hoping that Brianna believes Claire and can learn about Jamie and Claire's time in the 18th century. I'm very curious where this novel will go from here. (hide spoiler)]

[ClaireB]

hey, I'm gonna read it with you. I'd read the first one during the summer and I'm now ready to tackle this one. I just finished the first chapter.

RebeccaS wrote: "Just finished the first chapter and WOAH so many questions!!

[spoilers removed]"

You'r absolutely right Rebecca. (view spoiler)[This first chapter, I don't know what to make of it. I can't deal with the idea of Claire not being with Jamie. What happened to him? Is Brianna Frank's daughter? How did Claire end up back in the "present"? Aaargh, frustrating ! (hide spoiler)]

Emma wrote: "RebeccaS wrote: "Just finished the first chapter and WOAH so many questions!!

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It was a surprise alright! Perhaps you're right on that one. But like I said, I can't deal with Claire and Jamie not being together. But if you're right, I really hope he survived the battle (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Shannon wrote: "Since I've already started it, I made some notes so I wouldn't forget what I was thinking while reading. I'm going to go ahead and post them, then come back as y'all catch up & discuss ;)

Ch 1-7
..."

I'm glad y'all have started. Hopefully it will encourage me to read. I'm still struggling to (view spoiler)[get into the French storyline. It just doesn't seem to grab me. Hopefully it will pick up. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma (M)]

RebeccaS wrote: "Chapter 1-5 Thoughts.

So we find out that poor Jamie died in the battle and somehow Claire returned to her modern time. She had Brianna and told her that Frank was her father. I can't imagine ho..."

Chapters1-5

Well I have also got through the first five chapters. I am desperate to find out what happened to Jamie and how Claire ended up back in the 20th century, but I guess we will find out in due course.

I have to say that I am yet to warm to Roger, there is something about him that just puts me off. I think part of it is I don't like the way he has sometimes spoken to Fiona, but there is also something about his character that I just don't like - I just can't put my finger on it.

Anyway on to the Part 2 :)

[Rebecca]

Emma wrote "I have to say that I am yet to warm to Roger, there is something about him that just puts me off....."

I completely agree! There's nothing I can really point it out about him because he seems like a nice enough guy. But I still think there's something he's hiding and I'm not the biggest fan of him.

[Rebecca]

Chapter 5-11

(view spoiler)[ Annnnd we are back in the 18th century! I'm so glad we haven't seen the last of Jamie, but its hard to read about him knowing that soon he will be dead and won't be able to meet his daughter. I wonder if Claire is looking into his death hoping to go back in time and change it? I really hope so.

I can't tell if they are going to be able to change history or not. They killed Randall, but there are no signs that his death has changed anything in the future. I wonder how they are going to fare with preventing Prince Charles' uprising.

I also like this part because we are getting a historical glimpse into the court of France in the 18th century, which I didn't know anything about. It reminds me of when we learned about the Scottish in the first book. I like the addition of historical facts along side the narration of Claire's life.

I wonder if we will see more of Peter Randall?! Maybe he's really Frank's ancestor since he looks exactly like him....

And of course Jamie is getting on my nerves a little bit with his stubborness about what Claire should and shouldn't do. I hope he dials it down a bit. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma (M)]

Chapters 5-10

(view spoiler)[I am enjoying the return to the 18th century, primarily because I want to find out how the hell Claire ended up back in the 20th century - how does she go from being with Jamie in France, to wondering around the scottish highlands in her present time? It must be going to happen soon, given she is already pregnant in France.

I agree with RebeccaS that the glimpse into the French courst is interesting - especially how the french King has random people watch him get up every morning, even to the point of being there when he is on the toilet!!!

Well, I am just up to the point where Frank/Jonathan Randall/another look alike has just turned up at the French Court - I can't wait to see what happens next. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Emma wrote: "RebeccaS wrote: "Chapter 1-5 Thoughts.

So we find out that poor Jamie died in the battle and somehow Claire returned to her modern time. She had Brianna and told her that Frank was her father. I..."

Chapters 1-3

(view spoiler)[ I also do not like Roger yet. I think it's because he's got this infatuation with Bree...but kind of for no reason other than she's pretty...I mean, it's one thing to obsess over a handsome/pretty person. On the other hand, it's weird to think you're going to marry them after you've literally talked to them twice for around thirty minutes tops. Just seems kind of creepy. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma (M)]

Yep, totally creepy!

[Shannon]

Taryn wrote: "Emma wrote: "RebeccaS wrote: "Chapter 1-5 Thoughts.

So we find out that poor Jamie died in the battle and somehow Claire returned to her modern time. She had Brianna and told her that Frank was ..."

Exactly how I felt about it!

[ClaireB]

Chapter 2 I'm know I'm a bit slow, but I've a lot of books to read beside this one
(view spoiler)[claire tells Roger that Jamie dies. I can't believe it!! Noooooo!

So Roger discovers that Brianna isn't Frank's daughter. He seems to believe that Brianna isn't aware of that. But Claire request to not mention Jamie makes me believe that it's not the case (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

At Chapter 9:

(view spoiler)[ I'm somehow liking this book more than the first one. There are way more political intrigues and interesting characters. I like seeing Claire away from Jamie a little bit. I am really interested to see how he died, especially because we're getting the gist, as readers, that Randall probably isn't dead, Claire probably tries to convince Jamie of this fact, and he doesn't listen, etc. That might why she goes all batty at the graveyard and yells, "I told you!" Anyway, I'm glad of the fact that this book is more about historical events and less about the romance. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Finished Part 2

(view spoiler)[Things did finally pick up for me, and I was able to get into the French storyline a little more than I had been. I'm still not hooked though, but it's better at least. I don't know why that has remained such a struggle for me. I like historical fiction generally. I guess I'm struggling with a believability factor with Jamie and Claire a part of the French court trying to circumvent the Jacobites. It all feels so contrived.

That part with Bonnie Prince Charles coming through their window -- ummm......Seriously! So now he and Jamie are big buds and Claire is bff with Charles' mistress.

I do still like the relationship of Jamie and Claire. I'm enjoying Claire's work at the hospital. I still want to see where it goes, and how Claire winds up back in the future, what happens to Jamie, etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Part 3

(view spoiler)[for me at least, it's taking contrived to a whole other level. Mary Hawkins raped. Claire gets away with only rough treatment because her attackers believe she's some sort of sorceress -- based on what Jamie told 2 people while out drinking & then it was further spread by Master Raymond. Yet another rape. Galdon certainly likes using these as plot points....They can't do anything because they've got a huge dinner party....Mary bursts in drugged and incoherent & Jamie is therefore implicated. This is all magically taken care off then .... POOF .... Jonathan Randall's back. Jamie's on a mission. Dougal's suddenly there. Claire gets Randall arrested as one of her attackers.

If that's not all bad enough....Claire has the audacity to demand Jamie not kill Randall so that Frank still stands a chance at being born. Are you freaking kidding me???

This also means she's willing to allow this sweet young woman, whom she's friends with, who's just been raped to wind up marrying Jonathan Randall!!!!

SERIOUSLY????

I get that she's torn about Frank & his possible non-existence. There's all kinds of arguments to be made about that -- possible birth through another line etc. She's seemingly got no problems messing with the time line when it comes to Bonnie Prince Charles & Scotland.

........

I could keep ranting. I won't. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

What chapters are included in Part 2? I'm listening to the audiobook and I think I may have missed when it switched to Part 3.

[Shannon]

RebeccaS wrote: "What chapters are included in Part 2? I'm listening to the audiobook and I think I may have missed when it switched to Part 3."

Kindle chapters set it from Ch 6-17

Part 3 is 18-21

[Shannon]

RebeccaS wrote: "What chapters are included in Part 2? I'm listening to the audiobook and I think I may have missed when it switched to Part 3."

You def don't want to read my Part 3 rant, and it's most definitively a rant, until you've finished that section! ;)

[Rebecca]

Thanks Shannon! I'm almost done Part 2 then and definitely won't look at the spoilers...even though now I'm dying to!

I agree with you about part 2 (view spoiler)[ it definitely has gotten more interesting. There isn't so much action like there was in Outlander. Now it's more secrets, spying, and kissing royal butt to get in good favor. I'm kind of hoping something dramatic happens soon. Luckily, I was hooked by these characters in the first book, so I am pretty attached to them now.

I'm curious how their spying will progress, now that they suspect Prince Charles is scheming on his own to get back his crown. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

RebeccaS wrote: "Thanks Shannon! I'm almost done Part 2 then and definitely won't look at the spoilers...even though now I'm dying to!

I agree with you about part 2 it definitely has gotten more interesting. The..."

Ha! Part 3 is pretty short -- only 4 chapters, so shouldn't take as long as the others.

[Shannon]

Shannon wrote: "RebeccaS wrote: "Thanks Shannon! I'm almost done Part 2 then and definitely won't look at the spoilers...even though now I'm dying to!

I agree with you about part 2 it definitely has gotten more ..."

But I'll warn you, so much happens in that section I feel like I got whiplash just reading it! Don't start it unless you've got the time to read through all 4 chapters!

[Shannon]

Ch 25

Ummmmm ..... What the hell just happened?

[Shannon]

Part 4

(view spoiler)[My heart breaks.

I don't understand Claire's thinking at all here. I really don't. I don't get why she risked it to rush to stop Jamie. Then ... everything that happened after.

I don't understand what the heck that scene with Master Raymond in the hospital was about. At all!

This author has some serious issues with sex. Master Raymond. Fergus and Jonthan Randall. Claire and the King. (That's just in this one part)

It finishes with them back together (after being split up drastically yet again) fleeing back to Scotland. I'm sure there's more perils, more rapes, more separations in store.

I believe there's something like 10 novels (???) in this series & something is going to have to change for me to see myself continuing on... (hide spoiler)]

Can you tell I'm getting a touch frustrated? Ha!

[Emma (M)]

Part 3

(view spoiler)[ I haven't completely finished Part 3 yet, but have got to the part where Claire has bumped into Jack Randall at the Duke's house. I suppose we can't be too shocked at this, given Frank is still alive

I am finding that because I know that Claire ends up back in modern times with Frank, I just want them to hurry up and tell 'my how and why this happened, which means I am not enjoying the French section as much as I maybe would have if I didn't know what ends up happening to Claire. I also have to say that once again, Jamie's double standard between himself and Claire is driving me nuts. Apparently he is permitted to be deeply jealous, giving people dirty looks if they so much look askance at her, but she can't get upset if he spends all night at a brothel, obviously being touched up by the girls... grrr. Beside that I am enjoying the book for the most part. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Part 5

(view spoiler)[I enjoyed this section quite a lot. They're back in Scotland. Back at Lallybroch.

I know they're heading off to battle, but it was a much needed respite. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

Ch 44

Yep

(view spoiler)[Called it.

Yet another dramatic forced separation -- this time Claire's a hostage /rescued by the English. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

Okay finally finished Part 3.

(view spoiler)[ So poor poor Mary is raped, but of course Claire is not. She seems to get away unscathed more than anyone else in the books. Also, it was so random that scene was almost just stuck in there and then okay we're over it. That's a horrible thing to happen and it seemed like it was "taken care of" way too quickly.

Also I cannot cannot believe Claire would demand that Jamie not kill Randall!!! After all the horrendous things that he did to Jamie. And just so her husband (who she left and only brings up when it helps her get her way) isn't effected. That is seriously horrible and makes me wonder how much she really cares about Jamie. She is being the most selfish I've seen her so far and I hate it!

It's also a little too forced that Randall and Dougal have just showed up France at the same time and basically bumped into Claire. Strange.

She should be focusing on finding who attacked her poor friend instead of protected Randall and harming her husband in the process.

I hope things get better from here because I am really not enjoying the book right now. (hide spoiler)]

[Shannon]

RebeccaS wrote: "Okay finally finished Part 3s ..."


Me too

[Shannon]

Ch 46 ....

What the heck!