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A Breath of Snow and Ashes
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Lori
(new)
Jan 04, 2013 04:11PM
I just finished! Loved it even with the Lizzie/Beardsley ick factor, lol. Where do I sign up to marry Ian? I may need to take this Rachel chick out!
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I'm on to Echo now, and a scene just made me remember a question I had from ABOSAA. Did we ever find out how Malva knew about the scar on Jamie's behind?
I LOVED this book. It is my favorite of the series now. I whipped right through it. The other books had many parts that bored me, this had very little boring parts. In the past books I disliked Bree very much. Also I got a lot of hate on here for stating my opinion on my dislike of Roger. LOL. I have to say DG redeemed both characters to me. I enjoyed reading about them this time. Bree really grew up IMO and Roger finally found his place in that time. I was sad when they had to go. I was so happy for Roger when they discovered the mole that he and Jemmy shared. I was like YAY!
I didn't like how Lizzie and Malva ended up. I wanted to see them both married to A man(not two) and settled on Frasier's Ridge. I would have liked to see Lizzie and Ian married but oh well. As for Malva, I really liked her. I liked that she was interested in Claire's work and wanted to help. I didn't like what she said to Roger, although it was his doing(the gossip) Then I really hated what she did to Jamie. I KNEW who was the one who fathered he baby. I figured he killed he too.
So many people left or died that it was so sad at the end. It was like NOBODY was left on FR. It was just an empty feeling. Fergus, Marsali and their children. Bree, Roger and their children. Tom Christie, Malva and Allan(not that I cared about him)
It was so cute and sweet what the boys did when Fergus and Marsali were moving.
Of course I loved the Jamie and Claire moments.
One thing that I really HATE after reading this book is that William is not a part of Jamie's life. I sooooo wish that he could know Jamie and Bree. That part was also so sad, when William got to meet his big sister and niece and nephew but had no idea.
Shay wrote: "I LOVED this book. It is my favorite of the series now. I whipped right through it. The other books had many parts that bored me, this had very little boring parts. In the past books I disliked B..."
I agree with your whole post. Especially the Lizzie part. I would only add that this book made me fall in love with Ian :)
gertt wrote: "As for William, the series isn't over and I'm sure we'll meet up with William again."In her blog where she was talking about the next one, she implied William would be a big part of the story. We're definitely not done with William.
I, too, think Ian is a *wonderful* character.
I would read a book about Ian! I wouldn't want the whole thing to be about his time with the Indians though...
I love this book but its such an emotional roller coaster I just wish Jamie and Claire could be happy without these horrible things happening all the time
Gina wrote: "I love this book but its such an emotional roller coaster I just wish Jamie and Claire could be happy without these horrible things happening all the time"I hear ya--but then there wouldn't be a story to tell! :)
Haha that's true. I'm near the end of ABOSAA and it's like I'm exhausted. Ah but the characters are worth the heartache
Have you finished the book yet? What's ur favorite moment so far?
Gina wrote: "Haha that's true. I'm near the end of ABOSAA and it's like I'm exhausted. Ah but the characters are worth the heartache"Ha! I'm always exhausted at the end of an Outlander novel!
Shay wrote: "I LOVED this book. It is my favorite of the series now. I whipped right through it. The other books had many parts that bored me, this had very little boring parts. In the past books I disliked B..."
Well last night I finished ABOSAA, for the first time. I am so sad today, walking around in a daze. I feel like I just lost my best friends and family all in one. I cried with Claire and Jammie. So, I didn't sleep really good, so I got up early and went back and re-read the last 6 or so chapters, just to enjoy it all again. I totally loved all your comments. I agree that it would have been so wonderful for Willie and Bree to "know" each other, and for Jamie to have time with just the three of them. Feeling strange about reading the next one, knowing that the new one doesn't come out until March. I don't think I can stand to wait if the outcome of Echo is awful.
Heather in FL wrote: "Gina wrote: "Haha that's true. I'm near the end of ABOSAA and it's like I'm exhausted. Ah but the characters are worth the heartache"Ha! I'm always exhausted at the end of an Outlander novel!"
Didn't sleep well last night, got up early to re-read the last 6 or so chapters of ABOSAA. Feeling sad and lonely for my Fraser/MacKenzie friends and family. Yuck. Afraid to start Echo, cuz I know that if it leaves me hanging, I'm hanging until next March!
gertt wrote: "Ahh...go ahead and read Echo...you may as well be in the same boat as the rest of us..."LOL! So true!
Does anyone think Clare lets Jamie get away with too much? I couldn't believe that she just handed over her rings to him to gamble with. She got mad about it and that was it. I would have refused.
Also any idea's as to who it was in the room that night when Clare was trying to go to sleep? Do you think it was Jamie or that other guy? (Can't remember his name) Gabaldon never resolved that.
Mrsbooks wrote: "Also any idea's as to who it was in the room that night when Clare was trying to go to sleep? Do you think it was Jamie or that other guy? (Can't remember his name) Gabaldon never resolved that."So far as I can recall, no I don't think that one's ever been resolved. A few more possibilities and questions, but no resolution, alas.
Mrsbooks wrote: "Does anyone think Clare lets Jamie get away with too much? I couldn't believe that she just handed over her rings to him to gamble with. She got mad about it and that was it. I would have refused."I think it's called "blind faith." It's part of that loving someone, to the point that you trust them completely. Would she trust him with her life? Well, yes, she's done that several times. Would she trust him with a couple rings? Why not?
There's also the possibility she was a bit peevish with him at the time (as I recall.) Maybe this was a way of baiting him into a major tearing-down, if he failed to return them, giving him just enough rope to hang himself, as it were.
Kerry wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "Does anyone think Clare lets Jamie get away with too much? I couldn't believe that she just handed over her rings to him to gamble with. She got mad about it and that was it. I w..."He asked for the gold which was Frank's but she gave him both which indicated, to me, that if he was gonna risk Frank's symbol of love he damn well could risk his symbol, too! She also trusts him with her life so why not the rings?
Kerry wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "Also any idea's as to who it was in the room that night when Clare was trying to go to sleep? Do you think it was Jamie or that other guy? (Can't remember his name) Gabaldon never ..."I believe she established that Jamie stopped just outside the room but did not enter it so that it kind of points to Phillip Wylie as the one in the room.
Gen wrote: "Kerry wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "Does anyone think Clare lets Jamie get away with too much? I couldn't believe that she just handed over her rings to him to gamble with. She got mad about it and tha..."But the gold would be worth more, and he was entering a high stakes game, so that would be the more reasonable one to take. The silver wouldn't go for much.
Gen wrote: "Kerry wrote: "Mrsbooks wrote: "Also any idea's as to who it was in the room that night when Clare was trying to go to sleep? Do you think it was Jamie or that other guy? (Can't remember his name) G..."....kind of points...." but doesn't really nail it, and we know how much DG loves a good plot twist.
To me it doesn't matter which ring was worth more but that he was willing to risk something that meant a lot to her gambling. GAMBLING. lolOh and don't forget gambling because he was goated into playing because of his pride.
I think I would have kicked his ass just for suggesting it.
Am I cofused, or did this little scene happen in The Fiery Cross? That's when Claire gave Jamie her rings to gamble with (chapter 46), or did I miss something isn A Breath of Snow and Ashes?Wouldn't surprise me if I missed something.
Carren wrote: "Am I cofused, or did this little scene happen in The Fiery Cross? That's when Claire gave Jamie her rings to gamble with (chapter 46), or did I miss something isn A Breath of Snow and Ashes?Would..."
LOL..... a slight digression in progression.
Carren wrote: "Am I cofused, or did this little scene happen in The Fiery Cross? That's when Claire gave Jamie her rings to gamble with (chapter 46), or did I miss something isn A Breath of Snow and Ashes?Would..."
Just finished FC and that scene was definitely from FC, Carren.
So I just started listening to ABoSaA. I'm not far in but I love those Beardsleys. Roger's tale about Regor and Eigger was so sweet. He did not start out as one of my favorites, but now I love Roger. Jamie is still King, but Roger is prince, for sure.
Can anyone explain to me why Roger was angry when Jamie singled him out to speak at the funeral of the Dutch family? I've read that bit over and over and can't figure it out.
Burbanista wrote: "Can anyone explain to me why Roger was angry when Jamie singled him out to speak at the funeral of the Dutch family? I've read that bit over and over and can't figure it out."I think it's mostly just the self-consciousness of speaking with his voice destroyed. It took him a long time to be comfortable speaking in front of people and Jamie knew he was uncomfortable with it.
I barely remember the scene but didn't it also have something to do with religion in general?Something like Roger not being certain of what to say as to not offend, or perhaps Jamie chose him because of his religion? I don't really remember very well, but I thought it had something to do with something like that.
I said an awful lot of somethings in here lol.
Haha. "Something" is better than nothing, Mrs! Good memory you have for what was a small scene in a 900+ page book. It piqued my interest though because Tom Christie, the Protestant schoolmaster was also there. I got it that Jamie preferred Roger over Christie. Just not sure why Roger
Jamie was trying to get Roger to use his voice again. It was his way of nudging him back.
Was so angry. Vicky might be right. Maybe he was embarrassed, but it didn't come across quite that way.
Thanks for all the thoughts, Ladies. I think you all got some part of it. I guess I just thought so much had gone on since the noose episode that Roger had made peace with his voice not being what it was. Didn't expect that issue to cause him so much pause this far away from it.
Jamie uses the fact that Roger is Protestant as an excuse, but even in the book Claire refers to it as pretext.From Page 12 of my Hardback, towards the end of Chapter 2 for anyone with different page numbers:
Kenny Lindsay asks Jamie if he will speak, Jamie shakes his head and...
"Nay, let Roger Mac speak. If these were Dutchmen, belike they were Protestant."
Dim as the light was, I saw the sharp glace Brianna shot at her father. It was true that Roger was a Presbyterian; so was Tom Christie, a much older man whose dour face reflected his opinion of the proceedings. The question of religion was no more than a pretext, though, and everyone knew it, including Roger.
Holy moly. I'm up to the part where Claire is tied to the tree! This whole part is shocking (and painful to read), especially after The Fiery Cross, which just trundled along. Since the start of this series, I've always been impressed by Claire, but I didn't LOVE Claire. Starting in Fiery Cross and culminating in her fight for breath at the tree (battling broken nose and gagged mouth), I realize she is as impressive a woman as I've ever run across in fiction. When she is exhorting herself not to cry so she can focus on drawing breath, I was blown away by the sheer mental strength and discipline of the woman. She really is something else.Up until this point, I've had Alex, the old horse master from Castle Leoch's words in my head. Alex said very early on that Jamie would need to marry a woman, not a girl. Well Jamie ended up with a woman for sure!
Wonderfully surprising how Arch Bug has emerged as an intelligent, compassionate elder statesman amongst the Fraser's Ridge men!Stomach still in a knot from the whole Hodgepile episode.
I hate that Malva Christie!!! What a snake.
Finished ABoSaA yesterday and LOVED it. Still in decompression mode, but had to start the first couple chapters of Echo. (Couldn't go without Davina's voice following me around on my daily progress!) As with all the Outlander books, a ton of stuff got packed in. Still reeling from Lizzie's storyline, as well as Malva's, and Roger & Bree's. The Bugs were a total surprise. Never saw that coming. Nor Fergus and Marsali's drama. And through it all, Claire and Jamie, acting as anchor.
As I get further in this series, I realize I made one strategic error in my progression. I read the first 4 books and skimmed FC years ago. Starting in fall last year, I started on the audio for the series. At that point, I had given away the first 4 paperbacks (yes, what the heck was I thinking!). So I re-purchased the 7-book Kindle anthology, thinking I was saving myself the weight and space of having hardcopy if I wanted to flip back and forth between audio and reading. WRONG. The Kindle anthology is not "calibrated" with location numbers to differentiate amongst the novels. So trying to find a specific scene from a given novel in the Kindle anthology is very difficult since the collective location count goes up to 149614. (As a reference, a 503-page book has a location count of 8762.) In addition, when you go to the Kindle menu to get you to the Table of Contents, you get put into the ToC for Echo, not for the anthology as a whole.
What this all means is that it's been frustrating to find a scene in the book that I want to relive, or to see the written Gaelic and compare to the pronunciation in the audio books. Because I bought the anthology and not the individual ebooks, the audio cannot be Whispersynced. Bottom line: it's been really tough to do a simultaneous listen and read. I should have bought the individual ebooks. :(
Despite that long-winded analysis, I love this series beyond words. It has grown dearer to me with each book. I'm so glad that when WiMOHB comes out, I'll be able to sync the book and audio since Book 8 is not in the anthology!! Yippee.
I am in the middle of my first read through of ABOSAA and just came across Harley Boble. However, for the life of me I cannot remember who he is. Can anyone clear this up for me?
I think he was the thief-taker from Fiery Cross, who the McGillivray girls sat on until Jamie was summoned. Jamie and Claire caused him some humiliation during that incident (can't remember exactly) and that is why he was so hellbent on revenge.
Are you loving the book? I did. It was faster paced than FC. I'm about 20% into Echo in the Bone now. Yet another doozy. DG seemed to have upped the steaminess factor in this one. Jamie & Claire still got it goin' on! :)
Burbanista wrote: "I think he was the thief-taker from Fiery Cross, who the McGillivray girls sat on until Jamie was summoned. Jamie and Claire caused him some humiliation during that incident (can't remember exactly..."If my memory serves me (and that's suspect) didn't they sort of threaten to "slaughter him like a hog".
I am really enjoying it! I really liked FC I just read it much slower than all of the others.
OT: Burbanista, your message #198 above touches on something I don't understand. How to find something in the books by using your Kindle. May I presume it would be the same on my Nook? Can you explain the procedure to me, perhaps in a pm if this is too offtopic? Or jcgobel@msn.com? I've often wondered how people found scenes so quickly in conversations online :-) Thanks, Jean in Lakewood
Jean I am in the same boat. I love reading electronically because I can do it in any light, I can enlarge the font and for books like these they are easier to transport and hold with out getting numb fingers. I hate that I cannot just flip back a couple of chapters to reread something that I may have missed or search for something I know is there somewhere so I can quote.
Ok so I need some reassurance. I am at the part where (view spoiler) I just need reassurances that things do work themselves out. I am almost done with the book and don't see how things can get back to the happiness that they were in the amount of book I have left.
Outlander Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook (other topics)The Outlandish Companion (other topics)
The Outlandish Companion Volume Two: The Companion to The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo in the Bone, and Written in My Own Heart's Blood (other topics)
