Outlander Series discussion
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Drums of Autumn
message 451:
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C
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Mar 26, 2017 03:43PM
Jennifer, I hope your eye surgery goes well. I assume you said Happily because you will be out of work a few days and have some extra reading time. O have heard of the Poldark series, Into t\The Wilderness and The Bronze Horseman before but not had the pleasure of taking on these splendid sounding books. I am sure I would like them as a historical fiction lover, , and I will read some of them later in the year. Thanks for the recommendation.
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MichaelCollins wrote: "DG does her research well and doesn't scrimp on the detail. You almost feel like you are in the 18th century to the point where you are glad you aren't"I can relate to that! Zapped into a documentary on tv the other day about the war of independence. First they dropped the name "Daniel Morgan" and I instantly remembered the scenes from the book and how Jamie didn't want to shoot. Next it was "Simon Fraser" and I was in the hut in my mind where Simon lay dying with Jamie and William on each side of him. I didn't even try to remember it, the images simply popped into my head even though it's more than a year since I read the story! If those books don't make history come alive, I don't know what does.
Yeah -- the only complaint I have their is she SORTA lets the historical background overwhelm the Jamie/Claire story a bit. She does it well but somes OVERDOES it as if I wanted to lean more about the minunitae of th revolution I'd pick up a history book. None of it is inaccurate tho
I am a Living Historian, and the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries are my specialities, particularly women's history and slavery history. Diana gets the history right, which gratifies me to no end. I love the little touches she adds that really ground you in the time and place. The books have inspired me to learn Gaidhlig (Gaelic).I've been known to stop reading a book that doesn't get the historic background right.
I could very comfortably live in the eighteenth century (I definitely have the skills) but I am extremely happy I don't!
Parker, I so agree with you about how Diana brings those scenes from history alive. It feels as if we, the readers are magically transported back in time with Jamie and Claire experiencing those snippets of history with them. That's why I love it so much that it is almost like reading a page out of a non fiction book, only with benefits LOL.
The writers and costume designers of the Starz series sure do a good job of bringing it to life
I haven't seen the series yet, but I have looked at the "Making of..." book, and the clothing is entirely spot on. I'm always impressed when costumers nail it.
I do love the TV series but for me there is not nearly the same level of commitment and absorption. It is a treat to watch and I love it but I am not addicted. I am not sure if it is because it is broken down into episodes with a week wait in between, because I already know the story or the fact that it is a visual medium and everything is given to you instead of being a reader and imagining it all. I am glad I read the books first and was able to binge read the series through Echo. I do think I get mentally and emotionally more involved when I can binge at my own pace instead of waiting so that may be the biggest issue for me,
NOW I have read all the books so am particulary waiting to see what Voyager and Drums of Autum look like
Diane, I can totally relate to your feelings about Starz's series. While I enjoy the shows, I don't feel addicted to the visual medium as I am to the novels. I would have been very happy if Jamie Fraser had never had an actor's face. I also feel that the novels strike a far deeper chord in my heart. I agree that on screen the depth of our characters experiences are limited to two dimensional and though at times painful to watch if the characters are suffering, reading about it feels more fulfilling.
The past few days I have had tired eyes, so I have been reading Drums, with immersion reading on my kindle fire. It's kind of nice hearing Davina Porter as my kindle highlights the text in the book. Since i was exposed to the show first, i admit i see the actors as I read. I think all these different formats have added to my enjoyment of it all.
Yeah I too visualize the actors as I go through it and realize how well the series matched them to the content
Cheri wrote: "Diane, I can totally relate to your feelings about Starz's series. While I enjoy the shows, I don't feel addicted to the visual medium as I am to the novels. I would have been very happy if Jamie F..."I have only watched a few episodes of round 1 and I have to admit that there are things I really don't want to see, even though I'm okay with reading them. While reading, it's up to me how much detail I want to imagine and there are things I just kinda skim over. But on the show you're forced to watch, whether you want to or not. I'm glad I haven't seen Jamie's rape and I certainly don't want to. And still the show has an atmosphere that perfectly transports the atmosphere in the book.
But I agree with you, Cheri, the books have so much more depth. I'll always go for reading if I have the choice!
Annette, it goes to show that though movies and television adaptations are frequently very well done due to time limits and budgetary constraints staying true to the novel is a huge challenge. Ron Moore and his great team have done an excellent job with Outlander. But for book enthusiasts they are never going to be enough.
Cheri wrote: "Jennifer, I hope your eye surgery goes well. I assume you said Happily because you will be out of work a few days and have some extra reading time. O have heard of the Poldark series, Into t\The Wi..."Happily because I could keep the Drums of Autumn in hand until afterwards! A sort of reward.
Poldark was one of my teenage pleasues and has been a recent show in the UK produced by the BBC - not Outlander but really very good starring Aidan Turner, a young, Byronic Irish actor in the title role.
But, happy days, I shall be in Scotland in the near future - a short ferry ride from Northern Ireland.
Cheri, so true! I just can't shake the habit of comparing! I sit there and watch a movie and all the while I go "that's wrong. Oh no, that's not the way it went in the book." What can I say? I'm a book person through and through. I can enjoy a good movie, but only if I haven't read the book.
Annette, I too have always been a book person through and through! Every episode of Outlander that aired had me finding scene after scene that was not in the books and I had to force myself to stop comparing because it distracted me from enjoying the show. We know in advance that Ron Moore's Voyager adaptation is going to veer very sharply from what we have read.
Cheri wrote: "Annette, I too have always been a book person through and through! Every episode of Outlander that aired had me finding scene after scene that was not in the books and I had to force myself to stop..."Wonder how big the variation will be? More time spent in Boston w/Frank? Jamie's time in the cave or the prison reduced? I'm guessing they will try to minimize the time they are apart. Maybe eliminating/minimizing the part where Laoghaire shoots Jamie?
The first massive change is going to be recreating Jamie's amnesic memories on the battlefield at Culloden and will cut into one of the episodes that will begin Voyager and you are right about Frank. They will probably show his parting with Claire. After that we have to wait.
I have faith in the writers and confidence in their abilities
I just listened to the scene where Roger meets Jamie for the first time. It was a bit sad with what happens to Roger. I can't help but be upset by the silly mis-communication that led to this horrible introduction.
Tracy wrote: "I just listened to the scene where Roger meets Jamie for the first time. It was a bit sad with what happens to Roger. I can't help but be upset by the silly mis-communication that led to this horri..."Oh yes! The first time I read it I kept thinking: "Guys, you can't be serious!" But they are and a lot of heart-wrenching things come out of that. But isn't it amazing how such a story can affect you? I've cried over more than one scene in the series, believe me.
It is amazing how a story can affect you...I've been thinking about poor Roger all day!
As long as it turns out okay I'll be fine....
Even better was reading the Novella about Roger meeting his father who inadvertently went back in time
Well, I guess it turns out okay somehow, but many people are changed by the events and it shows quite clearly that you simply cannot undo the decisions you make. You will have to live with the consequences. I think there's a lot of hope there if you know that life will go on, no matter what happened to you and you are still able to turn things with your next decision. If things go wrong, you can sit down and feel sorry for yourself or you get up and fight. Most of the characters in this book are get up and fight characters.
Yeah -- with fists, swords, pistols or dirks. Back in the 18th cent they had alot of options
Alright...time to listen again so I'll find out what happens....
I just got through the part with Bree and Stephen Bonnet. Then i began thinking we are starting to have an increasing number of children who are conceived in one time and raised in another so far in this story. Bree and now her baby will potentially be travelling back to the future. It got me thinking how if they had stayed put would they have lived to adulthood since the mortality rate was so high for babies and children in the past.
Well their granny is Claire and she would make sure they had the best medical practices, hygiene habits, nutrition etc. Just like the chances of them not loosing their teeth by age 30, their chances of survival are significantly higher than the average child of the time.
Diane wrote: "Well their granny is Claire and she would make sure they had the best medical practices, hygiene habits, nutrition etc. Just like the chances of them not loosing their teeth by age 30, their chance..."Good point.
Babies were then as now born with congenital defects and infections along with childhood diseases.that cause infant mortality like (view spoiler)
I'm about 150 pages and I am so far loving it. My favourite outlander book is dragonfly in Amber so I hope it is equally as good. what is your favourite book of this series?
Actually Voyager for me -- slam bang action -- literally
My favorite is also Voyager followed closely by Outlander. My favorite part in the whole series (I think) is when Jamie and Claire reunite in Voyager. My least favorite was Dragonfly because I didn't care for a lot of the Paris part of the story and it was so political which lost interest for me. That being said, Dragonfly was still an awesome book and I love ALL of the books in the series.
Drums is my favorite, followed by Echo and MOBY, which I would have to reread to choose between. ABOSAA is my least favorite, though it still ranks above most books by other authors.
I like the first volume, Outlander, best because it is totally fresh and sets the whole series up. I very much like the Drums of Autumn because it progresses the main themes and is less overblown than some of the series. I like Voyager least, the first part is brilliant but the second half is wildly over the top. They are all fantastic novels and grat, if very bi, reads - so much to enjoy!
Tracy wrote: "As long as it turns out okay I'll be fine...."Oh my gosh! This is one of the novellas?! That was so interesting in the book, but so briefly mentioned, but DG tells the story? I would love to hear his experience.
I'm towards the end of DoA. TBH I'm reading it in anticipation of the Starz series starting in November. Its my first time through, but I love the books and the show. Everything Diana writes is interesting. You're in anticipation of one scene coming up, but you're ok when she detours to something completely different because its equally as interesting. How does she do that??
I do want to comment and I saw it awhile back in the thread that Jamie seems a bit out of character this book. Not as smart and level-headed as usual. The way he inflicts physical punishment is extreme, even for him. Its like there wasn't a war going on, but DG still wanted to show Jamie's warrior side and I don't know if I was buying it.
Droughtlander IS coming to an end -- seems like 100 yrs
I’m getting so excited to watch season 4.
I am currently reading book #2, first time, and I saw the serie, and I still love both, I think they are so well done that you have to give them their merits, the books are spectacular and the actors of the series a marvel. Don't you think? :)
Drums of Autumn is good --- it really lays the groundwork for Jamie & Claire's new time on NA -- I think this is the one Brianna goes back isn't it?
Yes, i think so. I'm finally on Abosaa now, but I'm nearly positive
Sam on Instagram had some VERY enthusiastic comments about this season so it so it sounds like lots to look forward to in about a month!!
I will have to looks those up. A week or so ago i began rewatching all the shows again in prep (perhaps to feed the droughtlander hole a bit) for the upcoming season. I have seen pics of the Fraser Ridge house on Pintrest. Nd have downloaded tons of series pics there for myself.
Yes, Brianna and Roger first go back in this one. I've pretty much plotted out how the corresponding to episodes will play out and by my best guess, the first seven episodes will be mostly Jamie and Claire with a little bit of 20th century Roger and Brianna, and the following six episodes will be the events following Brianna and Roger going back.
That is completely in line with some of the pictures i am finding on pintrest for my outlander collection there It's truly amazing the ways we find to fill droughtlander time isnt it.
November 4th can't arrive soon enough
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