Outlander Series discussion
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Linda
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May 29, 2011 01:05PM
I am about a 1/3 of the way through Echo in the Bone and I am struggling. The portions with William are so long and drawn out. Are they important to the outcome of the story? I love Jaime, Claire, Roger, Bree and Ian but William not. Someone help me so I keep going. Thanks!!!
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I agree Linda. I like Echo in the Bone but, it seems as though William is always lost and wandering. It gets pretty old. I read the books twice and liked it much better the second time but I will admit I skipped some of the parts with William the second time.
I had a bit of a hard time with it during the first read. I enjoyed it a lot more the second time around (I listened to the audio version). Personally, I think all of it is important in its way and I wouldn't skip it if it's your first read. It might feel a little tedious but it does help you get to know William (and personally I think that's worthwhile - I ended up REALLY liking him by the end of the book.)Good luck!
I ended up really liking him too. I also liked his parts. I struggled with John's parts the most.
I think we read more about William in this book because he may be more of a central character in the next book. I must say that I'm really starting to like his character and hope we "see" more of him in the next book.
William the character does not bother me as much as the lengthy history around him. I read these books more for the characters and their relationships than I do for the history. I was not a fan of The Fiery Cross either.
I had a very hard time with the first half of Echo too. William is okay, but enough is enough, and I felt like maybe I had missed a book in between because I really did not know him. After that many books of the characters we really love, I didn't need hundreds of pages of someone else. I skimmed a lot and tried to read it again but gave up. I probably will before the next book comes out.
I struggled to get through Echo because of too much detail regarding the war and William. I found TFC hard to get through for maybe the first half. I'll try to listen to Echo again before the next book comes out.
If I might make a suggestion.... I stopped halfway through Echo and read the Lord John series and I am so glad I did! Then I went back and started Echo over again. I enjoyed it so much more. The Lord John series really help me know who & how important some characters were. (especially Brother Hood of the Blade) They are fast reads and really help me know Lord John better. I really quite like him now. Love his dry sense of humor. Sense we still have a wait for book 8 it wouldn't hurt to give that a try. Hope that helps!
I've had the Lord John series suggested to me but just not interested. Not to criticize Diana (heaven forbid) but I don't think one should have to read a different series to enjoy the other and especially not after they are totally invested in one of them. It's okay to have some cross-over characters and that is often fun in books, but it really took away from my excitement of finally getting another Outlander book after waiting for years for it and then reading hundreds of pages of a character I did not know and really didn't get to know that well. Maybe that is just me.
Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) wrote: "I've had the Lord John series suggested to me but just not interested. Not to criticize Diana (heaven forbid) but I don't think one should have to read a different series to enjoy the other and es..."It's not necessary to read the LJ series; it just gives you more information to understand actions and responses alittle better. I was reluctant to read them at first, but, ended up really enjoying getting some background on LJ. I also enjoy his sense of humor and approach to the world. Just don't give up on Echo; it really is an amazing book. And, it is true the more times you read it; the better it gets. It ended up being one of my favorites.
Well said Mary!Terry I didn't mean to make it sound like you couldn't enjoy Echo w/o reading Lord John. Every one has their own preferences.
I was just saying that in My experience The other series made me enjoy Echo even more. I think Mary explained it better then I did.
I did have quite a few "Aw Ha!" moments after reading LJ & re-reading Echo. I just made the suggestion because I thought it would help. I think you will still like Echo if you stick with it. I wouldn't skim though because Diana has a way of writing that something that seems irrelevant becomes very relevant later on.
I didn't mean I gave up on Echo - I read it and will read it again, but I did struggle with the first half and was disappointed in it until I got part way through. I have had people telling me to read the Lord John books ever since Echo came out (of course I had it pre-ordered and read it the minute it came out). I admit I just wanted more of my favorite characters' stories because to me that is what Outlander is. I had read them quite a few years before Echo came out and re-read them all in preparation for it's release. And I didn't skim a LOT!
I didn't read the Lord John books and still enjoyed Echo, so it isn't necessary.I can still see how it would make the experience better. (I talk about Buffy a lot, so bear with me.) In Buffy, you can watch season 4 alone. Just like you can watch Angel season 1 alone. But if you watch them together, (Buffy, Angel, Buffy, Angel, Buffy, Angel, etc), you get a whole different experience. There are whole new meanings to the episodes. So I imagine reading Lord John first adds a new meaning to Echo that only people who've read them get.
That's why I'm going to read them before I reread Echo for the second time. I want the full experience.
LOL! ok I miss understood I didn't realize you already read Echo. I just bought Outlander & Dragonfly in Amber on Audio and I talked my Husband into listening to it with me. That will keep me busy till book 8 comes out.
Fawn wrote: "LOL! ok I miss understood I didn't realize you already read Echo. I just bought Outlander & Dragonfly in Amber on Audio and I talked my Husband into listening to it with me. That will keep me busy ..."Fawn - you'll love the audiobooks! And, they add another layer to the stories, as well. Let us know how your husband responds to them.
Wendy - very good illustration!
Mary, I am loving it already! We are only at the part when Claire gets to the Castle. I have discovered I was butchering a few names in my head, it's nice to hear them pronounced correctly!As for my DH, so far so good.(I am worried about how he'll react to the treatment of Jamie by BLR though.) Waiting for him to have time to read is hard. lol I would listen 24/7 if I could!! I am just happy is willing to read/listen to them with me. We listen to Davina Porter from my Laptop and read along with her via my Kindle. I am loving that!
