I Don’t Understand Your Talk, Highlanders! {Outlander Read-Along Week 1}

Posted June 18, 2012 by Asheley in Uncategorized / 23 Comments

Welcome to Week One of the Read-Along everybody! Jess from Gone With the Words has written some questions and I’ve tried to answer them. 

These come from Chapters 1-7. 



The Questions for Week Two will come from Carrie from Stalking the Bookshelves and can be found on her blog today.

It isn’t too late to sign up to read along with us. The Twitter hashtag for this event is #OutlanderRA, so tweet while you read!

Week One: Okay, here we go!

1. Outlander is a well-known book. Before you cracked it open, what were your expectations or assumptions about this story? Or did you jump into it with a blank slate?

I’ve had real-life friends that have been telling me that I need to read this book for years. And I’ve always meant to, but I just never gotten around to it. I actually have borrowed the book once, but it was mass market paperback and it was so clunky, I just didn’t finish it. (ugh, I know – excuses!) I’ve even checked it out of the library twice and not read it. (ugh, I know – lazy!)

Because of my IRL friends, I know that there is a hot dude in the book that I’m probably gonna end up falling in love with. I’m thinking there is a hot romance too, which I’m totally okay with. I know there is some time-jumping and that the lead female character is a nurse. And that the language will slow me down a little bit. Okay, more than a little bit. Other than that, I know nothing!

*EDIT: After reading and answering the rest of the questions, I have determined that everything I knew about the book before I started has now already been proven and from Chapter 7 onward, everything is unknown to me! VERY EXCITING TO THIS GIRL.  

2. Claire’s husband, Frank, is fascinated with learning more and more facts about his family tree, which extends back pretty far. Do you or anyone in your family keep a family tree? How many years/generations back does it go? If not, have you ever considered or attempted to create one?

I have no idea if anyone in my family keeps a family tree! I’m sure somebody probably does, but I’m not really into all of that stuff so I’ve never asked about it. I know my grandparents on my Dad’s side had pictures of their family crests hanging on their walls, which really has nothing to do with the question, but I’m throwing it in there anyway so I’ll look like a little bit less of a slacker in terms of my family history. Because it has to count for something that I know about these crests, right?

I am in no way interested at this point in making a family tree or researching family heritage. That may sound harsh or gruff or whatever, but right now I’m all about making things easier on myself, not harder. Just speaking the truth, people. Life in my house is a constant hustle and bustle, keeping Ash on her toes – it’s all I can do to keep up with the history of my own household.

For those that are really into that sort of thing or that want to, y’all are awesome! I just cannot imagine myself being able to accomplish anything like that at this point in my life. I count it a success if I can make it beyond my coffeepot some days. 

3. How did you find Claire’s initial conclusion as to her surroundings after waking up from going through the stones? Did you think that was a reasonable conclusion?

Honestly, those initial thoughts were a little funny. To me, Claire’s thoughts seemed a little out of place and made me chuckle – but when I thought about it, she was out of place so I guess it makes sense that her initial response would be sort of wonky. I guess…I just think the way that scene played out in my head must have seemed funny to me because I actually did chuckle. And this isn’t a funny book, right? Why do I always think everything is funny? I don’t know.

Reasonable conclusion? Um, that’s a hard thing for me to say. It seems really obvious to me what her surroundings are because I know the area and a tiny bit about the history. (TINY BIT, y’all don’t go crazy with that and start asking any hard questions.) But for Claire, I’m sure she was pretty shocked after the weirdness of moving through the stones – because that was described as a pretty unusual process – and then waking up and having to think fast on her toes? I’m not sure if it  is a reasonable conclusion or not, but I can see how she would come to it. 

Still made me laugh, though. *shrugs shoulders*

4. How about her composed, rational way of dealing with the fact she’s traveled back in time. Did you find it believable? Do you think you would have acted the same way?

This is a great question. I like it very much!  

You know, I do think Claire’s reaction is believable because she’s been composed and rational about other out-of-place or odd things that have happened in the book so far – the man at the gate, the scene with Frank at the stones, etc. I find her character to be very chill and easygoing, composed and rational – just like the question says. So, yeah, I believe it. Totally. The fact that she’s still thinking of Frank here and there in her inner dialogue tells me that she’s freaking out a little on the inside but is able to be calm on the outside. I love this about Claire.

Would I have acted the same way? Heck no. I’m pretty sure I’m not composed or rational about anything that happens in my life as it is. Throw me into this situation and I’m sure I’d be a nutcase! I’d be the total opposite of Claire, probably. The only way I’d be able to stay composed is through the nursing Claire is doing because I’m also a nurse – for some reason, this is the only area of my life that I can always keep my head about me and think rationally and calmly. 

5. At this point in the story, what are your feelings or expectations on Claire and Jamie? Is Frank still a factor for you?

At this point in the story – I won’t lie – I just want Claire and Jamie to kiss. We all know it’s coming! So bring it on. Nice big smooch and all that. I expect LOVE LOVE LOVE. (I will happily cite the reading of the palm lines as foreshadowing.)

I was on page nine and I texted my IRL friend Anna: “I’m nine pages into Outlander. When’s the GOOD STUFF????” <— actual text message

I’m pretty sure things will happen and things will get messy and poor Claire’s heart will be all confused and stuff. Again, I’m basing all of this on the palm-reading Claire had before she went through the stones. I’m kind of excited to read about it, and that is kind of messed up of me. But whatever. Bring it on. 

And yes, for me, Frank is still a factor, sure! Poor guy. As long as he’s a factor for Claire, he’s a factor for me. When she quits talking about him or thinking about him, though, I might forget about him, though, because I like Jamie better at this point. (Shallow, I know. Also honest!)

Bonus Question: Frank encounters a man outside of the inn where he and Claire are staying. He is afraid it might have been a ghost. What do you believe it was? Do you have any predictions or suspicions on what that was about?

Oooh, wouldn’t it be cool if it was time-traveling Jamie?

I really have no idea who the mystery-man is. I want it to be Jamie. But I have no idea. When I make predictions, I’m usually wrong. So I’ll just say only that and maybe we’ll see!

**************************************************

Here’s the remainder of the schedule: 

June 25th
Questions for chapters 8-14 answered & questions announced for chapters 15-21 on Tangled up in Blue

July 2nd
Questions for chapters 15-21 answered & questions announced for chapters 22-28 on Into the Hall of Books

July 9th
Questions for chapters 22-28 answered & questions announced for chapters 29-35 on Logan E. Turner

July 16th
Questions for chapters 29-35 answered & questions announced for chapters 36-41 on The Reading Housewives

July 23rd
Questions for chapters 36-41 answered on Gone with the Words.

The end.  

I kind of love this book so far. 


Asheley

About Asheley

Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.

You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.

Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!

Divider

23 responses to “I Don’t Understand Your Talk, Highlanders! {Outlander Read-Along Week 1}

  1. I have a real life friend that has told me the same thing 🙂

    I know nothing of my family tree Asheley…I'm not even sure of my great-grandparents names on either side of my family…

    I would not have been as composed as Claire…I wish I was as composted and put together as she is in my everyday life. I'm a wee (snort) bit jealous of her actually.

    I had similar thoughts in regards to Frank.

    I'm happy you're loving it now 🙂

    • I am loving it. I almost wish I could race through it like you did but I know that I'll forget details and not be able to answer questions/discuss like I want to. So I'm *trying* to be restrained. Plus there's contemporary month, so that will help me. Hopefully!

  2. So glad you finally got into the book! Sometimes it just takes a few tries, right? And as for waiting for the good stuff between Claire and Jamie, I totally agree! It was hard to stop at Ch. 7 because I've read it before and so I know the deliciousness that's in store. I have to say, though, that it feels a lot less romance-y to me this time around. I wouldn't mind a few more smooching scenes earlier on. 🙂

    • Me too Heather! I'm so glad you're reading with us!
      I WANT to read ahead, but with contemporary month I just don't think I'll be able to juggle it. But I really really am ready to get to the good stuff! I'm jealous of all of you that have read the good parts!

  3. I am that Real-Life friend that has been pushing this book on everyone I know forever 🙂 I always tell people–get past page 50 and you won't regret it!

    I am so like you, I would have not reacted anywhere near as rationally as Claire. I would have freaked-the-heck-out and then passed out. I have never passed out a day in my life but that would cause me too 🙂

    • I'll have to spend time now telling my real-life friends all about this reading experience. They'll be happy, particularly Anna, the one I wrote about. She has loved these books for so long!

      Freak-the-heck-out is absolutely right! That's me to a T!

  4. I think everything I knew about has been taken care of too, so that's pretty exciting lol! And we pretty much had the same answer on question 3 – I think her assumption was believable, but not necessarily reasonable, if that makes sense 🙂

  5. i like that you're honest that you wouldn't be able to handle it as well as she did, and although I'd like to think I would handle it as well as she did, the truth is I would probably freak out and faint. i'm glad you're liking the book, I am too. I just had to keep reading until I got to the good stuff. now i'm okay. 🙂 i'll wait until next week to continue. ~dixie

    • I'm really hoping the good stuff is soon. Or I'm just gonna have to break down and blow through it. That book just stares at me, seriously. But I'm SO forgetful that if I read too far ahead, I won't be able to answer any questions!

  6. Yes, bring on the smooching! When I first started this book, I didn't know it was a romance, so when I got to the GOOD STUFF, I was in for a bit of a shock. But still. Awesome. 🙂

  7. I'M FINALLY HERE! I'm totally excited about the mystery from here on out as well. Other than Claire and Jamie getting together, I really have no notions of what's going to happen, and I love that!

    I love you for finding things that aren't necessarily supposed to be funny funny. It makes me feel better about my own (somewhat sick) sense of humor. 😛

    Also HOW DID I NOT KNOW YOU WERE A NURSE? Hello awesome. Seriously you have my utmost respect because that is such a hard and noble profession. Lots of nurses in my family. And I really think that Claire's experience as a wartime nurse is part of what helps her stay so calm and collected. The situations she's been in are expounded upon what we're used to today, and so being able to keep a clear head is kind of vital for her.

    P.S. Word on the street is that the GOOD STUFF happens in Ch. 15. I just read 8 and 9 tonight…D:

    • YAY BUNBURY is back!!!

      You got me. I'm a nurse. L&D, actually. I'm not working at the moment, but I really do miss it terribly. And I'm LOVING that Claire is a nurse too. I'm loving that connection with her. It's helping me bridge the gap a little because I don't always *love* historical fiction, or rather I'm a bit new at it. So whenever she talks about the medical stuff, I'm basically in hog heaven. For serious.

      And yes, I love funny like nobody's business. I will laugh at things and find myself the only one sometimes. I was so nervous to put that as my answer because I KNEW it was supposed to be a serious question, but BAH. I am what/who I am! Take me or leave me. It was funny to me, so I'm telling the world!

      DUDE, I will anxiously await Chapter 15. I am almost to Chapter 11. SO CLOSE yet SO FAR AWAY. Contemporary Month is keeping me from reading ahead, which is really a good thing. I like taking it slow with these big chunkster books, because I'll end up remembering all of the details most likely. But YAY for Chapter 15. I'll throw confetti when I get there. 🙂

    • Do you like Urban Fantasy at all? I'm not sure I've seen you reading any before, but you being a nurse made me think of Nightshifted, which just came out in May. I haven't read it yet, but have heard good things, it was written by a nurse about a nurse working in a hospital for supernatural creatures!

Leave a Reply

Want to include a link to one of your blog posts below your comment? Enter your URL in the website field, then click the button below to get started.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.