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Broch Talk

Welcome to Broch Talk.

Please do NOT originate posts on this board. Please use the Book Board for book posts, the Social Board for general hoserosity, the Joke Board for jokes, and so on.
This board has a specific purpose: “A structured place for discussion of our favorite books," and we are sticking to it.

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Thanks for stopping by. Broch Talk is in limbo at the moment. As you can see in the archives, we have had polls, surveys, mini re-reads and trivia. If anyone has a burning desire to take the reins and start something, please contact me. :) ~ Judie

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WELCOME to the MARCH/APRIL POLL -- Pollsketeers, 10:06:25 03/29/10 Mon
Throughout the series, Ms. Gabaldon has had Claire, Bree and Roger make references to modern terms (songs, sayings, etc.) while in the past. For this month's poll, what is your favorite modern reference that is used. It is OK to use quotes from "An Echo in the Bone".

Have fun and the poll will close in approximately 7 days.

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Tally for the March /April Poll. -- The Pollsketeers, 08:28:13 04/13/10 Tue
Timmy's in the well won with 3 votes
The Spanish Inquisition -2
Jamie's Sperm -2
John Wayne -2
Ringo Starr -2

Thanks for playing along.

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WELCOME to the DECEMBER POLL -- Pollsketeers, 08:06:09 12/13/09 Sun
We did not tally the November poll since we asked for quotes. It is diffcult to tally a quote poll, but we hope you had fun and take a look at the responses.

Well, this is once again the season for giving. So, this is the theme of our poll. We know that Jamie does not wear a wedding ring. This year, Claire has decided to give Jamie a mathing ring to hers. But, what should she inscribe in it? Claire needs some suggestions as to what she should inscribe in Jamie's ring. Can you help her out?

Again, remember, NO QUOTES from ECHO. Have fun and the poll will close in about 7 days.

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Welcome to the OCTOBER POLL -- Pollsketeers, 09:37:30 10/08/09 Thu
You are cordially invited to an Outlander Halloween Party! You must come dressed as a character from one of the first 6 books (PLEASE NO CHARACTERS FROM AN ECHO in the BONE!) and tell us why you have chosen that character. You can even come dressed as Diana Gabaldon herself!

Have fun and the poll will close in 7 days.

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Mini-Reread for the Month of February, 2010: Claire and Lord John -- Tess, 03:40:14 02/15/10 Mon
This is my first time to host a Mini-Reread, so I hope that I've done things right.

The Relationship between Claire and Lord John

One aspect that draws me into Diana’s books is the way in which she depicts relationships between characters. Relationships are complex and fluid. People change and grow through age and experience, and the way that they interact with others does as well. One of the more fascinating depictions of relationships in the Outlander books is the one between Claire and Lord John. Their relationship exists greatly due to the connection each has with the other through Jamie, therefore, within a triangle.

Though they seem to have quite a bit in common, their interactions with one another are often complicated by jealousy and suspicion. What brings them together, their ties to Jamie, also keeps them apart in a way, causing the triangle to be incomplete. Both Claire and John have something unique that is shared with Jamie and not the other. For Claire, love, marriage, honesty, their child, create the solid line between her and Jamie. Between John and Jamie there is honor, the brotherhood of soldiers, friendship, and the illegitimate child of Jamie’s that John has taken to raise as his own which create the solid line connecting them. However, between John and Claire, there appears to have existed no connection apart from Jamie.

Reading Assignments:

LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, Chapter 21, ‘Cowardice,’ (hardback ed,) pp. 285 - 289.

VOYAGER, Chapter 48, ‘Moment of Grace.’

VOYAGER, Chapter 59, ‘In Which Much is Revealed.’

DRUMS OF AUTUMN, Chapter 26, ‘Plague and Pestilence,’ and Chapter 28, ‘Heated Conversation.’

DRUMS OF AUTUMN, Chapter 63, ‘Forgiveness.’ The conversation between Lord John and Claire.

AN ECHO IN THE BONE, Chapter 95, “Numbness.’

Discussion:

1) In BOTB, Lord John told Percy Wainwright about his humiliating encounter with Jamie and Claire in the woods in Scotland, when he was only sixteen. He spoke of it to Claire as well in VOYAGER. Claire’s comment to him was that he seemed to have forgiven Jamie for that encounter. Does it seem that Lord John held a grudge toward Claire for that night, out of proportion to her involvement in the events? Or was his evident resentment of her due to something else entirely?

2) Prior to Claire’s encounter with Lord John on the plague ship, Porpoise, when we only learn his identity after their encounter, we’ve seen him in the story as governor of Ardsmuir, and then briefly as Jamie’s sponsor at Helwater. At this point, we’re not yet aware of the friendship that had developed between the two men. What were your thoughts about the kind stranger before you learned his identity? What were your thoughts once you realized who he was?

3) In Chapter 59, ‘In Which Much is Revealed,’ Lord John and Claire have a very frank discussion about his connections with Jamie. What were your thoughts about John’s motives for revealing the existence of William to Claire? Was he trying to reassure her, or was it something else?

4) After Jamie and Claire have settled in the mountains of North Carolina, Lord John pays them a surprise visit, bringing his son William along with him. Claire finds herself the resentful caretaker of Lord John, who falls ill with the measles, while Jamie must depart for the Indian Village, taking young William with him. It seems out of her normal character for Claire to feel resentment toward a patient, but she does indeed find herself holding a grudge against John. Once Jamie is away, John and Claire have a very honest, if at times heated, confrontation about why he has come. What are your thoughts on how their time together as patient and caregiver, and the conversations they had, went toward forging a better understanding between them? How did you feel about John’s impromptu visit to the Ridge and the reason he gave for coming?

5) At the end of DRUMS, John and Claire part with a tentative acknowledgement of each one’s role as caretakers of those whom Jamie loves, perhaps a tentative liking for each other as well. The following two books sees the interaction mostly through letters and gifts. Claire still seems to harbor some mistrust of Lord John, particularly regarding his motives for sending Bobby Higgins to her for medical care. What were your thoughts about Claire’s suspicions in this circumstance, and about Jamie’s revelation of why he offered himself to John in thanks for taking care of William?

6) In AN ECHO IN THE BONE, John is in Philadelphia, seeking out medical help for his injured nephew Henry. He ponders the relationship between his nephew and his caretaker Mrs. Mercy Woodcock, which has plainly gone beyond the usual intimacy of a patient and nurse. He thinks of how this kind of attachment is common, and then when considering whether he himself has ever felt such a tendresse, he is startled that Claire Fraser suddenly comes to mind. In analyzing his feelings about her, he determines that it’s not really a tendresse that he has for her, but there is some sort of unsettling intimacy, though he is unsure why. He thinks perhaps it has something to do with his feelings for Jamie, and her knowledge of those feelings. It’s uncomfortable to contemplate, so he shoves those thoughts aside, focusing instead on her medical abilities.

Much later in the story, thinking Jamie dead and Claire in danger, John marries Claire in order to protect her as well as Fergus’ family, his last great service for Jamie Fraser.

What did you think of the gift of the medical chest John gave to Claire, as an indication of his understanding of her?

7) In one of the more controversial moments of the books, John and Claire awake after a long night in which both had been drinking and grieving Jamie’s death. Their alcohol-fueled vulnerable states led to a sexual encounter. Rather than bolting from one another, they have what is the most intimate conversation of their entire relationship. What was your reaction to this scene? Do you think their experiences during their brief marriage has changed anything in their relationship; do you think the triangle is now complete, with a solid line connecting John and Claire? What do you think John and Claire now share in their relationship that is separate from Jamie, if anything?

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Here is an exciting new game for Broch Talk “MonicaW’s Alphabet Word Game” -- LisaW, 21:25:39 01/31/10 Sun
How we play the game is to choose one of the titles of the first Six books and match a character, from any of the books, or a descriptive word about the books with each letter in the title. See the first response for an example.

Please respond using the "Post a Reply to This Message" versus replying to the message, this keeps the thread easy to read and not squeezed over to the right side of the board. Have fun! Good Luck with “A Breath of Snow and Ashes”! :P

Thanks Monica for your fun idea! :)

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WELCOME to the JANUARY POLL -- Pollsketeers, 13:57:48 01/17/10 Sun
Once again, the December poll did not lend itself to a tally. Please feel free to browse through the responses...we hope you had fun.

Well, we are a little late for NEw Years, but better late than never! This poll is about new beginnings. What was your favorite new beginning in the books?
REMEMBER,NOTHING FROM ECHO YET!!!

So, what is your favorite:

(A) Frank/Claire after the War
(B) Jamie/Claire's marriage
(C) Frank/Claire's second reunion after she returns
(D) Jamie/Claire reunion in Voyager
(E) Jamie/Claire begin life at the Ridge
(F) Jamie & Claire reunite wiht Bree
(G) Roger/Bree reunion
(H) Ians return from the Mohawk
(I) Bree/Roger return to Lallybroch at the end of ABOSAA
(J) Anything we may have missed

We should be able to tally this poll, so if you can, please use the letter, then if you want, expand on your answer. It makes it asier to tally! Thanks and have fun!

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WELCOME to the NOVEMBER POLL -- Pollsketeers, 08:08:27 11/16/09 Mon
Before we get into this months poll, the October Poll was not tallied since there were so many answers! You can scroll down and take a look at who came to the party. I think we had just about everyone covered!

We hope this month's poll will be unusual and fun! The cold winds of November are a blowin’, and it’s gonna get cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass monkey. Tell us your favorite ‘balls’ quote from the books!

Have fun and the poll will close in about 7 days.

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Thanks for playing along everyone. Here are the results of the poll: -- The Pollsketeers, 13:22:15 09/30/09 Wed
Will Willie find out that Jamie is his father: 3

To see Young Ian happy: 4

Who is Legohaire humping: 6

Will Jenny and Ian find out Claire's a time traveller: 1

What did Frank know about Jamie: 4

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- It's interesting that the burning question that got the most votes was answered over a year ago on the Excerpts Board, and it was underwhelming! (NT) -- Lemora, 22:51:27 09/30/09 Wed
  - This seems bizarre, but I KNOW I answered this poll. I wanted Claire to tell Ian and Jenny her true origins and who she really is. I thought the one post was mine, but I see it belongs to Hadji! Could this question have been posted somewhere else, because I know I posted and I'm nowhere on this poll! Curious! (NT) -- Lemora, 22:59:47 09/30/09 Wed
Welcome to the SEPTEMBER POLL! -- Pollsketeers, 08:51:04 09/11/09 Fri
This month, as we await the release of the new book, we have an open-ended poll. What question would like to see answered in an Echo in the Bone?

Try to limit your answer to 1 question, so it makes it easy to tally! Have fun and the poll will close in 7 days.

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