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Date Posted: 05:21:01 08/31/09 Mon
Author: KathleenM
Subject: by its definition, literature is an enduring piece of writing but also one that changes or adds to the perceptions of the reader. A good beach read is fun but soon forgotten. There are a few authors whose books are much alike and I confuse which murder/lawsuit/character was in which. Likewise, good romance novels (are there are some) have characteristics that are the same and one is much like the other. The Books are not like that. They are so distinct and unique that we have passages memorized and scenes clearly imbedded in our minds. They touch on timeless problems of human beings and the characters are flawed--like real people. Nothing is easy--like real life. Yet there is joy and love and passion, as we all hope for. Only two other books have touched me like these: To Kill a Mockingbird and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. We are actually addicted to something that's good for us--literature!
In reply to: CatherineM. and JessieR. 's message, "While we wait excitedly for Echo, we thought to do something a bit different this time. Instead of posting a reading assignment and discussion question, let's explore the addictive appeal of these books. Addiction experts talk about the addictive properties of substance addictions (such as alcohol, drugs, nicotine) and process addictions (gambling, compulsive exercising etc.) but also about the addictive propensities of the people who become addicted -- and we'd all probably admit to being addicted to these books. The fact that there is a countdown clock on the Books Board page, frequent discussion about which version to purchase (or to purchase all versions!), and the excitement we feel about DG’s book tour can tell us something important about ourselves. Can we figure out what that is and share it with one another? This is an opportunity for you ladies to do a mini-read of yourselves and your relationship to the books and to each other before we are swept up by the new novel!" on 20:50:29 08/30/09 Sun


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[> [> Thanks, Kathleen. Are you willing to share any particular DG moment(s) that have touched you deeply, changing or adding to your own perceptions? -- CatherineM., 06:09:31 08/31/09 Mon


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[> [> [> Catherine--you are an excellent moderator. Thanks for asking, this is how you get conversation flowing, mm? I started reading these books when they first came out--Outlander was in PB; there was a sneak preview of DIA but I had to wait for the whole book. I think that one thing I recognized then was that my marriage is the most enriching, frustrating, rewarding, complex, important, etc relationship in my life. J and C certainly have a marriage like mine in some ways but (thank God!) very different in others. DG's writing, however, does capture the essence of marriage and the need for recognizing the differences between male and female--then celebrating them rather than complaining about them. This is a subtle awareness that has stayed with me in the nearly 18 years since I began reading the series--more than half my 30 years of married life. A more complicated change of my perceptions perhaps would involve the Lord John storyline. It is more involved so I'll go inside>>> -- KathleenM, 07:47:25 08/31/09 Mon

At the risk of sounding bigoted (which we all are in some way but not, I hope, in the sense that we would react with violence towards a person), I think one of the more profound ways that DG's writing has touched me is in Lord John's story.
While more enlightened than Jamie (G), I would never have thought to read about a homosexual relationship in any detail. I can't say that I linger too long over those sexual parts of the story but I have come to better understand the character of LJG and probably to not isolate the sexual aspect of his life from the rest. Does this make sense?
I have always known men who were openly gay b/c of the work environment I was in for the first 10 years out of college. As a Catholic, I knew church teaching but also knew that we we supposed to love people regardless, and let's face it, we're all sinners if indeed sexual orientation is in that category (not saying it is). Still, I did not want to read about the intimate parts of their lives and despite my liking for many of these men I worked with, I can't say I separated the orientation from the individual.
Some of my ability to do so now may be based on age (that was 30 years ago!) but I do credit DG with opening my eyes a bit to the experiences of people, not gay men or straight ones. I am probably not explaining this too well and am well aware at how posts and emails can be misinterpreted so I'm choosing carefully.
So many other things have affected me in these books but the portrayal of marriage as a living, evolving experience and the encounter of a homosexual male as protagonist are two of the more prominent.

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[> [> [> [> Kathleen, I really appreciate what you've written so well, here. Thanks. -- fiona j, 12:49:22 08/31/09 Mon


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[> [> [> [> [> thanks, fiona--wasn't sure exactly how I wanted to word all that . . . -- KathleenM, 14:45:59 08/31/09 Mon


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[> [> That’s it in a nut shell, for me, KathleenM: timeless problems, real people and real life; with all the joy, love and passion those three inspire. I’ve also learned from DG’s sense of humor. -- fiona j, 07:32:27 08/31/09 Mon


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