ABOSAA: Discuss Part Two here

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Part Two - A Gathering of Shadows
Chapters 8 - 15

1.  From John’s letter, can you empathize with the British point of view?

2.  What was your first impression of Bobby Higgins?

3.  What do you think of Jamie’s true motives in offering his body to John?  Do you think he would have killed him if John had accepted the offer?

4.  What do you think of the Browns forming a Committee of Safety?  Would you trust them?

5.  What did you think of the old Parisian woman’s prediction about Jamie having nine lives?

6.  After Claire performed an intimate surgery on Bobby Higgins, why do you think he wouldn’t let her check him for hookworms?

7.  What did you think of Duncan’s hare-lip surgery story?  Do you think it was another time traveler?  Do you think we will see more time travelers?

8.  Were you surprised to run into Bonnet again?  Do you think he’s been watching for Jemmy or is he in the area strictly for the gold?

[Anju No. 469]

again I know all the answers, but will answer some of these that won't give away anything.

1.  From John’s letter, can you empathize with the British point of view?

2.  What was your first impression of Bobby Higgins?

3.  What do you think of Jamie’s true motives in offering his body to John?  Do you think he would have killed him if John had accepted the offer?

4.  What do you think of the Browns forming a Committee of Safety?  Would you trust them?
They are doing it for themselves - selfish!
NO

5.  What did you think of the old Parisian woman’s prediction about Jamie having nine lives?
Sometimes I cannot help but think that this type of stuff is real 

6.  After Claire performed an intimate surgery on Bobby Higgins, why do you think he wouldn’t let her check him for hookworms?
The microscope is very spooky and most folks just cannot grab the concept of "germs" or things that are not visible to the eye.

7.  What did you think of Duncan’s hare-lip surgery story?  Do you think it was another time traveler?  Do you think we will see more time travelers?
Definitely
Possibly - I hope so think it is a pretty neat part of the story.

8.  Were you surprised to run into Bonnet again?  Do you think he’s been watching for Jemmy or is he in the area strictly for the gold?
You know he is not going to be killed that easily - I think the main purpose was the gold.

[izzykolo]

Part Two - A Gathering of Shadows
Chapters 8 - 15

1.  From John’s letter, can you empathize with the British point of view?
Reading John’s letter, yes, I can empathize, however, there are two sides to every story. However, we certainly have a sense of how violent and out-of-control the Regulator’s mobs were, so perhaps John’s impression wasn’t so off-base.

2.  What was your first impression of Bobby Higgins?
He seems to be polite and respectful.

3.  What do you think of Jamie’s true motives in offering his body to John?  Do you think he would have killed him if John had accepted the offer?
I don’t know; this doesn’t seem likely to me. I don’t think that Jamie was testing John; I would almost think that he was offering himself up as a way of thanking him for caring for his son. Jamie’s know John for years at this point and, I’m sure, has a pretty good sense of who he is as a person.

4.  What do you think of the Browns forming a Committee of Safety?  Would you trust them?
Absolutely not. They see an opportunity to exploit the circumstances of the time and they’ll get what they can from it.

5.  What did you think of the old Parisian woman’s prediction about Jamie having nine lives?
She might be right…humm…two books left.

6.  After Claire performed an intimate surgery on Bobby Higgins, why do you think he wouldn’t let her check him for hookworms?
Anju, I think you’re right, that makes sense to me.

7.  What did you think of Duncan’s hare-lip surgery story?  Do you think it was another time traveler?  Do you think we will see more time travelers?
Yes, I thought it was Raymond. I will stay silent on the second question.

8.  Were you surprised to run into Bonnet again?  Do you think he’s been watching for Jemmy or is he in the area strictly for the gold?
I was surprised to see that he could be so bold. I think he’s planning to use Jemmy to get to the gold.

[Anju No. 469]

One thing I have noticed though is they all drink way too much.  I know, I know, no pepsi, dr pepper, soft drinks of any kind, water is iffy, but it does bother me.  Just glad i live now and not then 

[millie34]

1.  From John’s letter, can you empathize with the British point of view?
   I suppose so to a point.  We were a colony of the British, but they didn’t treat us subjects of the crown.


2.  What was your first impression of Bobby Higgins?
   I thought Claire’s impression could be right.  John may have been using him, but not against his will.

3.  What do you think of Jamie’s true motives in offering his body to John?  Do you think he would have killed him if John had accepted the offer?
   I take him at his word.  It was his way of showing his appreciation for taking care of Willie.  I don’t think he would have killed him, he would have given him his body.


4.  What do you think of the Browns forming a Committee of Safety?  Would you trust them?
   No way!!


5.  What did you think of the old Parisian woman’s prediction about Jamie having nine lives?
   Maybe she saw his scars.


6.  After Claire performed an intimate surgery on Bobby Higgins, why do you think he wouldn’t let her check him for hookworms?
   Could he have been squeamish at the idea of worms living in his body?


7.  What did you think of Duncan’s hare-lip surgery story?  Do you think it was another time traveler?  Do you think we will see more time travelers?
   It had to be a time traveler.  Seems that there are quite a few out there, we're bound to meet more.

8.  Were you surprised to run into Bonnet again?  Do you think he’s been watching for Jemmy or is he in the area strictly for the gold?
   Until he’s dead he’s going to keep popping up like a bad penny.  He may have some feeling for Jemmy because he thinks he’s his son, but then again, getting hold of Jemmy would give him the upper hand in negotiating for the gold.

[tlshaw *Padded Cell 511*]

Lord John is an interesting character. He has a strong sense of duty and loyalty like Jamie does. I can see his perspective on the issues in the colonies, but it is not the whole picture.

I think Jamie was testing Lord John. He knew John was in love with him and had been since he had made that first pass at Ardsmuir. Jamie would never be allowed to acknowledge his son, but could not live with the possibility of his son being violated.

I thought it was interesting to hear about Duncan's surgery. I am sure it was a time traveler - maybe Raymond?

I am not sure about the woman in Paris having psychic abilities, but I am sure the force of Jamie's personality came through, and anyone could tell he was someone to be reckoned with.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Lord John is an interesting character. He has a strong sense of duty and loyalty like Jamie does. I can see his perspective on the issues in the colonies, but it is not the whole picture.

Too bad the strength of his personality didn't come through in the Lord John books DG wrote. 

I thought it was interesting to hear about Duncan's surgery. I am sure it was a time traveler - maybe Raymond?

Could have been Raymond, although he comes from the far distant past, not the future.    Wouldn't it be interesting if Raymond and Claire cross paths again in the next two books? 

I am not sure about the woman in Paris having psychic abilities, but I am sure the force of Jamie's personality came through, and anyone could tell he was someone to be reckoned with.

I can see that.  Or maybe she just made a dire prediction to scare him into paying her for the whole thing. 

[millie34]

I think Jamie was testing Lord John. He knew John was in love with him and had been since he had made that first pass at Ardsmuir. Jamie would never be allowed to acknowledge his son, but could not live with the possibility of his son being violated.

I like your answer.  I never thought of the possibility that Lord John could violate Willie.  It was probably Jamie's way of assuring that Willie would be safe.

[imallbs]

Part Two - A Gathering of Shadows
Chapters 8 - 15

1.  From John’s letter, can you empathize with the British point of view?
The victors write the history and I think that it is pretty evident in all the history books we read in school.  It's nice to see any book (fiction or nonfiction) present a balanced view.  It's too bad we can't get that in a place where we are supposed to be learning.

2.  What was your first impression of Bobby Higgins?
Nice enough guy.  Too bad what happened to him.

3.  What do you think of Jamie’s true motives in offering his body to John? 
Just what he said.  Jamie promised not to lie to Claire a long time ago and I don't think he would start now.
Do you think he would have killed him if John had accepted the offer?  Yes.  By then Jamie had become very ruthless.

4.  What do you think of the Browns forming a Committee of Safety?
This can't be good 
Would you trust them?
Not for a second.  They are at least as corrupt as any entity in the colonies

5.  What did you think of the old Parisian woman’s prediction about Jamie having nine lives?
Jamie's a big orange cat.  Let's call him Fluffy.
I wonder what the next 3 near deaths (or is it 4?) will be like.

6.  After Claire performed an intimate surgery on Bobby Higgins, why do you think he wouldn’t let her check him for hookworms?
He had had enough?  She scares him?

7.  What did you think of Duncan’s hare-lip surgery story? 
Shudders.  Surgery without anaesthetic on a baby! 
Do you think it was another time traveler?  
My 1st thought – Raymond
Do you think we will see more time travelers?
I think it is guaranteed.

8.  Were you surprised to run into Bonnet again? 
No.  We are going to keep running into him until Jamie, Roger, Claire or Bree kill him.
Do you think he’s been watching for Jemmy or is he in the area strictly for the gold?
Both.  He went back to save Bree because of his child (but I've decided Jemmy is Roger's biological son so it was just a nice thing he did for an acquaintance)  so he probably wants Jemmy but he wants the gold more.  Plus Jemmy would be a really good hostage for the gold.  He must know that Jocasta named Jemmy as her heir.

[imallbs]

author=Gertie Kindle 'Turn to Page 390' link=topic=12808.msg254577#msg254577 date=1252000153]
Too bad the strength of his(Lord John) personality didn't come through in the Lord John books DG wrote.

I'd been thinking about reading those books but based on what I've read about them, I think I'll pass

Could have been Raymond, although he comes from the far distant past, not the future.    Wouldn't it be interesting if Raymond and Claire cross paths again in the next two books?  

I thought I remembered reading that Raymond would just disappear and then show up someplace else after a while.  If he is traveling through the stones and has a way to steer, it could be him.  What I don't get is, if this is the same Raymond, he started out in North America and ended up all over Europe, why?  I don't remember, was he described as being Native American?  If he was, wouldn't Claire have noticed?
I think it would be very interesting to see Raymond and Claire interact again.  And it does look like she is moving in the direction of bringing Raymond back.

I can see that.  Or maybe she (the woman in Paris) just made a dire prediction to scare him into paying her for the whole thing.

Or he made her mad and she wanted to get even.

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

I thought I remembered reading that Raymond would just disappear and then show up someplace else after a while.  If he is traveling through the stones and has a way to steer, it could be him.  What I don't get is, if this is the same Raymond, he started out in North America and ended up all over Europe, why?  I don't remember, was he described as being Native American?  If he was, wouldn't Claire have noticed?

DG has said that Raymond is from 400 B.C.  I guess he's perfected the time travel thing.  He knows how to steer (probably both time and space) and he knows how to travel safely.  I think he's decided to right some wrongs in the process.  When DG gets around to writing the Raymond books, they should be interesting.  Hopefully she'll put some effort into them, unlike the Lord John's she just dashed off.