ABOSAA: Discuss Part Three here

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

Sorry I've been falling behind.  I'll try to catch up. 

Part Three - To Every Thing There is a Season
Chapters 16 - 25

1.  Bree is using her knowledge of engineering to introduce some modern conveniences to the Ridge, such as matches.  How do you think this will affect the past?



2.  Bobby Higgins seem to be pursuing Lizzie.  Do you think Manfred has noticed?  Do you think Lizzie might turn her attentions away from Manfred and towards Bobby?



3.  The twins have noticed.  Do you think they care more about Lizzie than Manfred does?



4.  Who do you think is responsible for the burnings and murders?



5.  What did you think of the story of Ephraim Wilson and the Indians and the fact that they are probably related to Hiram Crombie’s wife?



6.  What do you think of Jamie choosing the site of their next house?



7.  Do you think Malva Christie might be interested in learning how to be a doctor from Claire?



8.  What did you think of Arch Bug’s story of how he lost his fingers and the death of the two Frasers?



9.  What does the surgery on his hand tell you about Tom Christie’s character?



10.  Surprisingly, Christie doesn’t believe that Claire is a witch, but his conversation with her in the middle of the night might have some significance.  What do you think Christie feels about Claire?



11.  The Browns have been trading with the Indians.  Do you think they are using Beardsley’s trade goods?  If they are, do you think they are putting aside any of the profits for baby Beardsley?



12.  How has Roger changed so that he was able to help the little girl die when she was so badly burned? 

[izzykolo]

1.  Bree is using her knowledge of engineering to introduce some modern conveniences to the Ridge, such as matches.  How do you think this will affect the past?
I think this could be dangerous. This also gets at the question, “is it possible to change what is to happen.” Obviously, if the answer is, “no,” then what ever she does would have no consequence. However, if the answer is “yes” it could somehow play a role in altering the future. Still, it must be wonderful to have these simple conveniences.

2.  Bobby Higgins seem to be pursuing Lizzie.  Do you think Manfred has noticed?  Do you think Lizzie might turn her attentions away from Manfred and towards Bobby?
If he has, he doesn’t seem too perturbed. Certainly, the Beardsley Twins have noticed. The marriage between Manfred and Lizzie is arranged and there doesn’t appear to be any love or affection between them, however Lizzie is an obedient daughter and even if she had an interest in another, I don’t think she would shame her father.

3.  The twins have noticed.  Do you think they care more about Lizzie than Manfred does?
Yes.

4.  Who do you think is responsible for the burnings and murders?
It’s not the Indians.

5.  What did you think of the story of Ephraim Wilson and the Indians and the fact that they are probably related to Hiram Crombie’s wife?
Be careful who you look your nose down on; you just might be related.

6.  What do you think of Jamie choosing the site of their next house?
Just like Jamie to be thinking ahead. Just in case their existing home burns to the ground, they’ll have a head start on a new one. It gives me a sense of awe about what it must have taken to build a homestead on unsettled land. 

7.  Do you think Malva Christie might be interested in learning how to be a doctor from Claire?
Yes, and Claire has said that she needs someone to teach her skills to. Malva, in spite of her background, seems interested and unafraid. She seems to have a knack for it.

8.  What did you think of Arch Bug’s story of how he lost his fingers and the death of the two Frasers?
I was surprised at how casually the story was told by Arch and how casually Jamie accepted it. I guess it was years ago and not unusual for clans to fight each other.

9.  What does the surgery on his hand tell you about Tom Christie’s character?
He’s a competitive coward who can’t hold a candle to Jamie Fraser. He knows it but doesn’t want the rest of the world to see it.

10.  Surprisingly, Christie doesn’t believe that Claire is a witch, but his conversation with her in the middle of the night might have some significance.  What do you think Christie feels about Claire?
I think he’s attracted to her. He’s an educated man who is tied to a staunch religion. He certainly recognizes her intelligence. He comments on her hair being out of a cap, which I’m sure makes her different and more alluring than women he would be associating with. She’s Jamie’s wife, so that also has to be enticing.

11.  The Browns have been trading with the Indians.  Do you think they are using Beardsley’s trade goods?  If they are, do you think they are putting aside any of the profits for baby Beardsley?
I think it’s likely and I would doubt that they are saving for baby Beardsley’s education.

12.  How has Roger changed so that he was able to help the little girl die when she was so badly burned?
He was a historian and an academician in his other life. On the Ridge, he becomes a humanitarian. He couldn’t bear to see the young girl suffer. As painful as it was to help her die, he did what he knew he had to do.

[millie34]

1.  Bree is using her knowledge of engineering to introduce some modern conveniences to the Ridge, such as matches.  How do you think this will affect the past?
   Unless she distributes them widely, it won’t affect the past.  She’s basically making them for herself and for her family’s convenience.



2.  Bobby Higgins seems to be pursuing Lizzie.  Do you think Manfred has noticed?  Do you think Lizzie might turn her attentions away from Manfred and towards Bobby?
   I don’t think Lizzie is really in love with Manfred.  She may be starting to feel something for Bobby, but I don’t think she would or could break her betrothal to Manfred.



3.  The twins have noticed.  Do you think they care more about Lizzie than Manfred does?
   They certainly do.  It’s an arranged marriage and I don’t think Manfred is all that much enamored with Lizzie.


4.  Who do you think is responsible for the burnings and murders?
   Could be a group of regulators who had their homes taken and are stealing to survive.  They are murdering to avoid identification.



5.  What did you think of the story of Ephraim Wilson and the Indians and the fact that they are probably related to Hiram Crombie’s wife?
   Funny.  That knocked him down a peg.



6.  What do you think of Jamie choosing the site of their next house?
   That article about them burning is ever on their minds.  Just like Jamie to prepare for his family.



7.  Do you think Malva Christie might be interested in learning how to be a doctor from Claire?
   She’s certainly open to it.  She’s fascinated and smart.  She’ll make a good apprentice.



8.  What did you think of Arch Bug’s story of how he lost his fingers and the death of the two Frasers?
   Sounds as though he was guilty, but he got his revenge anyway.



9.  What does the surgery on his hand tell you about Tom Christie’s character?
   He was afraid and used every religious argument he could think of to get out of it.  He also didn’t want to come across as a coward, knowing how strong Jamie is.  When Jamie told him that it would hurt a great deal, and gave him the bible, he finally decided to do it.



10.  Surprisingly, Christie doesn’t believe that Claire is a witch, but his conversation with her in the middle of the night might have some significance.  What do you think Christie feels about Claire?
   I almost get the feeling that he’s turned on by her.  He’s probably been celibate since his wife died and hasn’t been this close to a woman since, and he was drunk.


11.  The Browns have been trading with the Indians.  Do you think they are using Beardsley’s trade goods?  If they are, do you think they are putting aside any of the profits for baby Beardsley?
   I’m sure they are using Beardsley’s goods, and no they’re not worried about the baby’s welfare.



12.  How has Roger changed so that he was able to help the little girl die when she was so badly burned?
   He’s developed great courage in the face of senseless suffering and death.

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

1.  Bree is using her knowledge of engineering to introduce some modern conveniences to the Ridge, such as matches.  How do you think this will affect the past?
I think this could be dangerous. This also gets at the question, “is it possible to change what is to happen.” Obviously, if the answer is, “no,” then what ever she does would have no consequence. However, if the answer is “yes” it could somehow play a role in altering the future. Still, it must be wonderful to have these simple conveniences.

It seems that it is possible to change some things, e.g. the people Claire has saved that would have died otherwise, the men of Lallybroch that were saved, as well as the farm itself.  I think it's just the big events that can't be changed. 

5.  What did you think of the story of Ephraim Wilson and the Indians and the fact that they are probably related to Hiram Crombie’s wife?
Be careful who you look your nose down on; you just might be related.

    That's a life lesson if I ever heard one.   

9.  What does the surgery on his hand tell you about Tom Christie’s character?
He’s a competitive coward who can’t hold a candle to Jamie Fraser. He knows it but doesn’t want the rest of the world to see it.

Well put.

12.  How has Roger changed so that he was able to help the little girl die when she was so badly burned?
He was a historian and an academician in his other life. On the Ridge, he becomes a humanitarian. He couldn’t bear to see the young girl suffer. As painful as it was to help her die, he did what he knew he had to do.

Yes, I think that is a natural role for him to assume, given his background.

4.  Who do you think is responsible for the burnings and murders?
   Could be a group of regulators who had their homes taken and are stealing to survive.  They are murdering to avoid identification.

That is my thought, too. 

12.  How has Roger changed so that he was able to help the little girl die when she was so badly burned?
   He’s developed great courage in the face of senseless suffering and death.

Yes, I'm really feeling a lot of respect for Roger.  He's adapting in his own way without letting the circumstances change who he essentially is.


[/quote]

[imallbs]

Part Three - To Every Thing There is a Season
Chapters 16 - 25

1.  Bree is using her knowledge of engineering to introduce some modern conveniences to the Ridge, such as matches.  How do you think this will affect the past?
I think they have proven you can't affect major change.  I like her thought that some inventions were made by time travelers remembering.  I don't want to think about it too much though because that would hurt my head.
I imagine future historians?, archaeologists?  coming upon the conveniences of the Ridge and trying to make sense of it.

2.  Bobby Higgins seem to be pursuing Lizzie.  Do you think Manfred has noticed? 
No and I don't think he would care if he did notice.
Do you think Lizzie might turn her attentions away from Manfred and towards Bobby?
Maybe not Bobby but away from Manfred.  In fact she already has, she seems to like flirting.

3.  The twins have noticed.  Do you think they care more about Lizzie than Manfred does?
I think almost everybody cares about Lizzie more than Manfred does.

4.  Who do you think is responsible for the burnings and murders?
My 1st thought was the Browns.  But maybe it's not them directly but they will probably at least know who is doing it and providing some kind of help.  Can you tell I don't like the Browns 

Could be a group of regulators who had their homes taken and are stealing to survive.  They are murdering to avoid identification.

I had not thought of this.  Sounds like a reasonable assumption to me.

5.  What did you think of the story of Ephraim Wilson and the Indians and the fact that they are probably related to Hiram Crombie’s wife?
That was funny but he's the kind of guy who remembers every slight - real and perceived.

6.  What do you think of Jamie choosing the site of their next house?
A very practical man that Jamie.  I liked it.  He knows they have trouble changing the future but he means to survive it.

7.  Do you think Malva Christie might be interested in learning how to be a doctor from Claire?
Yes, but it won't be that easy.  Her father is going to have some kind of problem with it.

8.  What did you think of Arch Bug’s story of how he lost his fingers and the death of the two Frasers?
There is a lot more to that man than he is letting on.  The story shows he can be very dangerous.

9.  What does the surgery on his hand tell you about Tom Christie’s character?
He is a small man trying to be a big man and he is jealous of Jamie.
He mush have something to offer if Jamie wants him as an ally

10.  Surprisingly, Christie doesn’t believe that Claire is a witch, but his conversation with her in the middle of the night might have some significance.  What do you think Christie feels about Claire?
Hard to figure.  He seems to have some respect for her, but not too much.  He may also be somewhat attracted to her.

11.  The Browns have been trading with the Indians.  Do you think they are using Beardsley’s trade goods? 
Yes, why else would they take the child.
If they are, do you think they are putting aside any of the profits for baby Beardsley?
No, once she's old enough to inherit, do you think they will let her live and give up the profits from trading.

12.  How has Roger changed so that he was able to help the little girl die when she was so badly burned? 
He is learning to live in this time and becoming more accepting of those limitations.  I think he is also more aware of people as more than interesting subjects and he is able to take his compassion and put it into action.
Roger has an important roll to play on the Ridge.  I hope Bree and Jamie notice that and give him the respect he has earned.

He’s developed great courage in the face of senseless suffering and death

Yes he has.

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

I imagine future historians?, archaeologists?  coming upon the conveniences of the Ridge and trying to make sense of it.

I always imagine future historians/archeologists coming across the Harry Potter series, maybe buried in a time capsule, and starting a search for Hogwarts.  After all, isn't that what Schleimann did when he took the Iliad and went searching for Troy?   

8.  What did you think of Arch Bug’s story of how he lost his fingers and the death of the two Frasers?
There is a lot more to that man than he is letting on.  The story shows he can be very dangerous.

Yes, he was head tacksman for Hugh Grant, he went after the Frasers who cut off his fingers and bashed in their heads, and he and Murdina survived the aftermath of Culloden.  I'd say there is quite a lot to both of them. 

11.  The Browns have been trading with the Indians.  Do you think they are using Beardsley’s trade goods? 
Yes, why else would they take the child.
If they are, do you think they are putting aside any of the profits for baby Beardsley?
No, once she's old enough to inherit, do you think they will let her live and give up the profits from trading.

They might let her live, but I think they will take the majority of the profits as payment for "managing" her inheritance.  What rights does a woman have?  Even if she does get the farm, whoever she marries will take over, and you can bet the Browns will make her marry a Brown.