ABOSAA: Discuss Part Four here

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

Part Four - Abduction
Chapters 26 - 34

Obviously, I couldn’t put the book down until I finished this Part.  DG is back and at her best, IMHO.  It was very heart-pounding and emotional for me.


1.  Do you believe Marsali’s story of how she got the bruises?



2.  When you read about Marsali being knocked down and not moving, did you think she was dead?



3.  Do you have any idea of the identity of the man who recognized Claire?



4.  Were you surprised to see Hodgepile?  Did you think he had died in the warehouse fire when Bonnett escaped?



5.  Lionel Brown and Harley Boble join the gang.  Do you think Harley is working with Brown as part of the Committee of Safety, considering we first met him as a thieftaker?  If not, why do you think they are with Hodgepile and his gang of thieves and murderers?



6.  How did you feel about the young boy attempting to rape Claire?  Would it have been worse if he had succeeded?



7.  Was Boble’s intent to degrade and demean Claire, and by extension, Jamie, by what he did? 



8.  Another time-traveler pops up.  He seems desperate to get back to his own time.  Did you think he would help her escape so she can help him travel back?



9.  Claire’s rescue was pretty dramatic; the drums, Jamie breaking Hodgepile’s neck, etc.  What were you thinking as you read these scenes?



10.  What did you think of Arch Bug offering Claire his dirk to take her revenge?  Did you think she was shell-shocked enough to do it?



11.  Jamie says, “It is myself who kills for her,” and Ian adds, “And I.”  How did you feel about that?



12.  Jamie’s reasons for wanting to make love to Claire right away seem very complicated.  How much of that do you think goes back to his own rape, and how he tried to push Claire away from him?



13.  How did you feel as Jamie and Claire tried to find their way back to each other?



14.  How far do you think Jamie, Ian and Fergus will go in questioning Lionel Brown?  Did you think Claire would try to stop them?



15.  Why would Brown think Claire would help him when she knew he intended to kill her?



16.  How shocked were you that Mrs. Bug murdered Lionel Brown?  Considering what we know of her, do you think the reasons she gave were the real reasons for her actions?



17.  Do you think that Jamie’s actions in taking Lionel’s body back to Brownsville accompanied by the Indians is enough to forestall any vengeance by Richard Brown?

[millie34]

1.  Do you believe Marsali’s story of how she got the bruises?
   Not really.  I believe Fergus may be hitting her.



2.  When you read about Marsali being knocked down and not moving, did you think she was dead?
   Maybe, but certainly she would have miscarried.



3.  Do you have any idea of the identity of the man who recognized Claire?
   No I don’t



4.  Were you surprised to see Hodgepile?  Did you think he had died in the warehouse fire when Bonnett escaped?
   I was surprised to see him, obviously he escaped.



5.  Lionel Brown and Harley Boble join the gang.  Do you think Harley is working with Brown as part of the Committee of Safety, considering we first met him as a thieftaker?  If not, why do you think they are with Hodgepile and his gang of thieves and murderers?
   I doubt if they’re concerned with anyone’s safety.  They apparently found that a life of crime was more profitable.


6.  How did you feel about the young boy attempting to rape Claire?  Would it have been worse if he had succeeded?
   Sad that a young boy would be involved with such ruthless men.  I was glad he was not experienced enough to complete the act.



7.  Was Boble’s intent to degrade and demean Claire, and by extension, Jamie, by what he did?
   It definitely was revenge for the humiliation he felt with Jamie.



8.  Another time-traveler pops up.  He seems desperate to get back to his own time.  Did you think he would help her escape so she can help him travel back?
   I would think so, just finding someone from his own time must have been something to get excited about.  He did try to help her.



9.  Claire’s rescue was pretty dramatic; the drums, Jamie breaking Hodgepile’s neck, etc.  What were you thinking as you read these scenes?
   You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Highlanders, it was like an army coming to get her.



10.  What did you think of Arch Bug offering Claire his dirk to take her revenge?  Did you think she was shell-shocked enough to do it?
   I guess he figured it was her right to do so.  If Jamie hadn’t taken the dirk, at that point she may have done it.



11.  Jamie says, “It is myself who kills for her,” and Ian adds, “And I.”  How did you feel about that?
   He wouldn’t want her to break her oath, but neither would he let her honor go unavenged.



12.  Jamie’s reasons for wanting to make love to Claire right away seem very complicated.  How much of that do you think goes back to his own rape, and how he tried to push Claire away from him?
   He may have felt that if he couldn’t reach her then, he would lose her for good.  He also wants to leave doubt on the question of paternity if she is pregnant.



13.  How did you feel as Jamie and Claire tried to find their way back to each other?
   They took out all the rage they felt in their lovemaking.



14.  How far do you think Jamie, Ian and Fergus will go in questioning Lionel Brown?  Did you think Claire would try to stop them?
   As far as necessary.  She wouldn’t want him tortured



15.  Why would Brown think Claire would help him when she knew he intended to kill her?
   He knew Claire was a compassionate person, she probably wouldn’t want to see him killed.



16.  How shocked were you that Mrs. Bug murdered Lionel Brown?  Considering what we know of her, do you think the reasons she gave were the real reasons for her actions?
   Very!  But she saw both sides of him and knew he was unredeemable.  She feared that Claire wouldn’t stand for him being killed after she tended to him.



17.  Do you think that Jamie’s actions in taking Lionel’s body back to Brownsville accompanied by the Indians is enough to forestall any vengeance by Richard Brown?
   I think they covered it up pretty well.
   

[NessaBug]

1.  Do you believe Marsali's story of how she got the bruises?

I don't know, but it is questionable. I always felt like Fergus would eventually have issues about being only part of a man or some rot men tend to think when they are not like the others.

2.  When you read about Marsali being knocked down and not moving, did you think she was dead?
I was very concerned, especially with the malting shed being set afire. But at that point, I was more worried about Claire. I didn't think they could kill her off with other books forthcoming, but I knew the immediate future looked bleak.


3.  Do you have any idea of the identity of the man who recognized Claire?
No, but he knew what would happen when Jamie came.


4.  Were you surprised to see Hodgepile?  Did you think he had died in the warehouse fire when Bonnett escaped?
Yeah, I had. But villians never disappear that easily. I mean, how many books have we been waiting for Bonnet to finally get his comeuppance?


5.  Lionel Brown and Harley Boble join the gang.  Do you think Harley is working with Brown as part of the Committee of Safety, considering we first met him as a thieftaker?  If not, why do you think they are with Hodgepile and his gang of thieves and murderers?
Boble was probably corrupt to start with. And the Browns are idiots with a violent streak and drunk with their supposed power. It seemed to be profitable to go around, hurting women, killing and burning stuff down.


6.  How did you feel about the young boy attempting to rape Claire?  Would it have been worse if he had succeeded?
Sad that was what he thought was acceptable. Maybe worse, maybe not. With his inexperience, it would be unlikely he had contracted some disease. As I was reading, I wondered how many times it might happen. It was as though she was left on the tree for that purpose.


7.  Was Boble's intent to degrade and demean Claire, and by extension, Jamie, by what he did? 
Yes, but I also think he lost control and perhaps had a fit of black rage where you just see red and cannot stop what you are doing. Not that that excuses him, but I think he got started and couldn't stop.


8.  Another time-traveler pops up.  He seems desperate to get back to his own time.  Did you think he would help her escape so she can help him travel back?
Shoot, who wouldn't want to go back to running water and a relatively safe life? I thought he would try because he obviously was having a hard time with how his life was going.


9.  Claire's rescue was pretty dramatic; the drums, Jamie breaking Hodgepile's neck, etc.  What were you thinking as you read these scenes?
Finally! What took him so long? I think it was really hard for Claire to see Jamie kill Hodgepile with his bare hands. I know she'd seen him do it before, but I can't think of time it wasn't with a weapon of some sort. I think it added to her trauma. It was pretty heightened. Nothing that exciting happened in "The Fiery Cross."


10.  What did you think of Arch Bug offering Claire his dirk to take her revenge?  Did you think she was shell-shocked enough to do it?
Arch was doing what he knew. She may have been, but I don't think it would've helped anything if she had done it. And Jamie knew it.


11.  Jamie says, "It is myself who kills for her," and Ian adds, "And I."  How did you feel about that?
Well, in that time, someone sometimes has to. Jamie always feels like it his fault when something happens to her, so of course he takes this on. He is her champion. As for Ian, Claire has always helped him and this is how he knows how to help her. Plus he is Jamie's right-hand in these sort of matters.


12.  Jamie's reasons for wanting to make love to Claire right away seem very complicated.  How much of that do you think goes back to his own rape, and how he tried to push Claire away from him?
I don't know, but I wanted to reach into the book and smack him when I first read that. I understand that he doesn't want the paternity question, but it's pretty much been established that Claire is menopausal for quite some time. (Hot flashes and such.) I think he realizes how far he withdrew from her when it had happened to him, but I still think he was awful for pushing the issue right away. I am rarely mad at Jamie, but here I was.


13.  How did you feel as Jamie and Claire tried to find their way back to each other?
I was surprised she went along with it at first, but I feel like she realized she didn't want to withdraw from him. I think the anger needed to come out. I guess that's a better way than others.


14.  How far do you think Jamie, Ian and Fergus will go in questioning Lionel Brown?  Did you think Claire would try to stop them?
Oh, pretty far. I've rarely seen Jamie so enraged. And Fergus has a big reason to be upset. As for Ian, he's a little wild still and will do what Jamie says. I thought Claire may try to stop them, but maybe at the last moment, she wouldn't.


15.  Why would Brown think Claire would help him when she knew he intended to kill her?
Because she can't not heal people. Some times to her danger.


16.  How shocked were you that Mrs. Bug murdered Lionel Brown?  Considering what we know of her, do you think the reasons she gave were the real reasons for her actions?
Well, I was surprised, but I wanted him to go away. I feel like she is part of the family and she knew what he had done and what he would do. And after all that time caring for him and hearing it over and over, I'm not surprised she snapped.


17.  Do you think that Jamie's actions in taking Lionel's body back to Brownsville accompanied by the Indians is enough to forestall any vengeance by Richard Brown?
Oh, Richard will try to get his revenge, but I hope he gets his justice. At the business end of Jamie's gun.


Wow, I feel like I've been writing like I was there or have a personal friendship with the Frasers. LOL!

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

4.  Were you surprised to see Hodgepile?  Did you think he had died in the warehouse fire when Bonnett escaped?
Yeah, I had. But villians never disappear that easily. I mean, how many books have we been waiting for Bonnet to finally get his comeuppance?

If Jamie has nine lives, it seems like Bonnet has nineteen.  Slippery little bugger.

11.  Jamie says, "It is myself who kills for her," and Ian adds, "And I."  How did you feel about that?
Well, in that time, someone sometimes has to. Jamie always feels like it his fault when something happens to her, so of course he takes this on. He is her champion. As for Ian, Claire has always helped him and this is how he knows how to help her. Plus he is Jamie's right-hand in these sort of matters.

Ian is every bit of a man as Jamie.  It's been very interesting to see him grow from a gawky boy to a strong, sometimes ruthless, sometimes compassionate and caring, and sometimes humorous man.  I hope he's got a lot to do in the next book. 

Wow, I feel like I've been writing like I was there or have a personal friendship with the Frasers. LOL!

I read Outlander when it first came out in 1991, and it was the first book I discussed as if the characters were real.  That's what makes DG a wonderful author.