Thursday Teaser

I saw this from another book blog...each week the members posted a few "teaser" lines from a book they were currently reading. How fun is that! Open to a random page and choose a few lines to share, without giving away any spoilers.

My book this week is "a single thread" by Marie Bostwick.

"Sure, you want to be able to support yourself, but there are about two hundred easier ways to do that than owning a quilt shop, and you know it. Think. When you first walked down that alley and peered into that dirty window, what was it you saw? What was in front of you was a run-down wreck of a storefront that no one had thought to rent in years, but that's not what you saw. You had a vision, a dream of something special, something that gave you the courage to pull up stakes, empty your bank account, and put everything on the line." His voice was urgent. "What was it?"

So far it's a good book!

Annette's pick for the next book

Okay, Jennie I'll pick. I'd like to read Little Heathens if that is Okay with everyone. Its by Mildred Kalish

From Annette on Outlander

1. What kind of characters has Gabladon created? Given that she has created a cross genre novel (historical/fantasy/timetravel) are her characters realistically drawn? Are they emotionally and psychologically complex...or flat, one-dimensional and cartoonish?

I found the characters to be satisfyingly complex. I liked the way she gradually developed them over the course of the novel with some individuals (like Murtagh) turning out to be different than first glance. Capt Randall's character a definitely BAD guy also had more nuances and depths than often given to the bad guy. But those depths were darker and scarier than it looked at first. I also liked how Claire discovered strengths and skills she would have never guessed possible.

2. What are a few of your favorite characters and why? What is there importance to the story?

Claire, Jamie, Murtagh, Geillis. The importance of the first three is kind of obvious the story revolves around them. Geillis I appreciate because she was a "fish out of water" like Claire. And her actions as a woman and as a "witch" is what propelled (unintentionally) Claire (and then Jamie) into flight and danger.

3. What assumptions does Jonathan Randall make regarding Claire upon first encountering her...and why? How does that shape the plot of the story?

He assumes she must be whore. She was rescued by Murtagh because he thought she was in distress. Which began her whole journey to Dougal, Colum, and Jamie


4. In what ways does Clair adjust to her new circumstances, and how does she put 20th-century knowledge to work in an 18-century world?

I think psychologically she adjusts remarkably well. she thinks fast and has a survivors attitude. She uses her medical skill to her advantage and finds a place and a role early on. It helps that she knows her scottish history to make sense of where she is and what is going on.

5 How disorienting (or appealing) would it be for you to be transported back in time? How would cope with the time change? What era would be most appealing to you to travel back to? and Why? If you time-traveled, how much of the future from which you have come would you be tempted to reveal? What might you attempt to change using your knowledge of modern times?

I actually don't like time travel novels, it makes my head feel like its going to explode. So I'm surprised that I like this one. Or because I love anything that has to do with Scotland. Or perhaps because the characters are interesting. I'm pretty sure I'd have a hard time if transported more than a hundred years. I'm pretty independent, outspoken etc and am not sure how well I'd fit in as a woman of another time. If I did "go back" perhaps to the mid 1800s when so much was changing and being created in the U.S. a remarkalbe time in history (but mostly for men).


6. The Outlander series was originally difficult to market because it didn't fit into any "neat" genre of fiction. It eventaully caught on and in HUGE WAY. What do you think is so appealing about the series to readers? what is the fascination?

I think its the characters and their relationship. I also think there are constant surprises that take the story in a slightly different direction or explain why the story went where it did. I like that.

I actually read the 2nd book first (not knowing it was a HUGE series...I justliked that it was about Scotland). I highly recommend it Dragonfly in Amber. I think I may like it best of the two...but I don't know...pretty close.

Next Book

Why don't you pick for us Aunt Annette? I'll pick for August, then who wants September and October?

Next Book?

I've lost track of who selects the next book and I don't know how many of you have finished Outlander and are ready for another book. I'll be finished this weekend. I will be leaving in about 10 days for another trip to Florida and would love to know the next book so I can download to my Kindle if I don't already have it. I made a few suggestions a couple posts ago...but I'm completely open (as always) to whatever anyone picks. Hope you are all enjoying summer and getting some reading time in!

Outlander - Discussion Questions

I've managed to track down some questions on the internet. You would not believe the extent of Outlander series websites, discussion groups, etc. However, it was hard to find a simple set because many of the dicussions groups discussion a couple chapters a week!!! So, I'm not sure the questions are really great. If you want to just discuss your feelings about the book in a more general way, go for it. Or if you have any questions yourself...feel free to add them.

1. What kind of characters has Gabladon created? Given that she has created a cross genre novel (historical/fantasy/timetravel) are her characters realistically drawn? Are they emotionally and psychologically complex...or flat, one-dimensional and cartoonish?

2. What are a few of your favorite characters and why? What is there importance to the story?

3. What assumptions does Jonathan Randall make regarding Claire upon first encountering her...and why? How does that shape the plot of the story?

4. In what ways does Clair adjust to her new circumstances, and how does she put 20th-century knowledge to work in an 18-century world?

5. How does Clair's marriage to Jamie effect her marriage to Frank (and her feelings towards Frank).

6. How disorienting (or appealing) would it be for you to be transported back in time? How would cope with the time change? What era would be most appealing to you to travel back to? and Why?

7. If you time-traveled, how much of the future from which you have come would you be tempted to reveal? What might you attempt to change using your knowledge of modern times?

8. The Outlander series was originally difficult to market because it didn't fit into any "neat" genre of fiction. It eventaully caught on and in HUGE WAY. What do you think is so appealing about the series to readers? what is the fascination?