Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This topic is open for discussion of Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon



Book Synopsis:
WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD is the eighth novel in the world-famous OUTLANDER series. In June of 1778, the world turns upside-down. The British army withdraws from Philadelphia, George Washington prepares to move from Valley Forge in pursuit, and Jamie Fraser comes back from the dead to discover that his best friend has married Jamie’s wife. The ninth Earl of Ellesmere discovers to his horror that he is in fact the illegitimate son of the newly-resurrected Jamie Fraser (a rebel _and_ a Scottish criminal!) and Jamie’s nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for Ian’s Quaker betrothed.

Meanwhile, Claire Fraser deals with an asthmatic duke, Benedict Arnold, and the fear that one of her husbands may have murdered the other. And in the 20th century, Jamie and Claire’s daughter Brianna is thinking that things are probably easier in the 18th century: her son has been kidnapped, her husband has disappeared into the past, and she’s facing a vicious criminal with nothing but a stapler in her hand. Fortunately, her daughter has a miniature cricket bat and her mother’s pragmatism.

The best of historical fiction with a Moebius twist, WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD weaves the fibers of a family’s life through the tapestry of historical drama.

Reserved

Reserved

Wooo Hooo, this is going to be good!

I'm not flying through this, now. At least I'm not planning to fly through it. Echo got verrry innntahresting at the end there.

So much happened at the end of Echo, it was so hard to keep up with what was going on and where the next book will take us :)

There is always so much detail in her stories that it's hard to fly through, especially when reconciling the historical elements.

Because this is so long, I think I will probably do a reading schedule for myself similar to book of the month...unless I can't help myself :D

I've been doing that for all my books for the past couple of weeks. I divide them up over 5-7 days, or more if they're this long. It's much easier to comment on the BR threads that way.

I only did that with last months book of the month (since it was sorted out for us) and it really helped. I think I'm going to do like you do, seems more manageable.

Through Ch. 25 (view spoiler)[I'm sad with how Jamie just gave up and left Lord John behind. I know he was upset and I know that a trigger was hit when Lord John said he was imagining f***cking him. It's just that they've done so much for each other and poor Lord John is in dire straights.

I was also expecting William to behave differently, so I'm a bit surprised, especially with how he treated Rachel, I expect him to come back to himself in the end though.

Love the introduction of all the famous faces of history and can't wait to see how the stories intertwine (hide spoiler)]

I've only read through Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[
PLEASE tell me Dr. Hunter is going to rescue John Grey! This whole thing has to be sorted before Boston is taken over by the rebels and Hal (and the rest of the household, probably) are taken. I hate to think what they would do to the household of an escaped prisoner, though.

I'm worried about William. Haven't heard anything about him since he left the prostitute.

Anymore characters and I'll need a spreadsheet to sort them. (hide spoiler)]

I agree and Lord John is one of my favorite characters, so all has to be right in the world.

Cynthia wrote: "I've only read through Chapter 13
.."

Even more difficult with all the characters is that they all have a few more nicknames and formal names, so some characters are referred in 6 different ways!!

I've made it through Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[

I too was surprised at William's behavior, but then again he is Jamie's son and it seems shares his temper. He's young, and not had someone like Claire to soften him.

My favorite character is Ian, and it doesn't take much for him to bring me to tears. John Grey is a close second, though.

I suspect Claire will 'encourage' the Bartrams and the Hunters to form a meeting, and in that way both couples can get married. She has a way of getting her way. (hide spoiler)]

And now we should find out what's going on with Brianna and Roger.

Also, in my previous spoiler I said Boston when I meant Philadelphia. Don't know why I said Boston. I was surprised to see it in my comment.

I'm so anxious to see whats happening with Breann and Roger. I always forget how much is going on in these books, it's been a long time since I read Echo!

Well it's fresh for me. I just finished it last night LOL. I'm so tempted to keep reading and just ignore the rest of my books, but I need to get some of the shorter ones out of the way.

Just started today, only got through 100 pages or so mainly because I'm reading this on my computer and I HATE reading on a screen instead of a page. The core group hasn't been all together in so long I'm really hoping it happens sometime in this book.

Allison Ann wrote: "Just started today, only got through 100 pages or so mainly because I'm reading this on my computer and I HATE reading on a screen instead of a page. The core group hasn't been all together in so ..."

I have a feeling that it will. Maybe not in the beginning of Part II, but at the end of it.

Part 2 is finished (That's through Chapter 46) (view spoiler)[

Can I say I told you so? I predicted they would all be back in time at the end of Part 2. Of course, I thought they would go back together and have some hope of arriving in the same generation.

(hide spoiler)]
I didn't think the fast pace of the first part could hold up throughout, but it's not slacking and I'm at 34%. I hate to put it down for anything else right now, so I may not.

I had a 12 hour work day today, so I'm not any further than I was yesterday. Plan to make dinner and then get to reading!

Finished part 2 (view spoiler)[wow, didn't see that coming with possibly finding out about Rogers dad. How about that blast from the past, Dougal! I must say I'm a little stressed out with everyone being scattered all over time. (hide spoiler)]

I've been in bed with flu since early Monday. Reading a little but not much, so you'll catch up.

Sending healing wishes!!!

Oh thank you! I wish I had the audiobook, if there is one. I hope to back back in top reading form soon. I'm anxious to know what's going on with Bree, Roger and the kids.

I'm making do with Kindle Unlimited narrated books and it's not an adequate replacement for this!

I bought my hard copy before I discovered audiobooks, but agree it would probably be great in audio.

To ch.86 (view spoiler)[loved Germaine through this part of the book and appreciated his loyalty to Lord John. I was also happy to see Clarence rightfully returned :). I'm still worried about William though. I'm curious to see what becomes of Jamie resigning his commission. (hide spoiler)]

We're at about the same spot. My last reading was (view spoiler)[ Clarence being returned. I'm still crazy to see what's going on with Brianna & Roger! Gah! (hide spoiler)]

I have a dr appt tomorrow, but I plan to be back to this tomorrow night.

I stopped buying the physical books as soon as I got my first Kindle. I still have a nice matched set of the first 5 that I bought years ago and an odd #7 that someone gave me. I definitely prefer the ebooks. Easier to carry around and easier on my old eyes, too.

Tell me about it, I feel like I can use my hardcopy as a weapon, it's so heavy...therefore no reading before I go to sleep or I might get a concussion ;)

I just finished Ch. 117 (view spoiler)[I thought we'd get more time with Roger and his dad, so was a little unsatisfied with that, but so happy that Roger, Bree and the kids have been united!!! Can't wait to see if everyone ends up in the same time.

I'm sad that Rolo died, he really took care of Ian, going to miss him :( (hide spoiler)]

I think I'll probably finish today :)

You're flying through! I'm up to Chapter 96, so making some progress. I don't know if I'll finish this weekend, though. I've still got about 1/3 of it to do.

Finished (view spoiler)[this didn't have as many key plot points as previous books, felt a little like a setup book in many ways. I'm so glad that Ian and Rachel survived childbirth and hope they can be happy for awhile. William is still coming to grips with his parentage, but I'm glad to see he's beginning to make some positive steps...I'm most curious about what the next book has in store for him. (hide spoiler)]

Hope the book is still working for you Cynthia and that you're feeling much better :)

I forgot to come back and post I'd finished it!

I wish there (view spoiler)[ had been more focus on the Roger/Brianna story, instead of so much time spent on Claire performing operations. That part's getting a bit old for me.

I agree that it feels like a set-up for the next one. I don't feel like anything really new and exciting happened in this book.

I'm sure I'll stick around for the next, one though! (hide spoiler)]

Hi! I'm actually reading this book and am about halfway through. I happened to see that you guys are doing a buddy read, so I thought that I'd join in, if you don't mind.

Hi Jenni, how are you liking it so far?

I'm enjoying it. There is a lot of detail, which is nice, but it feels kind of slow. I want to know more about Jem, Roger, and Bree, and it feels like all we get is teasers. :) How you reading it, Snowtulip? I'd love to know your thoughts!

I agree, I really want the story to focus on Bree, Jem and Roger; especially after how the last book ended! I agree with Cynthia that I could have done with less detail/description on Clare setting up for medical procedures :) To me, that slowed the story down. I do love the parts with Ian though, I've been wanting him to be happy for so long!

I'm at Chapter 55. (view spoiler)[There are just too many people in this book. I want to know what is happening to all of them, except maybe Lord John who is my least favourite character. But even he is in an interesting spot and with Germain showing up I'm eventually sensing a big giant family reunion. :)

I wouldn't have thought of Washington as tall. Surprising. (hide spoiler)]

Allison Ann wrote: "I'm at Chapter 55.

Yes, (view spoiler)[I think focusing on a few key storylines instead of so many characters would have helped the pace of the story as well (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 116

(view spoiler)[NOOOOOOO, not Rollo. Now I am sad. I had many more thoughts before this point, but they are gone now. Perhaps after sleeping on it I'll have more insight and fewer tears. (hide spoiler)]

Allison Ann wrote: "Chapter 116

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ That was so sad. I cried, too. (hide spoiler)]

And I'm done and my brain hurts from reading 90 million pages on my computer screen. I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I had a physical copy to read.

(view spoiler)[I am sick to death of all the war scenes. Half the time I couldn't remember who was fighting for which country. Too confusing. And I really hated Claire's breakdowns, I prefer my Claire badass thank you very much. Also way too much William and not enough Bree and family. (hide spoiler)]

All that said, I didn't hate the book but I think I need to let things settle a bit before I comment more. I do have to say that I have enjoyed each book just a little bit less than the one previous, until now. This one was better than An Echo in the Bone IMO.

The ending drove me nuts. (view spoiler)[They are finally together and it is over. And I will bet you 900 million dollars that at the beginning of the new book she'll skip over any Fraser's Ridge togetherness and have them scattered to the four winds again because of something stupid. What war is next? Oh gods it's going to be all blah, blah, Constitution isn't it? Unless she figures out a way to jump them forward to the War of 1812. I assume we're never going back to the UK at this point for anything important. (hide spoiler)]

I can't believe you read this on the computer screen Allison! My eyes would have crossed by now :)

I do hope we get some more time in Scotland in the future novels, I love when the story is focused there.

(view spoiler)[I agree, Claire didn't seem to have the same PRESENCE she usually has in books...or maybe Claire is losing her shine for me, I really did want more Bree (hide spoiler)]

OMG Allison (view spoiler)[ I spit tea out all over my keyboard. You've absolutely summed up my opinion. I'm so freaking tired of war and surgeries and ooh we've made it out! Oops! Caught again and back into the fray. Sigh. I may have reached the end of my interest in this one. I hate it, because I have such an interest in the secondary characters. I've just lost interest in Claire and Jamie and their primary interests, which seem to be war and stitching people up and having sex. The only thing that seems to change is the order of the activities. (hide spoiler)]

And also I'm in awe of you reading this on the computer. My hat is off to you. I would have given up on it.