2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon, the second book in the Outlander series.

Pages: 947 pages

Length: 2 Months (June & July)

Participants: Ashleigh, oshizu.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

Excited for this!

Ashleigh wrote: "Excited for this!"

Me, too, Ashleigh!

Our readathon runs from June 3-12, so I'll start reading Dragonfly after that.

No problem. I've started a 700+ page book so I don't think I'll be moving onto another book any time soon 😅

My daughter has given me covid though. Currently asymptomatic but have to isolate so if it stays that way I might get some more reading in as I can't work for a week!

Oh, I hope you stay asymptomatic, Ashleigh!

What's the page count of your copy? Mine's a Kindle edition of 754 pages.
If you end up getting time off work, you should go ahead and start Dragonfly in Amber. As long as you mark your spoilers to indicate which chapters they cover, I can come along later and respond to your various comments.

Also, how do you tend to read long books? Do you read one book at a time?

I finished my other book last night so I'll be starting this one today (the 9th for me).

I started Outlander last night, 8th. As soon as I attempt to finish it I'll get to this one. It's due back in library app within 3 or 4 days.

Nice!
It will be fun having you join the discussion, Kiandra.

I am 6% of the way through, still in part 1! I'm enjoying it as much as I enjoyed Outlander so far! Has captivated me!

I really like that (view spoiler)[We are seeing a lot of the beginning from Roger's POV as he tries to unravel the mystery and look into Claire's request. I wonder what he'll discover! (hide spoiler)]

Oh oh I finished this last month, shoot! I could have read with you! Such a good book, very very tightly-knit. Mind if I randomly join the discussion based on your comments?

Saha wrote: "Oh oh I finished this last month, shoot! I could have read with you! Such a good book, very very tightly-knit. Mind if I randomly join the discussion based on your comments?"

You are very welcome to join the discussion!
All we ask is that you indicate where in the book you're discussing and use spoiler tags to prevent spoiling the plot for those of us who haven't finished (well, started in my case) reading the book yet. :D

Ashleigh & Kianda,
The 10-day readathon ends tonight at 11:59pm.
I expect to start reading this book in 2 days.
My copy is a little over 750 pages long. I might not need two months to finish it. Can't say yet.

oshizu wrote: "Ashleigh & Kianda,
The 10-day readathon ends tonight at 11:59pm.
I expect to start reading this book in 2 days.
My copy is a little of 750 pages long. I might not need two months to finish it. Can'..."

Yes I seem to be getting through mine pretty quickly! I always read a bit faster on my ereader! I've reached 15% now/part 2.

I'm done with my other buddy reads now and will plunge into Dragonfly tomorrow. Will attempt to catch up to you soon, Ashleigh!

oshizu wrote: "I'm done with my other buddy reads now and will plunge into Dragonfly tomorrow. Will attempt to catch up to you soon, Ashleigh!"

It won't be too hard I don't think! I'm relatively slow but also Tuesdays and Wednesdays are busy days for me and I don't get as much reading done! Not to mention I have a busy weekend coming up!

About 25% into the chapter L'Hopital Des Angels: (view spoiler)[It's so interesting to see someone suffering from diabetes in the 1700s. It never occurred to me that it'd exist in the past but I suppose it would have and people just would have died from it. I feel so privileged to be living in a time of so much medical advancement - where the issues that killed people 300 years ago are now things we sometimes just brush off as an inconvenience. (hide spoiler)]

I have just reached the chapter called 'Possession' (view spoiler)[I am curious as to who wishes to poison Claire (hide spoiler)]

This has been moved to the July Buddy Reads folder.

I'm glad I suggested 2 months for this haha! I'm not even 50% through!

Agreed that it's nice to have the extra time!
I just finished Part 4 earlier today.
Tomorrow, I will read your above spoiler and add my own impressions.

I just reached the end of part 4 too!

About 61% through (view spoiler)[It ,ooks like they havent stopped Charles after all and Jamie will have to fight for something he is against because charles is an idiot 🤣 (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh, my apologies for not commenting more. I've been in a somewhat reclusive mood lately but I did finish the book this morning.
I'll respond to your various comments and then add my own impressions afterward.

Ashleigh wrote: "I am 6% of the way through, still in part 1! I'm enjoying it as much as I enjoyed Outlander so far! Has captivated me!

I really like that [spoilers removed]"

In response to your comment above (view spoiler)[
i read the 25th anniversary edition which came with a disclaimer of sorts from the author, responding to complaints about this book being bookended by chapters taking place 20 yrs in Claire's present than Book 1. I was surprised of that response to her format.
Like you, I also liked the Ch 1 is narrated by Roger's perspective at a later time than Book 1.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "About 25% into the chapter L'Hopital Des Angels: [spoilers removed]"

In response to your comment (view spoiler)[
I really enjoyed all of Claire's interactions at the Hospital and with Hildegarde and Raymond.
How fascinating that she's a surgeon in her "other life" but finds a way to apply those skills in her 1740s life. I agree that all of the details about the status of medical treatment at that time are so interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "About 61% through [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
King Louis and Prince Charles do not paint a very desirable image of royalty at the time. They were both rather despicable men, weren't they? Poor Jamie getting tricked into fighting because Charles added his name to the charter without his permission.
So many of the aristocracy and privileged are so underhanded and dishonest. (hide spoiler)]

And after finishing the book, here are a few more of my impressions: (view spoiler)[
Claire: I did not like her much when she was blaming Jamie for her miscarriage. Jamie exchanged his own body to Jack Randall for Claire's safety and, as a result, was sexually abused and humiliated. Though Claire claims she's "chosen Jamie," she's too focused on saving Frank, I thought. Who told her to run to the dueling site and why is then Jamie's fault she miscarried?
Frank Randall: What a great twist that his ancestor was actually Alex Randall and not Jack Randall.
Jamie: His character is really augmented by his closest companions, Murtagh and Fergus. Later, he's forced to kill his foster father Dougal MacKenzie after Dougal overhears Claire suggest Prince Charles be poisoned. He has suffered much and displays much resiliency.
The ending: So Jamie escaped from death during the aftermath of the Battle of Cullonden (sorry, forgot the name)? Where has he gone? Do you think that Book 3 will consist of Claire, Brianna, and Roger going back in time? (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to your future comments!

I just finished last night!

I really liked this book, but I really enjoyed the narration of the audiobook for Outlander. I read the ebook version of this one. I think I'll continue to listen to the audio of future books!

(view spoiler)[I agree that Claire was a bit difficult during the miscarriage, but I can also understand the grief. I was actually taken aback that the first pregnancy wasn't Brianna haha! I thought it was going to be even though she got deep into her pregnancy.

Jamie has definitely sacrificed a lot for both her and others and I really like him as a character. He's a very loyal character. The fact that he had to kill his own uncle - a prominent character at that - I really felt for him.

And the fact that Jamie actually escaped the war intrigues me. I do wonder what will happen in book three!

I also found it interesting that their attempts to stop the battle actually seemed to be the cause of it all! (hide spoiler)]