Outlander Series discussion

Does anyone know if anything or anyone inspired Diana to create Jamie's character? I wonder if such a man exists?

If he does... I would like to know where to find him and I call dibs! :)

Yes. She says that she was inspired by the character Jamie McCrimmon from Dr. Who. The role was played by Frazer Hines. (Jamie Fraser... interesting) She says this in interviews, and it's in the companion too.

Here it is mentioned in the Jamie McCrimmon article on Wiki at the very bottom.

Not that the pictures look anything like Jamie. It makes me want to see him on the show.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Mc...

Thanks Wendy great info!

Will the real Jamie Fraser stand up. I feel he is a spirit that Diana created for us to keep in our hearts, he's there to protect us just like he protects Claire and family. He has been with me through 15 chemos, and 3 brain surgeries, we have been to war together for two years and we are still standing black war paint and all. Keep him in your heart always, that is where Jamie came from. Thank you Diana

Jacklyn wrote: "Will the real Jamie Fraser stand up. I feel he is a spirit that Diana created for us to keep in our hearts, he's there to protect us just like he protects Claire and family. He has been with me thr..."

Amen Jacklyn. Well said.

Jacklyn wrote: "Will the real Jamie Fraser stand up. I feel he is a spirit that Diana created for us to keep in our hearts, he's there to protect us just like he protects Claire and family. He has been with me thr..."

Lovely.

Jacklyn, I love your post. I haven't gone through the same hardship that you have, but for me too, Jamie has uplifted my spirit when I most needed. It is kind of weird to treat Jamie as some kind of spiritual guide, but sometimes all you need is some down-to-earth love story, something funny, something that you can relate too and make you forget all the sadness in the real life.
It is comforting to know that he can be there to make me smile and laugh even in more dire situations that I have been through.

Thank you. I'm sorry to use myself as an example, but it was the only way I could express my point. His spirit was with me before all this C stuff. When I realized we were born on the same day and at the same time 6:35pm I knew something was going on. Something in the stars for sure.
I'm a pig not an ox though, but have always loved that white sow, now she's a survivor!
My love to you all J

I disagree. Yeah, you wrote three things that he is similar to Mr. Rochester, but for me the similarities stop right there. Mr. Rochester is a pompous victorian stiff character, with a very odd sense of humor. He has an elitist upbringing that he carries through his whole life, feeling that he is above people that work for him.

Jamie is salt of the earth. He is funny, he understands people below his social class and treats everyone with amazing democratic ways for his time. He doesn't think any work is beneath him. He is very sexy and he makes love ten thousand times better than Mr. Rochester. He is not afraid to declare his love. He is a first class handyman. He loves and understands nature.

For all I know he looks more like my DH than like Mr. Rochester. BTW, my DH also was married to a VERRA crazy woman, and he loves me passionately. I left everything in another country to be with him (just like Claire!)

He is an OX, like my husband.

So there you go, My DH wins! ahahah:)

I Haven't read Jane Eyre yet. It's my Grandma's favorite book. She has like 4 copies of it, but gave me the copy that my Grandpa gifted her on one of their first dates.

Anyway, I'll read it soon and then I'll haven an opinion, lol.

How many of you would give up your current life for a life with Jamie (if he existed)? Don't you wish a man like this really existed?? Gosh, Diana sure got it right when thinking of the "perfect" man...

Dibs!!!

Me first!;)

I wish I could. The only thing is I need some medicine that only exists in the 20th century. I wouldn't last very long.:(

Sounds like you have a pretty good thing going with your ox, hope he's a Taurus too! My husband is very JF, it just took DG to make me realize it.

Heather wrote: "How many of you would give up your current life for a life with Jamie (if he existed)? Don't you wish a man like this really existed?? Gosh, Diana sure got it right when thinking of the "perfect" m..." Oooh thats a hard one,my DH is more like Frank than Jamie. I would probably be torn just like Claire was in Outlander. If I'm honest with myself I don't think I would survive the 18th century. I'm a bit of a wimp - I wouldn't have Claires fortitude for roughing it and facing all that sickness and disease. I better stick with my loving DH but it is nice to dream isn't it.....

I agree. The disease aspect is the hardest one to face. Specially the second time around, when Claire is 47, and menopause starts to show. I just cannot imagine surviving without antibiotics. Of course she was more immune to diseases than other people. and there were people living to old age (Benjamin Franklin for instance).

BTW, my DH is Aries just like me, and we have lots of fiery interactions!!

Sorry for the ignorance, but what is "JF"?

Jamie Fraser

Oh Gosh Sorry sorry, My sweet Jamie, how could have done that! ahaha

hahaha! I'm sure you just thrown off because it was almost too simple. You were trying to think of cool advanced possiblities... :)

Er...Thanks!!
But here I am , not excusing myself!! :)

Pinda wrote: "Dibs!!!

Me first!;)"

Me second. Pinda let's pack.

Heather wrote: "How many of you would give up your current life for a life with Jamie (if he existed)? Don't you wish a man like this really existed?? Gosh, Diana sure got it right when thinking of the "perfect" m..."

Sorry Ladies, NO. It is not only the aspect of medical treatment, though this is a very important one. Did you think of how they were forced to live in the 18th century? No central heating, no indoor plumbing and the clothes women had to wear! Do you remember what Claire thought when she had to take a cold bath after the man shot by Mr. Willoughby died on her lap: " ... shivering violently, thinking that the comforts of hot water and modern plumbing had seemed a hell of a lot easier to renounce when they were close at hand." Due to her upbringing and the time she came from (just after WWII) Claire could much better cope with these realities than Brianna. She, being about 2 years my senior, did remarkably well, though. I could neither make paper, nor think of building a hypocaust or a shower. I do not know all the plants and herbs and their use as Claire does, to keep food I put it in the deep freezer; think of hot summers without a fridge! But I would know how to knit my socks, though I would need 5 needles and not only to turn the heel.

The main, the only reason for anybody wanting to "go back" is JAMIE. But Jamie is in love with Claire!! Would anybody want to share him? And if you did not mind, he would. What we know of him so far (I do hope it will remain so), he would never consider to have an affair while Claire is at his side.

I'd still go;) There are numerous things I would miss, but a lot of things I wouldn't.

I may go to the 18th century. I don't think I'll go further back then that though.

Heather wrote: "How many of you would give up your current life for a life with Jamie (if he existed)? Don't you wish a man like this really existed?? Gosh, Diana sure got it right when thinking of the "perfect" m..."

In a hearbeat I would! Life was much simpler back then, though physically harder.

Latinlandish wrote: "I disagree. Yeah, you wrote three things that he is similar to Mr. Rochester, but for me the similarities stop right there. Mr. Rochester is a pompous victorian stiff character, with a very odd sen..."

Latin, I agree with you. Mr. Rochester just seemed all around an odd man and definately does not have the romantic words that Jamie melts my hearth with.

Jane Eyre for me was not an easy read but I did appreciate the story told.

Latin, what is "DH"?

I think she meant her Dear Husband.

Yes , that's what it is.
I am terribly romantic, and I LOVE my sweet husband. I left my home country when I was 28 to be with him, and it is not easy to leave your family, work,friends, culture, and language.

Talking about going to the 18th century, I think it would be hard. What bothers me is not the lack of central AC or heat, I have lived like that. We (Eddie and I)are kind of nuts on this aspect, and before kids we didn't care for ac or heat very much.

The woman's work load was heavy, I think washing clothes and cooking would be very time consuming. Claire is always smelling "Clean Linen" on Jamie, but I never read about the time it takes to make that linen clean!

Latin,

You are very lucky to be in love! I am almost 42 and I do not think I have ever experienced "true love". I find myself wondering if the kind of love I am reading about really exists?

As far as the clean laundry, from the Outlander books it sounds like the extended families who lived nearby all helped each other and chores such as laundry done once a week, all day.

Where are you from? My mother left her entire family and everything she knew in Italy when she was 16 to come to America to marry my father. She spoke of how difficult it was to learn the language and the lonliness of not having her family. You are a brave woman!

Latinlandish wrote: "Yes , that's what it is.
I am terribly romantic, and I LOVE my sweet husband. I left my home country when I was 28 to be with him, and it is not easy to leave your family, work,friends, culture, an..."

I'm referring to the laundry thing: In those times it really must have been very difficult and exacting to keep clean according to our standards. There are some hints, though, and how Claire manages to be buzy with things she prefers to do: healing and treating people! See FC, chapter 19, The Devil Ye Ken: " A week later, we - that is, the women - were engaged in the breathtaking business of laundry ..." and 3 pages later: "...Mrs. Chisolm and Mrs. MacLeod, who were hoicking steaming bales of wet clothes from the big kettle with paddles and spreading them on bushes to dry. I scuttled along with Jamie, ignoring the women's accusing stares and trying to look as though I had much more important concerns to deal with than laundry." I understand her very well!

A bit later, in the same book, she looks forward to leaving with Jamie on this "war errand", sleeping in the open, on the ground when it is freezing cold and snowing - only to leave the quarreling women and crying children having clustered in her kitchen. She is a bit sorry for Brianna, who had to stay. I cannot understand how to survive such nights, even near a fire, nor how the Beardsly twins did with no shoes and bare feet!

Elizabeth wrote: "Latin,

You are very lucky to be in love! I am almost 42 and I do not think I have ever experienced "true love". I find myself wondering if the kind of love I am reading about really exists?

..."

Elizabeth- I often wonder the same thing. If a love like Jamie's and Claire's would ever exist. I think just that someone wrote it down gives evidence to that fact. I will still believe, but have yet to find it myself.

It seems like the women were very busy back then with chores, but they all seemed to have the camaraderie of each other to make it go a lot easier. But yes, it would definitely suck.

Not that I would give advice to anybody, but one time a friend of my family (and on top of that, lesbian!!The irony!) gave me a great advice - If you really want a man to fall in love with you, you have to let him know that you love him more than anything in the world, that you love him like his mom would love him.

Now, that's a hard thing to do, and you have to be sure that he is the right one!! And if he is sure of your love, he will rise to the occasion.

Claire's story is inspiring. She doesn't cease to be amazed at the small miracles of everyday life with the man that she loves, she doesn't tire of smelling him, admiring him, feeding him, kissing him.

I have to admit that I was getting to a tired point, and I realized that my man needed the type of admiration that Jamie had from Claire, and as much as I used to give him 20 years ago.

And I thought, isn't life a time travel experience anyway? You don't know for how long you will be here, and the pure miracle of being together is so special, it is almost like going through the stones. If you think about the sheer number of people on Earth and the coincidence that the two of you would meet... I think it is incredible.

BTW, Elizabeth, I am Brazilian, it was hard to leave my country, specially because I was 28, at this age you have more roots in a place than when you are young.

Latinlandish wrote: "Not that I would give advice to anybody, but one time a friend of my family (and on top of that, lesbian!!The irony!) gave me a great advice - If you really want a man to fall in love with you, you..."

I've been told that I seem to be good at having men fall in love with me. My problem is myself. While I have experienced lust many times, I have never had enduring love. I suppose it's something that the right man needs to awaken in me?

Latin, you are right, at 28 I think you have more to lose than a 16yr old and it would be harder to leave as an adult rather than a naive teenager.

Elizabeth, I don't know how old you are, but believe me, it is never too late to fall in love. I know of incredible love stories that happen way after the age people believe it is the "normal" time.
And the recipe for a relationship is unique. You don't have to follow the norm, what makes you happy might be something VERY different from everybody else.
Follow your heart and don't worry about what everybody says.

I know everyone has such a fascination with Jamie, and for good reason he is a man of worth ," duine uasal" in the Gaelic translation not English . But Claire is really something, let's admit it! She is so sensual and brings the best and obvious out of these men, look at poor Philip Wylie, Loius, LJG, Dougal and the list goes on. Even Jamie admits they all want her. I think if any woman treated men like Claire they wouldn't have much to worry about. Even Mrs Graham said so in Outlander when she read Claire's palm. And yes Latinlandish, I with you on following your heart, you are a wise woman!

I agree with you, Claire brought in Jamie the best of him.
I feel that without Claire, all that he did didn't have much meaning. After she came back, he found his path. She gave him belief that he was the chieftain, that he w as the man that would take care of other people and that was what brought him happiness.

I am in Fiery Cross, and I know that they will have some "bad" moments after this book. So, I am talking without knowledge of the whole thing!!

Thanks for the "wise woman". My teenage kids would really think this is hilarious!

Teenagers can be really slow in that department, my kids are in their thirties and they still think they know more than I do!!

Oh Gosh! I can't think that I'll have to wait that long... :)

Remember you are a wise woman! And now tell everyone to go out and buy that Fraser fir and decorate it to the hilt!!!

Latinlandish wrote: "Elizabeth, I don't know how old you are, but believe me, it is never too late to fall in love. I know of incredible love stories that happen way after the age people believe it is the "normal" time..."

Latin, is this your first time reading the Outlander series?

BTW, I am almost 42 and I also have 2 teenagers (15 & 16).

Right now I am on a journey of self-discovery and am hoping one day I will find my Jamie (well-endowed and all!) hehe. Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Well, I guess I started the "breeding" process a little later!
I am 50 and have 3 kids, 11, 13, 15.
I feel like I am about to embark in my journey too!
Be hopeful, your Jamie is out there. Don't be too demanding about the endowed part though!! ahahah
That is a hard thing to find.
At least you can go to bed with Jamie in your hands... I mean the books!! ;)

Jacklyn, I will remember your advice!

Hi Elizabeth
Remember you get back what you put out, so start sending out that positive energy and see what happens, he' there!

Good point and very true, thanks Jacklyn :)

Re: going back to the 18th century....I don't think I could tolerate it....not because of no electricity, hot water, or etc. My problem would be medicines I need to survive...plus I woke up this morning with a bladder infection and I KNOW I would not be a pleasant person to be around if I had to pee every 10 seconds and I'd make everyone else around me miserable! LOL. I am doing that now and I have two different meds to get me through it!

I totally understand you Sharonh, I couldn't live without my medicines.
This week was verra cold here in Ga, the pump for my well got so frozen, it stopped working. Result: no water in the pipes. That's when I am thankful for Outlander! In the midst of all this inconvenience (I have 3 kids to get to school,including one very vain teenager, I had to use mineral bubbly water on his hair!!) I was smiling and thinking, Oh my Gosh, how could Claire stand in that cold cabin in NC? LOL

Yes Latinlandish....I wonder how Claire made it with her bad knees late in life and in the cold conditions in winter there in NC.

What about all that sex during menopausal years without any pharmaceutical help? ;)

I'm not sure how many medications there were for menopause in the 60's when Claire when Claire was hitting those years. I have a feeling that to her it wouldn't have made too much of a difference.

That's why it is so good to be in a fantasy world! Claire has just a little bit of a hard time to make it look like her life is real.
But believe me, to be 50 years old and ride a horse all day, sleep on the ground, have sex and not a bathroom in site for a shower in the morning, only in DG world! And I love it!
If I want reality I grab my Time or Newsweek. When I get my Outlander I want to dream and think that I too, am able to fight indians, cure half the world with herbs, have sex with the best man in the world, and never need a shower to smell like fresh linen.