Books that are hard to re-read
I finished my latest "re-listen" of the OUTLANDER books at the end of November, and decided to listen to some of the Lord John stories again, just for a change of pace, before I dive back into OUTLANDER.
So, this week I've been listening to LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER. And finding it very tough going, as usual. There are occasional bits that I like:
So anyway, I was just wondering, do the rest of you have any particular book in the series (or part of a book) that you don't like to re-read? Whether because of the subject matter (Wentworth, or Claire's miscarriage, or the abduction/rape in ABOSAA) or because of the way the book is structured (the Paris section of DRAGONFLY, the Very Long Endless Day in FIERY CROSS, etc.), or because you just don't care for it?
I'm not trying to be negative here. Diana has often commented that "not all books are for all readers", and I think PRIVATE MATTER is one of those, for me. Just wondering what the rest of you think about this?
So, this week I've been listening to LORD JOHN AND THE PRIVATE MATTER. And finding it very tough going, as usual. There are occasional bits that I like:
- the long flashback of John's experiences at Culloden
- all of the scenes involving Tom Byrd or Harry Quarry
- the confrontation between Lord John and Trevelyan where John tells him he can't marry Olivia
So anyway, I was just wondering, do the rest of you have any particular book in the series (or part of a book) that you don't like to re-read? Whether because of the subject matter (Wentworth, or Claire's miscarriage, or the abduction/rape in ABOSAA) or because of the way the book is structured (the Paris section of DRAGONFLY, the Very Long Endless Day in FIERY CROSS, etc.), or because you just don't care for it?
I'm not trying to be negative here. Diana has often commented that "not all books are for all readers", and I think PRIVATE MATTER is one of those, for me. Just wondering what the rest of you think about this?
--Amy in Atlanta
But, some of the sections of Jamie and Claire in France and Jamaica I have to trudge through on reread.
There is one section I would not care to reread for another reason. I hope I am remembering this correctly, because I have not reread it on purpose. But, that is when Jamie shows Claire where the gold is hidden and tells her how he and Jem were nearly trapped in there once. I remembered, in an earlier book, about the entwined couple's remains in another cave and I instantly feared that would be how Jamie and Claire would die. I wondered if it was a foreshadowing and I hated it.
I am a huge LJG fan, so the things you mentioned you find hard to reread in LJ and the Private Matter, I enjoy. I do agree that at times the different characters and plots have been confusing. I also found that to be true of LJ and The Brotherhood of the Blade, which is my favorite so far.
I especially enjoy the relationship between John and Tom Byrd. IMO, Tom knows about John and that is one reason is he so devoted. I believe Tom's brother is gay, which Tom also knows, and that is why he always has John's back in addition to being a loyal servant.
I find both LJ and Jamie very interesting for very different reasons. Diana has really captured my imagination about both of these men and their relationship, so I am really looking forward to LJ and the Scottish Prisoner.
I find myself not so much rereading the books, as just picking them up and reading parts at random, or going back repeatedly to favorite scenes. However, I also have some of the audiobooks, which I listen to carefully while driving. If I miss something, I replay it. So that way I'm getting all of the books reread. The Fiery Cross is also my least favorite, and the mysteries are also less interesting/confusing to me, fond as I am of LJ.
Another interesting question, Karen.