and don’t get me started on Mr & Mrs Mary Sue.

[erastes]

I’m finding it harder and harder to read The Outlander series. Those who follow my Tweets (which, with the depression has been the only way I’m managing to cling onto communication with the outside world) will have noticed that the books have been making me grind my teeth. It is becoming a bit of a chore to read it, which is rare for me. For my

Comments

[moreteadk]

That sounds so bad even I would have noticed. Is it perhaps an alternative universe in which England is Scotland and vice versa? Or in which the Scottish conquered the rest of the British Isles so that the rest of the world has trouble distinguishing between what's Scottish and what's British?

As always, wonderful to hear from you whenever you feel like it. :)

[erastes]

If she had claimed it as AU I would have happily swallowed most of it (save the distance thing!) but I checked out her FAQ page and she positively boasts about how assiduous her research was. (muffled chortling from the Norfolk corner)

Good to hear from you, too, my dear, how's things? still rosy?

[moreteadk]

I'm doing well, thanks. Have taken up cross stitch. I finished the Christmas tree rug, but as it turns out I'm not finished with stitching as an activity. Attempting to grow some primulas and pansies for pots on the terrace, but finding it rather tries my patience. Takes way too long to do anything. Cats are healthy, we're healthy, various family members are healthy. Yeah, we're doing well enough. :)

[cerisaye]

I became so annoyed by the series I threw in the towel after Book 3, not so much for historical accuracy and technical details just kept wanting to throttle Jamie and Claire, and they were too obviously written by an American! I then read 2 of the Lord John books out of curiosity but they had the same effect. Watched the first episode of the TV adaptation and decided not to bother with that either. I hope the Scottish tourist industry does well out of it, as at least they filmed here.

[erastes]

Yes! What made me laugh was her page where she said how the english and scottish idiom came naturally to her. "only to an american!" i thought to myself.

the series isn't half as bad, actually, the Sueness is toned down at least, i actually quite like tv claire whereas i could throttle book claire.

[lexin]

The only books by Gabaldon that I can stand to read are the ones centred on Lord John Grey. The Outlander books do nothing for me at all, other than to annoy me for the reasons that you give.

[gaedhal]

I enjoy the Lord Grey books, too, but I stopped the other series about halfway
through "Voyager."

[erastes]

I read the LJ books a few years ago and agree with you both, I liked them a lot more than Outlander - although it was sad that poor John never got a break in his love life.