Comments on: REVIEW: Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon

By: Jorrie Spencer

Jorrie Spencer — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:04:29 +0000

I read part of Voyager before I stopped the series. I wasn’t particularly interested in Lord John from that book. In fact, I had a hard time remembering him when his books started being released. Of course, I was obviously disengaging from the series at that point, so that played a role.

Anyway, every reader takes something differently away from a book. But in what I’ve read, Lord John’s attraction to Jamie feels forced and I feel uncomfortable for the character—and takes me out of the story, so I have to rush through those scenes with Jamie. Gabaldon convinces me of Lord John’s attraction to other men, so it’s not that she can’t write manlust in a way that convinces me. (And, being a romance reader, I’m still hoping for someone to come back into Lord John’s life. Not sure how likely that is though.)

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 13:51:44 +0000

Bluenote, you’re correct that I haven’t read past the middle of book two in the Outlander series but even with that one, I got tired of everyone falling in love with Jamie. I guess I just hoped that Gabaldon would have one series without Jamie in it and one character who didn’t fall in love with Jamie. I’m sure the scenes you describe are moving but I’m just tired of Jamie, Jamie, Jamie.

By: bluenote

bluenote — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:42:40 +0000

I don’t know if this is true or not, but it seems from the comments that the people who don’t buy Lord John’s love for Jamie have not read all of the Outlander books. I have done so, and while I admit that doing so was a bit of a slog (especially The Fiery Cross and A Breath of Snow and Ashes — she really, truly needs to cut down on the writing and finish the story), I nonetheless loved them overall. More to the point, though, John’s feelings for Jamie might have read differently if you had been introduced to them in the Outlander series. The manner in which he fell for Jamie is beautifully described in Voyager, and there are some lovely passages in Drums of Autumn that reconfirm the depth of his affection. I have no problem with the way she handles his feelings for Jamie in the mysteries, for two reasons: (1) I have background knowledge which makes his feelings ring true, and (2) He doesn’t simply sit around and pine for Jamie — he actually has relationships with other men. Obviously, readers of the entire Outlander series might disagree with me, but that is my own take.

By: Chicklet

Chicklet — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:33:42 +0000

Ladies, two words: audio books!

Oh, I have no aversion to long books, I have an aversion to authors spending 200 pages covering eight hours of action in the story. *g*

By: Marianne McA

Marianne McA — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:16:49 +0000

Great, another book for the Christmas list. I’d forgotten this was coming out. I’m another reader who didn’t like Outlander (and so many people whose taste I trust loved it, that I reread it some time later – but no, not for me.)

I’d have thought I just didn’t like Gabaldon’s writing – but I did enjoy Lord John and the Private Matter. Gabaldon says somewhere that she thought, when she was writing the first Lord John, that she was writing a short story, and I wondered if that was what made the difference. Perhaps there’s something different about her writing when she’s trying to write in a shorter format.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:27:46 +0000

Seems like I recall hearing that she plots her books as she goes along. Or is it that she writes scenes then constructs the plot so as to connect them into a book? Something different than the norm. I only hope (especially for her Outlander fans) that if she feels she’s flagging, healthwise, that she writes some kind of outline and plot synopsis so at least people will know how she wanted the series to end!

By: Marg

Marg — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:03:31 +0000

Isn’t that every die hard Gabaldon’s greatest fear….that either she or we will not be around to finish the series!!!!

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:47:20 +0000

Marg, I wonder what Gabaldon will do if, and when, she finally finishes with the “Outlander” series? Of course since that will probably be in the late 2020s we might never know….[grin]

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:44:37 +0000

“Gabaldon does a great job of making the 18th century come alive. She has a great ability in these books to come up with the telling detail that helps define a scene.”

Precisely DS! When I read these books, I don’t just feel like I’m sitting in the audience watching a play. I feel like I’m there, in on the action.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:38:52 +0000

Vanessa, I haven’t read the first Lord John book either. I will go back and pick it up at some point but since I knew I had the arc to this anthology to read and review before the end of the year, I put it off for now. Perhaps this character and these books work better for me because, like you, I really have to lurve me a book that goes on past 450+ pages.