tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post1109573126592238687..comments2024-03-16T17:24:36.065-04:00Comments on Outlandish Observations: DRAGONFLY imageryKaren Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-17959080770797696942015-01-15T11:36:41.682-05:002015-01-15T11:36:41.682-05:00I read the first book in the series, Outlander, an...I read the first book in the series, Outlander, and it disturbed me so much I thought I would never read another. 3 years later, I read the second, Dragonfly in Amber. Now I look forward to reading the third. I also enjoy researching the "facts" in the books, like the Battle of Culloden. It also helps that my maternal ancestors lived in the Highlands.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-52608453487244154352011-10-07T06:26:55.145-04:002011-10-07T06:26:55.145-04:00Hi Shawn,
It's always good to see someone els...Hi Shawn,<br /><br />It's always good to see someone else discovering the series for the first time. Thanks for the link to your blog. I'll be interested to hear your impressions of the rest of the series. <br /><br />In answer to your question, no, I have no idea if there really is a portrait of a red-haired woman who looks like Ellen MacKenzie in the National Portrait Gallery. I've never been to the UK.<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-85665068920428919502011-10-07T04:48:58.530-04:002011-10-07T04:48:58.530-04:00Any more info on the referenced National Gallery p...Any more info on the referenced National Gallery portrait and whether it's fact or fiction? <br /><br />I've just discovered this series- shocked that it's been out for nearly 20 years and I didn't know about it! I am blogging my impressions and connections, so feel free to drop in!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-52672512226647546272011-10-07T04:48:27.491-04:002011-10-07T04:48:27.491-04:00Any more info on the referenced National Gallery p...Any more info on the referenced National Gallery portrait and whether it's fact or fiction? <br /><br />I've just discovered this series- shocked that it's been out for nearly 20 years and I didn't know about it! I am blogging my impressions and connections, so feel free to drop in!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-20495179845947195032011-02-01T17:33:20.463-05:002011-02-01T17:33:20.463-05:00Bri:
Glad you liked it! I had fun putting it toge...Bri:<br /><br />Glad you liked it! I had fun putting it together.<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-24374064041150428042011-02-01T17:19:28.617-05:002011-02-01T17:19:28.617-05:00Excellent post, Karen!! I love it :)
BriExcellent post, Karen!! I love it :)<br />BriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-37087668823788531982011-02-01T12:03:59.418-05:002011-02-01T12:03:59.418-05:00Karen,
We are at the exact same part!! I just lis...Karen,<br /><br />We are at the exact same part!! I just listened to the young Lord John episode. Interesting because I also just recently read the second Lord John book (Brotherhood of the Blade) and in it he describes the episode from his perspective. Love reading (or listening) to things from the different perspectives. How does she keep it all straight???!!!<br /><br />Thanks again for this great post!<br /><br />RinahRinahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-57441053943395005282011-02-01T06:02:18.273-05:002011-02-01T06:02:18.273-05:00TheLitBitch:
Really glad you liked it! And as I ...TheLitBitch:<br /><br />Really glad you liked it! And as I mentioned to you elsewhere, I'm enjoying the <a href="http://www.thelitbitch.com/" rel="nofollow">reviews of the OUTLANDER books</a> on your site very much. It's such a treat for the rest of us to watch a new reader discover the series. Please don't stop! :-)<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-46818974038560900142011-01-31T23:55:07.388-05:002011-01-31T23:55:07.388-05:00Great posting!! I love symbolism and symbolic meta...Great posting!! I love symbolism and symbolic metaphors and this series is riddled with them!!! I especially like how the frozen dragonfly was linked in with symbolism as you pointed out. I found a site that talks about the symbolism of dragonflys (http://www.dragonfly-site.com/meaning-symbolize.html) and they more or less symbolize a maturity or growth. The amber could represent Claire's eyes (the color of gold/yellow) and thus implying that this book is about characters and their growth.....especially Claire's. Also could mean that a dragonfly is stuck in mid-flight (like Claire and Jamie's relationship/love is)is both powerful and confining at the same time....so much symbolism and lays of meaning in these books.....thanks for suggesting that I read you post.....you were right i did really enjoy it!!! Nice job :)The Lit Bitchhttp://www.thelitbitch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-30838834032927455742011-01-31T19:16:08.747-05:002011-01-31T19:16:08.747-05:00Ann:
It's amazing how you can still pick up n...Ann:<br /><br />It's amazing how you can still pick up new layers even after multiple re-reads. I wasn't consciously aware that some of the above things were connected to the "dragonfly" theme until I started looking for them. They're scattered all over the book, in much the same way that there are "echoes" throughout AN ECHO IN THE BONE. Great fun trying to identify them all!<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-17317385362417918722011-01-31T18:35:57.373-05:002011-01-31T18:35:57.373-05:00Karen,
Thank you for this post! I, too, am re-rea...Karen,<br />Thank you for this post! I, too, am re-reading Dragonfly through Davina's audiobook. How delightful to see these images and the concept that they symbolize. I am always amazed at the layer upon layer of deep meaning that Diana builds into each part of the overall story! I loved your last reference to Jamie and Claire's relationship. What a powerful analogy! Well done! <br />AnnAnnabellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374775802790276348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-46005262065384857212011-01-31T13:25:04.371-05:002011-01-31T13:25:04.371-05:00Rinah:
I'm glad you liked it! For some reaso...Rinah:<br /><br />I'm glad you liked it! For some reason there seem to be a lot of people re-reading (or listening to) DRAGONFLY at the moment. I just listened to the bit with 16-year-old Lord John yesterday -- one of my favorite parts of that whole book.<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-56027802099148584162011-01-31T13:19:46.702-05:002011-01-31T13:19:46.702-05:00LOVE this post! I'm listening to Dragonfly in ...LOVE this post! I'm listening to Dragonfly in Amber right now too (and loving it!) so these images and quotes were wonderful.<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />RinahRinahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-41853160982322887992011-01-31T11:43:18.284-05:002011-01-31T11:43:18.284-05:00Jillybean:
Glad you liked it! I always find that...Jillybean:<br /><br />Glad you liked it! I always find that the pictures help a lot in situations like this. :-)<br /><br />I have no idea if the portrait of Ellen MacKenzie is real or fictional. That's something you could ask Diana on Compuserve, if you want. (If it's fictional, it would save you a lot of digging!)<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-52397467180387321962011-01-31T11:34:42.919-05:002011-01-31T11:34:42.919-05:00Thanks for this! I was wondering about that myself...Thanks for this! I was wondering about that myself...<br /><br />The visual aids help a lot too <br /><br />I think I have another one for you: when Claire tells Brianna to go look at the portrait of Ellen in the National Portrait Gallery and bring along a hand mirror.<br /><br />I've been very interested to find the portrait of Ellen MacKenzie. I know it's out there somewhere. I don't know its title, though. A simple Google search didn't turn up much; maybe I was using the wrong keywords.Jill W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13154417703559169377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-2394240877481161592011-01-31T11:32:09.738-05:002011-01-31T11:32:09.738-05:00Merih:
Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it...Merih:<br /><br />Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it.<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-4330377046503045332011-01-31T11:31:46.515-05:002011-01-31T11:31:46.515-05:00Bug Expert:
I'm quite entertained that you fo...Bug Expert:<br /><br />I'm quite entertained that you found my blog. :-) The author of the OUTLANDER books, Diana Gabaldon, uses a lot of insect and wildlife imagery in her writing. And I do find the idea of an insect preserved in amber pretty interesting.<br /><br />KarenKaren Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635855088490793965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-76333323488509868982011-01-31T10:45:57.349-05:002011-01-31T10:45:57.349-05:00Karen,
This is an amazing post. I love it and th...Karen,<br /><br />This is an amazing post. I love it and the images you chose are perfect!<br /><br />MerihAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7379581147262228210.post-33166867094357430942011-01-31T08:45:45.072-05:002011-01-31T08:45:45.072-05:00Fascinating reference to how an insect like a drag...Fascinating reference to how an insect like a dragonfly can be frozen in time...for millions of years. And became an inspiration for a whole novel.Bug Experthttp://www.insectexperts.comnoreply@blogger.com