The Custom of the Army: An Outlander Novella

Good MorningFor those of you that have read previous reviews of mine you know that I don’t review the technical aspects of an author’s writing. I’ll tell you how the book effected me. How I felt during my reading. What emotions were brought up. Did I enjoy my time spent reading or was I disturbed in mind or spirit.Diana’s writings were recommended to me several years ago. I was intrigued but didnna follow up till just recently. I am so glad I finally did! So far I have found her writing style to intense( ya can’t do 1456 pages in one book and not be) but I have loved it. Her dialogue is rich with depth. Her word selection verra varied and definitely not the everyday variety. I have made good use of the dictionary in my IPad, mostly just to confirm what I had already thought the definition of the word in question to be, ex: Lacuna. I got it right by guess & the surrounding text , but have to say I don’t think I’ve ever read that word before. I like being challenged.To date I have finished “The Outlander” thru “The Fiery Cross” and several of the novellas. I decided that after “The Fiery Cross” I needed a wee bit of a break.Observations:- the Scottish brogue is coming rather easily to me - poor husband- don’t bother to purchase any of the “reading lists” that are offered by other authors. Idownloaded one and I’d done just as well with a pencil and 3-4 sticky notes.- at end of “The Custom of the Army” is a fantastic chronology of the Outlander series. I love Diana’s description of her writings as “The Outlander series includes three kinds of stories:”- The Big, Enormous Books - I guess!- The Shorter, Less Indescribable Novels that are more or less historical mysteries - Ok- and The Bulges - never heard of this term in regard to books before - and then she wentto define “Bulges” as “ these being short (er) pieces that fit somewhere inside the storylines of the novels, much in the nature of squirming prey swallowed by a large snake.”- Now folks I’m a very visual reader. Wow that's one helluva vision!- I will be downloading all of the “The Lord John” Shorts & Bulges - to be sure!Tucked into Diana’s description of “Outlander” are these words: “If you’ve never read any of the series, I’d suggest starting here. If you’re unsure about it, open the book anywhere and read three pages; if you can put it down again, I’ll give a dollar.” That is one of the most accurate statements, concerning an authors writings, that I have to date encountered.All of this being said, open up “Outlander”, sit back and be prepared to leave this current world for a most enjoyable journey as you’ll ever get. -P-P.S. had to change my sign off - new keyboard can’t get my wavy “till-dee” thingy

This is probably the first work by Diana Gabaldon to which I have assigned a three star rating instead of a five. My major issue with the novella is that it seemed to lack focus -- for such a short work it tried to cover too much ground (a duel, a wayward cousin, a courts martial, information on the hero's father's death, a battle, a brief romantic encounter with an Indian). The outstanding scenes in the work include the opening sequence at the eel party -- it was the fashion for a time to have the owner of an electric eel appear at a social gathering, and then have the guests join hands while some patsy (in this case, John Grey himself) grasp the eel. The electric current would pass through all the guests and send them reeling, and at this party it literally stopped John's heart for several seconds. This scene alone was worth the price of admission, as it was humorous and informative.After apparently killing a guest at the party in a duel, John is whisked away to Canada to attend the courts martial of an old friend. There he looks up his cousin to give him a miniature of the cousin's wife and child, only to find out that said cousin has had an out-of-wedlock child with a native woman. As if this weren't enough, John is able to sneak away for a romantic week in the wilderness with a brave who is an ally of the English against the French (the setting is the Seven Years War, aka in the colonies as the French and Indian War). Just as an aside to those who sometimes object to strong sexual content in Gabaldon's books, there is no explicit sex in the work. The climax of the book occurs on the famous Plains of Abraham, where the Highlanders scale the cliffs in the dead of night to confront the astonished French the following morning.It all just seems a bit much to me to try to cover all of this in such a short work. The courts martial fizzles out and seems more like a device to get Grey to Canada than anything else. The encounter with the brave seems rather improbable in this setting as well. One of the most interesting characters in this short book is the English commander Wolfe, who leads the Highlanders against the French -- if you don't know his ultimate fate, I will not spoil it for you. Wolfe actually came alive for me, and I found out something I did not know -- that he recited a well-known poem on the eve of battle (I will let you find out which poem!). In her afterword, the author discusses her use of French, something that always gets her in trouble with some readers. She consults several sources prior to making the selection as to how the characters are going to say their parts in French, knowing that she will be criticised soundly by many. Indeed, one of the reviewers on this site dealt with nothing but what she saw as "fractured French" to the point where she could write about nothing else. I don't read French, and am a novice at the spoke language, so when I encounter it briefly in a novel my reaction is "okay, someone said something in French and got an answer." As to the entire book, while this quick read was enjoyable enough, I think nothing was developed in great depth -- I hope for a longer work the next time.

Another great Gabaldon novella - I just can't get enough of Lord John and the world of Jamie and Claire. The only reason I didn't give it 4 stars is because I found it ended a little abruptly for my tastes. Based on the other novellas I've read that may just be a sympton of the genre rather than the author's writing itself.

I have read everything Diana has written I believe, but I am still waiting for the next Outlander. Jamie and Clair have found a place in my heart like they are family and would love to know more about them and their families. Lord John to me is such a lovely person that is typical of "All of the good men are married or gay" At my age anyway...

I was surprised to discover that Gabaldon set one of her novellas in Quebec. An interesting angle on a historic event that served to shape history in North America.

I like the character of Lord John, some of the early books have been disapointing but this read mirrored the earlier story plot lines. I could have used a refresher on some of the characters and if I hadn't read the Scottish Prisoner this may have made no sense.

The Lord John stories are not anywhere close to as absorbing as the main stories, but, when you know what to expect, they're entertaining.