So on my last post here on the Blaze blog, I asked for reader recommendations. Since then, I’ve discovered a few new authors, some whose books I loved, some that were so-so. But I did discover a series that I totally love, and that’s Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Now, I’ll be honest, those books are 1400+ pages long, and in some of the books, I’ve been doing some skimming. Because really, you don’t need pages and pages of description when a paragraph would have sufficed, but that’s just my opinion. But what I love about these books is that the author answers all the stupid questions that pop into my head as I’m reading.
I have a problem when it comes to random details. Take my favourite show, for example–LOST. Now, I love coming up with theories and trying to figure out what the hell is going down on this island (who is Jacob? Why doesn’t Richard age?!) But along with these important questions, I’m always wondering about things that other people dismiss or simply accept not having an answer to. And it’s usually stuff that has to do with hygiene, or random thoughts that really don’t affect the plot whatsoever–like, where is their bathroom on this island? What do they use for toilet paper? What do the girls do during their time of the month? Do Jack and Sawyer masturbate? If so, do they do it in their tent or go off into the jungle?
Yep, sadly, these are the types of things I wonder about. My friend, on the other hand, just accepts everything. Who cares about their bathroom facilities, of course the men masturbate, they’re men, who cares where and how often. But me, I need to know these things.
So in this Outlander series, the same types of questions pop into my head–and the author actually answers them! It’s awesome. At one point I was thinking about whether or not the women in 1700′s were really hairy–was wax available then? Did they use primitive razors to shave? Most historicals never mention stuff like that, probably because they don’t want to gross out readers by describing really hairy women. But Gabaldon actually mentions things like that, not in great detail (fortunately) but a sentence or two to answer the silly thoughts that always pop into my head.
Does anyone else have this same weird necessity to know details that most people don’t care about or is it just me?
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I like details in a book but not too many. I would rather read the story. If the details are essential for the storyline then sure. I would probably never have thought about how they shaved their legs. I have always said I wouldn’t have made it in the past because having modern conveniences are great.
I totally wonder about those things too, Elle. I thought I was the only one. So…DID women save back then? I haven’t read Gabaldon yet. Yikes! Don’t throw things at me, people. I promise she’s on my TBR pile.
I love details in a suspense too, like with Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series you learn a lot more about the pathology of dead bodies than most people would want to know, but I find it fascinating. Another author that always had great Historical details is Marsha Canham.
Cool post,
Linda, I don’t think I’d last a day in the past. Using a chamber pot, not being able to have a hot shower…that’s my wors nightmare. But I love historicals. And especially time travel historicals, where a modern woman goes back and shocks society with her modern ways lol
Juliet, I don’t know about shaving, but women were starting to wax back then. The hero in Gabaldon’s story was all horrified when the heroine came back all waxed. He said it wasn’t natural LOL!
Hi Elle, I really ask myself questions like this when I read Victorian Lit. I always thought of how they would handle things…if it would be like how we do it now? Did they masturbate? I mean, then men could flip any skirt they wanted, but women couldn’t do that without society condemning them as whores or madams. I love the Outlander series…Jamie Fraser is my heart as a hero.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Paula, I love Jamie Fraser! I’m just at the end of Snow and Ashes right now, and I still adore him now, when he’s like 50, as much as I adored him when he was 23 in book 1!