Tags
books, Diana Galbaldon, Erotica, Love, Romance, sexy, soulful, The Outlander, TV, TV series
Finally! I found what I was looking for when I wrote the post Speaking of Erotica, a “steamy love story that has depth and substance.” I wrote:
I am seeking something that stimulates and satisfies in a deeper way than what I’ve found so far. A story that explores, perhaps, at least to some degree, both the sensual and spiritual nature of desire, arousal, and consummation. After all, sexual and spiritual pleasure, power and transformation are parallel journeys on the road to fulfillment. Both are precipitated by strong human desires for union with the Other. Both, arguably, are what shape us as human beings.
Each journey involves deep longing for something beyond the individual self. Each requires trust and receptivity, surrender and self-sacrifice, tenderness and devotion. Each gives way to passion and delight, awe and wonder, ecstasy and bliss, love and transcendence.
Each seeks the Beloved.
Strangely enough, I read the first three chapters of the book in question and put it away, thinking it wasn’t what I was looking for. And I might never have returned to the book if it hadn’t recently been made into a cable TV series that I watched on Netflix. The film took me beyond the pages I had read and showed me what I had missed. Now I’ve finished the first book in the cult-classic series and have begun the second.
Yes, you guessed it. The book is The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, a time-traveling historical romance set in the 1940’s and 18th century Scotland.
The book isn’t as literary as I’d originally hoped and the prose sometimes dips toward purple, but it makes up for it by some truly beautiful writing and by turning the romance genre upside-down in so many interesting (and sometimes disturbing) ways. Our hearty hero, for instance, is younger than our heroine and he’s a virgin to boot. It is he who is lusted after by the villain rather than our heroine. And she, far from being an innocent is an experienced, strong, deeply intelligent woman with a fierce mind of her own, which, sadly, gets her and a lot of other people into a lot of trouble. Yet, while she puts herself into situations where she must be saved, she does an equal amount of saving herself.
Still, the characters are nuanced and complex, including the villains, and the plot turns in unexpected ways that add the depth and substance I was seeking. And the romance that blooms between Claire and Jaime is not only steamy but sweet and tender and, yes, soulful, in the way that Whitman writes with such lust and love for life in all its many intimate and erotic forms.
The Outlander series has been around for a long time and has a large, devoted following. I’m surprised I hadn’t come across it before.
How about you? Have you read the books or are you watching the Starz series? If you’ve read or watched Game of Thrones, chances are you will enjoy these as well.
Here’s a fun and sexy music video that will get you into the mood for romance.
Deborah J. Brasket 
These posts arrive with difficulty, and the biggest difficulty is my inability to SEE the words. Why-oh-why do so many posts arrive in need of a magnifier?
Nancy, you might try bumping up the fonts on your computer. That should help.
Hi, Debra. This is a delightful post. I have been living in a cave and have not watched The Outlanders (or Game of Thrones). I try to restrict myself to one or two series at a time. This looks beautiful. I like what you say about the sensual and spiritual nature of desire. I have been working on a memoir and thinking about young, first love, and there is something powerfully spiritual about it, tho I don’t think that is recognized. I’m intrigued by what you say about the sensual and spiritual nature of desire. Somehow it helps in what I’m currently writing, to thank you. I am going to print out and keep this post.
I’m glad you liked this Valorie, and am flattered to think it might help in any way with the memoir you are writing. I’ll be looking forward to reading it when you’ve finished.
Okay–I’ve been putting off reading The Outlander series for too long. Clicking up to the top of my to-read list. 🙂
Let me know what you think, Michelle, when you do read it!
Fast tracking this one. 🙂 Got it on audio book from the library. So excited!
It starts out a little slow, Michelle, but once it heats up, it doesn’t let go. Enjoy!
A couple of comments. First, like you, I tried reading the first book and put it down because it didn’t catch and therefore I have not been tempted by the TV series. You may have changed my mind – about the TV show, anyway.
Up until yesterday I might have agreed with this statement: “After all, sexual and spiritual pleasure, power and transformation are parallel journeys on the road to fulfillment. Both are precipitated by strong human desires for union with the Other. Both, arguably, are what shape us as human beings.” It’s a good argument for abandoning celibacy in the priesthood. However, yesterday, I was reading an article about people – 1 in a hundred apparently – who are “asexual”. This is not a pathology or a psychiatric “condition” but In our hypersexualized culture, these people are made to feel odd and sick because they are seen as unfulfilled in the ways you describe. I think in part this is also why some people hold the elderly in low esteem, because for some, sex is no longer possible or even desirable.
Goodness, strong opinions this morning. Good post and goodness knows I like a good bit of thoughtful erotica!
How interesting you should say that. I had been thinking along similar lines. Thinking about how that kind of deep sensual fulfillment does not always have to be sexual. Something similar is experienced in rare moments of oneness with nature, or the pleasure that art inspires, or even the purely innocent physical pleasure we feel when holding and loving a small child. Gabaldon has several beautifully wrought passages in which talks about the physical pleasures a mother feels when growing a child inside her, or when holding the little one in her arms. I would think even those who are asexual could still experience sensual love and fulfillment in some of these other ways and thereby share in some measure with what lovers might feel. I think that’s why I add the word “soulful” when I describe what I’m looking for in descriptions of sensual pleasure or erotica. Something other than the mere ego or physical body is involved. Something deeper and more spiritual. Something that unites you with the object of desire or affection. Without that, I’m not much interested in mere physical sensations, however pleasurable. It’s just too shallow. And that shallowness is what we see most often in our culture’s depiction of sex.
Hah, so funny because I thought of YOU when I saw the way this season is shaping up. First episode during the loooong sex scene hubby kept saying, “This is boring!” LOL, it’s such a woman’s erotic romance. Like the alternative sex, for instance, is “all about her” and not about him. First season and now this season.
Luanne, why am I not surprised you are already watching this? Have you read the books too? My husband had a similar reaction to the long sex scene, but seems to enjoy the rest more than Game of Thrones–he has a hard time keeping track of all the characters, so many look alike.
I haven’t started GOT yet this season. My hubby feels the exact same way about all the characters and story lines. He whines every now and then. 😉 I have not read the Outlander books.
I love ‘Game of Thrones’ but it’s too violent for my wife. However I think ‘Outlander’ will be just up her alley, so it’s also gone to the top of my Netflix queue.
Malcolm, I love Game of Thrones too. Outlander has some really violent scenes as well, but not as many as Games. Let me know what you and your wife think when you watch this. She might like the books too.
She loved it. Now she’s hooked. Jamie sure turns them on 🙂
Glad to hear, Malcolm. Ah, yes, Jaime. I’m not sure what makes him so appealing. The director of Outlander refers to him as “The king of men,” but I don’t think that’s a good fit–the kingly part. It might be interesting to explore it in a post sometime–writing is the only way I get at the heart of things.
I don’t usually read romance or erotica, but this might be one I need to check out. 🙂