Outlander Book Club: Book 2, Chapter 32 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

We start off with everyone in the fields where the potatoes are. It’s time to see if they’re ready to eat.

Ian has taken everything seriously. When he first bought some potato seeds, he also got a book about farming. For the most part, it’s a useful book. It’s just when it comes to knowing when it’s time to dig them up. Are they ready underground?

The book tells them to dig up when the first winter goose is around. What’s a winter goose? That’s nothing the Scots have heard of. So, Fergus comes up with a brilliant idea. Why not just dig up one to see if it’s ready?

That’s exactly what they do. They get some big and small potatoes, which is just what Ian was expecting. They need the smaller ones to replant and they have the bigger ones to eat and store. It all looks like it’s working out perfectly, which is great because some of the other crops have failed.

Of course, since the Highlanders have never really seen potatoes (Jamie has, but only when cooked), they have no idea what to do with them. It’s Fergus to the rescue again, who has seen potatoes used in France. Claire also chimes in with some ideas on how to cook potatoes. It’s one of the most versatile vegetables available.

Sure enough, it leads to Claire overseeing the creation of cock-a-leekie soup. Despite the hesitations at first, the dinner goes down well. The people of Lallybroch are happy that they have food to help.

At the end of the night, Claire ends up with Wee Jamie in her lap. After giving him some milk, he goes to sleep in her arms. It’s a bittersweet moment, knowing what happened to Faith. However, I love that Claire has been able to accept her nephew in her arms. Some women would pull away after the loss of a child, but Claire is moving forward and becoming a part of the family.