The audience at the Salem Public Library fell into a hush when Diana Gabaldon took the stage in a purple, black and gold sequined cardigan yesterday to read from her latest novel from the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone.
A fan had bought the sweater for her.
“Why did someone buy you a sweater with sperm on it?” her husband had asked her.
Gabaldon isn’t your ordinary novelist — she’s kind of like the Stephen King of historical fantasy romance.
And this wasn’t an ordinary reading. In fact, it was the raunchiest, sexiest, most stifled giggle-producing reading I think I’ve ever been to.
Gabaldon opened with the story of her launch as a writer — a lot like what I wrote of in the little preview I did for Salem Monthly — but she fleshed in that story with some very funny anecdotes and lots of talk of the compelling image of men in kilts, who feature prominently in her books.
“A German journalist once asked me: Why men in kilts?” she said. “I explained to him that it was the idea that you could be up against the wall with him in a minute.”
Judging by the crowd — many women aged 18-65 — it’s easy to see who she touches with her stories of a time-traveling 20th century nurse and her 18th century Scotsman husband, whom some have called “the most perfect man on earth.”
And then she read from the book itself.
She picked a sex scene.
Gabaldon stayed for an hour or so, answering questions about the fate of beloved characters, filling in details of plot sequences that have spanned seven books. And then she went out into the hall to wait for about 150 people to get their books signed.
It was a near-perfect book event. She even threw in a bawdy rhyme that got the gals hollering.
In days of old
When knights were bold
And condoms not invented
They strapped some socks
Around their cocks
And babies were prevented.
Who wouldn’t like to see more of these around town. Readings by great authors, I mean, you cheeky monkeys. Who wouldn’t like to hear more salacious Highland rhymes performed by hot women in their 50′s? These things aren’t always confined to the space between women and their books.
I, too, wish there were more readings. I am looking forward to John Irving visiting WU in the Spring. “A Prayer for Owen Meany” is on my list of top 10 favorite books.
John Irving?!!! Break out the boxing gloves! Owen Meany is my grandpa-in-law’s favorite book in the world…