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Post by Kit's tits kick ticks on Jul 17, 2013 12:23:22 GMT -5
What do people think of the character of Joan? Do you think living with her might have had more effect on Ed than it seems to have had - made him a bit more aware of arty things? I also think it's interesting that it's through Joan that Min discovers Hawk Davies (who, like the films, doesn't exist) - so something good in her life comes out of her relationship with Ed, at least. Joan is the character I dislike the least. All characters have some moments where I really don't like them, and she has only one I think. (I haven't read the whole book yet though). I think she probably had some influence on Ed liking Min. It's also important that she is not only a sister, she also takes the role of both parents somehow. And not only the good things that last of the relationship come from Joan, she (probably) also takes the bad things, because she will see the box (as Min thinks).
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Post by bandit on Jul 17, 2013 13:31:14 GMT -5
The writing down of a phone number seems strangely old-fashioned. We know the book is set in the 21st century, because Min says 'Join the twenty-first century' in connection with the word 'fag'; and there is at least one reference to cellphones later; so it isn't deliberately set in the past (as I think TB8 is), but in some ways it has a feel which may really come more from Daniel Handler's youth (a common hazard when writing about children or young people). I don't know why it would seem old-fashioned. It certainly is strange that Ed writes down his home number instead of his cell, but as far as I know writing down your number for someone is still common. If you're meeting in person, there's not really another way to give it to them. To me, preppy means a person in regular school who acts like they're in a prep school, i.e. they dress like it, they're rich, they're snobby, they're not actually smart at all. Carmelita Spats placed in public school would be described as preppy. I think part of the reason Ed is attracted to Min is that she is so similar to Joan (as Anka said). Even if he doesn't realize it, subconsciously he probably makes the connection between Min and Joan's personality, 'quirkiness,' love of film, etc. It's like that episode of HIMYM where Barney realizes his girlfriend is exactly like his mom. Also, slightly off-topic, but now I like to imagine Hawk Davies as the music Ellington Feint is listening to when we first meet her in ?1.
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Post by Songbird on Jul 18, 2013 18:22:29 GMT -5
What struck me most was that part after the basketball game where Joan is basically trying to convince Min that maybe she shouldn't date her brother. Like how bad must someone be for their own family to try to get you to stop dating them?
"Not too late!" Joan reminded me as we crowded out, waving to her car as I waited for you.....But it was too late. I had to stay and I stayed, knowing, understanding, liking none of it." in my book thats on page 114
It's almost as if Joan is offering her an out, and Min decides not to take it but later on regrets it. What did everyone else think of that part?
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Post by Hermes on Jul 19, 2013 8:19:14 GMT -5
Bandit: In my experience you say the number, and the other person taps it into their phone.
Songbird: I think what Joan actually means is 'Don't stay out too late', although Min poetically twists it into meaning 'It's not too late to get out' - that reflects her state of mind. That's not to say Joan doesn't have doubts about the relationship, but I don't think she's expressing them here.
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Post by Songbird on Jul 19, 2013 9:12:39 GMT -5
I think the reason it comes across that way is because Joan is gesturing to her car, like "i can take you home if you want" because she knows Min didn't like the game. Still I get what you mean
I also don't understand a lot about Ed. What kind of person just takes money from people he just met to play a stupid song on a jukebox?
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Post by bandit on Jul 19, 2013 12:42:00 GMT -5
Bandit: In my experience you say the number, and the other person taps it into their phone. Well there's always the possibility that Ed and Min are obeying school rules and don't actually have their phones with them.
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Post by Songbird on Jul 19, 2013 14:32:55 GMT -5
Generally in high school they don't let you use your cell phone on school property, at least thats how it was in my high school
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Post by Kit's tits kick ticks on Jul 19, 2013 18:03:36 GMT -5
Oh wow. It's officially not allowed to use phones in most schools here, but the teachers are already happy if students don't use their phones during class...
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Post by bandit on Jul 23, 2013 1:38:15 GMT -5
Will 133-244 be discussed soon? Also, when are we going to ask DH to visit?
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Post by Hermes on Jul 23, 2013 7:44:02 GMT -5
Sorry, I have been avoiding 667 for the last few days, for reasons, but since those reasons seem, God willing, to have come to an end, I will write something soon. I still have some things to say about 65-144, but don't let that stop people starting on the next section.
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Post by Songbird on Jul 23, 2013 8:20:51 GMT -5
What did you guys think about the conversation Min had with Al about sex with Ed? Also IDK when DH will be visiting
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Post by Hermes on Jul 23, 2013 14:42:35 GMT -5
OK (still on 65-144 - I'll reach your question in the end, Songbird, but haven't read that far yet): I think Joan must mean 'don't stay out too late', because it says 'she reminded me', and she has earlier said 'don't keep him long past midnight'. But I agree that the waving to the car is a bit odd.
The whole game thing fascinates me, because we have nothing in Britain that has the importance that school sports seem to have in America. I was at a public (i.e. private) school [this is a gross oversimplification, but it will do], and there sport (rugby in winter, cricket in summer) has a more dominant role than it generally has in state schools, but even there the idea of a school match which people paid to see, and of people from outside the school coming to see it, would be very strange. (There may be some exceptions to this, like the Eton and Harrow cricket match, but on the whole that's so.) Do people think it's a generally accurate portrait of how things work?
Also - it seems to be assumed there will be a bonfire party after the game. Is that normal? Here bonfires are generally associated with Guy Fawkes Night (5th November), which is also when we let off fireworks.
What kind of business model is it to be open only from 7.30 to 9.00 on Saturdays? (Is suppose the answer is that it isn't a business model: the owner of the shop makes their living in some other way, and this is a hobby.)
It's interesting that Songbird asked about Min's conversation with Al about Ed, because I was wondering about her conversation with Ed about Al. What do people think of her relationship with Al? I guess we all agree that those aren't the choices, and a woman and a straight man can be friends. But nevertheless, are Min and Al too close: is it a problem for their other relationships? (And does anyone else think the name 'Al' doesn't really fit the character?)
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Post by Kit's tits kick ticks on Jul 23, 2013 15:26:21 GMT -5
Did anyone else think from the first time Al was mentioned that he probably has a crush on Min?
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Post by Songbird on Jul 23, 2013 18:36:13 GMT -5
Theres this one bar thats only open on Sunday mornings, where beer is $1 and its closed the rest of the week
I agree with Anka that Al probably has a crush on Min because of the way he acted when she asked those questions. It's really difficult to have guy friends without there being some expectation that later on there is going to be a relationship. Not to say that it's impossible. However since the characters are all younger it shouldn't be as big of a deal.
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Post by bandit on Jul 23, 2013 20:14:14 GMT -5
However since the characters are all younger it shouldn't be as big of a deal. Or a bigger deal, because there's budding sexuality every which way.
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