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Post by Hermes on Nov 2, 2015 11:01:59 GMT -5
I always believed, until the end, that we would never find out what the BB actually was, because it was the Great Unknown, and the Great Unknown is unknown. We did not know, at first, that it was actually a beast, only that the people of Stain'd thought of it as one, and I thought it would stay that way.
In the end, though, it becomes clear that it is a beast, and so it is not longer unknown. In that case, we may ask, how does it relate to the GU? That there is some connection is implied by Lemony's remark before the first volume came out that 'this series will explore another side of that question mark'. I take it that answer is that the BB is one possible answer to the question 'what is the Great Unknown?': but it's unknown whether that's the right answer. VFD is investigating the Great Unknown - witness Hector's trip to the sea - and they are interested in Stain'd because the BB is a possible clue; but not a certain one. (And of course, if L as a boy had discovered that the GU was the BB, he wouldn't still be calling it 'the Great Unknown' many years later.)
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Post by Dante on Nov 2, 2015 12:29:58 GMT -5
"My brother used to call it 'the Great Unknown,' even though he had known exactly what it was from the very first time he set eyes upon it and could give a detailed account of its history and abilities." -Kit Snicket, The End, p. 304.
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Post by Hermes on Nov 2, 2015 17:48:28 GMT -5
I suppose, in fairness, 'my brother' could be Jacques. (Though since there is some suspicion that Jacques was also in Stain'd, this doesn't help much.)
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Post by lorelai on Nov 2, 2015 21:11:45 GMT -5
Which ever brother you suspect Kit is refering to, the past tense is interesting. A Mr. Snicket figured it out, or alternatively, started calling the Great Unknown something different. Or it could just refer to the fact that this brother is deceased, which yet again solves nothing.
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Post by meinhard1 on Dec 2, 2015 20:04:05 GMT -5
If we're casting votes, I'll say this:
BB and TGU were portrayed very differently in thier perspective series'. To read ASOUE and ask "well, what is TGU, anyhow?" is to not have read that aspect of the final books very closely. However the mystery of the BB was pretty central to ATWQ.
But to me, they are one in the same. TGU symbolizes the mysteries of the world to the Bauldelaires but to the citizens of Stain'd by the Sea it's an old legend. The differences in portrayal are due to difference in ploting, genre, and subtext between the two series'
You all have probably discussed this in more nuance, but I see a lot of connections personally and work sooner differentiate thier significance than the thing itself.
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Post by lorelai on Dec 4, 2015 1:03:11 GMT -5
It really hasn't been analyzed on this forum. If you'd like to share, I'd enjoy reading your thoughts.
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Post by cwm on Jan 2, 2016 15:55:11 GMT -5
I found some WH Smith gift vouchers in a Christmas card from 2005 today, so took the opportunity to head into town and finally pick up "Why Is This Night..."
To be honest I've really struggled with ATWQ - book 3 in particular was a real slog to get through - but I'll let you know how I get on.
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Post by Dante on Jan 3, 2016 14:25:12 GMT -5
I hope you'll return to us with your thoughts, cwm, both on this volume and why you've found previous ones difficult.
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Post by cwm on Jan 4, 2016 13:27:04 GMT -5
Well, I finished WITTDFAAN this afternoon, and whilst I thought it was definitely an improvement on the previous two the ending seemed rather abrupt and... didn't really feel like an ending to the series. "The End" is very ambiguous but feels like an ending... this felt like it was still more to come. I'm planning to have a re-read of all four books very soon, but my overriding memory of books 2 + 3 was that I didn't find them terribly engaging and a bit dull.
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Post by Eponine on Jan 12, 2016 18:47:12 GMT -5
Spoilers!
I agree that the ending was really abrupt. It was just like "Bang!" the Bombinating Beast appears, eats Hangfire, train falls off the railings, Ellington's arrested, Lemony leaves forever and everyone is sad.
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Post by lorelai on Jan 12, 2016 20:04:32 GMT -5
I'd say if anyone's sad it's Lemony, "everyone" seems in some small way relieved to see the back of him.
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Post by Eponine on Jan 12, 2016 22:09:49 GMT -5
I agree- I was certainly sad too!
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Post by J-Bird on Jan 14, 2016 22:06:49 GMT -5
I will agree that the ending was abrupt and could have used some fleshing out. It leads one to wonder if a continuation or proper ending will be established (doubtful), or whether we will be left with Lemony's backside departing to the forest.
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Post by lorelai on Jan 15, 2016 12:42:48 GMT -5
I'm hopeful that the ending will come to feel like the fourth Harry Potter book. A lot of people, me included, felt like the ending was abrupt, only to appreciate it far more years later oq rereads.
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Post by resistanna on Jan 15, 2016 23:40:31 GMT -5
I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but we were watching a documentary about Jackie Robinson in my history class. There was a part where they flash to someone's recollection. It's Passover night and the boy asks "Why is this night different from all other nights" (the answer was because an African-American was now playing in the major leagues) but I guess it's the traditional question asked on Passover. It sounded so familiar and I was like the fourth book! That's what that is.
I know Handler has talked about references to Jewish culture so it's really interesting he chose that title for this book.
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