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Post by Dante on Dec 17, 2018 10:36:38 GMT -5
This is a very unusual depiction of the Medusoid Mycelium, and I wonder if it may be a possible solution to the problem of the latter chapters of TGG not being terribly interesting for Sunny. I look forward to seeing where you're taking this.
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Post by Foxy on Dec 18, 2018 9:08:09 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
These mushrooms are my friends! They play their music kind of loud, but they seem to know how to throw a dance party.
“Lousy,” I said, which meant, “These mushrooms make the False Spring party Count Olaf threw seem pretty lame.” But I still have fond memories of that party. “Antidote?” I asked, which meant, “Can I teach Count Olaf how to throw a really awesome party?” I think I am going to learn some good party tips from these mushrooms.
At this point, the mushrooms seemed to be getting pretty raucous. “Tingamebob,” I said, which meant, “I’m not sure how mushrooms can operate a cannon, but I am slightly concerned right now.” A cannon is a little extreme, even for me.
Violet was upset, and Klaus reminded her of Hobson’s choice. “Mamasan,” I said, which meant, “That was one of Mommy’s favorite sayings.” Violet and Klaus told Fiona about their Hobson’s choices. “Bath or pink dress,” I said, and I remembered how Mommy would make me get into the tub. If I would have known how filthy Count Olaf was, I never would have protested taking a bath. I would take a bath every day if it meant I could have my Mommy back.
I listened to the mushrooms some more, and I am pretty sure they were reciting incantations. “Speaking which,” I said, which meant, “I think the mushrooms know magic.” What does “Accio, peanut butter” mean?
We kept searching for the sugar bowl, but I was famished. “Snack!” I said, which meant, “I think the mushrooms want us to eat the peanut butter!”
Klaus found a collection of poetry called Versed Furtive Disclosure. “V.F.D.,” I said, which meant, “Everything seems to have those initials.”
Everyone share the things they found in the sand. “Punctilio,” I said, which meant, “Look at this piece of rubbish I found.” Even in a cave in the bottom of the sea, we can’t seem to get away from this terrible newspaper.
Violet gave everyone a reading job. “Me?” I asked, which meant, “Are there any picture books down here?”
Klaus asked me to cook instead. “Pronto,” I said, which meant, “I wonder if there is a reindeer around here I could cook.” I love the gamey taste of venison.
But I had to make do with the ingredients I had found. When I was all done, Violet asked me what I had made. “Pesto lo mein,” I explained, which meant, “It’s a bit of an international combination, which I have served in a fishbowl.” Fiona understood. She’s all right. She’s still too old for Klaus, but she’s all right. “Hobson,” I said, which meant, “Well, Klaus, I guess you don’t have any other choice in women right now.” Then I asked everyone, “Wasabi?” which meant, “Does anyone want a spicy fish condiment for their fishbowl meal?”
Violet said we would save the spicy sauce for later, even though I really wanted it now. “Utensi,” I said, which meant, “If I cannot have spicy sauce, I would at least like to eat with my hands.” But Klaus said we would take turns using chopsticks. I am not getting to have much fun at this meal. The mushrooms sound like they are having way more fun than I am.
Fiona decided we should make up a code, and Klaus wondered what words we should use. “Food,” I suggested, which meant, “I think we should use ‘coriander’ for ‘good’ and ‘cilantro’ for ‘bad.’” It’s hard to believe those two things come from the same plant.
Violet, Klaus, and Fiona kept talking, and I looked at the wild mushrooms. “Wane,” I said, which meant, “The mushroom party appears to be over now.” I felt sad about missing the party.
Violet said she couldn’t read the newspaper article I found. “Hmmm,” I said, giving her a sly look. I know Violet knows how to read. But apparently Fiona was not surprised Violet is illiterate.
We put our diving gear back on. As Fiona helped me get into my diving helmet, a mushroom spore asked me, Can I come with you?
“Shivalrush,” I said, which meant, “After you, mushroom spore.”
All the way back to the Queequeg I enjoyed the quiet sound of his party music.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 7 of The Grim Grotto.]
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Post by Dante on Dec 18, 2018 11:29:30 GMT -5
An active chapter for Sunny. I like how the story continues to have these quietly touching moments at otherwise unsuspected intervals, as when Sunny's reflecting on Count Olaf's lack of hygiene. What a polite mushroom spore, though, for all that they're a rather raucous bunch as a group. I feel this is a good way of handling the otherwise invisible spread of those fungal spores, which seem at times to spread more like a wave, or radiation.
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Post by Foxy on Dec 19, 2018 8:50:45 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
The mushroom spore’s music kept getting louder as we made our way back to the submarine.
Once we got inside the Queequeg, no one was there. “Crew?” I called, which meant, “Did you get all the decorations set up?” I planned to use the mushroom spore’s music to put this party over the top.
The good news is Captain Widdershins is gone, so I don’t have to listen to him talk anymore. The bad news is my good pal Phil is also gone, so I will have no one to gossip with as I cook dinner. And the terrible news is the mushroom spore I welcomed into my helmet has spread into many mushroom stalks which are actually poisonous and killing me. I began coughing as I could feel tingles in my throat, and the music started to give me a headache as it reached astonishingly high decibels. “Malady,” I said, which meant, “I’m beginning to feel unwell.”
The mushrooms cackled an evil laugh. I have been duped!
“This will be our best party yet!” the mushrooms hooted demonically.
Klaus said I might die within the hour. “Hour?” I said, which meant, “How are you mushrooms going to throw a party in only one hour?” It took Phil and the Captain all night just to get three balloons blown up for Violet’s party.
I am feeling quite dizzy.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 8 of The Grim Grotto.]
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Post by Dante on Dec 19, 2018 14:11:19 GMT -5
Sunny has a very consistent habit of compressing critical plot points down to pithy, almost offhand statements, which perhaps is a result of the fact that she's writing all this down in her diary and probably devotes more space to her favourite bits.
Let's hold a moment of silence to remember Phil, who will never be remembered again after this book.
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Post by nisforknowledge on Dec 19, 2018 15:23:39 GMT -5
I also saw the name of a citrus fruit. I am not sure why it needed its own mug.
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Post by Foxy on Dec 20, 2018 8:14:15 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
The mushrooms began to hang up vibrantly colored lights in the diving helmet. They continued to laugh wickedly, adding all kinds of strange sounds and words to their laughter. They turned up their already very loud music and began dancing. I could even feel mushrooms dancing inside my throat, which made me cough.
Occasionally, I looked out the window and saw strange things, like an octopus and an ugly ballerina. “Ugh,” I said, which meant, “I think I am going to throw up.”
The helmet keeps moving, and I am feeling very, very sea sick.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 9 of The Grim Grotto.]
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Post by Dante on Dec 20, 2018 14:07:21 GMT -5
It's an interesting take on TGG that Sunny has basically zero idea of what's going on. I suspect that the idea of the vibrantly-coloured lights may actually anticipate Netflix's take on the Medusoid Mycelium. Also very seasonal!
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Post by Foxy on Dec 21, 2018 7:46:51 GMT -5
I have a confession: I actually completed writing mid-November. So the festivity is a happy coincidence. Dear Dairy, The mushrooms keep dancing while I keep coughing. I think two of them were having a dance- off. I am not sure where they got a disco ball from, but they are not listening to me when I tell them to stop. We are going to end up getting a noise citation. Although, I am wanted for murder, and also I am dying of mushroom poisoning, so I guess a noise citation is the least of my troubles. But I have finally seen someone who might help me, someone who has saved my life by giving me milk before: Hooky. “Please,” I said, which meant, “Please save me one last time.” [This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 10 of The Grim Grotto.]
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Post by Dante on Dec 21, 2018 13:26:31 GMT -5
Oh, so you're ahead of the game on the writing! I've been the same with my own fanfiction; helps to make sure it actually gets done. This is a short chapter, but it manages to pack in quite a variety of emotional beats; nice work.
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Post by Hermes on Dec 21, 2018 14:37:14 GMT -5
Slowly catching up on this: I've only read book 1 so far, but am finding it very interesting. Not surprising, I guess, that Sunny was constantly being misunderstood, but it makes the events even more unfortunate.
I'm interested to see that you subscribe to the Fernald-Fiona-Friday theory.
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Post by Foxy on Dec 22, 2018 9:47:18 GMT -5
I am glad to have another reader. I hope you enjoy the story!
Dear Dairy,
I saw the ballerina again. I am pretty sure I am seeing things in my delirious state. I thought I saw an octopus hitting a bunch of children with a large piece of pasta, but that can’t be right. I fear the end is near. Then the ballerina started singing, and I knew I must be hearing things, because no one has that dreadful of a voice.
Eventually the horrible singing stopped, and the mushrooms, which kept growing and growing at their rave party in my helmet, seemed to be filling my throat completely.
Then the helmet opened, and Violet and Klaus rescued me from the mushrooms and their raucous party. I tried to talk to them, but there were too many dancing mushrooms in my throat.
Violet and Klaus started talking about horseradish, that lovely smelling food from the lane Uncle Monty lived near, and asked me if there was a culinary equivalent to it. “Wasabi,” I said, which meant, “It’s a good thing Violet made me save the spicy fish sauce for later.” I made a mental note to put patience of my list of virtues upon which to improve.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 11 of The Grim Grotto.]
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Post by Dante on Dec 22, 2018 12:26:23 GMT -5
Sunny's reception of the particularly weird and nightmarish visions of TGG as literally hallucinatory is rather revealing of just how absurd they really are; as readers, we often become so invested in the narrative and the world that we tend to lose that distance, to forget.
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Post by Foxy on Dec 23, 2018 10:27:19 GMT -5
TGG is probably the book I have the most difficult time imagining. I am kind of excited to see what they do on the show. I am trying to stay away from watching the trailers or looking at pictures.
Dear Dairy,
Violet fed me some wasabi, and the mushrooms stopped dancing and started dying. This event has really caused me to rethink my thrill-seeking ways. "Water," I said, which meant, "I would like a bland drink instead of an exciting one." Klaus got me some water, and I lay down by the stove to sleep. For a little while, Violet and Klaus even seemed to understand my speech better, too. I think this has been a major turning-point in my life.
I took a long nap by the stove, and I dreamt of chickens escaping from their coup in a hurricane. I chased them and chased them, but they were difficult to catch. When I woke up, I felt much less dreadful and quite hungry. I quick whipped something up and went to find Violet and Klaus. “Snack!” I announced cheerfully. Violet said she thought I was still asleep. “Rekoop,” I said, which meant, “We need to put the chickens away.”
Klaus asked what I made. “Amuse bouche,” I said, which meant, “Tiny appetizers, and you don’t even have to pay for them.”
Then Violet and Klaus told me what happened while I was at the mushroom rave party. Apparently, I really did see an octopus and an ugly ballerina; they were Esmé and Carmelita. And Hooky is Fiona’s brother. “Perfido,” I said, which meant, “I seem to be recalling when Count Olaf locked me in the bird cage from his tower.” Hooky had been muttering about Fiona and Friday. “Volatile,” I added, which meant, “The days of the week are changing quickly.” Soon it would be Friday. But I don’t know what the significance of Friday is.
Then Violet and Klaus were telling me about poetry, and they said we have to go to Briny Beach. I am not excited about this, Dairy. Not one bit. “Distance?” I asked, which meant, “How are we supposed to stay away from Mr. Poe if we go back to Briny Beach?” That daft banker is sure to find us.
Then Count Olaf showed up and said he was happier than a cannibalistic pig, and he laughed about one of my favorite vegetables. I am surprised he even knows what jicama is, let alone that he pronounced it correctly. I am beginning to regret teaching him how to laugh at the False Spring Party. I think I need to stop going to parties.
Count Olaf told us Fiona joined his troupe. “No!” I said angrily, which meant, “I understand you had to join your only family member, but I am still disappointed you almost let me die in the mushroom party!” I flashed my teeth at Fiona as she stepped through the porthole.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 12 of The Grim Grotto.]
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Post by Dante on Dec 23, 2018 15:41:16 GMT -5
As ever, clever reinterpretations of some of Sunny's speech patterns; I'm thinking of "Rekoop" particularly here. Come to think of it, there is every chance that the Baudelaires first meet Friday on a Friday, TPP having concluded on a Wednesday.
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