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Post by Dante on Dec 3, 2012 9:33:47 GMT -5
I imagine that it would have been clear before the publication of the fourth book whether Handler was going to be able to do another four. Even if the contracts weren't officially signed yet, it would've been possible to insert the necessary references (the Kind Editor letter) that point to a further book midway through the publication process, and Handler had probably put them in anyway. This is especially true considering that the first few books were written on a fairly rapid schedule; TWW, TMM, and TAA were all published in the same year. Actually, it must've been clear by TMM that the series was popular, because I understand there was actually a competition to get a line or some poetry into the fourth book; Emma Montana McElroy's part in the dedication is just that, the contribution of a competition winner (although her full poem seems to have been lost to time). |
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Post by MisterM on Dec 4, 2012 3:21:24 GMT -5
The sword fight between Dr. Orwell and Sunny is the epitome of cartoonishness in this book. - Yeah, but I prefer this to sunny climbing up the elevator shaft.
Okay Book 5 Time.
--Chapter One--
Yay! I’m reading this one! And there will be a lot more notes than in previous weeks this week (well, from me anyway). But there still wont be that much until around THH, and when reach TSS, it will kick off. Last time I read that baby I had 10 pages of notes for about the first chapter. Anyhoo, I’m rambling.
Before I start, a few things ;
Nero is the Vice Principal, so, where is the principal? Back in the day, a lot of people thought Prufprock was a VFD training school. At the time, a sensible idea, as it could explain how Duncan and Isadora knew about it. But now, it doesn’t fit in. But did handler think this could be the case? And the Principal was some high up VFD person? Such as, oh, I dunno, Jacques? Nah. Probably not.
Olaf thinks of everything. His plans are very well formulated. To well, for my liking. I think Olaf comes up with the schemes, and Esme fills in the patches. She is more intelligent than olaf, even thought she is, well, esme. But TAA and TRR both feature very strong schemes, although the others have some element as well. And I miss this in alter books. THH has half of one, which is cobbled together when esme sees the Baudelaires, TCC has a very slight one when olaf learns the Baudelaires are disguised. TSS Is basically a continuation of the last one, and the eagle trap is the sinter duos doing, and not really important to the story. TGG is just a simple, well, swallow. TPP…. I cant say it was really oalfs scheme, sugar bowl wise. I think The Evil Denouement (cant remember which is which) must have come up with that. Olaf just sort of has the plan - burn hotel. TE shows olaf can scheme even when powerless, but he does nothing.
Handler Carmelita voice is funny. I always imagined her as - someone, who I cant remember. Maybe I will one day?
Mr Poe here says the opposite to what the Baudelaires feel
4 schools isn’t a gigantic number. Hey, he has 4 phones!
The Person not looking both ways before he crosses the street - pure Snicket humor here. Snicket is really becoming the snicket we all know and love.
--Chapter Two--
Nero, obviously references, Nero. I think Handler missed an opportunity with there being no fire…. Although the whole fire thing hasn’t yet begun.
Nero going on about the students living area, before denying access sums up his character in one paragraph.
The tee hee hee sequence is reminiscent of olafs laugh in TGG.
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Post by Anka on Dec 4, 2012 16:47:28 GMT -5
Oh, we start with book 5 today? I thought tomorrow, but it's the same for me because I had no time today...
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Post by MisterM on Dec 4, 2012 16:55:49 GMT -5
Yeah, It was tomorrow, but As Sherry Ann had finished, and I had started yesterday, I thought I might as well post the first notes.
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Post by Dante on Dec 7, 2012 3:11:10 GMT -5
I hadn't realised this had updated; for some reason the homepage wasn't showing that there were new posts here. I think it's an interesting point, Mister M, that there's no fire surrounding Nero, given what he's famous for, and while you're right that fire hadn't yet reached its true level of prominence, Olaf quite openly states at the end of TWW that he's wanted for arson, and of course the Baudelaire mansion burnt down - and I can't imagine we're not meant to draw a connection between those two facts - so it's there, lurking in the background, waiting for its time. Which isn't here. There just wasn't a place for it, I guess.
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Post by MisterM on Dec 7, 2012 3:12:32 GMT -5
--Chapter Three--
The Baudialres seem to defnitly have had a previous education. Although the gaurdians havent dent them to any school, which doesn’t matter. But I think Josiephen would have.
--Chapter Four--
Mr Rmeroa and Mrs bass are the only teahcers? This seems the case.
The Baudilares pretending mnot to recognise olaf is genius. Handler is getting tired of the old format, and giving it a shake up.
I have said before that i belive Nero is Stewie Mitchum from ATWQ. Myabe Ill re-read his scenes from the book and see of tere is enough of a resemblance.
I will Edit in some more substantial notes later...
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Post by Charlie on Dec 7, 2012 3:23:22 GMT -5
That would make Nero and Lemony the sameish age... which could work. I like to think that this might be the case, although, who knows
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Post by Dante on Dec 7, 2012 4:29:06 GMT -5
I'm not really sure I see much of a motive for the name change. Despite having been introduced to him as Stew Mitchum, Lemony still refers to Nero as N. in The Beatrice Letters. I will grant that Stew's parents are exactly the kind who'd tell him he's a violining genius despite his lack of ability, but we don't see any evidence of such a musical interest in WCTBATH. If Stew enjoyed the violin that much he'd spend a lot more time playing that rather than complaining about being bored. I'm afraid I don't see a point in the connection.
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Post by Charlie on Dec 7, 2012 4:35:28 GMT -5
This is the most overused tenuous connection, but a brother maybe?
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Post by MisterM on Dec 7, 2012 5:00:08 GMT -5
Maybe he hasnt begun his violin-playing yet?
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Post by Anka on Dec 8, 2012 10:07:55 GMT -5
Yay, I've had time to read the first chapter! And I think I there will be some more until the end of the weekend. Chapter 1: - The book starts with Carmelita, I think that's a difference to the other books. The others always start with something more general. It's also the first book that starts where the story takes place, the first four books started on the way or somewhere else, and I think most of the later books too. - It feels different to read that book after going to a boarding school.  - Mr. Poe doesn't see anything negative, he likes the word „cakesniffer“ (which is the most awesome insult ever) and the buildings look like thumbs for him, but he still doesn't seem like an optimist. - The person who doesn't look both ways before he crosses the street dies „all because of a bus“. That's not important, but I like that it's written like that because I had to read it twice to notice that it's not really the bus' fault when this person dies but his own. |
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Post by Dante on Dec 8, 2012 10:22:12 GMT -5
You're right that most of the other books have their first chapter apart from the main setting of the book, with the Baudelaires on their way or dealing with something else, but when you think about it, this book really starts in Nero's office, and they're still travelling to that at the beginning of the book. So the structure still functions in much the same way.
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Post by Anka on Dec 9, 2012 9:39:45 GMT -5
Sorry, my notes aren't really intelligent and not much.
Chapter 2:
- I wonder if Nero was the person in the orchestra the Baudelaire's parents had listened to
- „...even if we have to break both your arms to do it. Speaking of which, I'd better show you around.“ Speaking of what? Of breaking arms?
Chapter 3:
- The Baudelaires have at least one uncle. So there must be a reason why they aren't sent to live with him.
- If I was in a cafeteria and didn't know where to sit I wouldn't walk towards a person who had called me a cakesniffer.
Chapter 4:
- I wonder how they decide who is in which class, because it's not because of the ages.
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Post by Dante on Dec 9, 2012 11:51:26 GMT -5
- I wonder if Nero was the person in the orchestra the Baudelaire's parents had listened to I don't think there's really any reason for everyone to be connected like that. It is clear from the very warning the Baudelaire parents issued that this is a world in which there are many people who play the violin badly but insist on doing so anyway. Certainly meant to be accidentally threatening, I think - one more way of painting a dreadful and intimidating picture of the school. He could be dead, or also not actually their uncle but just called that by the family for ease, as is sometimes the case with, for instance, close family friends. Prufrock's pretty poorly organised. It might even be random. |
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Post by Anka on Dec 9, 2012 12:04:00 GMT -5
Chapter 5:
- Count Olaf doesn't know who the Quagmires are and that they also have a fortune. The easiest theory always is that Count Olaf had set the fire in the Baudelaires' house to get the fortune and to kill important volunteers. If he doesn't know the Quagmires it can't be the same with „their“ fire, so either the theory can't be right or there have to be more people like Count Olaf (but then the Quagmires would have their own villain stalking them) or the Quagmire fire is not connected to the Baudelaire fire. Or he does know them but he has a different plan for them or the Baudelaire fortune is more important for him.
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