|
|
Post by Dante on Oct 14, 2013 8:45:09 GMT -5
This is the official "When Did You See Her Last?" discussion thread. The next volume in All the Wrong Questions is officially released today, Tuesday October 15th, and this is primarily intended for discussion by people who have read the book, but you can post theories and requests for comment even if you haven't read it yet. For those who have read the book, you may feel free to post about anything and everything within. Comment on events, post theories about the mysteries of the book and the remaining titles in the series, and ask questions about points of confusion. If you want to write a review of the book, you may wish to post it in the Official Review Thread. There is just one rule: Until Tuesday 22nd October, all posts about events beyond Chapter Three of "When Did You See Her Last?" should use spoiler tags. As a reminder, spoiler tags are typed as follows: [spoiler]Write spoilers between these tags.[/spoiler]Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father. From Tuesday 22nd October, spoilers can be posted freely anywhere outside this thread. Until then, if you've only read the first three chapters, click on SPOILER tags at your own risk. For those who have yet to purchase the book, remember: If you're buying in the U.S.A., Barnes & Noble have an exclusive edition of ?2 containing a bonus Suspicious Incident, thought to be a preview of next April's File Under: Suspicious Incidents. With any luck we'll get that preview posted on 667 in fairly timely fashion, though. Discuss. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2013 15:30:36 GMT -5
I will be purchasing the book hopefully tomorrow at Barnes and Noble but will not be able to read it until a day or two later. Feel free to carry on without me.
|
|
|
|
Post by penne on Oct 14, 2013 17:44:44 GMT -5
Like last time, it'll probably take months before I can get my hands on a copy.
|
|
|
|
Post by bandit on Oct 14, 2013 21:04:27 GMT -5
My local B&N has a midnight release party (sort of; they're putting copies out at midnight) so I will get mine in a few hours!! I am so excited. Hopefully I can read it all tomorrow and post my thoughts tomorrow night.
|
|
crono288
Catastrophic Captain
Posts: 70
Likes: 45
|
Post by crono288 on Oct 14, 2013 23:15:10 GMT -5
The kindle version was just released, it seems. Amusingly enough, on Amazon in the region I preordered it from lists it as part of the My Sister the Vampire series: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FSEJ8AG/ref=docs-os-doi_0I'm starting from the beginning to get a refresh on the first three chapters as well. Ch.1The solitary figure in Black Cat Coffee - this seems like it may become relevant later. There are few octopi left, not none. If the sea is completely drained, where and how are they living? Also "there would be nothing at all but the shimmering seaweed of the Clusterous Forest" definitely supports the theory that Stain'd will be Burn'd (this may have already been mentioned). Ch.2Zada and Zora, more twins. They, along with the white-faced women from ASOUE now that I think of it, somewhat remind me of a pair of characters in Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels, Clarice and Cora. They're also identical twins who wear white-faced makeup, and one of the major events they participate in is the burning of a library(!). Somehow I feel like the link may not be intentional, I'm not sure how into high fantasy Handler is, but I think it's interesting nonetheless. How many different creatures produce ink, exactly? Again the police have not been contacted, in favor of the volunteers. How exactly did Theodora get contacted about this case anyway? I suppose Zada or Zora may have visited the Lost Arms, assuming they knew of the volunteers' presence in the first place. The twins told Snicket not to worry about telling them apart, but Flammarion doesn't seem to get the same forgiveness. Miss Knight asking to have her picture taken seems to indicate she had some idea that something was going to happen. The invisible ink note is likely still readable by making a rubbing with another sheet of paper, but I wonder if we won't actually find out what it says at all. Speaking of which, how much whitespace exactly is put in the book to denote the lack of a note? Ch.3Ah yes, Theodora's six-fingered hand. Why would one of Snicket's questions be why she didn't leave a note? He knows she tried to, though (apparently purposefully) unsuccessfully. So technically she didn't exactly leave a note, but I would think Lemony would ask the question a bit differently. Hmm, Theodora has to write a report. Was the case assigned by VFD higher-ups, then? Or is this just customary after "solving" any case a volunteer is approached with? All these flyers - who printed them, and who put them up? It certainly doesn't seem to jive with Zora not having contacted the police. "This town is draining like somebody pulled the plug." Certainly an accurate way to put it, yes. Does Lemony really have no money? I suppose he is a volunteer, but it does surprising. I suppose money isn't really something that should matter for the purpose of the series, though. Ch.4
Again Lemony says Cleo simply didn't leave a note. Has he decided that the paper he found was unrelated? He doesn't mention it at all, very confusing.
That statue must have been a sight to see indeed. I feel like this ranks among the sillier of alleged events in the Snicket canon.
Wouldn't the time it would take to build a special clinic be far too long for it to be at all helpful? Is this the wrong question?
Ahhh, so Ink Inc. put themselves out of business. But there are still octopi, and wells harvesting their ink? I had gotten the picture that ink harvesting had been halted for some time.
It's very interesting the number of direct references to other books made while purposefully not saying their titles. I think I like it.
I suppose I'll leave it at that for now! |
|
|
|
Post by Dante on Oct 15, 2013 1:48:15 GMT -5
Although strictly speaking I've had the book for months, if I can get my hands on it today I'll finally be able to see most of the illustrations. This is quite exciting for me, too! I'm hoping to get my hands on it in a few hours.
Edit: Fun fact about the My Sister the Vampire series that crono288 mentions: I accidentally discovered a while ago when doing some unrelated research that it's written by a pseudonymous author who is a friends of Handler's.
|
|
|
|
Post by MisterM on Oct 15, 2013 1:50:53 GMT -5
I will buy the book in an horu or two, and then read it all today (i hope, unless its secretly thousands of paes)
Im currently reading the preview chapters for the first time, and makin notes. (and yes, i will also post the final aprt of the re-read in a short while)
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda Rhaldeen on Oct 15, 2013 2:04:59 GMT -5
I'll be picking the book up at Hastings in about 15 hours.
|
|
|
|
Post by MisterM on Oct 15, 2013 3:13:11 GMT -5
Okay, so here are my comments on the first three chapters of the book. These are written as i read for the first time, so i may say thins that you may already know to be untrue or will contradict myself with just the next sentence, and also i want to give an honest reaction every line etc. CHAPTER ONE I like how snicket has a fried egg , which make me think back to the first chapter of the last book - the museum of bad breakfast etc Everything looks brand new on the missing poster - does this mean that like with the mansion in the last book - it really is all brand new? CHAPTER TWO My immediate thoughts on the maids are that they are the white faced women. The strange smelling lower only helps to boost this theory - in the BBRE it is implied that the flowers the white faced woman arrange are somehow related to the royal gardens. Now…. Is Flammarion injecting mr and mrs knight with laudanum? That would explain how lemony knows the smell, plus the use of laudanum I the ’file under' section at the start would indicate this When i asked the question to a man wrapped in bandages - who is this man? I think we are all curious to learn who he is. going out to meet a friend - did the friend phone her? Beekabookabakka - I will donate a large sum money to some form of charity if this actually exists. (Jokes, i don't have any money) A nurse who id good with knife - Is should good at killing people with it? So…. I don't think Dr Flammarion is responsible for the disappearance, but I think he sees this as a chance to fully take over ink inc? So………I think cleo knew she was gonna to 'dissapear’, however that happened. So….. (my new catchphrase?  ) The invisible ink doesn't work, which simply means… she wanted to write a message in invisible ink but failed. Who was the message to? Dr Flammarion? CHAPTER THREE ‘fools talk while wise people listen, so listen up snicket’ Oh wow. Daniel handler you absolute genius Hats seem to be very prominent in ATWQ…… interesting. We saw important documents being sewn into the linings of things in the previous book…. is something similar happening here? Oh wow, running away to join the circus. because everyone does that. The Needle - Did Dr Flammarion attempt to stop her escape? But then why is he so relaxed about her not being found? Did she learn something (about her parents being injected perhaps?), and so he tried to contain her, but now she is 9one it is for the best she satys that way? What is the book jake is reading? How can someone be in two places at once? Unless….. Clones? (  ) Jake…. Thats interesting, given jake form TUA Ad we have yet another case of missing parents, with Jake living with his aunt. The needle in the pocket is the Chekhov's gun for the book, i think. Ti reminds me rather of the bread knife in TSS. I've typed so much my hand hurts  But i'm off to find my copy of ?2 now. Don't all finish the book without me! |
|
|
|
Post by Charlie on Oct 15, 2013 3:32:26 GMT -5
I went to get it today, but the man in the shop told me that it comes out on the 23rd this month. So now I'm bummmed. I might go to the big city to see if they have it there.
|
|
|
|
Post by MisterM on Oct 15, 2013 4:33:52 GMT -5
My immediate reaction to the actual book - its an inch / inch and a half taller than all the other snicket books, which is a curiosu choice. it sits rather uncomfortably on my shelf. However, the cover is incredibly nice in real life. Edit : Im more used to the size difference now - at first i was rather shocked. I think its a better sixe, but ?1 jsut looks so different. However, it mataches up nicely with my German ?1 book. As for finding a copy of the book, i had to visit several shops before i found one that had it in stock, and in the end settled for WHSmiths. Chapter Four
Well, its certianly nice to have moxie back. This plot is certainly curious..... lemonyt hiks jake is lyin, but if polly partial is bein truthful, where did the taxi come from.... unless.... was it a police car? Im unsure why lemony is trying to get himself arrested, or why cleo would take a police car to the circus.
I think cleo will turn out to be in the clinic, however.
Chapter Five So.... was Jake lying at all? Or is that suspicion incorrect? Also i like how the mitchuums actually don't arrest anyone in the end. Maybe the filing cabinet will receive a life scetence Chapter Six The comment about teachers amused me.
Also, some nice commentary on good and evil in a war echoing the schism.
ALso, qwerty was about to say the world is quiet here and your ruined it snicket, you ruined it.
But the question i found myself asking as i read this chapter was.... how does this tie into han9fire and the bobmiantin beast? I think we will start to get some answers soon, and i think hanfire my be interested int he colonel somehow..... Chapter Seven Okay wow. |
|
crono288
Catastrophic Captain
Posts: 70
Likes: 45
|
Post by crono288 on Oct 15, 2013 6:04:14 GMT -5
Just finished the book, I'll space my thoughts out as others post theirs to facilitate better discussion. Ch.5
Sneaky Bombinating Beast in the chapter illustration here.
Ahh, perhaps the twins knew of the volunteers' presence thanks to Moxie's reporting?
I'm definitely glad the book recognizes how ridiculous it's being at times.
Originally I wrote "Is Polly Partial very absentminded, or just somewhat blind?" but then the book asked that for me.
And now the police question is addressed as well.
And now I understand why Snicket feels she "didn't leave a note".
All that said, I didn't realize at all the real purpose of the haircut.
Ch.6
Another beast hiding in the illustration! May need to check back at other illustrations as well…nope, none in 1-4, though I did now notice the figure amongst the trees in Ch.4.
I find myself curious what exactly Jacques is up to, or perhaps more accurately why Lemony is in contact with Kit but not him. I do get the feeling we'll learn a bit more about the Snicket family's past before the series is over.
OFD spotted in the statue photo!
Why would a clinic built for a mummy have a swimming pool?
Oh gosh what a tease, interrupting that phrase.
Ch.7
No beast here. I suppose maybe Ch.6's could have just been a snake, maybe.
"Mad as a paper cut". Just beautiful.
Hangfire, and this "Society", are taking on a much more sinister air than I anticipated.
What does everyone else think of Ellington? Lemony obviously is quite taken with her, but I don't trust her at all, and I get the feeling that we're not supposed to.
|
|
|
|
Post by MisterM on Oct 15, 2013 6:26:27 GMT -5
Originally I wrote "Is Polly Partial very absentminded, or just somewhat blind?" but then the book asked that for me. Haha, i thought so to Well, i think it works eve better when you take into account what you know about people hair being different later on. I got the same impression - i mean, look at her name - but i trust her more after the following chapter. Chapter Eight Well, that's certainly a lot of exposition. I can't think of two much to say, to be honest, other than.... it all makes sense to me already, which is better than the last book.
Speaking of which, i love this book so much.
But.... in more interested in the tadpoles now. they clearly will have some greater importance (i hope) Also, I should have said this earlier but there is a single Bombinating beast hidden in this books front paes, and something more interestin at the end, which i will get to in time |
|
|
|
Post by Dante on Oct 15, 2013 6:53:00 GMT -5
I went to a bookstore but they told me they wouldn't have it in stock until this evening. Rats! I wonder if this was Egmont's way of preventing the leaks from last year... but the upshot is that I probably won't get the book until tomorrow. Good thing I've read it already.
I'd really appreciate it, therefore, if someone could photograph the chapter illustrations at some point. That's right, I can't wait a day.
Edit: Wait, a lot of them are on Egmont's new ATWQ site! I'll post a thread about that soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by B. on Oct 15, 2013 6:56:12 GMT -5
I went to a bookstore but they told me they wouldn't have it in stock until this evening. Rats! I wonder if this was Egmont's way of preventing the leaks from last year... but the upshot is that I probably won't get the book until tomorrow. Good thing I've read it already. I'd really appreciate it, therefore, if someone could photograph the chapter illustrations at some point. That's right, I can't wait a day. I would do that for you but someone will probably get there before me I checked the same Tesco who leaked it early at the weekend, and they didn't have it, and curiously enough asda has it listed as not being out till the 24th I think Sainsbury's has a cheap copy in according to their website- any British people who dont want to pay RRP? |
|
) The invisible ink doesn't work, which simply means… she wanted to write a message in invisible ink but failed. Who was the message to? Dr Flammarion?
)
But i'm off to find my copy of ?2 now. Don't all finish the book without me!
