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Post by Dante on Jan 8, 2019 12:34:26 GMT -5
Quite a few original connections to previous books in this chapter. It makes me think that, although Sunny's age has always been unclear, in a way ASoUE must be the story of her life. Good chapter today.
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Post by Foxy on Jan 9, 2019 9:14:24 GMT -5
It's true because fraction-wise, of the three siblings, more of her life story is told. Say the whole story takes about a year, and maybe Sunny is 1 at the beginning, which I feel is generous given her development, but maybe she was a late walker. That means ASOUE would be 1/2 of her life, as opposed to Klaus's 1/13 or Violet's 1/15. I would much rather eat half a pie than only one fifteenth.
Dear Dairy,
Friday told us about coconut cordial, which is coconut milk the colonists allow to ferment. “Ferment?” I asked, which meant, “Like wine?” Maybe I can cook with this coconut cordial.
I thought about various recipes I know with coconut in them. We tried the cordial, and it made me cough like the verdant flammable devices made Esmé cough. “Demarc?” I asked Klaus, which meant, “Can I make macaroons?” Then we would be marooned with macaroons!
Then Friday brought something up of particular interest to me. She said there are sheep on this island! They live in a brae. “Brae?” I asked, which meant, “May I go to the brae and have a chat with these sheep?” I have never spoken with sheep before. Maybe they will have interesting things to say.
Friday said the colonists pick bitter apples on Decision Day. “Holiday?” I asked, which meant, “Why would you have a holiday where you eat bad food?” The thought seems counterproductive to me. Then Friday said the people who want to leave the island spit apples onto the ground. “Yuck,” I said, which meant, “That sounds almost as disgusting as hearing Count Olaf and Esmé have a romantic conversation.” I am glad they broke up.
Violet gave me a look for being impolite. Then Friday mentioned the islanders cook meals. “Cook?” I asked eagerly, which meant, “Is Decision Day like Passover?” I mean, they have sheep. There has to be a lamb around here somewhere. I noticed Friday put her hands into her pockets. She took us into a tent, and it was filled with sheep! I tried to talk with them, but they were sleeping. We met Ishmael, and I noticed Friday stick her hand into her robe pocket again. Ishmael asked if Count Olaf was our friend. “Fat chance,” I said, and then I thought about how we had gotten here and added, “Same boat,” which meant, “The Carmelita and the Count Olaf are the same boat, but they are not really the name of the boat.” I wonder what the name of the boat really is. And I wonder who Count Olaf stole it from.
Ishmael said we had to give all our old things up. “Occulaklaus?” I asked, which meant, “Are you going to hypnotize Klaus?” He really needs his glasses, as we learned at the Lucky Smells Lumbermill. Dairy, what kind of name is that? Lucky Smells? How can something smell lucky? I am really rethinking some of the mayhem through which we have been.
Friday said her father was devoured by a manatee, which seems awfully similar to the story Captain Widdershins told about his wife. “Prompt,” I said, which meant, “Please tell me more about your family.” But Friday shook my hand while secretly sneaking me a small, metal object. We went into a tent and put new, white robes on, and I stashed my loot in one of my pockets.
I was feeling a little rebellious about saving contraband, but it turned out Violet and Klaus were keeping things, too! “No throw this,” I said, showing off my new cooking utensil. Violet asked me what it was, “Whisk,” I said, which meant, “It is a scrambled-egg-making sword.”
Klaus asked where I got it. “Gal Friday,” I said, which meant, “From my new best-friend, Friday.” I know she’s not a snake, but maybe it is time for me to accept that my friend is gone. “Guesso,” I agreed with myself, which meant, “Maybe it is time to move on.”
Now we are wearing our white robes and hanging out with my new best friend, Friday.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 3 of The End.]
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Post by Dante on Jan 9, 2019 11:47:21 GMT -5
"Marooned with macaroons" is good wordplay. You also draw attention yet again to the fact that ASoUE actually has a lot of animals in it, even just in passing, sometimes. And I appreciate the dramatic irony surrounding Sunny's former best friend.
Additionally, I suppose what I was also getting at with the "story of her life" thought is that it's not clear how active an inner world Sunny had pre-TBB, whereas by the end of the series she's a fully-developed person. I can't imagine she remembers a great deal of her life before the series, though she does have moments.
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Post by Foxy on Jan 10, 2019 14:59:22 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
We went back to Ishmael’s tent, and the sheep were awake! I tried to talk to them, but they just looked at me. “Pyrrhonic?” I said, which meant, “Don’t you have anything to say, sheep?”
The colonists brought up some objects and introduced themselves to us, and I kept staring at the sheep, who continued to say nothing. Then someone named Sherman said he stole a cheese grater from a nest of crabs. “Grate coconut,” I said. “Delicious cake,” which meant, “I think I can reconstruct Uncle Monty’s coconut cake recipe, which I am more open-minded to now that I am older.” Also, I could probably take a slice or two to the crabs as a peace offering.
Ishmael didn’t let anyone keep anything fun, and then the sheep silently took everything away to the brae.
Violet and Klaus wondered if our friends had gotten caught up in the same storm, and he mentioned Kit Snicket. The sound of her name made Ishmael frown. “Perhaps,” I said, which meant, “Perhaps there is more to you than meets the eye.”
Then Ishmael said he uses magic to predict the weather. “Meledrub,” I said, which meant, “That probably makes you as reliable as the average weather man.”
We got to meet Friday’s mother, Mrs. Caliban. She reminded me someone, just like Friday reminded me of someone, but I could not put my finger on just who it was. Mrs. Caliban was cooking. “Whatya fixin?” I asked, hoping it was swordfish. Unfortunately, she was making ceviche. “Negihama,” I said, which meant, “Maybe I can borrow the outrigger and do some exotic fishing.”
Friday said she hopes we stay here forever and ever. I think she is a loyal friend.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 4 of The End.]
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Post by Dante on Jan 10, 2019 16:42:11 GMT -5
A pretty scathing indictment of both Ishmael and weather forecasters there - but probably justified. This chapter remains true to the recurring themes and preoccupations of Sunny in both your characterisation and the official one; there are animals given greater consideration than in the original text, and there is food being thought about with a little more sophistication.
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Post by Foxy on Jan 11, 2019 8:12:06 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
I am the sous chef of the island. I also get to sit and drink cordial a lot while I stare at the ocean. “Janiceps,” I said to my siblings one morning after a storm, which meant, “The monotony is dampening my spirits, but I suppose it beats almost being killed by a pack of raving mushrooms.” I looked all over for the pack of crabs from whom Sherman had stolen the cheese grater, but they were nowhere to be found. “Diaspora,” I said, which meant, “I think all the colonists have frightened the crabs away.”
Violet and Klaus kept talking. “I still miss home,” I said. I miss Mommy and Daddy.
Violet said everyone is set in their ways about drinking cordial. “Nospine?” I asked, which meant, “Doesn’t anyone have the courage to stand up to Ishmael?” I do, but he doesn’t seem to understand anything I say to him.
Violet asked me what I missed. We talked about the Fountain of Victorious Finance in the banking district. Daddy let me swim in there when I was getting overheated one day. I don’t think I will ever stop missing Mommy and Daddy.
I was riding on Klaus’s shoulders when I noticed something square coming toward us. Was it finally a large, square robot? No. It was a cube of books with a person with an eye tattoo on top. “Olaf?” I asked, which meant, “Surely this cannot be Count Olaf. Does he even know how to read?”
Klaus climbed onto Violet’s shoulders, and I was reminded of when the bird fountain spit on us as we tried to find the Quagmires. “Kit Snicket,” I called down to Violet and Klaus, which meant, “I don’t think Ishmael is going to like this.”
Then Count Olaf showed up dressed as a woman again.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 5 of The End.]
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Post by Dante on Jan 11, 2019 10:20:35 GMT -5
There's a certain amount of coming to terms with grief in this chapter, which in a sense is what the whole book is about. Even the inability to find the crabs plays into this a little, I feel; it's a melancholy installment. Until Count Olaf arrives, with wearying predictability.
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Post by Foxy on Jan 12, 2019 8:45:12 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
Friday recognized Count Olaf right away, and the other colonists believed her. They went to get Ishmael, and Count Olaf pretended to be pregnant. “Pellucid theatrics,” I said, which meant, “Your disguise is a disgrace to pregnant women everywhere.” For one thing, Count Olaf drinks far too much alcohol to be a pregnant woman.
Eventually Count Olaf gave up on pretending to be a woman and admitted he was bored, hungry, and greedy. He tried to give us the harpoon gun and said he was giving up his villainous ways. “Fibber,” I said, which meant, “You just want to live on the island so you can build your Olaf-land theme park.” The rides would probably all smell like sweat.
Then Count Olaf asked for some coconut cordial, which I am sure pregnant women should not be drinking.
We ignored Count Olaf and started talking with Friday. “Whisk,” I said, taking my whisk out, which meant, “Thank you for my present.”
And then, Dairy, something truly amazing happened. My new best friend gave me back my old best friend! “Incredi!” I cried, which meant, “It’s incredible!” Viper wrapped himself around us in a great big hug. I hugged him back. I am so happy I have my best friend back again!
Ishmael took Count Olaf’s seaweed wig off his head and had him locked up in a bird cage. What goes around comes around.
Then Count Olaf blabbed about the whisk. Ishmael said we couldn’t keep Viper or Kit Snicket. “Dreyfuss?” I said, which meant, “What if I just stay here with my friends and pretend to be a shark?” Then I will be able to catch more than enough food for all of us. And maybe Count Olaf, too, if he is a good little birdie.
Ishmael abandoned us on the coastal shelf, and Klaus said it wasn’t fair. Count Olaf said life isn’t fair. I find this ironic, considering our life isn’t fair mostly because of Count Olaf.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 6 of The End.]
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Post by Dante on Jan 12, 2019 8:53:40 GMT -5
Sunny almost makes living out on the coastal shelf seem like a viable option; well, even Olaf managed it for a few days. Much though I like the way this chapter ends in the original text, that's a killer comment on it, honestly.
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Post by Foxy on Jan 13, 2019 15:59:56 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
Violet and Klaus had a conversation, and so did Viper and I.
I am happy we are together again.
“But what to do?”
I feel cold. Let’s start a fire.
“If fire, then saltbake carp,” I said to Viper, figuring he must be hungry after his storm.
I like saltbake carp. Did you bring a cookbook?
“Kit did,” I said, figuring there must be a cookbook in the book cube.
Viper shivered. “Worried,” I said sadly, wishing there was a dry, warm blanket on the coastal
shelf that I might use to cover my reptile friend.
Count Olaf tried to trick us into letting him out of his cage.
That guy captured all my friends.
“What you mean?”
He took them all away from that man in the plaid suit. I’m still cold.
Count Olaf was still trying to get out of his cage. “Fustianed,” I said, which meant, “If you give me a heavy cloth, I might consider letting you out
of your cage.”
Viper was very hungry and started sniffing around. He went to the puddle where Ishmael had dropped something, and he brought it back to me when he found it was just an apple core.
“Takk,” I said, which meant “Good boy, Viper.” I scratched him on the head, which is his favorite place to be scratched. I love my friend.
Count Olaf tried to barter his way out of his cage with a plan. He wanted us to let him out first. “Tell us first,” I insisted, which meant, “We weren’t born yesterday, and we aren’t letting you out first.”
Then Count Olaf told us he had the Medusoid Mycelium. “Fungus!” I cried, which meant, “Viper, this is one party you do not want to attend.” Viper looked astonished.
Count Olaf said he would let the mushrooms out, and Klaus said we would be destroyed. "Yomhashoah," I said, which meant, "You will never extinguish the Baudelaires!"
Count Olaf asked if we thought he just sat in his home in the city, waiting for us to stumble into his path. “Boswell,” I said, which meant, “I believe you descended from aliens, as this is the only logical explanation for why you have no manners what-so-ever.” Viper hissed in agreement. Also, I don't think it is humanly possible to smell so attrocious.
Now we are sitting on the other side of the book cube where we do not have to see Count Olaf.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 7 of The End.]
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Post by Dante on Jan 13, 2019 17:32:01 GMT -5
Good idea, to include a gesture towards the continuity of what we learn about the reptile collection in TSS that helps us to understand why the Incredibly Deadly Viper would be on the island. I continue to be charmed by Sunny's uncomplicated love for her friend, and amused by the prospect of her sneaking out her diary to scribble in between every chapter.
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Post by Foxy on Jan 14, 2019 8:08:32 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
Count Olaf snores. I wonder if he has a deviated septum. Maybe I can have Viper check him out, since he has medical experience and all.
Kit Snicket woke up. “Anais,” I said, which meant, “I have been wondering if I am supposed to call you ‘Aunt Kit’.” I wonder if that means when the baby comes, he or she will be my cousin. “Safe,” I said, which meant, “Viper can safely deliver your baby.”
Then Kit started talking about someone she had coffee with. “Janiceps,” I said, feeling that sitting out here on the coastal shelf was just as monotonous as being on the island.
Then Kit said her friend’s name was Thursday. I just had coffee with someone named Thursday! What a small world. Kit asked if Dewey was here, and I felt a pit in my stomach, almost like the time Charles gave us a peach to eat. “Viper,” I added, feeling thankful my best friend is here to comfort me.
Some islanders came out with flashlights and supper. They started spilling all their secrets, and Kit recognized one of the islander’s names. “Miranda,” was what she called her. I know that name, too! That was one of the names on the coffee mugs in the Queequeg. “Enigmorama,” I said to Viper as I shared my soup with him, which meant, “This world sure is mysterious, Viper.”
The islanders asked if we knew what the word ‘mutiny’ meant. It sounds like the opposite of monotony to me. Viper got my attention.
I think you are going to need something tuberous.
“Tuber?”
If their plan goes badly, you may need some roots of horse.
“How many?”
Not too many. I will help you.
“Quid pro quo?”
You don’t have to do anything for me. That’s what being friends is all about. I will help save all the colonists, if they let me.
“And if not?”
Then at least I will save you. I haven’t seen you in so long! You were much littler the last time we were together.
“And baby.”
I tried to protect you when we were at Dr. Montgomery’s house, but maybe now it is time to tell you his secrets.
Violet and Klaus interrupted our conversation to take us back toward the colony, and Viper loyally followed us.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 8 of The End.]
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Post by Dante on Jan 14, 2019 8:36:29 GMT -5
Pretty ambitious reworking of the latter half of this chapter. Your work earlier in the series is paying off; like the original text, this chapter of The End is full of your own original connections.
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Post by Foxy on Jan 15, 2019 11:11:15 GMT -5
Viper showing up kind of saved the day for me as a writer.
Dear Dairy,
We got to the arboretum, and there were all kinds of awesome items there! “Words fail me,” I said in a hushed whisper, which meant, “I don’t know how to express my surprise at Mommy’s glittering green dragonfly mask being here.”
I have been thinking of opening up a restaurant on the island, and I am going to have to hire good help. “Service à la Russe,” I said, which meant, “I will train Viper to take the courses to the table one by one.”
Violet said no one forced the colonists to abandon anything. “Peer pressure,” I said, but Violet said we can try a little peer pressure of our own. I am glad I will have Violet as my role model when I get to middle school.
Viper kept slithering away. “Ink,” I said, which meant, “I guess Viper does not want to be the maître d of Chez Sunny.” “Taylit,” I said, which meant “Drat.” It's difficult to find good help these days.
We followed Viper under the apple tree, and guess what. There is a huge room under the tree! Ishmael had taken my whisk for himself. I smelled it. “Fritters,” I said. “With cinnamon,” which meant, “How dare he make something delicious with my kitchen utensil and not share it?” I have not had dessert in quite some time, and I am not to be trifled with.
We found a big book which seemed like a diary of the island. It talked about all sorts of people. “Six six seven,” I said, which meant, “I wonder if anyone will ever talk about us at great length.”
Klaus turned back a ways in the book and started reading, but then he stopped because he knew the handwriting. “Familia?” I asked as I looked at the book, which meant, “Does Inky mean Viper?” Viper climbed on my shoulders to reminisce about lassoing sheep.
Then Ishmael told us the entry is in Mommy’s handwriting. Looks like we have been caught red-handed, just like the time we got caught in Olivia’s tent.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 9 of The End.]
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Post by Dante on Jan 15, 2019 13:14:30 GMT -5
Even now, approaching the very end, Sunny's one-liners sometimes take me by surprise. Excellent reinterpretation of "Six six seven," especially. And when you put it like that, the Baudelaires have been caught red-handed in libaries or while reading quite a few times in the series.
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