The Wide Window -- worse than I remember?

[Mally Sebald]

I just recently repurchased The Wide Window--after losing it some time ago--and begun rereading ASOUE. I loved TBB when i was 7 but never had a desire to reread it, so when I reread it recently, I wasn't surprised when I didn't find myself enjoying it all that much. I remember loving TRR upon my first read and every read after that, so when I read it again, I wasn't surprised when I loved it even more. But I had ALWAYS referred to The Wide Window as one of my favorite books. I always said I loved the atmosphere: the feeling of hopelessness, the nervousness, the constant raining. But upon rereading it...it feels not good? Nothing new is revealed in this book. Aunt Josephine just kind of exists for 40 pages, then "dies", then is found not to have died, then "dies". And when I reached the end I felt.. disappointed? Like I remember this book being better than it was, or maybe it was just appealing to me as as child, or maybe I had mixed up Netflix Josephine and Book Josephine?

Has anyone else experienced this or is it just me being disappointed with a former favorite of mine? 

[bear]

i reread this one earlier this year and wasn't disappointed at all. first reread of an ASOUE book since middle school. i enjoyed it for its wit, rather than its atmosphere. (the first 5 volumes, at least, are meant to be amusing trifles, not ambitious riddles.) the 2004 movie went all out on atmosphere for the TWW part, though.

[Mally Sebald]

Nov 16, 2024 15:10:28 GMT -5 bear said:

i reread this one earlier this year and wasn't disappointed at all. first reread of an ASOUE book since middle school. i enjoyed it for its wit, rather than its atmosphere. the 2004 movie went all out on atmosphere for the TWW part, though.

I mean I enjoyed some parts! Josephine's letter, Captain Sham's disguise, and of course the illustrations of her grammatical library which seem like a whole vibe. I also believe the theory that Josephine's fears were of VFD assassination methods (rigged doorknobs, telephones, etc)
I found some joy in its wit and narration, but still feel like disappointed for some reason

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

Nov 16, 2024 14:48:58 GMT -5 Mally Sebald said:

I just recently repurchased The Wide Window--after losing it some time ago--and begun rereading ASOUE. I loved TBB when i was 7 but never had a desire to reread it, so when I reread it recently, I wasn't surprised when I didn't find myself enjoying it all that much. I remember loving TRR upon my first read and every read after that, so when I read it again, I wasn't surprised when I loved it even more. But I had ALWAYS referred to The Wide Window as one of my favorite books. I always said I loved the atmosphere: the feeling of hopelessness, the nervousness, the constant raining. But upon rereading it...it feels not good? Nothing new is revealed in this book. Aunt Josephine just kind of exists for 40 pages, then "dies", then is found not to have died, then "dies". And when I reached the end I felt.. disappointed? Like I remember this book being better than it was, or maybe it was just appealing to me as as child, or maybe I had mixed up Netflix Josephine and Book Josephine?

Has anyone else experienced this or is it just me being disappointed with a former favorite of mine? 

I completely understand your feelings. In fact, each book individually can be a bit disappointing, with the exception of 9, 10, 11 and 12, which are perfect in their own right. But as a whole, each of them is essential, I would say. Books 1, 2 and 3 are best read with the retcons made by Daniel Handler himself in mind through LSTUA, ATWQ, TBL, and TBBRE. In this case, consider where Lemony was when he wrote TWW, what his research methods were, and how reliable he is as a narrator. Then consider the means used to discover that Josephine was alive and the hidden message in TBL. And start asking yourself when Beatrice Junior tried to find her uncle and why she didn't recognize the paperweight, if she was familiar with the books previously published by Lemony. Maybe that will make your reading and memory of the story more interesting.

[Mally Sebald]

Hmm okay! That's a better way to look at it, and I'm glad to know it's not just me who's been disappointed upon rereads. I hope TMM turns out better

[Glittery666]

I, too, reread TWW earlier this year. I still enjoy it for the wit and the interesting setting.