UNITE!

[Grace]

Just wanted to post a thread on this, cuz it hasn't really been discussed.

So I'm guessing that (and I have TPP with me so I can QUOTE! Yzay!) Olaf/other people called all the Bauds' guardians together. Why? I dunno. That's what I'm discussing. My evidence (drumroll please):

I think he knew what each of them loved. For instance, someone told Nero that there would be music critics at the party, while Mr. Remora thinks there will be a banana buffet. (131, TPP) Ms. Bass thinks there's a party in celebration of the metric system, and bring VALUABLES.

From what we've heard, Esme and Olaf love valuables. ("Throw All Your Valuables on the Stage or Something Bad Will Happen to You!") This could be the reason they brought them all together. Another is (and this is assuming the sugar bowl contains evidence that would incriminate Olaf and Co.) that perhaps they would tell Olaf, or more likely, would be forced to tell Olaf certain things about the Baudelaires...not sure on this. Discuss.

[Dante]

Sir also received a letter from J.S., saying that there was a party on Thursday night he (J.S.) was hosting, and that he (Sir) should bring his valuables. I think Olaf wanted to steal their valuables, and then poison them all with the Mycelium. He'd become rich, and finish off everyone who has knowledge of his crimes. The question is: Who is J.S.? If Count Olaf was using that name, then Handler never actually said so. Indeed, J.S. was pretty much forgotten after about half of the book. I wouldn't have thought Olaf was a good enough flaneur to know what each of the Baudelaires' guardians would be interested in (particularly Bass and Remora).

[Grace]

Oooo. Yeah. On both counts: of why and how it's forgotten

[jman]

What I find weird is how the back of the book gives unsavory curry a big importance, wheras it is only mentioned once in the inside of the book, and it is of no importance.

[Dante]

The backs of the books generally include some important things and some random things of little (if any) significance. That's not really on-topic, though.

[RockSunner]

I think Olaf and Esme had help from the MWBANH and the WWHANB in preparing the invitations. Not only is Olaf a poor flaneur, but his spelling is terrible.

Nero, at least, thought the invitations were mailed by Esme and Olaf. But that doesn't mean they actually wrote them.

[Sixteen]

I think the cocktail party was just a way to steal some valuables while they happened to be at a wealthy hotel.

As for who sent the invitations, it was probably Esmé signing off as J.S.
(S)He is apparently both a volunteer and a villain, as nobody knows exactly which J.S. (s)he is. So J.S. is a safe name for the volunteers and villains to trust.

[Dear Dairy]

So the initials J.S. on a message could be used by either side to hoodwink the other side. Interesting! You'd think they'd catch on. But then, adults in the Snicket world rarely do. Catch on, I mean.

[Sixteen]

Yeah, that's what I mean. And it ties in with the "many individuals... injustice" clue aswell.

[jman]

Sorry about the off-topicness Dante. It's been something that's bugged me since I finished the book.

[lauren]

....Uniting all the past characters in the series just make for a good penultimate book...

[Hooky]

I really did like how all those past characters came back (except Nero and Sir).

[Dear Dairy]

Bringing back all those characters reminded me of the Seinfeld final episode, in which Jerry, Kramer, George, and Elaine were on trial, and several favorite characters from past episodes showed up to testify: Poppy, the Soup Nazi, Bubble Boy, the Marble Rye Woman. I think Handler brought back previous characters for the same reason: everyone wants to know the outcome for their favorite characters of the past. Answer: If they weren't dead already, they are now.

[Dante]

Or perhaps so that we can decide they died if we didn't like them, or that they escaped and went to live elsewhere if we did.

[Grace]

Oh, that's true, Dante. But there has to be something more than just so we can see where they are now. (Or then...?) I mean, if you were an author, you don't write especially what people like. You write what you think and PRAY they'll like. lol