New Stravagante
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Post by on Mar 5, 2005 16:40:29 GMT -1
Well, I've just finished, and have had time to sit back and refelct on it.
CoF is about 3 times as long, 5 times as complex and felt amazing. There are always about 8 plots going on at once, and it's sometimes quite hard to follow them all if you take a break from the book then come back to it. The characters in this book behaved quite differently to the way I expected them.
Sky. To tell the truth, I cannot understand why anyone with the chance of a life in Talia would give it all up. To me that is just completely uncomphrehensible. If I ever got a talsiman, I would do a Luciano. But then again, I've always had my head not quite on this level. Let me just conceed that I was supreemly disapointed in him choosing this world over the other.
Nicholas/Falco and Georgia. Personally, I thought that Georgia was being a bit controlling at the end, when she told him to give her the quill. I cannot understand how she can make him give up his world, and yet at the same time, I can see that it is the only way. He cannot live torn between two worlds, he has to decide. And constantly traveling there and back would only undermine that decision. but I'm still uncertain how I feel about this outcome.
Luciano. - I was worried there, for a moment. Very worried, that there would be a sad ending, and we would see how strong arianna was by seeing how she deals with either the death or vanishment of the guy she is in love with. but it ended happily, and unbelieveably sweetly. All the deceit and lies throughout CoS and CoF had been irritaing me, and it was nice to see it all finally come to a climax.
I could ramble on for ALOT longer, but I have an english essay due in two weeks aga to start. But just a quick note. Is it just me, or do you see Mary Hoffman setting up a second trilogy, with the first book in Classe? The new Duke himself said that he was going to leave Bellezza, and with the death of the old Duke, the main 'baddie' the Bellezzan trilogy feels complete. But we have some unsettled scores to do with the Nucci/Di Chimici, with Beatrice and (possibly) Enrico. The new duke said he was thinking about sorting out places like Classe and Padavia, and the Nucci have headed out there. Does this remind you of anything from the first 2 books?
But I'll cross my fingers and wait.
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Post by Lavita on Mar 5, 2005 17:58:20 GMT -1
there is definitly possibility for the series to continue..definitly needs a good few read throughs ;D
Georgia was acting in Falco/Nicholas' best interests..being as he was quite fixated with his plan..and he HAD already given up his world. no one can have the best of both worlds.
Sandro had to be my fave character though :Dso delightfully colourful and sparrow-like ;D
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Kathryne
Apprentice
~Absolutely Insane~
Posts: 151
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Post by Kathryne on Mar 6, 2005 10:19:19 GMT -1
Yes! I loved Sandro! He was so cute! Too bad he's a novice now... I could eat him up! And Nick/Falco, if he had translated back, then think of what it would do to poor Vicky and David. Losing another son, in the same way. I think it would cause a breakdown, even if they did understand it. Luciano and Adrianna: I was about to die! I saw that there were 5 pages left, and that they still weren't together, and I panicked! Alice: She annoyed me unbelievably. How could she go to Talia, then decide that she didn't want to stay? If I was her, I would have LOVED to go to Talia. Rainbow: His comments near the end about Sky and Georgia scared me... Especially when Nick walked into the room. *shudders* Gaetano: I was SO scared he was going to die! I like him, he's a good character! Him and Francessca go well together. Silvia and Rodolfo: Aww!! They got married again! So cute!! Hehe, I love Adrianna's comment about it being weird.  Love Kat. |
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Post by TruBellezzan on Mar 8, 2005 10:53:31 GMT -1
I thought the Rainbow Warrior's comments at the end were actually quite funny, because they show what an awful character he is despite all the money and stuff he's given Sky. Especially the "threesome" and "coz-ee"!!
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Kathryne
Apprentice
~Absolutely Insane~
Posts: 151
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Post by Kathryne on Mar 8, 2005 15:18:06 GMT -1
I laughed, but it was a nervous, disturbed sort of laugh.
No, wait, I laugh like that normally.
Never mind.
Love Kat.
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Post by Duchessa on Mar 8, 2005 17:57:22 GMT -1
I'VE READ IT!!!!!! I can FINALLY join the category i started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got it at the book signing yesterday, omg mary was so sweet!!!!!! I had the BEST time!!!!!!! I have read it all but now i have calmed down and will read it again, more slowly, to take it all in properly.... Ok character opinions.... Alice: WHAT was that?  ? How could ANYONE not want to go back? ? Ick, freak. I preferred, little, quiet, one-dimensional alice, i must admit....no idea why... Sky: He was nice and stuff but probably my least fave of the three england main Stravagantes (i.e Lucien, Georgia, Sky). I'm not sure why, maybe it was because it was the third book, so whilst most of the other characters had had loads of time to be developed, he was still quire new.......still, he was sweet and i loved all the fencing! Sandro: Awwww, with the little dog!!! I LOVED him!! (Sandro....not the dog) Gaetano: Oh god he's so adorable! I was terrified he'd die, that would have been dreadful! So pleased he was alright. Silvia and Rodolpho: Just abot the cutest thing I've ever read......with one exception............................................................................... .....Luciano and Arianna!!!!: FINALLY! Omg i was actually terrified that he'd go back or something and kiss georgia or that....even worse....nothing at all would happen!! Omg, i have read the last page soooooooooooooo many times.......i'm so happy! ahem......best book i've ever read!!! whoopdidoo xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox |
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Post by HuntressDiana on Mar 8, 2005 20:44:15 GMT -1
Whew... that book gave me such a ride! I've posted my thoughts on the book in general in the other thread, so I'll stick to characters in this one.
Sky; I liked his responsibility, he took care of his mother and it was very tender. He had very many one liners that made me laugh, especially when he spoke of his bed being like an airport terminal!
Falco/Nick. I adored his quandary, so wanting to be back with his family in Talia, to be with them in their troubles, and so desperate for that. Although in his desperation he would have hurt the Mulhollands greatly, he did consider Luciano returning too. He does know how it feels for Luciano to have his family think he is dead, and to live away from them.
Georgia; I thought her attachment to the winged horse and Remora was a nice addition, and I liked that she knew she was being selfish by not going straight to Giglia, where they needed her, and regretting that she couldn't be there, but standing fast to her choice. Her making a choice at the end, letting go of Luciano and seeing that there was a chance for her and Falco, and doing what needed to be done, taking away his talisman and making him choose. Very admirable.
Luciano; I was seriously panicking at some points of the book, I thought there was a good chance that he would return to England, he was disheartened enough to do so. And throughout the book both he and Arianna were feeling that the other didn't love them, because they both hadn't said a few facts which would have clued the other in. I liked that he was so nervous about telling Arianna how he felt, then after vowing to himself after the duel he told her in such a way. And he was so sure too!
His thoughts about an intergalactic bus with the whole of Barnsbury comprehensive stravagating was hilarious, and the reason why they were all chosen from that area was excellent.
Arianna, knowing that by refusing the Duke she was risking great damage to her City and Luciano, but refusing to marry him because she didn't love him. She was put into so many difficult positions in the book, and it was wonderful to see her making those choices by herself, this time without knowing Luciano would be there to support her, and alone in the room with the Duke. After Barbara taking the knife for her, as her double, in the wedding massacre, I sincerely doubt that Arianna will ever use a double again.
Alice; I actually liked the fact that she didn't want to be a Stravagante, that she felt at odds with Talia. It reaffirmed for me that it is a calling, and that Luciano, Georgia and Sky were chosen for this, it wasn't just coincicence.
Ouch... my hands hurt from such rapid typing. I'll contribute more of my ideas later...
HuntressDiana
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Post by TruBellezzan on Mar 9, 2005 15:23:41 GMT -1
I think Alice didn't go to Talia mainly because Mary didn't want to deal with so many stravagante. Sorry does that make me sound like a spoil sport? Sorry again. All I can say about the whole Luciano and Arianna "I love her/him but does he/she love me" thing is one word: phew. I was very worried they weren't going to come to the point after dodging it for three books. But the whole engagement thing - very very good.
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Post by Duchessa on Mar 9, 2005 18:40:31 GMT -1
oh tell me about it, it was lovely at the end! Hmmm, i need to read another one about what happened to the duke and duchessa afterwards though! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox p.s. not an alice fan  |
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Louise
Apprentice
all who live die, but not all those who die have lived :-)
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Post by Louise on Mar 9, 2005 18:56:59 GMT -1
OMG! Have read it, absolutely fantastic! I didn't concentrate on anything in school all day yesterday, I had practically Stravagated into the book! Seriously, though, here's what I thought:
Gaetano: SOOOo worried there for a moment.....I was just sitting there going 'nooooo, he can't DIE!'....
Luciano (on his own for now): The Duel....ack! Just goin 'no, not the poison, not the poison'....did anyone else (other than Duchessa) feel they were reading something out of Hamlet there?!
Luciano&Arianna: feels so good to type that like that....FINALLY! THE LAST PAGE OF THE LAST BOOK! I reckon there were about 700-1000 pages (total for all three books) in which I was going 'OH COME ON, GET TOGETHER YOU IDIOTS!'...and then the LAST PAGE! Oh I'm so happy..............
Rodolpho&Silvia: Yay! They can go live together forever now! But doesn't it strike you that she's taking a bit of a risk going back to Bellezza? I mean, surely the Bellezzan people will recognise their 'dead' Duchessa? Or maybe they won't, I suppose she did always wear a mask......
And yes, I think that there are unresolved matters left...Enrico wants revenge, the Nucci want revenge, WE HAVE TO SEE ARIANNA AND LUCIANO HAPPILY MARRIED and wouldn't you love to see some more of the Manoush?
Enough of me for now, SUPREMELY HAPPY, that was possibly THE best book I have ever read.....
Lol
Louise~xXx~
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Post by Duchessa on Mar 9, 2005 19:01:04 GMT -1
Louise my dear we are actually on at the same time!
Ugh, i agree with all, especially the bit about needing more!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
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Post by Lavita on Mar 9, 2005 19:04:26 GMT -1
*hoping for a book on every city of Talia* ;D how you both doing 2nite btw? ..utterly content at the Stravaganza top-up intake? ;)spellbound, enchanted, starstruck? |
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Post by Duchessa on Mar 9, 2005 19:11:21 GMT -1
lol, ooooh yes, just as long as we always see luciano and arianna and have loads of kwl adventures them I'm totally up for a book for every city! Huh, better consult mary before we start making posters thiugh....
oh that's v. nice of u 2 ask. I am excellent and at peace with the world in general. I have stravaganza 3 and my parents are out so i can do what I like (partay!! nah, just looking aftermmy bro and doin my hmwk...sigh).
U?
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
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Post by Lavita on Mar 9, 2005 19:18:12 GMT -1
aww..homework...all my essays are done..with the exception of one...i just gotta keep practising my drama lines for the performance me is still enchanted by City of Flowers...definitly the ..hmm..whats the word...?,..most in-depth of all three |
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Post by Duchessa on Mar 9, 2005 19:25:27 GMT -1
Humph, i've just heaps of art coursewk to do, am doing my written proj. now. My parent's are @ parent's evening. oooh yeah i agree. It was totally the most in-depth. However, i don't know why but did you seem to get a totally different feel from it to that of the other two books. I can't put my finger on it, it's just that when i flicked through com and cos the other day, it seemed soooo different.  xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox |
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Post by Lavita on Mar 9, 2005 19:29:45 GMT -1
yeah i know what you mean...maybe because there was more danger...and everything was less magical and more tension-filled..with Talia already established
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Post by Duchessa on Mar 9, 2005 19:31:36 GMT -1
hmmm, yes, everything was far more complicated. That and the fact that luciano and arianna had totally grown up, they were definitely still kids in the first one.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
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Kathryne
Apprentice
~Absolutely Insane~
Posts: 151
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Post by Kathryne on Mar 11, 2005 23:07:15 GMT -1
Okay:
I so wish I could have gone to the signing.
I think that it was torture to put everything we have been waiting for, into the very last page of the series.
Hehe.
I am desparately trying to be quiet, as it's midnight, and my parents are asleep, and this computer chair is incredibly squeaky. Uh oh, I have a sudden urge to move... But I can't!
*squeals*
I so think that there should be more books, just so we can read more about Luciano and Arianna after they get married.
And is it just me, or is Mary setting up for a book in Fortezza as well? With her sending Lucia and Guido Parola there?
*shrugs*
Love Kat.
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Post by Duchessa on Mar 12, 2005 12:37:19 GMT -1
lol!! I know!! That was JUST what I was thinking/hoping about fortezza!!! We must have at least one more!! I neeeeeed to see what happens with everyone! I know icof was the best tying up of loose ends ever but i don't care! I need more luciano and arianna!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoox
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Kathryne
Apprentice
~Absolutely Insane~
Posts: 151
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Post by Kathryne on Mar 13, 2005 10:26:59 GMT -1
I'm starting to dream about Stravaganza now.
It's scary...
Love Kat.
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"They've simply vanished!" "Yes... like an old oak table..." "Vanished, Lord Percy. Not varnished." 
