*SPOILERS*
July 19, 2010 – July 25, 2010
The Aubreyad Press Gang Epic Adventure Week Thirteen
1. Even though their countries are currently at peace, does it strike you as odd that Jack and Stephen visit Captain Christy-Palliere in France? What accounts for the friendship between them, Jack and the French captain in particular?
2. Jack tells Christy-Palliere (clearly believes himself) that the idea of Stephen as a spy is completely ludicrous, that he was looking for birds or something of that nature. Do you believe his visit to the hill was innocent?
3. Do you agree with Stephen’s comments to Dr. Ramis about why sailors are so unfit for life on land?
4. Two words: Bear Suit. Discuss.
5. Despite Jack’s behavior with Diana, Stephen goes to great lengths to keep him safe, first from arrest for debt and then by escaping to Spain with him. How does their friendship withstand Stephen’s feelings for Diana?
The Aubreyad Press Gang is engaged in a group read of the series. We have just started Post Captain. Feel free to join the discussion! You must be a registered member of the forums and the APG to post.
Questions by your captain.
Dr. Maturin suggests further reading:
I think Jack respects Christy-Palliere as a seaman accounting for his fondness for the Frenchman. I’ll admit it’s been a little while since I read the second book, but as you read through the series you see Jack start to realize that his friend Steven is involved in intelligence. I think at this point of their relationship, Jack is unaware that Steven is a spy and truly believed he was up on the hill just looking at bugs and birds.
I wasn’t really sure what to make of the bear suit story. I thought it was a little ludicrous that anyone would be fooled into believing that Jack was a bear. You do see a change in their relationship after that. They were already good friends, but a common thread in their relationship is that Steven is always surprising Jack with something new. As they travel to Steven’s land in Spain, Jack’s respect for Steven grows when he realizes he’s a large landowner and nurses him back to health after the journey through France and Spain.
BEAR SUIT. BEAR SUIT. THE BEAR SUIT IS AMAZING.
Jack is in a female bear suit, and has to dance. (And am I the only one who got the impression that ‘Flora’ was also supposed to be pregnant ? Including Stephen as a one-eyed gypsy bear leader.
This passage was rather surrealistic, now that I think about it. (This whole adventure to esscape Napoleon has to have been Stephen’s idea).
I just now reached the chapter in “The 13 Gun Salute” where Steven ascends the 1000 steps with an “Orang-utang”. What better imagery! Far better in my opinion than the bear suit.