<p>psychmom - I love your summary of Emil!</p>
<p>I didn’t even start paying attention to Emil’s “sources” until halfway through the book. Like the rest of you, I also didn’t realize that those sources could give me clues to some of the events in the story. Good sleuthing ignatius!</p>
<p>psychmom, great observation about Emil always needing to be pushed, especially in the love and connection department. It’s interesting that the one dramatic thing he does on his own, without being pushed and without telling anyone, is to poison the Uzanne. I think there is a dark side to Emil that we aren’t privy to (remember, he admits that his memoir has “a tendency to flatter the memoirist”). It seems like his friends pull him toward the light (e.g., the Nord</p>
<p>I think (for no discernible reason) that Emil finds Johanna and they return to Stockholm together. Emil writes his “memoir” after his return, interviewing his sources together and separately - but more or less, in the same time frame. Johanna should no longer be in danger with the Uzanne dead. (Well, perhaps Anna Maria may still be a threat, but I’m going to ignore that. ;)) Emil has his job and now a wife to go along with it and all ends happily. Love, connection, prosperity.</p>
<p>Yes, I am on board with that! We know Johanna is unhappy in the South, so Emil rescues her and takes her north, back to Sweden :)</p>
<p>I am sure Emil finds Johanna, whether they become friends or lovers I think is an open question, but since his Octavo is supposed to bring him love, not just connection, I’m voting for lovers. :)</p>
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<p>We’ve already talked about how Stockholm is a character unto itself, and the vividness of the setting, especially the bitter cold and descriptions of the horse-drawn sled traveling over ice. Re what effect it has on the other characters, I would say that at times the cold air seems like a welcome and purifying contrast to the indoors – the Uzanne’s salon is oppressively hot during her fan instruction; the Plomgren’s home is “airless” on the day of the baby’s funeral, with heat that drives away mourners; Gustav’s sick room “was hot and smelled of wet wool and sweat” (p. 372). </p>
<p>For me, the other aspect of the setting that brings the story to life is the food and drink. I suspect Engelmann must have done some research in that regard. Here are just a few examples that sent me to the kitchen for a bite to eat:</p>
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<p>What about New Cook’s dinner? “The two rabbits were transformed into the most succulent of dishes, tender morsels bathed in a rich, dark sauce.” It wasn’t quite the success New Cook had expected, but at least she didn’t suffer the same fate as Old Cook.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t eat most of the food served, but the descriptions made me think about it. The exception is the champagne, strawberries and chocolate. I’d be find with that.</p>
<p>I could deal with a diet that consisted of champagne, strawberries and chocolate! Like those food groups!
Thinking about it, I can’t imagine Emil settling down outside of Sweden. I can see him returning after his adventure and reunion with Johanna. I’m hoping they found a good life together.
I’m hoping Margot and the baby were taken care of by Emil and others.</p>
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[quote]
7. MAGIC
In the 18th century, magic was broadly accepted as a part of life—astrology alchemy, divination, s</p>
<p>Wow that’s something that some conservative Catholics say that the ouija board does work (for evil) and that God himself tells us that it’s real!</p>
<p>Some guys I knew in college were playing with a ouija board, and its answer to a question along the lines of, “What is the meaning of existence?” was either “OM…OM OM…OM…OM…” or “MO…MO…MO…MO…MO…” They decided it had to be the latter and became fond of exclaiming, “MOMOMOMO” from time to time.</p>
<p>It seems to me that there was somebody in Stockholm Octavo who looked askance at the occult, but I can’t remember who it was.</p>
<p>I can think of a few who registered disapproval: </p>
<p>Margot - I don’t think she attributes what’s going on to magic but rather to an evil plot - speaking to Johanna:
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<p>the deacon in the cathedral to Mrs. Sparrow with Emil present:
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<p>Mrs. Murbeck to Emil: You can probably find other examples but this one came quickly to mind:</p>
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<p>Old Cook and the kitchen staff: Emil gets in to see Johanna posing as a Deacon. (Old Cook is dead after protesting “witchcraft”.)
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<p>I do find it interesting to hear what “woo-woo” elements people believe in. I try not to judge (and would not want to be judged). As long as no one is getting hurt, sometimes these kinds of beliefs get people through the day. For Emil, the octavo offers hope and his life is enriched by believing in it.</p>
<p>ignatius, thanks for the quotes. It looks like some characters believe that divination brings good and some believe it brings evil, but they all believe in its power, in one way or another. I don’t think there’s a character who debunks the whole thing, but maybe that sort of skeptical thinking would have been too modern for the 18th century. I’d say that as readers, we are steered toward believing in the goodness and promise of the Octavo. Mrs. Sparrow is a warm and loving woman (if a bit eccentric). However, the deacon, who shuns Mrs. Sparrow because of her “evil”, is himself described in devilish terms: “he hissed” … “a cloud of hot breath escaping his lips.”</p>
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<p>I agree. It made me want an octavo of my very own. :)</p>
<p>^ Oh, you have one. Apparently, you just need a handbook to get you started. I recommend the Extra Deluxe edition: [The</a> Octavo Handbook - Lulu.com](<a href=“http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=The+Octavo+Handbook&categoryId=100501]The”>http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=The+Octavo+Handbook&categoryId=100501)</p>
<p>Hmmm…that seems like an odd book. Do you think anyone has ever bought it? I hope the Extra Deluxe price includes the cards.</p>
<p>ignatius - Maybe we are part of your Octavo…was there a card with a group of people surrounded by books?</p>
<p>Re the second part of question 7 above–the use of medicinal herbs and potions–here is some interesting info on 18th century Swedish pharmacology, as practiced by Carl Linneaus: [url=<a href=“http://www.linnaeus.uu.se/online/pharm/medicinal.html]Linn”>http://www.linnaeus.uu.se/online/pharm/medicinal.html]Linn</a></p>
<p>The poison powder that could be blown at a person and the dried toxic mushrooms were fictitious, though…</p>
<p>^Maybe, but it’s not as though there aren’t equivalent powders like anthrax that are lethal - even if not quite so quickly.</p>