Wisdom's Kiss (74 page)

Mommy Buzzkill with Author Commentary
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Fairy Tale: "Puss in Boots" with Author Commentary

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Fairy Tale: "Cat Whiskers"
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Author Commentary on "Cat Whiskers"
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Fairy Tale: "The Dolorous Draper"
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"Pass the Bucket"
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Author Commentary on "Pass the Bucket"
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Deleted Prose: A Letter from Teddy to Ben
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Recipe: Cuthbert en croûte
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Recipe: Poches Celebres
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Recipe: Pumpkin Pudding
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Pitch letter with Author commentary
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Enhanced Materials Menu

While many of these topics are discussed in the e-book enhancements—and of course in the book itself—I've purposefully avoided providing hints, e-links, or other shortcuts within this entry. It's your book now, peoples, and you need to wrangle out whatever answers you see fit.

1. "
   Truth requires many voices, for it is a relentless foe but a most unobliging mistress
   ." Why does this epigraph open
   Wisdom's Kiss?
   
2. I think we can agree
   Wisdom's Kiss
   has a rather unusual format. How does this format contribute to the overall story? How would the story differ if it were told from only one point of view? Which point of view would it be?
   
3. Wisdom's Kiss
   is written in eight "voices": two memoirs, two diaries, two sets of letters, an encyclopedia, and a play. How did the author make each voice distinct and unique?
   
4. The Imperial Encyclopedia of Lax
   often reports histories and details at odds with the other voices. Why do you think there's such a disparity? Which versions do you think are correct?
   
5. The play
   Queen of All the Heavens
   was written by "Anonymous." Who might "Anonymous" be? Why would this person wish to remain unknown?
   
6. Wilhelmina is a truly awful person. What are some illustrations of this? What in her upbringing might have made her so?
   
7. Felis el Gato is also awful, in his own charming way. What do his personality and writing style contribute to
   Wisdom's Kiss?
   How would the book differ without him?
   
8. For a romance/fantasy,
   Wisdom's Kiss
   contains a lot of politics. What is transpiring within the Empire of Lax during this story? How do politics affect the private lives of Trudy, Dizzy, and Tips?
   
9. Wisdom's Kiss
   has very little magic—in fact, no magic whatsoever in the first two-thirds of the story. Why do you think this is? What role does magic play when it's ultimately introduced?
   
10. Who's your favorite character in
    Wisdom's Kiss?
    Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most want to be? (Are your three answers the same or different? Why?)
    
11. From the beginning of the book, Tips has mixed feelings about Trudy. List some examples of his confusion and conflict.
    
12. How did you think the romance between Trudy and Tips would evolve? Why do you think it ended as it did?
    
13. If you could see one scene acted out, which would it be?
    
14. To those who've read
    Princess Ben:
    did you know, before beginning
    Wisdom's Kiss,
    who Nonna Ben was? If not, when did you realize? Why do you think this was kept a surprise?
    To those who haven't read
    Princess Ben:
    do you have any interest in now meeting Ben as a fifteen-year-old? How might
    Wisdom's Kiss
    affect your appreciation of (or even interest in)
    Princess Ben?
    
15. What's your feeling on oysters?