Lilian Jackson Braun Message Board
Renee Cain posts on 6/21/2010 2:45:56 PM
Ms. Braun's style of writing is unique. She NEVER leaves loose ends dangling (such as in "60 Whiskers' Polly in Paris... who burned the barn... and Quill's mysterious new lady).
It is my opinion Ms. Braun has physically become disabled and can no longer compose her tales.
"60 Whiskers" started out well but then about a NORMAL third of the way through the style changed and everything was rushed to a close.
I believe the publisher had a ghost writer "finish" it when Ms. Braun was unable to do so...and given the poor reviews of "60 Whiskers" and the now permanent decline of the author... "Smelled Smoke" was cancelled.
Renee Cain posts on 6/21/2010 2:45:42 PM
Ms. Braun's style of writing is unique. She NEVER leaves loose ends dangling (such as in "60 Whiskers' Polly in Paris... who burned the barn... and Quill's mysterious new lady).
It is my opinion Ms. Braun has physically become disabled and can no longer compose her tales.
"60 Whiskers" started out well but then about a NORMAL third of the way through the style changed and everything was rushed to a close.
I believe the publisher had a ghost writer "finish" it when Ms. Braun was unable to do so...and given the poor reviews of "60 Whiskers" and the now permanent decline of the author... "Smelled Smoke" was cancelled.
Renee Cain posts on 6/21/2010 2:45:42 PM
Ms. Braun's style of writing is unique. She NEVER leaves loose ends dangling (such as in "60 Whiskers' Polly in Paris... who burned the barn... and Quill's mysterious new lady).
It is my opinion Ms. Braun has physically become disabled and can no longer compose her tales.
"60 Whiskers" started out well but then about a NORMAL third of the way through the style changed and everything was rushed to a close.
I believe the publisher had a ghost writer "finish" it when Ms. Braun was unable to do so...and given the poor reviews of "60 Whiskers" and the now permanent decline of the author... "Smelled Smoke" was cancelled.
Renee Cain posts on 6/21/2010 2:45:42 PM
Ms. Braun's style of writing is unique. She NEVER leaves loose ends dangling (such as in "60 Whiskers' Polly in Paris... who burned the barn... and Quill's mysterious new lady).
It is my opinion Ms. Braun has physically become disabled and can no longer compose her tales.
"60 Whiskers" started out well but then about a NORMAL third of the way through the style changed and everything was rushed to a close.
I believe the publisher had a ghost writer "finish" it when Ms. Braun was unable to do so...and given the poor reviews of "60 Whiskers" and the now permanent decline of the author... "Smelled Smoke" was cancelled.
Renee Cain posts on 6/21/2010 2:45:11 PM
Ms. Braun's style of writing is unique. She NEVER leaves loose ends dangling (such as in "60 Whiskers' Polly in Paris... who burned the barn... and Quill's mysterious new lady).
It is my opinion Ms. Braun has physically become disabled and can no longer compose her tales.
"60 Whiskers" started out well but then about a NORMAL third of the way through the style changed and everything was rushed to a close.
I believe the publisher had a ghost writer "finish" it when Ms. Braun was unable to do so...and given the poor reviews of "60 Whiskers" and the now permanent decline of the author... "Smelled Smoke" was cancelled.
KarenB posts on 5/31/2010 3:12:27 PM
Laina, I hope your mom is right!
charli at strato dot net in Florida
the Cat Who tradition is important.
laina posts on 5/31/2010 2:10:19 PM
My mom and I have read the series over and over again, and she had a thought today she wanted to share and ask opinion about. It is going on three years (almost) since the last book was released, and in the last book, wasn't Polly going to be gone for about three years? Or did we take that wrong? So my Mom said-maybe, just maybe--the three years have been our waiting period, and a new book will come out at the end of this year or early next year, and will catch us up on the "last three years events
in Pickax... will Qwill still be seeing the new lady that arrived in the last book, and will Polly return to find Qwill has found another, ect ect ect...maybe its just hopeful thinking, but wouldnt it be nice if my moms thoughts are correct?
KarenB posts on 5/18/2010 4:19:31 PM
I've always loved the series, met her at a Cat Show back in the 90s in Charlotte NC - if born in 1913, she's holding on pretty good...100 in 2013?? I guess she's quit writing, but I thought the woman with her in Charlotte back then was helping her anyway...I didn't know about the CatWho Smelled Smoke and the cancellation etc, nor the one where Polly leaves etc... I get the feeling all is not wall in Cat-Who land!?
Anna Marie posts on 5/4/2010 2:26:09 PM
I had forgotten what '60 Whiskers was about, and as I began to reread it, {my new copy I got on a trip thinking I hadn't read it..}, it allll came back to me! - I'm not so upset about Polly as I am about the great old apple barn I've developed a picture of in my mind over the years.. I think theirs was more of an endearing friendship than a smoldering romance anyway, and that was refreshing, fitting for the series I think.. But for her to have flown the coop like that...hmm, maybe she's iLL!! lol - It's hard to creat a scenario with what's left of the picture, and it's a shame Lilian didn't leave us with at least sOMe glimmer of hope to whet our imagination..."The fire engines blared louder and louder as their procession approached the far end of the property from the back, which was actually the front, where Qwill always walked to town. Just then, a silvery gray rain cloud appeared out of the clear blue sky......."
Eileen Carlan posts on 5/4/2010 12:34:52 PM
This is what I think should have or might have happened in Smelled Smoke, had it been written:
Qwill takes Koko to the burned-out ruins of the barn, and Koko finds a casino gambling chip. It turns out to be one that is used by a casino in Atlantic City. The people out there who would have inherited the Klingenschoen billions if Qwill hadn't gotten them are trying to intimidate/eliminate Qwill to get the money in a difficult economy in which gambling revenues are falling. They have also kidnapped Polly and are holding her hostage in Europe. They caused the accident that detained her there and they are the ones who sent her written messages to Pickax to dispose of her affairs there. (Remember, Polly NEVER CALLED ANYONE before abandoning her entire life?)
I have no idea how to resolve the situation, but Koko would play a major role in finding a way. The evildoers would be apprehended and face justice, Polly would return home, and the experience would convince her and Qwill that they never want to be separated again. Qwill's aversion to remarriage would be overcome and they would have a grand Pickax wedding ceremony. The book would close with Qwill carrying Polly into the bedroom of whatever residence they're going to share and closing the door. Their four cats, Koko, Yum Yum, Brutus, and Catta, would be sitting peacefully in the living room windows in separate pairs, watching the world go by outside. Fade out. End series.
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