BoB: The Ending: How quickly did you figure out...

[Erik]

While reading the final chapters, most of the grand revelations surprised me, but one of them I had figured out for myself much earlier and I was just waiting for the big reveal. So I'm curious did most people see the (view spoiler)[Lotus Cloud/Jade Pearl reveal coming? When Henpecked Ho was telling the story of the tablets, by the second or third time he mentioned the name "Jade Pearl" I was quite positive it would be Lotus Cloud. Lotus Cloud's love of pearls and jade is mentioned so many times in the novel, I felt it was almost impossible for the thought not to cross your mind. Also, did you know who the Duke would be? Because I was kicking myself that I didn't piece that bit together. (hide spoiler)]

[Chip]

(view spoiler)[I made the Lotus Cloud/Jade Pearl connection at same point as you. I didn't figure out who the Duke was until shortly before it was revealed. (hide spoiler)]

[Timm]

What's the protocol on spoilers, is there someplace we can post them or is that only after the Wrap-Up? I've just finished and I definitely want to talk about that ending.

[Paul]

Didn't figure out anything until it was revealed. I think that's partly because of the pace things are happening and the pace I was reading at (read it in just over a day - quick for me).

I loved the ending because I was enjoying the book very much despite feeling episodic but the way it wrapped things up together felt both clever and satisfying.

[Rob, Roberator]

Timm wrote: "What's the protocol on spoilers, is there someplace we can post them or is that only after the Wrap-Up? I've just finished and I definitely want to talk about that ending."

Feel free to start a thread to discuss the whole book. No need to wait.

If you want to avoid using spoiler tags, mark the title of your thread with (Full book Spoilers) or something to the that effect.

[Noah]

I had no clue about the ending. I think the structure of the book made me not as eager to figure out the mystery because I was caught up in the story.

[Dara]

I pieced some things together like (view spoiler)[the feather cloak the Duke wore had the feathers from the princess's crown and the key that Key Rabbit wore opened the chest to the Duke's heart (hide spoiler)] but I still found the entire reveal enjoyable.

[Ben]

I'll admit that I didn't see any of the twists coming - I'd like to blame it on the fact that I read it really quickly and that I was hopped up on cold medicine at the time, but that may be giving me more credit than I deserve!

[David Sven]

I was too busy laughing hard to notice anything. I was totally caught off guard as to how much I was supposed to be paying attention. I think it might be fun to re read the book to pick up the clues I missed first time round.

[Geir]

Did not see it coming. I guess because of the general whimsical tone and improbable happenings in the stories, I didn't really think of it in terms of making that kind of sense.

[Randa]

*SPOILER*


(view spoiler)[I honestly didn't realize Key Rabbit was the Duke until it was revealed. Then, I suspected Lotus was Jade Pearl. I think that is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. Normally, I can figure out the ending to books, but this book surprised me several times. (hide spoiler)]Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was