Okay, so maybe it’s because I’m binge reading these, but I can’t stop saying OMG OMG OMG. So many cliff hangers and “say what’s,” I should’ve put all of the books on hold at the same time. I’m still waiting for the last two as I write this but I should get them any day and hopefully will have read them by time this post publishes. Fingers crossed at least.
We’re in the thick of the mystery aspect of this series and the plot continues to become more convoluted. It’s hard to say who is or isn’t alive and how long they’ve been so. There was a reveal at the end of this book that I think is leading to something that I’ve been waiting for since my friend let something drop that wasn’t really a spoiler but a is this going to happen or not type question.
I enjoyed that Snicket continued to play with literature and introduce more of “the classics” to younger audiences in somewhat comical ways. And I like that he’s playing with archetypes and tropes,
“Having a personal philosophy is like having a pet marmoset, because it may be very attractive when you acquire it, but there may be situations when it will not come in handy at all.” (Loc. 442)
He may have taken the sea captain a little too far as it started to annoy me, but I could definitely see where a younger person would truly enjoy a bunch of seemingly random Aye’s over and over again.
Snicket has also continued to connect the Baudelaire’s story to broader feelings and emotions, which he has either done more skillfully as the series progressed, or he purposefully left it out earlier in the books.
“It is often difficult to admit that someone you love is not perfect, or to consider aspects of a person that are less than admirable.” (Loc. 1342)
“‘People aren’t either wicked or noble,’ the hook-handed man said. ‘They’re like chef’s salads, with good things and bad things chopped and mixed together in a vinaigrette of confusion and conflict.'” (Loc. 1948)
The last book re-introduced us to Carmelita Spats from The Austere Academy who seems to be the only child villain in the books. And she’s just nasty and vile and I hope she gets her just comeuppance. I am starting to wonder if Snicket wraps everything up though, there are only two books left clocking in on the Kindle at 368 pages each. I guess I’ll find out sooner rather than later.
Recommendation: READ IT. As I said earlier, I think it was the end of the book for me that made it. There were so many questions raised and new insights made that people are becoming humanized I don’t want to be humanized and I have questions about others!
Opening Line: “After a great deal of time examining oceans, investigating rainstorms, and staring very hard at several drinking fountains, the scientists of the world developed a theory regarding how water is distributed around our planet, which they have named ‘the water cycle.'”
Closing Line: “‘I’m Kit Snicket,’ she said, and the Baudelaire orphans climbed aboard, turning the tables of their lives and breaking their unfortunate cycle for the very first time.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
I never made it past the third (I think) book because they began to feel to formulaic and predictable (and they were frustrating!). But I always think about going back to finish the series. It really is quite fun and unique, when not totally depressing. 🙂
You should definitely read the latter half of them. The first four were the only really formulaic ones and they really were a struggle for me.