A Series Of Unfortunate Events By Lemony Snicket - Reading from 'The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6)' from December 13th 2018

[Dannii]

Maddison wrote: "@Dannii: Seems like I'd better request all of the books then XD I'll be trying to squish them in where I can so I can try and keep up with you guys!

@Coreen: I didn't know you read so quickly!! Ho..."

I have the audiobooks and I know these books are for younger readers, but I was shocked to see how short they all are!

[Maddie]

Yeah, but they're real popular :)

[Maddie]

10% through Bad Beginning (view spoiler)[Kind of totally unrealistic how it'd be Mr Poe that talked to them about their parents' death, how the house was just burnt down, no investigations... And the fact that they didn't even cry when they found out. They just felt a little bit sad.

I like the way Snicket explains words in the context of the story. Something I always liked with these books. (hide spoiler)]

Hoping to watch the show at some point, but going to make sure I don't get ahead of the books.

[Maddie]

47% through (view spoiler)[Pretty upsetting that Poe told Olaf about their talk. They should've told him not to. And how were the children supposed to know that he wanted roast beef?

I'd feel so freaked out by that eye everywhere!

And it's strange Olaf is so obvious that he wants the money. (hide spoiler)]

[cors]

Book Three:

The Wide Window
Chapters 1 - 4
(view spoiler)[So Count Olaf is Captain Sham now. Aunt Josephine is gone which is probably not a good sign. This is not good (hide spoiler)]

The Wide Window
Chapters 5 - 8
(view spoiler)[Aunt Josephine is alive and can be found at the Curdled Cave, Hurray!!! Also Sunny is still adorable as ever (hide spoiler)]

The Wide Window
Chapters 9 - 12
(view spoiler)[ Andddd... Aunt Josephine is now officially dead. Count Olaf is probably the most despicable person a child could ever read and thank you to Sunny Captain Sham is now busted. (hide spoiler)]

The Wide Window
Done
(view spoiler)[ I liked this book and I'm not even surprised that Count Olaf escaped yet again, what really boggles me is why he hasn't killed Mr. Poe yet. (hide spoiler)]

[cors]

@Dannii- they were really short and fun to read.

[Maddie]

I'm going to finish first one tonight :)

[Dannii]

1/4 of The Bad Beginning: (view spoiler)[The sad beginning - or 'bad', I should say - doesn't have much emotion to it. Perhaps this is not to initially distress young readers. I know the entire series is dark but this darkness isn't focused on making it manageable, I could imagine, for the younger audience it is aimed at.

I also like how words are explained in the context of the story and would have really appreciated this, had I been younger. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Through first one Dannii?

[Maddie]

I agree about the beginning.

[Dannii]

Maddison wrote: "Through first one Dannii?"

Yes, I have just started it :) I'm loving it, so far.

[cors]

@Maddison- Yay! You can read the next one then watch the TVS

@Dannii- I agree, but I still adore it :)

[Maddie]

I've made a new group called Tv Freaks, which is about watching shows with other people, and I might have found someone on there willing to watch it with me XD I just need to keep ahead with the books. You started the show yet?

It's definitely a story for children.

[Dannii]

I bet the show is so good. I can remember watching the movie years ago and I loved it. This story transfers well to screen.

[Dannii]

2/4 of The Bad Beginning: (view spoiler)[What kids like olives???

I can imagine absolutely devouring this, as a child. I am enjoying it but it is definitely a story aimed for younger readers. I don't think there is much children's fiction out there like this, with its dark themes.

This book is teaching children that adults can't be trusted! Count Olaf is obviously evil, but Mr Poe also dismisses them and leaves them to their tragic fate. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4 of The Bad Beginning: (view spoiler)[Ahhh, I remember what this play is actually all about, now! I keep reading this and attempting to imagine how my younger self would react. I can picture myself finding this pretend marriage as such a clever guise for the real thing.

"He found himself reading the same sentence over and over.
He found himself reading the same sentence over and over.
He found himself reading the same sentence over and over."
I laughed so much! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Maddison wrote: "47% through Pretty upsetting that Poe told Olaf about their talk. They should've told him not to. And how were the children supposed to know that he wanted roast beef?

I'd feel so freaked out by t..."

I agree! (view spoiler)[No adults can be trusted! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Dannii wrote: "2/4 of The Bad Beginning: What kids like olives???

I can imagine absolutely devouring this, as a child. I am enjoying it but it is definitely a story aimed for younger readers. I don'..."

(view spoiler)[And how do they know how to cook all of those things if they can't even make toast... (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Maddison wrote: "Dannii wrote: "2/4 of The Bad Beginning: What kids like olives???

I can imagine absolutely devouring this, as a child. I am enjoying it but it is definitely a story aimed for younger ..."

I guess these little plot holes wouldn't have mattered to young readers!

[Maddie]

Suppose not XD

[Dannii]

4/4 of The Bad Beginning: (view spoiler)["If you are a bank robber, although I hope you are not"
Moments like this make me understand this book's continued appeal to all ages.

Is every adult evil or oblivious in the book???

Wait, surely the hand you choose to sign doesn't nullify a marriage? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

72% (view spoiler)[I remember that sentence, about him reading the same one over and over. I found that pretty cool.

I have no idea how Klaus found all that out from one law book, but what's the bet that no one'll believe him. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Maddison wrote: "72% I remember that sentence, about him reading the same one over and over. I found that pretty cool.

I have no idea how Klaus found all that out from one law book, but what's the bet that no one'..."

That sentence was such a clever bit of writing. I laughed so much!

[Maddie]

94% (view spoiler)[Can't believe that the grappling hook had latched onto the hook-handed man!

And how was Violet supposed to know that her left hand was not her 'own hand'..? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah I like the way he always relates to the audience :)

[Maddie]

Review: Pleased I'm re-reading this series :) Even though it's definitely just for children, I'm liking the familiarity of the writing, and the way Snicket embraces the audience by directing comments at us :) And the artful way of including us in the story, particularly by repeating the same sentence 3 or 4 times to make is feel like we're in it with Klaus. One thing I didn't like was (view spoiler)[the lack of emotion, almost? The lack of sadness at the start, when their parents died, and the lack of investigation surrounding their death. (hide spoiler)] But I'm still determined to get to the end of this series for a change :)

[Maddie]

I'll read Reptile Room sometime next week probably.

[Dannii]

I couldn't stop myself and have just moved on to The Reptile Room.

[Dannii]

1/4 of The Reptile Room: (view spoiler)[The difference between Count Olaf and Uncle Monty is remarkably different but, if the first book has taught me anything it is that adults are not to be trusted! Or, if they can, unfortunate things will befall them.

I like how the narrator is intruding in to the story even more than in the first book. He includes the reader by explaining words and talking directly to them. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

2/4 of The Reptile Room: (view spoiler)[It was quite obvious that Stefano was going to be Count Olaf in disguise, but, as with much of these books, this requires a lot of suspended belief.

I think I am enjoying this tale more from the first one, so far, but perhaps that is because I was already familiar with the first story./spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4 of The Reptile Room: (view spoiler)[Mr Poe is such a fool. Adults play such unfortunate roles in each of these books and I would have little faith in the ones in my life if I had read this as a child! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

4/4 of The Reptile Room: (view spoiler)[I really like how the snakes don't become the villains of the tale as enough children are afraid of them, as it is.

Everytime the narrator writes, "meanwhile back at the ranch", it makes me giggle! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Coreen ♥ wrote: "Second Book:

The Reptile Room
Chapters 1 - 4
[spoilers removed]The Reptile Room
Chapters 5 - 8
[spoilers removed]The Reptile Room
Chapter 6 - 12
[spoilers removed]
Second Book:

The Reptile Room
D..."

I agree. Little Sunny is such an adorable character <3

[cors]

Book Four:

The Miserable Mill
Chapters 1 - 4
(view spoiler)[ I don't think things could be worse for the Baudelaires but it turns out I'm wrong because Sir and the mill are infinitely worse. What kind of man requires the children to do back breaking labors? (hide spoiler)]

The Miserable Mill
Chapters 5 - 8
(view spoiler)[I've been wondering where Count Olaf is all this time but I guess he made his minions do most of the work in this book. Shirley? Lol that's a funny name even for you Count Olaf. Let's see where this goes. (hide spoiler)]

The Miserable Mill
Chapters 9 - 12
(view spoiler)[I'm so happy that one of Count Olaf's mate perished. Goodbye Dr. Orwell! Bwhahahahhaha Finally something went right (hide spoiler)]

The Miserable Mill
Done
(view spoiler)[I want to smack Mr. Poe so bad it's not even a thing. I'm glad that the trio are now out of the Lucky Smells Lumbermill because that place sucks even for adult and even more for children. (hide spoiler)]

I think I'll put the fifth book on hold because I've been craving for a fantasy genre read. I'll still continue this series tho :)

[Maddie]

I'm so behind now XD

[Dannii]

Coreen, you are flying through these! I can see why, though, they are such quick and fun reads.

I've only read the first two books, Maddison, I'm going to wait a few days before carrying on with the series.

[Maddie]

alright. I have no idea when I'm going to read it because of my other reads, and most of them big ones too

[Eesh]

The Bad Beginning, Chapter 1
(view spoiler)[I really like how the book started, with the letter and everything. And the narrative is so great. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

The Bad Beginning, Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[I just can't get over what might have been insinuated about Violet's "pretty face". (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

The Bad Beginning, Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[He's going to marry her to get the cash! The bastard! So much for being their "father". (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Finished The Bad Beginning
(view spoiler)[For a second there, I honestly though he married her. Thank God he didn't.
I'm quite interested to see what he'll get up to next. He's like Plankton trying to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Haha yes he is like Plankton!

[Dannii]

Hahahaha, I love that comparison!

[Maddie]

Me too :p

[Eesh]

The Reptile Room, Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[I don't know what the kids are getting so excited about. The dude seems like a mad scientist who performs illegal experiments on animals. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

The Reptile Room, chapter 3
(view spoiler)[He got a new name, had a make over and probably did something to Gutavo, but he couldn't be bothered to wear socks? Idiot. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Quirks wrote: "The Reptile Room, chapter 3
[spoilers removed]"

I know, right? I know this is aimed at kids but it requires so much suspended belief.

[Eesh]

The Reptile Room, Chapter 6
(view spoiler)[These books are a strange blend of children's fiction and dark themes. You have the narrative and the word meanings, and then you have casual murder. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

The Reptile Room, Chapter 10
(view spoiler)[You know, I would love to have Sunny's ability to say an entire sentence with just one word. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Finished The Reptile Room and I have three things to say:
1. 209 fucking 'ever's!
2. (view spoiler)[Totally called it with the doctor. (hide spoiler)] and,
3. (view spoiler)[Mr Poe is completely useless. (hide spoiler)]