Title: The Wide Window
Author: Lemony Snicket
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #3
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Gothic
Dates read: 7th – 17th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2000
5th sentence, 74th page: “But that’s another error in the note,” Klaus said.

Dear Reader,

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.

If you haven’t got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.

I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

The third instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series is just as hilariously tragic as the rest of the books. It is filled with everything and anything you could possibly think of going wrong. Which is exactly what you should be expecting by this point in the series. Yet, its still pleasantly surprising and somewhat brilliant in all of its horrible glory. Especially since, whilst you know that everything is going to go wrong… you’re not entirely sure how it will go so awry.

The guardian in this story is grammar obsessed. Which, I, of course, thought was absolutely brilliant. I’m not that intensive with my grammar, but like everyone I know that loves the written word, I’m a little picky about the use of certain terms, words and phrases. It’s nice to have an off-kilter character who feels exactly the same way.

Is it paranoia if there is truly someone out to get you? I’m not entirely sure, although I do know that the woman in this story is paranoid in a whole new way… and that’s not meant as something positive. I wanted to reach through the pages of the book multiple times and just smack some sense into the woman. Who in the hell is so afraid of literally anything? Alright, I know that there are some people like that… but it doesn’t make reading a novel in which one is featured any easier.

Now I need to probably take a bit of a pause from this series – I have so many other books on my reading list that are kind of ahead of the cue… but, I’ll make sure I read them even faster! Just so that I get to find out what horrible thing happens next…

Image source: Wikipedia

Title: The Reptile Room
Author: Lemony Snicket
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Gothic
Dates read: 20th October – 3rd November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 1999
5th sentence, 74th page: My shoulder may be sprained.

Dear Reader,

If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale, I’m afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don’t be fooled. If you know anything about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that even pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.

In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp, and the reappearance of a person they’d hoped never to see again.

I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

This is quite possibly the first ever non-creepy snake story that I’ve ever read. Actually, it’s the first ever story which I’ve read in which snakes aren’t evil, kind of cute, and a lot of fun. The Baudelaire children in fact are very sad to leave the snake house (which they must because this is A Series of Unfortunate Events and nothing good every happens).

As you would expect from this series (and I’m only two books in), I spent the entire time that I was reading this expecting a really horrifying and horrible ending. Which of course meant that I wasn’t surprised when that is exactly what I got. I was a little shocked at the fact that there is a death only halfway through the story, and there is pretty much no happy moment other than the first two chapters throughout the entire tale.

As I scientist, and more specifically, an environmental scientist, I’m well aware of how eccentric we tend to be as a group. Which was captured perfectly in this story – the one minded obsession of Dr. Montgomery, his lifelong goals and inability to see beyond his snakes. Well, I am very familiar with that obsession (although for me it’s bugs). Although this is done with a great sense of humour, it’s still done in a realistic and approachable manner. One that I absolutely adored. And I’m kind of sad that we already have to move onto the next guardian.

As this series unfolds I get more and more intrigued by the crazy shenanigans and adventures of the Baudelaire children. I can’t wait to see who they end up with next. And, more importantly… how they outsmart the evil Count Olaf.

Image source: Wikipedia

Title: The Bad Beginning
Author: Lemony Snicket
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Gothic
Dates read: 15th – 16th October 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 1999
5th sentence, 74th page: It means “reluctant to associate with others”, and it might describe somebody who, during a party, would stand in a corner and not talk to anyone.

Dear Reader,

I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

One of my primary school friends used to be obsessed with A Series of Unfortunate Events. I never read them as a child. But, I recently saw the entire boxset collection for sale online and I just couldn’t help myself. I’ve always just been so curious. And man I’m so glad that I succumbed! There is something brilliant, hilarious and witty about this writing. Also a little bit unique and easy that makes you want to keep reading the whole series… even as a grown adult.

The first sentence of this story warns you that there are no happy endings. That this is not a happy book. But it’s also not that sad either. Don’t get me wrong, it is incredibly tragic, and nothing at all goes right for the three orphans. But the way it is written makes it all feel okay. If any other writer wrote such a depressing tale… I’d probably put the book aside out of disgust. Life sucks, and I don’t necessarily want to read about that. But when all of the tragedy is tempered with wit… I’ll just lap that up.

Part of me wishes that I had have read this book (and series) as a child. There are new words and explanations for their definitions peppered throughout. Reading expands everyone’s vocabulary, but when there are some much more complex words thrown into a children’s book and explained beautifully… I can imagine what this would have done to a child-Skye’s vocabulary (on second thoughts, maybe good that I didn’t read this young – my dad was overwhelmed enough by my ever-growing ability to use ridiculous words as a child).

The Bad Beginning is a tragic, fun read. It reminds you that everyone has their talents (inventing, reading and biting in this case) and that sometimes you can use those to find your way out of a sticky situation. It also introduces a truly horrible villain, because he is just so damn human. You can imagine people in power doing this, because they actually could. And it starts off a series of tragic adventures that I can’t wait to read again and again and again.

Image source: Angela Maria Hart