Life has been rather unfortunate for the Baudelaire orphans—Violet (14), Klaus (12), and baby Sunny. They lost their parents and their home in a horrible fire, and they’ve since been taken from guardian to guardian, searching for a home that’s safe from the evil Count Olaf, who’s after the Baudelaire fortune. As the three children once again prepare to meet their new guardian, they try to remain hopeful, but it’s not easy.
The Baudelaires’ new home is in Paltryville, a grim, windowless town. Once they arrive, they’re directed to the Lucky Smells Lumbermill, where their new guardian, a cigar-smoking man known only as Sir, forces them to live in the dormitory and work in the mill. The work is harder than any children should have to endure, and the children are only given a stick of gum for lunch, but at least they’re safe from Count Olaf—or so they think…
This fourth book in the series is quite possibly the grimmest yet—so it’s my least favorite of the four. While there are still plenty of moments of Snicket’s signature dark humor, this book is darker and less humorous. And it’s easy to be lulled by Snicket’s narration—which isn’t really a good thing if you’re listening while driving. Still, I look forward to my next road trip, which will bring me to the next book in the series…
Lemony Snicket’s books definitely aren’t for everyone. Snicket has a rather intellectual, Frasier Crane tone—which, mixed with his dark humor and grim stories, can make it difficult for many readers to enjoy. The adult characters are (for the most part) either bumbling idiots or rotten to the core. And Snicket’s constant defining of words and phrases does, admittedly, tend to get old after a few books. So you may very well not enjoy them—but if you have a dark sense of humor and a taste for the unusual, do yourself a favor, and pick up a copy of one of them. Just don’t start with Book 4—it’s not the best introduction to the series.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
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