The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6) by Lemony Snicket


The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6)
Title : The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0060566213
ISBN-10 : 9780060566210
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 259
Publication : First published February 20, 2001

Dear Reader,

If you have just picked up this book, then it is not too late to put it back down. Like the previous books in A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, there is nothing to be found in these pages but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to read.

Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to read something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket


The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6) Reviews


  • Federico DN

    Ersatz SADNESS.

    After leaving Prufrock Preparatory and the Quagmire triplets behind, the Baudelaire orphans travel to 667 Dark Avenue, to a penthouse that may or may not be located on the 48th or 84th floor; here they meet The Squalors, a mixed bag of new caretakers; Jerome, a kindhearted soul that doesn’t like to argue; and Esme, a coldhearted financer that only cares about what’s in and out of fashion. A brief respite of uneasiness takes place; until Gunther, a highly renowned auctioneer, appears on their apartment and, who on earth would believe it, calamity strikes again.

    I have to admit this book felt kind of a letdown, or at least in comparison to the wonderful #5. LIKED Jerome some, but not a lot, I don’t want to argue about it. Esme was nothing but UNLIKABLE and, despite my lack of fashion sense, I think she is SO OUT. Totally HATED Gunther, a very convincing businessman, unlike the despicable Count Olaf of the first book, or the terrifying Stephano of the second, or the mischievous Captain Sham of the third, or the feminine Shirley of the fourth, or the cakesniffer Genghis of the fifth (This is SERIOUSLY getting outta hand). The Baudelaire orphans still fighting the good fight, never failing each other, and fiercely trying to rescue the Quagmires, who sadly have only the briefest of appearances.

    A nice sequel, although a bit lacking of story progression, few things happening really and with not much happiness. Delighted to see the Quagmire triplets again, however briefly. And extremely thankful that Lemony has not killed them, yet. So yeah, this is what I’ve been reduced to, a person clinging to tiny scraps of happiness and grateful for letting characters live. And to think I used to have like, standards and stuff. Thanks for that Lemony!

    -----------------------------------------------
    PERSONAL NOTE:
    [2001] [259p] [Children’s] [Not Recommendable] [It’s actually 66th] [Esme is out <\3] [Jerome is in <3] [Die Gunther DIE!] [Very Fancy Doilies] [Free The Quagmires!]
    -----------------------------------------------

    TRISTEZA sucedánea.

    Después de dejar la Preparatoria Prufrock y a los trillizos Quagmire atrás, los huérfanos Baudelaire viajan 667 Avenida Oscura, a un penthouse que puede o no estar localizado en el piso 48th o 84th; aquí conocen a Los Squalors, una bolsa mixta de cuidadores, Jerome, un alma de buen corazón que no le gusta discutir; y Esme, una financista de corazón frío que sólo le interesa lo que está dentro y fuera de la moda. Un breve respiro de inquietud tiene lugar; hasta que Gunther, un altamente reconocido substador, aparece en su departamento y, quien en la tierra podría creerlo, la calamidad golpea otra vez.

    Debo admitir que este libro se sintió algo como decepción, o al menos en comparación con el maravilloso #5. Jerome me pareció QUERIBLE, pero no mucho, no quiero discutir sobre ello. Esme fue nada más que INQUERIBLE y, a pesar de mi falta de sentido de moda, creo que está RE AFUERA. Totalmente ODIE a Gunther, un hombre de negocios muy convincente, a diferencia del despreciable Conde Olaf del primer libro, o el terrorífico Stephano del segundo, o el taimado Capitán Sham del tercero, o la femenina Shirley del cuarto, o el oledor de pasteles Genghis del quinto (Esto SERIAMENTE se está saliendo de control). Los huérfanos Baudelaire siguen peleando la buena pelea, nunca fallándose el uno al otro, y ferozmente tratando de rescatar a los Quagmire, quienes lamentablemente sólo tiene la más breve de las apariciones.

    Una linda secuela, aunque algo carente de progresión de trama, pocas cosas realmente suceden y sin mucha felicidad. Deleitado de ver a los trillizos Quagmire otra vez, aunque brevemente. Y extremadamente agradecido de que Lemony no los haya matado, aún. Así que sí, a esto es a lo que me han reducido, una persona aferrada a diminutos residuos de felicidad y agradecida de que dejen vivir a los personajes. Y pensar que solía tener como, estándares y cosas así. ¡Gracias por eso Lemony!

    -----------------------------------------------
    NOTA PERSONAL:
    [2001] [259p] [Libro para Niños] [No Recomendable] [En verdad es 66th] [Esme está fuera <\3] [Jerome está dentro <3] [Muere Gunther MUERE!] [Muy Lujosos Mantelitos] [Liberen Los Quagmire!]
    -----------------------------------------------

  • Mark Lawrence

    I'm slowly catching up with the reviews on ASoUE. Currently I'm reading book 12 of 13 to Celyn.

    The story formula is eroding by book 6 and some welcome variety / twists are introduced.

    More surreal adventure, more amusement for the adults in the translation of Sunny's bon mots. More skulduggery from Count Olaf and friends. Very few questions answered and lots more posed.

    Whilst the absurdity doesn't scale the heights of Sunny's teeth vs sword duel in book 4 we do get to see Sunny scale the heights of an 88 story building using just her teeth. We're also treated to schemes designed to make a physicist weep (this one at least) - yes, it's a children's story for fun ... but why not take a moment to make sense? Violet is an inventor - a great role model for the young girls reading. Excellent. But couldn't her inventions contain an ounce of sense?

    Witness: Invention to burn through the bars of a cage. Welding torches! How are they made? By heating cooking tongs in an oven.

    i) It's nonsense to say the oven reaches a temperature high enough to melt metal. Even if it did it would melt itself.

    ii) The tongs would melt.

    iii) We see the tongs shade as they heat up ... but in the wrong order. They go through yellow and orange before reaching 'red hot' - surely any adult (and most children) know red is the lowest temperature when dealing with glowing metal and white-hot is the hottest.

    iv) The tongs would cool down during the 88 story descent to the cage.

    v) The tongs (even if white hot and having a much higher melting point than cage bars) would not hold enough heat to melt the bars - they would simply heat up the bar a bit.

    Yes, this is science pedantry, but it's also incredibly basic / obvious and Violet would be a far more interesting and compelling role-model if her inventions weren't ... nonsense.

    Anyway, the story was pretty good, Celyn enjoyed it, and we moved sharply on to book 7.




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  • emma

    OH HELL YEAH BABY.

    OH. HELL. YEAH.

    I love this series - which, in case you live under a rock or have been up to this point blessed enough to have a Goodreads feed untouched by my screaming, is my favorite in the world - for so many reasons.

    These reasons include:
    - the characters
    - the world
    - the language
    - the precision of the secrecy
    - the mystery
    - EVERYTHING, BASICALLY.

    And this book is standout in all of those categories even in the realm of this series!!! Like, can you believe. Lemony Snicket really out here blessing us in ways we didn’t know we needed.

    The characters introduced here are so fun, and the Baudelaires and Olaf and his troupe are at some of their respective fun peaks!!! The settings, including the city and the auction and the endless apartment and its building, are particularly AMAZING. And everything else is as always better and better, BECAUSE BASICALLY THIS SERIES JUST GETS BETTER AS IT GOES ALONG EVEN WHEN YOU DIDN’T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE WITH VERY FEW BLIPS AT ALL.

    Bottom line: I!!!! love!!!!! it!!!!!!!

  • Mischenko

    We took a break after book five again, and it felt great to get back into the series. This installment turned out to be one of our favorites yet.

    We begin with the Baudelaires who are now being delivered by Mr. Poe to their new guardians (the Squalors) at 667 Dark Avenue. After meeting Jerome and Esmé Squalor, it seems that everything might finally work out and the children will actually have a safe place to stay in this massive, 71-room penthouse apartment. Jerome Squalor is kind and has sympathy for the children while Esmé, on the other hand, seems to be a bit strange. The children learn quickly that life on Dark Avenue is all about what's "in" and "out" and luckily, orphans during this time are "in" along with aqueous martinis, pinstripe suits, and parsley soda.

    The Baudelaires can't help but wonder about the predicament the Quagmires are in. In the last book, the Quagmires risked everything to try to help the Baudelaire children before being whisked away by Count Olaf, the furtune-hunter. He's discovered more treasure and plans to steal the Quagmire sapphires as well. The Baudelaires must find a way to save their friends, but they have to find out where Count Olaf is hiding them first. Where are they, and what does Olaf plan to do with them?

    This book was really satisfying with a thicker plot, more comedy, new villains, and more action. The narrative is totally unpredictable and just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don't. The adults that you think might actually help always seem to fall short; the majority (if not all of them) make you shake your head in disbelief. We found it comical at times and perhaps the best aspect is that Count Olaf works in the background throughout much of the narrative while the Baudelaires devise plans to locate their friends and save them, and themselves. It's difficult to figure out what Count Olaf has in store for all of them.

    I've said in my previous reviews of the books in this series that I love the themes, especially the loving, family relationship the Baudelaires have with each other, which is portrayed even stronger in this installment. They stick together and remain brave throughout everything. It's inspiring and I appreciate their perseverance with the way they stand up for what's right--never giving up--no matter what. It's truly the light in the darkness of these books.

    Overall, this installment kept us interested from beginning to end. We're looking forward to moving on with book seven.

    5*****

  • Nicole

    SŁONECZKO 🥺

  • Michelle Kobus

    Dear Count Olaf,
    description
    Sincerly,
    Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire

  • Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin

    Another one I really loved. This time the kids are living with Mr. and Mrs. Squalor at the top of the penthouse at 667 Dark Avenue. Creepy :-)

    There is no elevator so they have to climb the stairs to go in and out and what a climbit is! Mrs. Squalor isn't nice at all and we find out she's a schemer!

    The kids also get information on their friends they met in the other book.

    And of course there is Olaf!!!

  • ¸¸.•*¨*•♫ Mrs. Buttercup •*¨*•♫♪

    “It was darker than a pitch-black panther, covered in tar, eating black licorice at the very bottom of the deepest part of the Black Sea.”



    Yet another horrible adventure awaits the Baudelaire orphans... what terrible disguise will this time choose the despicable count Olaf in order to put his scrawny hands on the children's fortune? There is only one way to find out... A terrible story in a delightful little book full of mystery and humour!

  • Steven Medina

    Aburrido, aburrido, aburrido...

    En realidad 1,8

    Cuando una persona te cuenta una buena broma, con el humor que te gusta, probablemente soltarás una carcajada. Si pasados unos días vuelven y te cuentan la misma broma, quizás te reirás, aunque ya no de la misma forma. Sin embargo, si esa broma te la dicen por sexta vez es altamente posible que tu reacción sea de completa indiferencia. Pues bien, creo que desafortunadamente eso me está ocurriendo con esta saga. Poco a poco, mi afinidad hacia la trama y los personajes ha venido disminuyendo considerablemente, y aunque hay momentos donde me divierto, hay muchos otros donde no la estoy pasando tan bien. En este momento es cuando empiezo a lamentarme de haber visto la serie de Netflix previamente porque realmente siento que he destruido el único elemento que pudo mantenerme enganchado con la historia: el elemento sorpresa. Es más, siento que la forma como en la serie te arrojan migajas de curiosidad es más persuasiva que como ocurre en los libros. Terminaré la saga, pero siento que los volúmenes restantes no los disfrutaré ni la mitad de lo que experimenté en la serie. Ya no es tiempo de lamentaciones, pero es una lección que tengo que recordar en el futuro.

    Lo irónico es que a pesar de todo siento que es un libro correcto. Son poquísimas las escenas que ocurren aquí, pero las que hay, son las necesarias. De hecho, por argumento principal podría decir que es el libro más corto y simple hasta el momento; pero, no todas las historias tienen que ser extensas, y como es un libro para un público juvenil, entre más sencilla la historia mucho mejor. Además es un libro bien escrito, presenta una crítica hacia los caprichos de las personas adineradas con respecto a la moda, y asimismo el autor da a entender que «más» no siempre quiere decir «mejor», y que no todos los problemas tienen que estar relacionados con el hambre, el maltrato, o demás, sino que existen miles de preocupaciones diferentes para cada persona. Independientemente de cual sea nuestra dificultad, mentalmente nos sentiremos afectados de igual manera que si tuviéramos un problema gigantesco.

    Mi mayor disgusto con estos libros son los finales. Son demasiado forzados, ilógicos, absurdos, y dan a entender que todo lo que realicen los Baudelaire valdrá poco, de hecho, no servirá para nada. En estos volúmenes pueden presentarse aventuras interesantes, pero la decisión del autor siempre es la misma al momento de acercarse al final: realizar un reset para retornar la historia al mismísimo momento donde comenzó, y eso la verdad no me gusta para nada. En los primeros volúmenes el antagonista se escapaba porque era muy inteligente, pero en los últimos volúmenes ya no necesita ni eso, simplemente se va y ya, nadie hace nada, y eso me molesta un montón. Asimismo, hay mucha reiteración de diálogos, explicaciones excesivas de los pensamientos y acciones de cada Baudelaire, participaciones forzadas, etc. Leer el sexto volumen es como leer el primero, leer el cuarto es como leer el segundo, leer el quinto es como leer el cuarto, y así sucesivamente. Esos finales son tan, pero tan malos, que llegar a esa parte me deja con un sabor amargo de boca. Puede ser una historia de humor, pero eso ya no es gracioso, para nada.

    Asimismo, he notado un bajón tremendo de la calidad de la prosa porque solo los primeros tres renglones del libro me hicieron reír por esa sátira del autor. En el resto de páginas he echado de menos las extrañas historias, los juegos de palabras, y principalmente el humor cruel. He sentido una prosa plana, aburrida, insípida, que no genera ningún tipo de sentimiento en el lector. Una prosa que presenta palabras y escenas, pero que no te las hace vivir como nos gustaría.

    Destaco que sigue siendo fácil de leer, que cada tutor de los Baudelaire presenta diferencias muy marcadas, y que cada lugar que visitan aquellos huérfanos nos ayuda a comprender, así sea un poco, la forma como los niños ven el mundo. De resto, muy poco para valorar, en serio que lo he leído rápido pero con un aburrimiento tremendo en mi mente.

    En resumen, un volumen que reitera la misma dinámica de sus predecesores, con la diferencia de que ya se vuelve aburrido predecir tantos clichés que maneja el autor. No me ha gustado, realmente no me ha gustado, pero le otorgo dos estrellas porque hay libros más desastrosos que he leído en mi vida. Seguiré con el séptimo volumen, seguiré avanzando; solo espero no terminar odiando esta historia que me gustó tanto por su película y serie.

    Próximo destino, La villa vil.

  • Vanz

    4.5

    OMG OMG THIS KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!

    I think this may be the best entry to the series as far as the first 6 books are concerned. A lot of revelations were revealed, especially with regards to the Quagmire twins. I knew there was something fishy going on with Esmé Squalor as soon as she was introduced in this book. As for Jerome Squalor...why? Just why would he abandon and give away the Baudelaires? I feel like he would be a really great guardian for them. Oh well, I understand his decisions since he really wanted to protect them..

    Despite all that, I love seeing the Baudelaires overcome their adversities under the evil, good-for-nothing Count Olaf. Overall, I enjoyed this one the most. I couldn't stop reading until I'm finished with it. There's always a secret waiting to be exposed in this book. Loved it!

    Anyway, I decided to take a short break from this series. I'll read maybe a couple of books before I could continue with it again. It was a great journey so far. 'Til we meet again, ASOUE!

  • Skeletonized

    I'm getting tired and bored of this. Nothing new happens! The same things happen again and again and again and again.... Had it not been for the author's pleasant and playful style I would have threw this out the window. URGH!
    Spoilers ahead!
    Seriously now. Halfway through I know what is going to happen: the Baulderies will find out a way to stop Count Olaf who will be revealed in the end (with Mr. Poe assisting, appearing from nowhere at all, coming from the mountains in a random place) and managing to escape (THROUGH A FURIOUS CROWD!).
    Now, now. I am aware of the fact that this book is targeted to a rather... naive public, but seriously now I expect some intriguing action, something to keep me in a stew, left me wonder "What will they do next?".
    Step 1: find a human sterotype and turn him into a guardian
    Step 2: make Count Olaf appear in a very random way
    Step 3: find out his plan
    Step 4: Reveal him in public
    Step 5: let Count Olaf escape easily
    The End.
    I have to admit that I love Lemony's style.
    It is indeed simply addictive but it's worth nothing if he can't make some original stories. I mean, the first book was amaizing but having to re-read it 6 times (because basically all the books seem the same) it's simply torture.
    Now that I've started the series I am going to torture myself until the end (I hope it's worth it!!).
    Never shall one compare this to the masterpice Harry Potter series. Never.
    What I admire most is the idea of "misfortune", that the good characters don't always "win". This is interesting, appealing and all.
    As a conclusion: I would have better just watched the movie, I hear Jim Carrie is in it.

  • Ahmad Sharabiani

    The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6), Lemony Snicket
    The Ersatz Elevator is the sixth novel of the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaires are sent to live with the wealthy Esmé and Jerome Squalor.
    تاریخ نخستین خوانش: بیست و یکم آوریل سال 2004 میلادی
    عنوان: آسانسور قلابی: سری ماجراهای بچه‌‌ های بدشانس - کتاب ششم؛ نویسنده: لمونی (لیمونی) اسنیکت؛ تصویرگر: برت هالکویست؛ مترجم: نسترن پاشایی (پاشائی)؛ تهران، ماهی، 1383؛ در 186 ص، مصور؛ شابک دوره: 9649333304؛ شابک جلد 6: 9789647948418؛ چاپ سوم 1386؛ چهارم 1387؛ پنجم 1388؛ ششم 1389؛
    بچه ها به خانه ی قیم های جدیدشان، «ازمی» و «جروم اسکوالر» میروند. ازمی که فردی ثروتمند و مد پرست است به گروه «کنت الاف» می‌پیوندد، تا ثروت آنها را به چنگ بیاورد ولی ناکام می‌ماند. ... ا. شربیانی

  • Ashley Daviau

    No matter how many times I read this book, I always come to the same conclusion. Esme is my least favourite character that we are introduced to throughout this series. Other than Count Olaf, of course! She's just so self absorbed and so nasty to the Baudelaires, it's incredible. I particularly enjoy the series starting with this book, it starts getting a lot more intricate what with V.F.D. and the secret tunnel being revealed and I love the layers that these elements add to the plot!

  • kate

    I definitely felt the spark from the first couple of books in the series return in this! It was a lot grittier and less repetitive than the last few, (which I was beginning to find a little tedious) but I thoroughly enjoyed it!! I loved that, although the basic plot was still very similar, there were added extras too. I'm really enjoying the newly introduced mystery surrounding the Quagmire triplets and the unexplained discoveries that occurred. This has definitely been one of my favourite additions to the series so far!

  • Sara Kamjou

    داستان تو جلد شش که بهتر و معمایی‌تر بود، با سرپرست جدید بچه‌ها که باز هم در نوع خودشون خیلی عجیب غریبن ادامه پیدا می‌کنه.
    یه مورد قابل توجه که به نظرم جالب بود، ترسیم شخصیت‌هایی کاریکاتورگون و اغراق‌آمیز از افرادیه که به صورت بیمارگون به این اهمیت می‌دن که چی مده و هر چه‌قدرم از سلایقشون دور باشه و حتی قشنگ نباشه، باز حاضر نیستن از مد دست بکشن و چشم بسته دنبالش می‌کنن.
    ----------
    یادگاری از کتاب:
    حتی اگر از یک چیز نترسید هم ممکن است دوست نداشته باشید به آن نزدیک شوید.
    ...
    وقتی مدت درازی است که کسی را می‌شناسید، معنی‌اش این است که با خلق و خوی او و عادات مخصوص او آشنا شده‌اید.

  • Irene ➰

    4.4/5

    I liked this one a lot!
    Even if the main plot and development is the same as the previous books, it had a very fun and enjoyable story with some additions and a very cool, even if simple, setting.

    I liked how different the two new guardians are, how Mr Squalor wants to help the children and even if he understands them he has to please at the same time Mrs Squalor.
    Her character is absolutely terrible, but in a fun way, she was so focused on what was in and out that was the only thing that mattered to her, seriously, nothing else.
    As soon as new things were in, she needed them as soon as possible.
    Count Olaf's disguise here is very cool too, and even if he is not as present as in some other stories, his presence is pretty creepy this time.

    I liked the whole "almost endless" stairs' and elevators' concept and especially how the elevator was used later.
    The whole finale was pretty amazing. The main objective of the children is to find their friends and nothing will stop them.
    It's a fight against time and they will work super hard not to fail.

    This was a super fun read, finally some mystery was involved too, to give to the series a little shake and a fresh new side story.
    The kids will be pretty busy next time, I guess!

    Till the next tragedy ;)

  • Ideas are bulletproof

    Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Misfortune awaits the BaudeliarsBaudelaires!

    The three Baudelaire orphans have been escaping the clutches of Count Olaf ever since their parents perished in a terrible fire. The three children have been placed in the care of guardian after guardian only to have adversity follow them wherever they go. Count Olaf is a wicked and treacherous man who is eager to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune that the oldest Baudelaire, Violet will acquire when she comes of age.

    In this book the three children have been placed in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Squalor who live in a penthouse on the sixty sixth floor of 667 dark avenue. It’s the most “in” part of town with important and rich people walking about in pinstripe suits. Jerome Squalor and Esme Squalor( she’s the city’s sixth most important financial advisor) live a luxurious life and they spend their time and money in things which they think are “in”.

    “Children, here are some things you should know. Dark is in. Light is out. Stairs are in. Elevators are out. Pinstripe suits are in. Those horrible clothes you are wearing are out.”

    See what I mean?!

    “A martini?” Klaus asked. “Isn’t that an alcoholic beverage?”
    “Usually it is,” Jerome agreed. “But right now, alcoholic martinis are out. Aqueous martinis are in. An aqueous martini is simply cold water served in a fancy glass with an olive in it, so it’s perfectly legal for children as well as for adults.”


    You may think that the children are finally safe from Count Olaf but sadly you’re wrong.

    For Beatrice—
    When we met, my life began.
    Soon afterward, yours ended



  • Kon R.

    This one starts out with the familiar formula we're used to, but quickly it becomes evident that this book is different from the rest. First of all, this time around the children get not one, but two guardians. They're filthy rich and only adopted them because it's the "in" thing to do. The whole "in" and "out" joke is quite enjoyable. Apparently, the rich only care about following trends and nothing else.

    Count Olaf is back and nobody believes the children as usual. Without giving too much away, this time around the Baudelaire siblings are on the offensive. The surprises and twists are quite unique to this entry and for that I'm grateful. I can't wait to see how the next book fares in terms of keeping this story fresh.

  • Lee  (the Book Butcher)

    Book number six the Baudelaire's end up in a swanky neighborhood where there new guardians are only conserned with what in. Guess what orphans are in so they were adopted by the cities six most influential financial advisor. Esme is her name and she is attached to count Olaf who show up as Gunther a in auctioneer. Esme husband is a wet noodle named Jerome who ends up just walking away from the kids. Heartbreaking moment. Jerome is slightly better than aunt Josephine from book 3 the wide window. Anyway this book is about recovering the quagmire triplets. The Baudelaire come very close but ultimately fail. In part because of their special talents violets invention takes to long to warm. Klaus researches but is thrown off by a red herring. I really hate those things. Then poor sonny attacks the red herring with her teeth only making a mess. Allowing Olaf, Esme, and the hook handed man to escape with the quagmires. But never fear the Baudelaire are going to continue to try to save their friends in the next book.

  • Erin

    To leave a review would be to give too much away. So to be brief, the Baudelaire orphans find themselves shipped again to different guardians with very strange habits. Luckily for Klaus, Violet and Sunny helping orphans is "in" and they have a refuge for a few days. But they are still thinking about Count Olaf's latest crime at the end of the last book and they will stop at nothing to set things right.


    One would consider that I might be exhausted from the constant Count Olaf drama, but I have to say that the books are getting more interesting and intense as we progress. Also, I learned a new word "ersatz" which has since cropped up in two more of my novels. So that was very cool.

    Goodreads review published 30/01/20

  • — nova

    I definitely recommend listening to the audiobooks in this series, especially the further you go. It really sets the creepy mood.

  • Angus (Just Angus)

    Now determined to slip the word 'ersatz' into as many daily conversations as I can.

  • lauren ❀

    I'm starting to like this series even more. It may be repetitive but there's more mystery to it and I want to keep reading to find it out. So excited to start the next book!!!

  • Melanie (TBR and Beyond)

    “The children knew, as I'm sure you know, that there is usually no reason to be afraid of the dark, but even if you are not particularly afraid of something, you might not want to get near it”


    This installment wasn't my favorite but there was still lots to enjoy about it.

    The Baudelaire children are back again and as unlucky as usual. This time the Baudelaire's are staying with a couple that is obsessed with anything "in," meaning trendy. This leads to some great satire and some really fun situations. The woman they are staying with is very cold, and shows the children no affection. Her husband, on the other hand, is compassionate towards the children but a complete coward. The Bauderlaire's are still looking for the triplets and watching out for when Count Olaf is going to appear next.

    I have been loving this series and although this wasn't my favorite, it was still an enjoyable read. I loved the story line about wanting only things that were trendy, including foster children. It is what really made this book to me. The idea of getting foster children but they were trending in that town among the rich is priceless and a little too on the nose. One of my favorite things so far that has be satirized in these books.

    The kids were endearing as ever and it was nice to see that we are starting to break formula a bit from the same pattern as the first five books. I love that there is a mystery to what in the world V.F.D is and it's most certainly motivating me to read more in the series. It's driving me mad that I can't figure it out! Oh, and who the hack is Beatrice!!!! I must know these answers!

    You see most of the same regulars show up in this one, yep that means Olaf is back. I like that he is not as front and center as before though. They are starting to focus on different elements, as well as adding more villainous characters to the list. The reason I only gave this one three stars is because I found myself a little bored a few times and having to push through. I think if the book had been just a little shorter, it would have been a better read. I don't have a lot of complaints about it though, it's possible that I just got a bit bored because I read six of these in a row and I needed a break. Either way, I'd still recommend this book if you enjoyed the other in the series.

  • Chris Rhodes

    Listened to this and the two before it in one sitting at work one day. This is one of my favorites so far, along with The Reptile Room. Despite the same thing happening in each and every book for the most part, this one managed to introduce some new things and keep things interesting for continuing on. The humor in this one is pretty fantastic also.

  • Liam

    ( 3.5 STARS )

    Not my favourite in the series but it was still a great and addictive read! The plot was a little dull in my opinion but I did enjoy the Squalors and the way that Sunny seems to be growing and developing as an individual.

  • Hannah Azerang

    4.5
    Okay, THIS is my favorite one so far

  • Carlos Peguer

    Quizás este me haya aburrido un poquito más que los anteriores, pero me sigue encantando la forma de contar las cosas de Lemony Snicket y estoy deseando saber qué les ocurrirá a los Baudelaire. ♡

  • Swaye

    My favourite in the series so far.

    Time for...